Ellison's First Cereal

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We are so excited for our first Christmas with Ellison Grace.



Having her here makes Christmas so much more fun. Last year at this time we knew we were pregnant but no one else did.

This picture was our runner up for our Christmas card picture. We had a large family picture taken when my Mom's side of the family all 35 of us. After that we did smaller family pictures. It was so fun to have everyone together. This year our family had grown by 3. Ellison had cute little tights on to, but she got hot so we stripped her down.

Christmas eve we are having dinner with my cousin Erin and her family,my parents and Aunt will be there as well.We go to there church in the late afternoon. We have been doing this for over 10 years. After we eat we get a special visit from Santa and he brings a gift for all the kids and tells them to head to bed so he can come back soon.
We normally go to church for the late candle light service but Ellison will be fast asleep.

What do you do on Christmas Eve?

First Christmas

This is my immediate family My parents, twin sisters, brother in laws, and nieces and nephews.


On Saturday we celebrated Christmas with my sister's and there family's. It was Ellison's first time to open presents. She did a great job with some help from Mommy and ESPN. She got spoiled to pieces.

Christmas Time

The house is all decorated so I thought the blog could use a little Christmas make over too!



Here is our best Christmas present!



I would love to hear what is your favorite thing about Christmas?

Christmas Time!

It is begging to look a lot like Christmas around our house! The tree is up and there is a lot of snow outside. It is so exciting this is Ellison's first Christmas.
I have so many cute Christmas outfits for her to wear in the month of December I will have to do a fashion post with all of them.

We watched White Christmas which is my favorite Christmas movie of all times. I have watched since I was very little every year. It does not feel like Christmas to me until I have watched it. If you have never watched it I would recommend it.



Soon I will be making Christmas cookies too! I just love Christmas time it is so special and I am so excited to start all of these traditions with Ellison. This is Josh and I last year doing some cookies! We got very into it.






I am so excited to get one of these for Ellison so we can teach her all about the reason for the season.

3 Months Old!

(oops late again)
Ellison Grace you are 3 months old! You sleep in your bassinet in Mommy and Daddy's room at night, and you take your naps in your crib like a big girl.


Your first baby doll from the Vandenberg Family!


You love to play with Violet one of our favorites from Nana and Papa! Mommy went back to work part time. If Daddy does not work he gets to stay home with you. On days Mommy and Daddy both work you go to Nana and Papa's house! They are the best babysitters ever! We are so lucky to have them so close.


You love to cuddle your stuffed animals.


You are 12.5 pounds and 23 3/4 inches! You are 70% over all!


You eat every 3 hours!


You wear size 1 diapers and 3 months cloths. You still fit in some 0-3 month things.


You sleep through the night, we put you to bed between 9pm-10pm and your sleep until 8am or 9am. Mommy and Daddy loves this!


You smile all the time! You are started to cooo and talk so much more.


We love you Ellison Grace and are so blessed to have you in our lives!

Thankful Thanksgiving

These are 4 people that I am very very thankful for.


Here is Ellison with Dr. D her pediatrician. We love going to his office, the whole staff is great.


Here is Ellison with Dr. G my OBGYN she watched over Ellison for 9 months!


This is Sandy she is a nurse and she is amazing. She was with us every step of the way through Ellisons surgery. She works for Dr. A Elli's ENT


Here is Dr. A and Ellison he is her ENT. He helped to save her life and we are so great full to him.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 18-30

I got a little behind with my Thankful Thanksgivings so I am going to just list some more things I am thankful for.

#18 I am thankful for Josh's Job. He is able to provide a lot for us. I am very thankful that he can work full time so that I can work part time and stay home with Ellison.

#19 I am thankful for the Internet and all the amazing things that have come from it.

#20 I am thankful for my phone so that I can stay in contact with my family and friends that live near and far.

#21 I am thankful for God and all of his amazing love for me.

#22 I am thankful for my car because it takes me to and from places.

#23 I am thankful for my faith!

#24 I am thankful for my shoes, they protect my feet and I love them ;)

#25 I am thankful for Kisses and Hugs from my loved ones!

#26 I am thankful for prayer, knowing I can talk to good at anytime is such an amazing feeling.

#27 I am thankful for my bed and the sleep that I get there.

#28 I am thankful for my ability to nurse Ellison and provide her with all the nutrients she needs.

#29 I am thankful that my Mom has retired and is able to watch Ellison when I work. I love that she does not have to go to daycare and she can stay home with her Nana.

#30 I am thankful for many more things I just can't list them all.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 17

I am thankful for the food that I have to eat. Many times I take for granted how easy it is to just open the fridge or pantry and have it be full of food. Not a day goes by that I don't get to eat. Many people can not say this.



This is a picture of one of my family's new favorites Poppy seed chicken. It is easy pretty quick and freezes great.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 16

I am thankful for days where I can just stay home and be a Mom to Ellison. Being home with her is so much fun! We play, eat, sleep and snuggle all day long.



Who would not want to stay home with this cute little girl!

Thankful Thanksgiving

What are somethings you thankful for???

Great Christmas Gift!

Sometimes it is really hard to find that perfect Christmas gift. I always want to give something diffrent and fun.
Check this out this great blog giveaway from my friend Katie!!!
http://katesgreatgiveaways.blogspot.com/

What would you pick?

Thankful Thanksgiving # 15

(I am playing catch up)

I am thankful for my blog, and what has come of finding other peoples blogs. I love to read other peoples blog. One day my friend Ruthie sent me a link to there blog and after reading it I thought I would start one of my own. I thought it would be a great way for our family and friends that live far away to keep up to date on what is going on in our life.
Through blogging I have meet one amazing person through reading her blog. She happens to live near where I do. I started reading her blog and I could not stop I read the whole thing from the start. I sat for hours just crying as my heart broke for this amazing woman. After reading it I felt like I wanted to reach out to her. We started to email back and forth a few times then we meet for lunch one day. We were at Panera for 3 hours and never ran out of things to talk about. We found out that we had a lot of things in common. We are now are great friends and I feel so blessed to have her in my life. She is such an amazing strong Christian woman. Katie I hope you know how you have touched my life. Here is the link to her blog.
http://whenhellomeansgoodbye.blogspot.com/ I would love for everyone to read it.
There are many blogs that I read every day check them out, I have them listed on my blog.
I am so thankful!

Thankful Thanksgiving # 14

I am thankful for my camera.
I have always loved to take pictures. They are an amazing way to look back and remember a great day or time in your life. Now I have a very sweet little girl to take pictures of each and every day. Pictures can tell a story with no words.

Pictures can last a lifetime.
I have lost both of my Grandma's and now I have pictures of them left. These pictures are so special. I will share these pictures with Ellison someday and tell her all about her Great Grandmas.
I am so excited to someday show Ellison pictures of her when she was a baby and tell her all about what it was like to have her make me a Mommy!

Thankful Thanksgiving # 13

I am thankful for my two amazing grandma's. Both of my grandma have influenced and blessed my life in so many ways. They each have taught me so many things. I have such fond memories of each of the.

Even though I know Ellison will never meet them hear on earth I know they are looking down on her on her all the time. I am so excited to tell Ellison all about them some day.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 12

(this should have posted yesterday)

I am thankful for my job. I get to help people everyday and save peoples lives.
Tomorrow is my first day back to work. I have had 12 wonderful weeks home with Ellison. I would love to stay home full time but financial that is not possible for us right now. I am however going back to work part time instead of full time. So I will have more time at home with Ellison.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 11

I am thankful to the wonder men and woman that have fought for our country as well as the ones who are still fighting now.

Do you like to win things???

Then....


Check out Lisa's blog for her great giveaway!
http://lisasblogcarnivals.blogspot.com/

New Look for Fall!

I thought that the blog needed a little up date with a new fall look. What do you think?

Thankful Thanksgiving # 10

I am so thankful for where I live. Since I was 6 years old I have had the privilege of living along the beautiful lake shore in West Michigan. I have never lived more than 2 miles from the beach. It is beautiful no matter what season it is. There is something so calming to me about sitting and watching the waves come in a out of the shore.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 9

I am thankful for where I live. There are many days that I don't like the snow but deep down I do just now all the time! We have all 4 seasons and I love each of them.

Thankful Thanksgiving # 8

I am so thankful for my church. I have been blessed with an amazing church family! I have been so blessed to go through my churches children's programs and youth program. I have attended this church with my parents for the past 21 years, and now with Josh and Ellison!
It is so nice for us to feel like we belong. We have an amazing pastor and church staff.

I am thankful for Fellowship!

Thankful Thanksgiving # 7

I don't have pictures of everyone sorry but know I love you all.

I am thankful for my friends. Some are new and some are old. I have been through many good times and some hard times too. I have learned from all of them. They are all so amazing!
I know I can call any of them and they will be there for me.

Hugs girls you are the best!

Thankful Thanksgiving # 6

I am so thankful for my twin sisters Barb and Lisa. Since they are 18 years older than I am it was like having a second set of Mom's. They have cared for me and watched me grow up. They have each impacted my life in many ways.
They are huge blessings to me!
I am so excited for Ellison to have such great Aunt's!

I love you Barb and Lisa!

Great Blog

Check out this great blog that I follow, she does great giveaways.
http://lyndsieraegivesaway.blogspot.com/

Thankful Thanksgiving # 5

I am so thankful for my sweet baby girl. She has been the biggest blessing in my life. I love you more than words could ever say. I love you to the moon and back! I love you more than every grain of sand in the world.

Ellison you make Mommy so happy!

Thankful Thanksgiving # 4

I am thankful for our dog ESPN! He was our first "baby". He is very faithful and is always so happy to see me. Even though it is been a little bit trying since we have had Ellison home to have him around I love him. He is a good dog!