Wordless Wednesday

Emma's 2nd Birthday

With the new baby, I am a little slow in posting new pictures and updating everyone on recent events. The biggest event, that I have failed to report on is that Emma had her birthday and she turned 2.
Grandma O'Neil made her a Cookie Monster cake, which was oh so delicious, and she had a bouquet of balloons. Terence and I tried to make her birthday special despite the fact that we did not throw her a party. Emma we will make up for it next year.

Christmas 2011

With the arrival of Cam so close to Christmas, I had to get all my shopping and decorating done before we went to the hospital. Emma celebrated Christmas twice. One at Grandma and Grandpa O'Neil's house and one at our house when she returned the day after Christmas. Santa brought her a tricycle which she has had to ride every day since. She also got lots of books and dvd's along with a rocking (horse) bear, clothes, a kitchen and a giant cookie monster puzzle.







Cam had some visitors over the holiday weekend. He met his great aunt and uncle Anne and Lynn and hung out with his uncle Robert. He took some naps with Grandpa O'Neil and got a helping hand with a bottle from his big sister.

Campbell David

Campbell David was born on December 19, 2011, at 1:10 in the afternoon. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 inches long.


Mommy and Cam spent the first two of three nights in the hospital without Daddy b/c Daddy was taking care of big sister Emma. Emma did come and visit Mommy and Cam at the hospital everyday.



Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Alicia arrived on Wednesday and were able to spend a couple of hours with Campbell before they took Emma back home to stay with her.

On Thursday, it was time to go home. So Cam got into his going-home-outfit and impressed all the nurses with how handsome he looked.



Welcome home Cam. Now the Hall family is complete!

Playing Dress Up

Emma has been on a dress-up kick the past few weeks. It usually involves her winter hat, scarf, and mittens.

But last night, she wanted all her hair clips in her hair. So I twisted her hair strands and placed about 6-7 clips in her hair. She then added all her hair bands wrapped around her wrists and mittens for the last shots.

Trying to Capture Christmas

This past weekend I, along with my friend Megan, took Emma to see Santa Clause at the Barton Creek Mall in Austin. I waited until she got up from her nap and headed up to Austin to meet Megan at the mall. We found Santa right away and the line did not look all that long so we got into place and waited. Thank goodness for the mini-train that went around the Christmas scene. Emma was captivated by the train. She did not ask to get on the train, but just wanted to watch it go round and round. That made the 1 hour and 15 minute wait a little more bearable. When it was our turn to finally see Santa, Emma promptly threw herself onto the ground in front of him and refused to move. There I am, 9 months pregnant, appearing in front of a line of what seemed liked hundreds of judging eyes, under the gaze of Santa, with a child that appears to be about to throw a tantrum. I do not know what I did, but there was no leg kicking and the crying didn't start. I persuaded Emma to sit on my lap as I sat next to Santa. She conceded, but wanted her stuffed dog to hold onto for comfort.
That is why I am in the picture of Emma with Santa. That is why Emma looks sceptical. That is why Santa is trying to comfort me. That is why in this picture I am smiling like a silly, stressed-out mom.

I hope your holiday photo's capture the essence of Christmas.

Post 100

I feel like this post is a milestone not only in its number but in the information it brings. My sisters traveled down from Dallas last weekend to help me move furniture, steam clean the bedroom carpets, build a headboard, decorate/paint Cam's nursery, redecorate Emma's bedroom, clean out closets, and organize.
We accomplished many of the things on the list, and the things we didn't get to, are small and I will be able to do them on my own.
We got the carpets cleaned and the furniture moved from the guest bedroom (now Cam's nursery) into Emma's new big girl room. We decorated both and were able to get Emma's room completely redone. Here she is on her big girl bed.

She has adjusted well to the change. The first night in her new bed she slept through the night, the second night, not so much. The third night, we didn't hear a peep out of her until after 4:30am, that counts as through the night.


We painted one wall in Cam's room, moved the crib and dresser in, and the glidder chair. Here are some shots of the guest bedroom now nursery.


Thanks to my sisters for all their help as well as to my brother-in-law and husband who kept out of our way and pitched in when we needed them.