Thanksgiving weekend & Christmas Preparations!

I have not updated in quite some time...turns out I have been rather busy! Prepare for a long read with lots of pictures :)

Grandpa Don and Sharon came down from Saturday night (November 26) through Tuesday night (November 23) to watch Callie. There were able to spend a lot of time with her as Josh and I had conferences on Monday and Tuesday - ALL DAY... Callie had a blast playing hard all day. I think Grandpa Don received more a of workout - he may have been more tired in the end :)

Thanks for babysitting me :)

Right when conferences were over-our Thanksgiving break began ;)

We traveled up to Grandma Lynn's house; however the winter storm that moved in slowed traffic way down causing us to arrive way later (it ended up taking 1-2 hours longer because of the snow :(...) but we arrived right after she got home from work, so we were still able to spend the entire evening together :) Callie had a great time playing with Grandma's kitchen utensils!

Playing in Grandma's kitchen :)

That next morning (Thanksgiving Day), we traveled over to Grandpa Don's house for Thanksgiving with Don, Sharon, Kayla & Mike. It was a nice quiet afternoon together! Callie enjoyed searching for her Christmas presents in all of the "Black Friday" ads, and then soon took a nice nap with her grandpa! Sharon prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meal!

Love her new hat :)

We then headed over to my parents house where everyone was still there...YEAH! We made it in time for pie! Callie played, but mostly tried to eat her Grampa's famous pumpkin pie...which she succeeded in doing!

Mmmm...Pumpkin Pie

My dad and I went out to Toys R Us that night and waited in line :) It was so wonderful when we were finally inside. There is something about crazy packed stores on Black Friday that really puts me in the mood for Christmas :) I got everything on my list (well, all but 2 things...).

Friday afternoon I headed back home to Austin (Josh had gone Thursday night, because he had basketball on Friday morning). The three of us went out to dinner and then headed downtown for "Christmas in the City". It was so much fun. We mainly got in line and had Callie's FIRST picture taken with Santa Clause! It turned out AWESOME :)

Beautiful picture with Santa!

A couple days later I was able to take Callie to Christmas in the North West. She had her picture taken with Mrs. Clause and Santa - they didn't turn out all that great...but the one from Christmas in the City was PERFECT!

She didn't like this one :)

Callie and I also took a day off from work and daycare to go to the cities and shop ALL DAY with my mom ;) We met at the Mall of America at 10:00 AM and left at 4! Callie was perfect the whole day :) She finally fell asleep at the end!

Girl talk about our day at the mall...Gramma is preparing Callie for her First REAL shopping experience...us "Shellum" girls really know how to shop :)
We ended up taking 2 trips out to the car because we had so many bags :) Her stroller can only hold so much!

:)

I hope she loves Christmas as much as I do :)

Gramma got Callie this puppy for being such a good girl!! Callie even picked it out! She looked at about 5 different animals, and this was the one she was most excited about :)

Someone finally fell asleep!

Callie and I stayed the whole weekend, because of the winter storm. We were supposed to go to a baby shower with my mom and to a concert that night (Saturday); however, the weather kept us inside all weekend :)

On Sunday morning Callie and myself, along with Grampa and Gramma, Heather and her 3 kids (Callie's cousins), went to a "Breakfast with Santa"! The Pioneer Press puts it on, and it was so much fun! Callie had her picture taken with Santa again, and I'm waiting to see how that picture turned out! She was a good girl there as well :) My favorite part was letting her decorate a cookie :) Haha - she was covered in red frosting :) It was nice to actually get snowed in at my parents. I hadn't been able to spend quality time with them in a really long time. There had been a couple "quick" visits, but this was much needed! I loved our movie dates, Mom - we CAN'T go that long again before having a movie date :)

I love this picture of Callie and my dad :)

I also put on a huge concert for our community :) Dennis Warner came down and performed "Beads on One String" to our Kindergarten Center, and then his band performed that night! I had organized the entire ordeal, and more than 150 people were there :) I even received food donations for a free meal :) This is Callie and I enjoying the concert! This girl LOVES music :)

I was also supposed to graduate this past weekend, but due to the Minnesota Blizzard, I was not able to make the ceremony. It would have been nice to receive the recognition for completing my Specialists Degree in Education Leadership: K-12 Principal Licensure...but I wasn't willing to risk my life to get there. So there you have it, I did graduate with a 4.0! I now have my Bachelors degree, Master's Degree and my new "Specialists in Education Leadership"... I was given a gift for all of my hard work...A TON OF STUDENT LOANS TO PAY BACK.... great, right!? NOT!!!

For now, we're snowed in, praying for a snow day tomorrow! Christmas Cookies are baked! I'm going to take Callie and deliver them to families that have been very helpful to us this year! I want to start this with her so she can learn to show appreciation to others :) I made my favorite: Ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle, dipped in chocolate :) YUMMY!

Christmas presents are bought and wrapped, lights up, deer buried in the snow, cookies baked...I believe we are ready for Christmas :)

One BIG Month...

Callie is about to turn 8 months old, and Josh and I cannot believe all of the "Firsts" Callie has had this month!

First time pulling herself up to sitting position.
First time Crawling.
First time pulling herself up standing position (see video below).

First time eating "hard" foods (puffs and yogurt bites).

First time waving.

First time experiencing "Stranger danger".
First time mimicking "A blah blah blah" sounds (see video below).

First snow fall/sitting in the snow/eating snow.

First time seeing her very own Christmas tree.

First time having 6 teeth in her mouth.

I feel like this list could go on and on...

Josh and I absolutely ADORE having Callie in our lives. She is such a joy to us and truly makes our hearts smile.

Below are some videos capturing her new "tricks", and some pictures with captions! We took her 8 month photos a couple days early! I know this is a Halloween costume, but this is what Callie is Thankful for this Thanksgiving, so cut us some slack :) :)

Daddy giving his snow angel some kisses!

Eating snow for the first time :) She didn't like it at first!

Callie sitting in snow for the first time!!
(This is the very little amount that we got in Austin. It melted that night)

This is one of my favorite pictures :)

Checking out the snow :)

The world's cutest jacket from Grandma Lynn :)
(I had to buy matching boots!!)

8 Month Photo Shoot!
"I'm Thankful for my Giraffes"

:)

Such a cute little Giraffe!

Callie has a secret obsession with Giraffes!

Checking our her first Christmas Tree!!

Tis the Season

Growing up, Christmas was always one of my favorite holidays! I'll be honest, my mom can decorate the heck out of her house...especially at Christmas time! I was always amazed at the amount of boxes that came out of the cubby ever year. The family room would be FULL of Christmas decoration boxes!

The music would go on, we'd all gather around the tree (that she put up-we are an artificial family) and we'd put Christmas decorations on the tree together! I remember waiting until the end to put the fake candy canes on the tree! The real candy canes were housed ever so snuggly in the red Santa Boots :)

Everyone has their traditions at Christmas time! Heck, everyone has their traditions throughout the year for everything! Christmas traditions are those traditions that I have the fondest memories of!

Watching "Christmas Vacation" together as a family on Thanksgiving night (I know we all pretty much watch it still - even if we are at our own homes). Helping my dad put up the Christmas lights and coming in to a nice cup of hot chocolate! Listening to Christmas music then ENTIRE month of December (sorry Josh, I do believe this fault of mine stems from my mom and dad!). Eating all of the essential Christmas foods "Cookies, cookies and more cookies!!!" Carrying the wrapped Christmas presents downstairs as my mom would wrap them in her bedroom. We'd wait outside her door until the "next" gift was ready!!! We'd shake them the entire way downstairs too! I can honestly say to this day that I never once peeked at my presents! I knew exactly where my mom kept them too, and I NEVER snooped! I love surprises too much!

The one tradition that I love is the smallest one! A Christmas ornament! Every year, my mom would buy my sisters and I a Christmas ornament that symbolized who we were. Each year it changed too, because each year we grew up another year and change. I remember getting ornaments that were basketball or tennis themed, I remember my princess ornaments from when I was competing in pageants. I remember my "teaching" ornament after having my first teaching job! I could go on and on, but the fact is, I have all of those ornaments! Actually, I have all of them now, because I'm married and out of the house...now my mom's Christmas tree is decorated "woodsy" to match her downstairs - it's beautiful!

When you get married, you have to work together to combine your individual traditions to create your own. I have learned this. I have learned that although there are things I do not want to give up, I also know that I am living my life with Josh now-so we are creating our own traditions.

One tradition that I am carrying over, is that of the "Christmas Ornament". Every year, I am going to buy my daughter her very own Christmas ornament that symbolizes where she is in her life! I thought about getting her the typical "Babie's first Christmas", but I wanted it to be something that showed who Callie really was...

Josh and I found the PERFECT ornament! Look carefully at our Christmas tree...do you see it?!!?!

Callie loves giraffes. We do not understand her fascination with them, but she lights up and gets all excited when she sees them. Maybe it is their coloring or their long necks. Whatever it is, she loves them.

Callie's perfect Christmas ornament for her very first Christmas is:

The Giraffe!!!

Pondering

As I sit here tonight, watching Callie play with "Little People", laughing at herself as she puts the horse into the barn, only to have him fall over and out! I can't help but wonder what on earth her little mind is thinking!

Here I brought Callie downstairs to play with some toys for a little bit. I pulled out her "big girl" legos (the over sized legos for little fingers) and watched her bang them together. She would smile and chuckle at the sounds she was making. Then I pulled down her little bin of "Little People" to see what she would do with them. Now they are much different then I remember them being from my childhood, but they are small enough for her fingers, and big enough for her mouth (that is how I judge good toys for her right now!). She would bring the farmer into her mouth, laugh, smile and then move on to a different animal.

Josh had brought home his "Little People Farm" from his classroom, so out came the Clorox wipes...I started scrubbing it down. When I was finished, I let Callie play with it.

WHEN DID MY LITTLE GIRL GROW UP?? Here Callie was sitting on the floor in her "Play room" that we created for her, legs spread-reaching and playing with these "Little People". She was putting them in and out of the Farm House, laughing and knocking them around. I took a moment to myself to just sit back and watch her. My little (almost) 8 month old, playing independently...having the time of her life!

Josh and I were going through some of her toys this past weekend, and came across this musical bee. This used to hang in her "Play gym" and we'd turn it on so there was always music playing when she was laying there - helpless and "stuck". She wasn't crawling, rolling or moving...she just laid there - looking at these toys dangling in front of her. Josh made the comment "She used to love that bee when she was little." WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE?! WHAT???

SHE IS STILL LITTLE - She's only (almost) 8 months old...

It's amazing how much Callie has changed since we first brought her home. I'm trying to take it all in, to capture everything she does and every new adventure she comes across!

She started making this crazy "TSSS TSSS TSSS" noise! I'm not sure if she is trying to hissssss or what she's trying to do, but I LOVE IT! And waving - lets not forget about waving...the first person she waved to was my dad! He started waving to her, and up her arm went - waving to him :) Now she waves at everyone...like it's her job or something! I think she is practicing her Miss America wave! Watch out Kathryn Knutilla - this girl might have you beat! And she can play her Alligator Xylophone like nobody else!!! And she writes her own music!!

She also started eating "chewable foods". We gave her these yogurt bites, which she loves. At first she wasn't so sure, but now she gets excited when you show her the bag. And she has been eating "puffs" - they are a Gerber snack for "Gerber Graduates!" Big girl...

I find myself looking at pictures of her when she was just a teeny tiny baby and look at this giant of a child that I have...she's crawling. No - correction, she is starting to pull herself up! Yes, Callie Lynae can get herself onto her knees and is reaching up and beginning the attempts at pulling herself up!

I knew that going back to work for me was going to be hard, which it still is (Thank you Jessica for making that transition for me so much easier); however, I had no idea how quickly Callie was going to grow up. I feel like I had a really good grasp of time when I was staying at home with her. I was able to see all of her daily changes, her daily routine, and cherish her fun, sassy personality (I swear she doesn't get the sass from me!) all while spending my days with her. Then the school year started, and I was patiently (okay impatiently) waiting everyday for the clock to strike 3:45 PM so I can leave to go get her from daycare. Then I'm waiting ever so patiently for the week to be over so I can have a weekend with my perfect little family...and then BAM - my weekend is over and we start the work week all over again. Because of this quick cycle, I'm not able to capture these moments like I used to. They are coming and going so quickly. No wonder everyone always says "They grow up so fast..."

HOLY CRAP THEY WERE RIGHT....

My baby girl is now keeping a beat. She dances to Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" - as if she is a single lady...HELLO, we have an arranged marriage for you Callie!!! Then she starts shaking her little hips to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance...is it terrible of me to let her listen to this? I've decided no, since she likes the beat, and I love watching her little diaper butt move to the music!

Tonight, as I lean over Callie's crib (which has been lowered because she's becoming a big girl), watching her snuggle up with her blankie and giraffe (the blankie that Auntie Heidi made just for her and the giraffe that daddy bought for her in the store), I can't help but thank GOD for bringing me the most perfect daughter! How He knew that this precious gift was exactly what Josh and I needed to complete our family is far beyond me. Her delicate fingers weaved within her blanket (yes, big girl sleeping with a blanket now), her eyelids taking her off into a world of dreams that I can't even fathom. Her little toes poking out of her "footless" pajama's - I could just kiss each toe and then put her feet in my pocket and take them out to tickle!! I stay there, watching each breath come in and out of her - watching her chest rise and fall so peacefully. Her heart is beating so calmly, as if God is there beside her as she sleeps - hugging and protecting her throughout the night while Josh and I are asleep in the other room. That thought brings comfort to me throughout the night.

And then I end everyday with the same prayer - asking God to give us another day with our precious daughter. To love and protect her the way we were chosen to do so. To be a perfect family of 3...one day more, but for now 3 (4 including Kix - he is such a great sport around Callie!!!) Every thought brings tears to my eyes with the amount of love I have inside of me for my wonderful, supportive husband and our perfect daughter - I wouldn't change one thing about her...not one solid thing!

Halloween 2010

I wanted to add more pictures, but our Internet was acting up and it kept denying my upload...that and I'm too tired to try for the 5th time.... You'll have to check out my Facebook pictures to see them all!

Where do I even begin?

On Friday, October 22nd, I drove to Mankato in the early morning. I was dressed in my new business suit - that looked amazing I might add - ready to defend my efolio! I wasn't nervous like I thought I would be; however, I had a feeling of "Holy crap, I'm almost done with my admin license".

I went into my interview and NAILED IT! Seriously - the principal that determined if I would pass or not kept referring to me as "Phenomenal!" It was such a great feeling to hear him say, "Congratulations, you've passed!" He also kept saying my whole name, "Cori McRae - WOW!" Seriously - that's what he said!

Josh took me to "The Crave" to celebrate my latest accomplishment! I officially have my Administrative License and can be a building principal! Now I just need to find a job :) Callie stayed with Grandpa Don & Sharon while Daddy and I went on a fancy date (bottle of wine and all at dinner)! She had such a fun time :)



Callie also had the opportunity to carve her VERY FIRST PUMPKIN!! She really enjoyed getting her fingers all full of pumpkin goop! We gave her some of her shape toys to determine which shapes she wanted cut out of her pumpkin! She came up with circle eyes and a square nose! I gave her a smile with two, very noticeable, bottom teeth!

Our Halloween Weekend was very exciting! It began with the Halloween Parade at school. Since I do not have a class this year (because of my position), I was able to carry Callie in the Halloween Parade! Josh was Mario, I was Princess Peach, and Callie was Toadette! It was pretty cute :) I did make Callie's hat - it was a lot harder than it looks. My mom was amazing - last minute she made my dress for me! I was struggling and frustrated (my efolio), and even though she had her pageant to organize and get ready for, she still found the time to help me! Thank you mom - everyone loved it and you are seriously AMAZING!

My Grandparents had a Birthday dinner for my mom the Friday of Halloween weekend, and we needed a sitter, so it worked PERFECTLY! I drove up, spend the evening with the fam, and went home-without Callie :( My mom and dad kept her for the weekend (lucky folks). It was right when Callie was just starting to crawl too, so I had a hard time saying goodbye :(
But, Josh and I were throwing a HUGE Halloween party at our house! We had 20 friends over, and seriously had a GREAT TIME! Here are a couple pictures from our party (more pictures are on Facebook).