Choices, Choices.....

Okay so let me begin by saying, that I am long over due for a new hair style!!! 

I mean it's totally pathetic ... I repeat PATHETIC that I have pretty much had the same styled hair most of my married life.  I did go short for a little spell and discoverd that I don't like short hair on me.  And of course, with just having a new baby about 5 months ago, I'm really feeling the itch to do something fun, flirty and creative with my hair.  So I'm going out on a limb here and will let "YOU" decide which hair cut I'm getting this coming Saturday. (I hope it can happen Saturday!) And I have been considering some hi-lights -- but mostly I picked these pictures because of the cut.  So here's how it'll work, on the side -----> there is a "survey/quiz" and it'll have these options. Just vote for the two you like best.   And come Friday I'll go with the one that has the most votes. 

First one while I was pregnant back in August 2011--

BEFORE:

POTENTIALLY AFTERS:

A)

 B)

C)

Do you have another suggestion ?  Leave a comment with the link to the picture.

Option D --- Top picture with brown color and layers

Had to do it that way because, I couldn't save the picture.

I'll revisit this on Friay.

This is what I spent my time doing on Christmas Eve...

So this year I set out to make home made stockings.  I picked the fabric up at JoAnn's while they had all their fleece at 50% off. Which did save me a lot of money.  I had Heidi and Katherine with me at the time while I picked out the different prints. And I was happy to find out when we got home and showed everyone which print we picked out for them that they all liked our choices.  Esther is the only one that really didn't have a say and probably won't be able to let us know for a few more years still.  I was able to cut them out just fine and had an idea of what I wanted them to turn out like, but I can guarantee you that they all look different.  The first ones had the most noticeable flaws, and by the end I was able to almost master the look I was shooting for in the beginning.  So the way I see it ... they all have CHARACTER!  And they are home made with love and time which is way more than one from the store would be.  The kids didn't see any of them completed before they went to bed on Christmas Eve -- as I stayed up most of the night sewing and cutting out the last 8 pieces that weren't cut out already.   And for the top (white) part I just used fleece there as well. And I think they all turned out cute -- but what do you know I think I'm a little biased.  I used strap material in white and black for the loops that were sewn in to the stocking as I sewed up the edges.  Now our Christmas's will have a little more fun and personality with these delightful additions.  We missed out on having any stockings up for decorations this year until Christmas morning, but at least now they are made and will be the ones we use for the next several years. 

  Above from left to right :  Heidi,  Thomas, Ethan,  and Esther

Below from left to right:  Chris (aka DAD), Wendy (aka MOM), Kaylee and Katherine

So what did you make this year?  Any plans to make new items for next year? 

Our Christmas Letter for 2011

Esther at 2 months

So another month has past and my little girl is now two months old.

 ( Again more for my benefit than anyone else's and this was started on November 9th and now it's the 12th ...oops that goes to show you what life with a newborn can be like.) 

• You love to sit in the swing.
• Your brothers and sisters love to hold you.  
• You were blessed on the day you tuned 2 months old. 
• You are starting to show smiles and the kids get all excited when you start to smile for them. 
• You are still very spitty, and can be quite gassy.  
• You love your pacifier ( and I love it too) 
• You love to be snuggled and wrapped up in your blankets.  
• You sleep well when you actually fall asleep.  
• You had your first Halloween and we dressed you up as a ballerina. You are so cute!

First picture was taken on October 31st, 2011  and the second picture was taken Oct 23, 2011 -- you are growing so fast, and I know this is just the start of more fun times to come.  We love you Esther!

1 month old already.

This was started a few days ago ... on October 6th. 
(This is mostly for me so I don't forget how you develop and progress) 

Okay so Esther....

Today you are 1 month old and sadly I'm writing this at the end of the day and you are starting to fuss and need attention.  So hold on a minute while I go and grab you.....


.... I'm back.

Things I've noticed about you this last month that you've been our little girl

• You have 3 sisters and 2 brothers that ADORE you.  Ethan is always saying how you are beautiful and the cutest in the whole world. And that you are a princess.  And Heidi is always asking me when I talk to her on the phone if you are still cute.  And I think that everyone else totally agrees. 
• Everyone loves to hold you even if it's just for a few minutes.  And any time you are crying everyone at least your brothers and sisters think it's because you are hungry and they promptly yell out ... "Feed ESTHER mom!! She's hungry"  or "Mom! Make her be quiet".  But really you aren't that noisy and I just have to explain that babies make noise.  
• Speaking of noise you are starting to experiment with your voice.  And occasionally you will make some noise and it's so pretty to hear. I can hardly wait till you are able to say, " I love you Mom ...You are the best!"  or some variation of that phrase.  
• You tend to like your binky. 
• You love for me to hold you. And swaddle you with the pink fuzzy blanket. 
• You weighed 8lbs 4oz at birth and we aren't really sure what your actual length was at birth there was/is some confusion on that. But your hospital tag said 19 1/2 inches.  And by your two week check up you weighed 9 lbs 3 oz, and you were 20 1/2 or 3/4 inches long.  ( Don't blame me,  I haven't been getting much sleep lately)  ***** I took you in to the Dr. on the 7th and found out that you weigh 9lbs 12 oz. 
• You have been known so far for two major "blowouts".  Once on our way to see a house with a Realtor and I absentmindedly forgot to make sure the bag was stocked with extra clothes and such and you basically went home naked other than a clean diaper that I did have. 
• You sleep really well, mostly.  And usually I am only getting up with you once during the night for a feeding.  But don't go thinking you've been miss little perfect by any means.... because we have had a few rough nights where I'm only getting 2 hours of sleep.  But somehow I manage to push through the tiredness the next day and do some of my "motherly duties" for you and for the other 5 children.  
• You are nursing really well, and pretty much have put yourself on your own feeding schedule, but I do have to keep you on it during the daytime or we have a rough night together. 

It's been a whole month and I've fallen so in love with you Esther! I can hardly wait to see what this next month and all those other months after that bring about.