Minnicks On Their Road To Ever After: Christmas 2013

Would you believe we didn’t even start opening presents until lunchtime?? I think we have hit a new record!!

But lets be honest we had to get our bellies full first and what’s Christmas without Christmas Crunch!

Tucker Jones excitement was so adorable as always, after all it’s the moment he waits for ALLLLLLLLLLllll year long!

Christmas morning and he couldn’t be happier having us all in one room to watch us open our gifts!

While little miss cranky could be found at any time hoarding all of her babies…

She did join us for opening presents though, basically just to see what Santa brought her this year. It was absolutely amazing the interest she had in the presents that were for Lola, even before I knew they were intended for Lola.

She absolutely loved this outfit for Lola (and so did i) but Milly was literally infatuated with it!

At this point we gave her her own presents to distract her!

Can you tell I got anew camera and had to play with all the fun settings and take double the pictures!!!

I literally just cried when i saw this and tried to read the inscription on the necklace Lou got me….

One side under the tree says “Mommy and Lola” and the back says “Forever Love, Forever Friends”…. the word “friends” just makes me ball! It’s so fun to think she will be my new best friend!

To tell the truth i think everyone was just trying to see this 9 month prego mama ball as i opened all of Lola’s presents… Mom got her the sweetest books and wrote notes in each one!

I loved it!

Daddy got Lou a new toy helicopter this year and I’m not sure who was more entertained by it… Lou or TJ

Sometimes you need a pick me up on Christmas…

Some need sweets and some need energy drinks! Todd thought this one may be big enough for Alex!

LOL it was huge with a re-sealable lid even!! I’ll give you one guess as to who the first two at the table were…

Milly strategically reserved her spot right next to daddy. I think i have this same picture from each year!

Lou trying to sneak in some reading time… he LOVES getting a new book!

Lola and I were ready for Christmas dinner!

Mom’s homemade ravioli made from scratch!

I get sooooooo thirsty lately, i constantly have to have something to sip on and can never get enough! Christmas dinner i couldn’t decide what to drink so i had 3 options I went back and fourth between! Christmas cookies! TJ was worn out from all the excitement of Christmas morning…. just wait until next year TJ!

Well good news TJ, round 2 of Christmas was shortly after our real Christmas when Billy and Angela arrived from North Carolina!

Oh Milly..

Pooped again….

The next day we were all together in Hilton head for a dolphin cruise and to spend some time with Alex’s family and the girls!

All Aboard and freezing!

I’m such a mom….

I love the “old” setting on my new camera!

.. and I’m sure everyone loved that i got a new camera to play with ;)

Ok, ok on to the dolphins, I swear we really did see them, tons actually!

We may have froze our butts off but we did have a blast!

We met mom and dad for dinner after and got a bit lost and coincidently ended up at Alex’s favorite ice cream place BEFORE going to eat dinner!

The only place he ever gets watermelon ice cream…. which he totally brought into the Asian restaurant!

Our last dinner all together without a high chair!

They must have known i was pregnant…. our sweet waiter brought out a complimentary dessert!!

Then it was girl time inclusive of presents for these cuties!!

I always love Jane’s bright and cheerful Christmas theme!

Lou loves getting extra cuddle from baby Avery and she has really gotten more social lately! Sweet girls!

Lou was the cool kid on the block for the girls this year thanks to his video camera! Shu took it all over the house and came back about ten minutes later… it was quite interesting to get home and see what she had taped!

I attempted to get a picture of the three of them, not so much!

Avery was such a busy body it was terrible trying to get her to sit still for a picture but here was our attempt at a girls pic!

We had such a good visit and Shu was adorable asking about Lola! She is so smart and so excited, she rubbed my belly and said “Aunt Jen how much longer until Lola gets here?” For some reason it made it so much more real to hear Julian say her name?

Before heading back to Atlanta we were able to give mom her most favorite present of all one more time…

No not slaving away in the kitchen, but close! It’s us being all together and sitting together at the table…

and i do mean “all of us”! Time to head back to Atlanta, to celebrate 35 weeks and New Years Eve by putting Lola’s crib together!

Milly was right where we expected, in the middle of it all!

I love, love, love Lola’s nursery now!

The day after new years (January 2- 1 month from Lolas due date) we had our 35 week appointment which came with very good news… Lola is already head down!! We’re at weekly appointments now and I’m officially 36 weeks today! I wish sleeping wasn’t a necessity because it’s probably the hardest most uncomfortable thing to try and do lately, I would trade it for a crying baby any day!