I'll start by sharing the very exciting news we got today. I had an OB appointment, and they wanted to do a quick ultrasound check. When the tech saw the baby, she said that she could clearly see the sex, and asked us if we wanted to know. Of course, we did, and....IT'S A BOY!!!!!! We are SO excited! Reese has learned to say "baby brother," and it's so cute. Matt went out and bought some blue bibs and onesies after work. Time for me to plan a nursery!

It's been awhile since I updated. We have been so busy with the holiday season. It has been a blast this year. A few weeks ago, we used our Brookfield Zoo membership to go see their holiday light display. It was so much fun. When we first got there, Reese was really quiet & intimidated by the people and characters (dressed up as Frosty and Rudolph) and she didn't seem to want anything to do with any of it. I don't think she realized where we were until she saw the penguins. All of a sudden, something clicked, and she started asking for monkeys over and over an over until we made our way to the monkey house. From that point on, she had an absolute blast. We ended the evening with her giving SEVERAL high fives to Frosty and Rudolph, and then crying, kicking, and screaming when we had to finally drag her out of there.





We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Reese was so much fun. She loved opening presents, and she REALLY loved all of the attention that she got everywhere we went.







Christmas morning was the best. Ever since we started dating, it has been our Christmas morning tradition to have Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. This year, I decided it was time to step it up, and I made them from scratch. They were delicious, and I even let Reese try one, despite my usual efforts to keep sugar out of her belly. It was Christmas, after all. :)





After breakfast, we moved on to opening gifts. Reese loved tearing into the paper, and she even seemed to be excited to see the gifts themselves.







Reese was very excited to open her stocking, and her excitement grew exponentially when she found a container of puffs inside. Her eyes were like saucers when I opened the can & handed it to her and let her eat right out of it.









Matt had bought and wrapped a gift for us to give Reese a few weeks ago, and he wouldn't tell me what it was until she opened it. It ended up being all 5 Yo Gabba Gabba beanie babies (from a cartoon on Nick Jr. that Reese LOVES). She was so happy, you would have thought she opened a box of magic. She has been taking them everywhere with her.



Reese's big gift from us was a homemade play kitchen. We have been working on it for the last month, and I'm happy with the way it turned out. Most importantly, Reese LOVES it, and she is playing with it all the time.







As usual, Reese got spoiled rotten by both sets of her grandparents. Here are some pictures of her enjoying Christmas at each of their houses.





Mary made Reese a beautiful sweater and hat, and Reese didn't want to take the hat off while she finished opening presents.



My parents got Reese musical instruments for Christmas, and she loved them, but she really loved the box they were in.











We are very blessed to have such wonderful family to spend the holidays with, and we have enjoyed all of our time with everyone!