Christmas Catch-Up

It's been far too long, but I'm going to give our poor blog an update by (gasp!) actually posting! We'll try to do this 'cliffs-notes' style. Short, sweet and to the point. No worries on a quiz either...

Camilla a-snoozin' away!

Camilla is a growing girl having just reached her 2 month birthday (um, excuse me, but where has the time gone already!?) on Dec. 18th. Today she went for her 2month check up and here's her stats: 8lbs 5oz and 21 3/4 inches long.

She is learning to coo so sweetly and smiles at the sounds of our voices or sights of our faces. She loves when we play the little game of tickling her nose/cheek/ear/tummy - she is happiest laying down and 'playing'. She continues to be such an easy & sweet baby...we are so blessed! Camilla loves to snooze and sleeps from about 10:30pm until 6am - Mommy is especially grateful! I have nicknamed her "Birdie" as she has the cutest little baby-bird-down hair on her head, and that she will snuggle right up to me like a baby bird would to its mother. So sweet.

Camilla was also baptized on Dec. 12th - wearing my own baptism gown....and the same one Sophia wore to her baptism. It's a sweet little dress and now it means so much to have worn it myself and had both daughters wear it. However, neither daughter was I able to get a decent photo of them wearing it. Go figure.

Camilla wearing Mommy's baptism dress

Brendan & Monica: Camilla's Godparents

Sophia seems like a teenager in comparison to her baby sister. She is busy with school and her social calendar! School performances, parties, play dates and more keep Sophia a-buzz with activity. She is only 3mos away from turning FOUR - I can't hardly believe it. She is still loving school and is SO darn smart! She can write her name, "mommy", "daddy" and attempts "Camilla" and a few of her friends' names. She recognizes letters and is on the brink of learning the basics of reading (hooray!). She loves books and pretending to be a teacher...most of all, she loves being Camilla's BIG sister - can you believe the novelty hasn't worn off yet? We've never seen signs of jealousy and I don't think we ever will. Pure sweetness pours from her kisses, hugs and love for Camilla. Heaven! Here's some more of what Sophia's been up to...

Boarding The Polar Express!

Reading along in the book as we race to the North Pole aboard The Polar Express!

Sophia singing in her school Christmas program

Sophia's class Christmas party

Sophia 'skyping' with her bff, Ava across town!

In other news, Mommy sadly had to return to work in her position as marketing director & buyer on Dec. 9th. Working as a marketing director & buyer for 3 retail stores meant I had LOTS of work to do before I ever left on maternity leave...and also meant I'd have a heap on my desk when I returned. Not to mention heading back to market (in Atlanta) for nearly a week early January! I had told myself that it wouldn't be hard or bad since I'd been thru this before and I'd at least know what to expect. Wrong! I think it was worse this time b/c of that very reason. I had high anxiety going back. I love my job, but I knew how badly it was going to hurt to have to give up being the full-time mommy gig that I had cherished the past 8wks. I was desperately going to miss the girls. However, I fared ok my first day back - and Rod even had flowers sent to my office to help cheer me up. It was nice to be greeted with such enthusiasm by everyone I worked with - it felt good to be wanted back at work by all of them as they said they had really missed me. It's always nice to know you're needed and wanted by so many sweet people! Luckily, unlike my return to work after Sophia's birth, I at least remembered where my files were stored on my computer at work! It's taking me a bit of time to re-adjust to being a working mom, but I'm hanging in there and hoping I can manage my new family circus!

I was super proud of myself this year for running in my 7th consecutive Jingle Bell Run 5k too....just 6wks after giving birth! Initially I had given up hope of doing it as I thought that was too lofty of a goal. However, I recovered great from the c-section, and was exercising long before the 6wk mark. Because I was in such great shape when I got pregnant, I was able to shed the baby weight in nearly record time. Without any running under my belt in the last 9mos or leading up to the run, I think finishing it in 36mins wasn't too shabby. I told myself I wouldn't be running this for the time this year, but just to say I completed it. I was certainly proud for finishing it, but I sure did miss my time of 28mins from last year's run!

Julie post-run...brr, it was a COLD run!

Shed the jacket to pose with my Birdie!

Lastly, we are looking forward to spending our first Christmas as a family of four...God has blessed us greatly with our sweet Camilla Ann this year and we couldn't be happier or more grateful!