30 Weeks Young!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The big 3-0!!!  Oh wait, I don't think that magical number is as big of a deal for babies as it is for some adults {ahem....}

Ta-Da!!!

This baby is as active as she is adorable, so you can just imagine how tricky it's getting to take her photo!  But somehow I still manage.  ;)

This was an exciting week in our home!  Mommy & Daddy got Emily her first Christmas tree!

I'm not quite sure she knew what to make of it {except that it's impeding on her play space}, but we think she generally likes it!

She also tried pears, which she instantly LOVED!!!!  She was licking her fingers to get every last bit!

Emily also tried carrots this week, which she liked as well!  Especially smeared all over her face...

And of course since she has approximately 79 Christmas outfits {I'm exaggerating a little bit....}, she's already been very festively dressed fashionista!

To celebrate the lights being strung up on the tree!

Rudolph's bestie

My Elf-On-A-Shelf Candy Cane Striper

#truth #notholdingmybreath

Looks like someone is posturing for extra presents!  #smartgirl #santaspet #thatsmygirl

I'm relieved to say, the little bambina survived her first cold, which was rough!!!  Her nose was dripping like a faucet for a week straight, and despite all the many doodad thingamajiggies we have to "easily" remove boogies from a baby's button nose, it was nearly impossible to pin her down!  This meme could not be more perfect!!!

Source: http://itsliketheyknowus.tumblr.com/

Once Emily was feeling better, she was back to her old silly, fun self!  Mommy taught her how to play catch, which she got a biiiiiiig kick out of!

Who knows what tricks she'll learn next!  :)

Gift Ideas for Expectant Parents

All the incredibly sweet and thoughtful gifts I received this Christmas gave me the idea to write out a little "gift list idea guide for expectant parents"!  So without further ado, here goes...

My BFF gifted me this beautiful Willow Tree "Home" figurine:

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I especially love the description from the artist, "Together, our family is home", which you can read here.  Coincidentally, for our engagement 6 years ago, my aunt gave us the Willow Tree "Together" figurine, and my godmother and mom each gave us various pieces of the Willow Tree nativity set over the past couple Christmases -- all of which I love -- so I'm very excited to add this one to our collection!  ... Even though Shep keeps trying to put the Willow Tree couple figurine IN the nativity set at Christmas, and then I keep taking it away...  it's kind of become a game at this point.  I'm sure he's going to put this one in there now, too!

Speaking of my other half...

My always thoughtful and super sweet hubby surprised me with this ornament for our tree this year:

He also got me this funny t-shirt, which is very appropriate since I work for a tech company:

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But I wasn't the only one who got some new clothing!  Shep is now sporting some super nice pre-baby-wear of his own!

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And, because apparently great minds think alike, I got him this ornament:

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Well, there you have it!  A great gift list for expectant parents, if I do say so myself!!!  Any readers out there have any other advice or suggestions??  I'd love to hear them!