Breath of Heaven

Yep, that was us. It feels like it was only yesterday and yet at the very same time it feels like he has always been a part of us. Liam has brought us so much joy this holiday season. I just cannot think of anything that makes me happier than hearing the laughter of my little boy at Christmas and dreaming about all of the Christmas' to come and what 'santa' will bring and what traditions our little family will take on. Family. We have our very own little family and life is pretty perfect. A breath of heaven.

The final touches on our tree this year? Our very special first "Liam" ornaments. 

We even hid goldfish and animal cookies in the Advent box which was a huge hit!

Because we typically travel during Christmas, Bill and I save one special evening reserved for our Christmas. We have pretty much celebrated just the two of us since we were first married. We make hot chocolate and start a fire while stuffing each others stockings full. This year Bill hurried home from the office to meet Liam and I and celebrate our very first Robinson III Family Christmas. 

 My husband blew me away with all the unexpected surprises. Items to make any woman feel truly loved. The plan was to spend the money on the baby for Christmas and then just do a little something for each other. Bill had other plans. Wonderful plans. Plans that included a basket full of scented lotion, gels and perfumes along with a cashmere Burberry scarf in camel. He broke all the rules, but I so love him for it!

We were not sure how Liam would react to opening his gifts, but his response could not have been better. He was thrilled to dig through a stocking loaded with goodies. Of course his favorites included the two toy cars I picked up at target the day before as "extras." 

He carefully picked at the bow, 

Before ripping into the paper and taking a little taste!

It was my very favorite present! His first pair of cowboy boots. I have had them for what seems like forever! It is a wonder I did not lose them. Liam of course, opened the box, realized it was clothing, and quickly closed the box. Such a boy!

Once I got them on his feet, however, he was very proud of them! Now he looks just like dad!

The last of the Fisher-Price toys were opened. A shopping cart! 

I have been blessed with 3 amazing boys (no, we haven't forgotten about our sweet Tucker). This Christmas took my breath away. We celebrated Jesus' birthday and prepared for Liam's. Christmas will never be the same. It only gets better from here!

A Big 11 Months

It's the most wonderful time of the year and this season it is especially wonderful! I cannot believe that we will be celebrating your first Christmas as an eleven month old! When I look back at last years photos and see my big, red belly it seems impossible to believe that it has been a year. What a difference!

Girl's Grinch Exchange

It was another party packed week with work functions and our Sunday School Christmas dinner, which we regretfully had to miss due to poor little Liam's fever. Thank you flu shot! On Friday I hosted the 4th annual Girl's Christmas Grinch Exchange. Finding an open date was pretty much impossible so next year we are going to do an after Christmas "Exchange Your Gift" party. All that being said, we had a great group and tons and tons of fun!

It wouldn't be my Christmas party without the famous apple martinis. This time I waited until the party to test them!

We also added a Jingle Bell cocktail and the ever popular pink drink!

As for the pickle hunt, it was Allison who was victorious! Sorry Mary and Alisa!

We talked about who we were going to set our single gals up with... hold on to Steven, Rachael... wink!

 And discussed baby milestones and mommy tips!

When we actually started the exchange, I got so into it that I forgot to take photos! It was the year of the wine glasses. There were several items I had my eye on, but then an apothecary jar was unveiled. It was so absolutely perfect. I had been on the hunt for a fourth jar for Liam's 1st birthday party. It was perfect for the day when the caterpillar ate through 4 strawberries! It was stolen, once... twice.... and I knew it was mine when the only person ahead of me was my sister-in-law. Would you believe that our very own Aunt Nolie stole the jar killing the steal? Maybe she will let us borrow it! Santa is watching... all in total good fun! Plus I know the giver of the jar and she spilled the beans on where to find another! haha!

Then... a little later, Surprise! Alisa rushed over from her hubby's office party just to be with us for a little bit and we were thrilled!

Thanks for helping make Christmas special ladies! And to those of you we missed... mark your calendars for 2011!

For a little bonus... I got to spend a little time with Layla this weekend. She is so yummy!

Your Friend, Liam

I looked all over for gifts appropriate for all Liam's little classmates. I found tons of cool stuff for next year, but nothing to fall in love with this year. This age group is so hard. I really wanted Advent calendars, but I just had no time to make them and the ones you buy were super expensive. Enter Kirklands. Yes, that is where I found the most adorable Christmas outfits and bibs! Kirklands? Really? Of all the places I went... a home decor place... haha! But they were so cute and the perfect price - I almost hate giving it away but this $30 little outfit and $12 bib was on the biggest sale ever! $6 for the outfit and $3 a bib! What a STEAL!

A little reindeer for the boys (there were several options for bibs, but my fav was the elf)

Work & Play

It is such a busy time of the year. There are errands to run, presents to buy, year-end activities at work, and plenty of holiday parties. In fact Bill's bank Christmas party was on Wednesday night. We were lucky to have Ellen in town to watch Liam because the Houston Producers Forum was the very next night! I did not get any photos from the actual events because I think I would have embarrassed my poor husband, but I managed to get a photo of the entrance as we waited in the valet line at the River Oaks Country Club (Bill's blackberry of course). The parties were quite a contrast - bar food & band to ice sculpture shrimp and valet choir... but we had a great time at both!

On Friday, instead of running a multitude of needed errands or washing loads of laundry or cleaning the house... I spent the day with a wonderful little ten month old because Friday was his day and because sometimes nothing else matters!

We started the morning with a visit to Wonder Wild with Noah and it was a good thing Noah's mom was a pro at getting there because this place is a hard one to find! There was a place for little ones to play fully equipped with one of Liam's favorites... A ball pit!

Noah took a turn on the trains and was a pro. He comes by it naturally!

Ashley braved the huge jungle gym and took Noah down all the big boy slides! She is such a great mom!

But I was not about to enter chasing a ten month old, so we watched from outside.

The boys particularly enjoyed bouncing on the blob.

It is a great place to play for all ages and it is indoors which is a plus! They even had a snack area to feed the littles lunch! Liam and I went home for a nap and rested up for his first class at Gymboree. At first I wasn't so sure and it seemed like all the kids are so good at climbing, etc. But Liam started to get the hang of things! He really enjoyed bubble time, which I was afraid of since he was NOT a fan of the bubble machine I bought and he laughed and giggled the entire music time. It was a great day (no Gymbo pics, sorry!)

On Sunday we delivered our Manna Family gifts with our Sunday School class. We seriously have the greatest class. I love each and every family! We lined up the tables for lunch at Southwells and filled the place with couples and kids. We did get photos, just not with my camera...

And even more shocking? We went to the Robbins house on Sunday to round out the weekend at their tacky sweater Christmas leftover party, and I did bring the camera, just only took 1 photo... crazy I know! Greg and Sayler were so nice to include us and the house was decorated top to bottom! Sayler had the most beautiful tree... a real tree which filled the house with the aroma of Christmas. We really enjoy this amazing family and I am so glad they are our friends!

December Fun!

What do you mean it is December?

This year decorating for Christmas took on a whole new meaning! I would spend hours finding the perfect place for each Christmas decor item - I love Christmas. I love the music, the lights, the tree, the stockings... I love it all! This year it was more of a "throw it up there and cross your fingers kind of decorating!" And finding creative ways to entertain your ten month old while you attach the Christmas lights to the bush can be quite the challenge! But he loved it!

It has been a while since we got any of the littles together, so last weekend we gathered a few of our friends together to play. The dynamic of our play dates change each time we are together. Brooks and Liam are now completely mobile and such the little climbers.

The way Brooks loves his mommy is completely heart melting!

Wyatt is sitting up now!!

Noah is so far past the "sit and play" stage and is at such a fun age. We filled up our wine glasses and setup the bouncers outside so that Noah could chase bubbles (which is the only thing Liam isn't so sure about, but more on that later). He is such handsome little man!

I have such wonderful and supportive mommy friends! And I love all their littles!  Looks like we will be quickly adding to the play dates and we are thrilled!