Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

{Sumrall family Christmas card 2011}

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A day in the life.

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Of course Christmas comes at the same time each year but every year it seems like it gets here faster and faster! This year we started off the Christmas season by participating in our church's First Christmas... an interactive Bethlehem village that must be on your to do list if you live in the area! Friday Brad and I worked in the carpentry booth... Saturday night we were carpenters again and Bes wanted in on the action too so she dressed up and walked around as a villager with two of the sweet youth girls. Then on Sunday night Mae was baby Jesus! I tried to make her actually look like an infant but for the most part she sat up and waved as everyone passed by... she got several "that's a big 'ol baby Jesus" but she was sweet as can be! I think I fed her puffs for 2 hours straight and right before the last group came through baby Jesus had a blowout! Ahhh... memories. =) We were so blessed to be able to be a part of such a special ministry. No doubt a tradition we will participate in year after year! Several times since I have heard "Shalom, welcome to the carpentry shop" coming from Bes's bedroom... I'm telling you, that girl is a little sponge... she doesn't miss a thing.

This girl knows how to party!!

Another birthday down for Bessie! For a girl that didn't have a "real" birthday party she sure did have the best time ever turning four! For her birthday she wanted to "swim at a hotel with her cousins and boyfriend"... so we did. =)

Then we headed to Collierville for Thanksgiving... and to celebrate some more!

Then we got our party on again at Mama'Ts!

And for the finale she had a birthday party with her friends at school!!

Turning 4 was so much fun she is already talking about her 5th birthday! Sigh.

My sweet, talented friends...

For shower gifts two of my sweet, talented friends gave me photo sessions. I never posted Mae's newborn pictures so to those of you who read... you get a double dose... many thanks to Katie McCrary Photography for the newborn photos and Renee Reedy Photography for Mae's six month session. And you know Bessie got in on the action as well. =)

8 month old update.

At 8 months old...

Mae is ON THE MOVE!! She is all over the place! From one end of the house to the other... she can follow her big sister step for step. Pulling up on everything and getting steady and brave enough to even let go. Of course with this new phase comes plenty of bumps and bruises but for the most part I just let her cruise the day away.

Bathtime is officially a nightmare. All that crawling around and pulling up... I feel like I've had a workout after it's over!

She said mama until she learned to say dada and now that's about all she'll say... unless she's tired and whiney and then she starts calling her mama.

Waves bye-bye

Nurses every 4 hours during the day.

Sleeps 8 hours at night... then like clockwork she'll wake up... I nurse, then right back down she goes and wakes up between 7 and 8. I'm thinking it's time to let her cry it out but I let her cry out the first night feeding and she doesn't give up easy... I'm loosing less sleep this way and at this point that's all it's about. =)

Still loves to eat sweet potatoes with corn casserole being a close 2nd.

LOVES eating like a big girl! Anything she can pick up and eat herself is always a hit!

Not really taking well to the sippy cup.

She has avoided being sick... until now... we are knee deep in meds and breathing treatments. Poor little Mae has RSV. =(

It came as fast as it went...

November that is...

I mean really, time...please oh please stop passing me by so quickly!!

Bes has spent many afternoons playing in the leaves...

she is pretty fearless when she has a bed of leaves to soften the landing.

We got to spend some fun times with sweet friends...

note to self... we MUST do that more often...

it was way too much fun!!

Trips to the park...

are always a hit!

Daddy set up his tent in the backyard for several days and Bes had the time of her life. She almost burst from excitement by the time he got it up and ready for action.

We spent the night with Pop Daddy and Grom and that is ALWAYS a good time. Whenever we go to visit Bes can't enjoy the time she is there because she is too worried about when she is going to have to go home!!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Trunk and Treat 2011

Allow me to introduce....

Sebastian and Ariel Sumrall.

We had trunk and treat at church on Wednesday night. Mae, as always, seemed to have the time of her life. As long as there are people to watch and lots to look at she is one happy camper.

Bes struck a (rather sultry) pose and it got me tickled...

which got her tickled...

then her giggle box was turned over. =)

Bes enjoyed trunk and treat as well. We had quite the turn out and there were people and costumes everywhere! Bes isn't such a big fan of the "scary" part of Halloween. We've had to be very careful to steer clear of certain stores and decor. She really didn't have time to participate in any of the trunk games because she was too busy watching everyone else. I kept asking her what she wanted to do next and several times she said she just wanted to sit and look at everyone's costumes. Truth be told, I think all those costumes were making her a nervous wreck! One trunk was a clown theme... Bes was having no part of that! She tensed up just having to walk by it... bless her. Funny thing, her daddy was exactly the same way when he was little.
She has been counting the days until she could wear her mermaid costume and she was just as happy as can be to walk around as Ariel for the night.

We saw Jack when we first got there and then we got lost from each other in the crowd. Bes asked me where Jack was all night. She loves her some Jack.

Sweet friends. A trip down memory lane. =)

Hand me down love.

As much as I would absolutely adore having my girls matching every. single. time we walk out the door, I do love for Mae to wear Bes's hand me downs. Lets me have sweet little flash backs all the day long.

Sweet Bessie.

Oh me. Where does the time go?

Little Mae.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

7 months old

The sixth month was a big one for little Mae...

First word. Mama. =)

She started crawling on 10-24-2011.

Two tiny bottom toofies broke through on 10-23-2011.

She pulls up on her bed and some furniture.

Her favorite thing to do is sit on the floor with her big sister and play with her toys.

She is a great little eater... still loves sweet potatoes the best and nurses every 4 hours.

Naps well and sleeps at night from 7:30-8 pm until 7-7:30 am... waking once around 3 am to eat.

She still thinks her big sissy is the most fun ever!

And still the happiest little blue eyed baby you ever did see. =)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Let the games begin!

Soccer is in full swing and Bes is having the best time ever! She isn't the most aggressive player that ever was... she tends to stay out of the "wad" and just runs after the crowd. However, at this week's game the ball somehow ended up right in front of her foot... and she kicked it... and she scored!! We never told her it was in the wrong goal. =)

Bes and Coach Lu

Talking it over with daddy.

Having buddies like Jack...

and Nash on the team make it even more fun!!

(all photos courtesy of Katie McCrary)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Forever His Child...

Sunday was Mae's baby dedication. She had quite the crowd that came to love on her. During the ceremony, she let her little light shine. She kicked and squealed and smiled and laughed and I'm pretty sure she stole the hearts of many a church member before it was over. =) After church, everyone came to our house for lunch. It was such a special day for us... We are so blessed with such wonderful family and friends and there were several times throughout the day where I just had to stop and soak it all in.