Looking Back At 2011

I know I'm a little late with my "year in review" post.  Hey, it's a busy time of year!  But I did want to take a moment to look back on what is probably the best year of my life, so far.  It's not an exaggeration to say that 2011 was when my oldest, most cherished dream finally came true - I became a mom.  It has truly been the most amazing experience, one that was even more incredible than I had ever dreamed it would be.  I am so thankful that we have our beautiful baby angel, and I am even MORE thankful for her amazing daddy, with whom I can share ALL of her moments - wonderful and frustrating and beautiful and tiring and just plain HAPPY.  Here's to what 2012 will bring our sweet little family!

                          

JANUARY

Almost time!

A family of 3.

 

FEBRUARY

Such a diva!

MARCH

Snuggling with Great Grandpa

First St. Paddy's

APRIL

NOOOO FLOWERS!!

Happy Easter!

MAY

First Mother's Day

Giving rice cereal a try.

JUNE

First Ranger game!

JULY

First 4th of July

Baptism

AUGUST

Our little water baby

SEPTEMBER

Off to school.

                                                                 

OCTOBER

Apple picking

Boston!!

First Halloween

NOVEMBER

Four generations of Morrisseys

First Thanksgiving

DECEMBER 

Santa!!

First Christmas!

Tootie's First Christmas

The Morrisseys in Watauga liked Christmas a lot.

But Tootie, the newest Morrissey, was still just a tot!

Toots had never celebrated Christmas, never experienced the season.

She was not even one, which of course, was the reason.

So Mommy and Daddy fixed the house up just right,

And made sure she was ready for fun days and fun nights.

Mommy hung up a stocking for their little dear.
This month it was Christmas!  It was practically here!

Daddy thought, with his Daddy fingers nervously drumming,
"We must find a way to make her first Christmas stunning!"
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they knew their sweet girl,
Would be rushing around in a red and green whirl.
And then!  Oh, the toys!  Oh, the toys!  Toys!  Toys!  Toys!
There was one thing for sure - they would make noise!  Noise!  Noise!


Christmas Eve came at last, and to church they all went.
Hearing about Jesus' birth, what a blessed event!
The children's service was perfect for the sweet little child,
The tale of the donkey who carried Mary, so tender and mild.


Then the Morrisseys, young and old, all hopped into the car.
To go see Gran and Gramps, who didn't live far.
They opened their gifts with Uncle Dustin and Aunt Jess,
Ah, you can guess, it became quite the mess!

And then, they did something Toots loves most of all.
A night among family, just having a ball!

With Gran

With Gramps

Cousin Crystal

Cousin Michael

Cousins played all together, to their gifts some were clinging.
In the background, old Bing and the Chipmunks were singing.
And the later it got on that first Christmas Eve,
The sleepier Makenna got, so it was time to leave.
In her bed, they laid her quietly, and then snuck out quick.
Because Mommy and Daddy knew it was time for St. Nick!


A couple of hours after dawn, little Toots still a-bed.
Little Toots, still a-snooze, Mommy and Daddy sleepyheads.
They crept into her room, she rubbed her tired eyes.
She had no idea it was time for a surprise!
Mommy took her to the living room, Daddy with the camera in tow.
"Look, look, Makenna! Well what do you know?
Santa has visited and brought you something new.
A fun little Fisher Price kitchen for you!" 

Baby opened her presents, not once was she sad.
With each new fun toy, this Tootie was glad!
All the Morrisseys in Watauga, the tall and the small,
Were happy and smiling, but that wasn't all.


Off to Mimi and Granddad's the family next went.
Hoping Makenna's patience wasn't already spent!
Reading "Silent Night" and more fun ripping paper,

Brunch with Aunt B and Uncles Stephen, Colin and Lee later.

Then after the meal, it was naptime, you see.

So much excitement for one sweet little Tootie!


Off to Grammy's they went for more Christmas, Third Round.
Makenna slept on the way, hardly making a sound.
More gifts and more family, it couldn't have been better!
She would have played with the paper all night, if we'd let her!                                             
She played and entertained Uncles Nick and Randy,
With Aunties Karen and Jennifer also watching so happily.
But the clock ticked down, and it was getting so late.
Home to bed they all went; they just couldn't wait.
And what happened then?  Well, in Watauga they say,
That the Morrisseys' three hearts couldn't have been fuller that day.

SANTA!!! I KNOW HIM!

Shortly after Thanksgiving, I began making plans for Makenna's ever-important, oh-so-fun, possibly slightly stressful and/or scary First Visit with Santa Claus.  I was so excited to see how she would react when she saw him and snap those always adorable first Santa pictures.  Knowing Makenna the way that I do, and the fact that she is such a social, laid back baby, I had no fears that she would be a screamer, crier or kicker.  She loves everyone, so why not St. Nick?


We made plans to hit up good old Northeast Mall the first Saturday of December, since we knew waiting any longer was probably not the best course of action.  Before we left for the mall, though, the plan was to take some "Christmas pictures" of Makenna to use for Christmas cards. Our normally cooperative baby was not feeling so cooperative that day, and I just KNEW after 30 minutes of snapping pics left and right and we didn't get anything good.  Fortunately for me, I was totally wrong!

Sure, she may not be sitting perfectly posed or looking straight at the camera...but DANG, these pictures show her sweet little personality, and I LOVE them!  Even the "getting ready" pictures are sweet!

After the photo session at home, we jetted off to the mall.  At first glance, the line looked pretty. Stinking. Long.  Luckily, it seemed to be moving pretty quickly, and Makenna took the time to flirt with the other babies around us.  We also had time for a few family pics.

Within probably 30 minutes, we were at the front and ready to go!  Chad handed Makenna off to Santa, and she looked up at him like, "Who the heck is THIS guy?"  We all called her name and acted completely silly to get her attention and try to get her to smile, but our tired little Toots was just VERY overwhelmed and confused.

Regardless, we still spent a pretty ridiculous amount of money on some pretty adorable pictures.  Hey, she only meets Santa for the first time once, right?  TOTALLY worth it, and some pictures to treasure forever and ever.  Can't wait to see what she will do next year!

Turkey For Me, Turkey For Toots

I've always been a Thanksgiving fan, because frankly...I like food.  A lot.  So this year, I was obviously looking forward to sharing that great American tradition with Makenna.  Who also likes food.  A lot.  Adding to our usual excitement for the Thanksgiving experience was the fact that Chad's grandparents would be coming down from New England.  We couldn't wait to see them again!


A couple of days before Turkey Day, Great Grammy and Great Grampy arrived.  We met up at good old D'Vine Wine, since Chad was working, and had a tasty little beverage to start the evening off.

 

Then it was off for a delicious dinner at Saltgrass to begin our few days of gluttony.


Thanksgiving morning, I was up early making some homemade rolls and sweet potato casserole to take to Round One, with Mimi and Granddad.  We got Toots decked out in her pretty Thanksgiving dress, which her Daddy will want me to tell everyone he picked out.  (Yes, he really did.)

At Mimi and Granddad's, Makenna charmed the pants off of every out-of-town family member there (and probably a few IN town family members, too!).

 
She donned her turkey bib and gobbled down some of the tastiest goodies her sweet little tastebuds have ever had - turkey, tomatoes, squash casserole, green beans, cornbread stuffing.  She was in HEAVEN!

And of course, when she finished, she gave herself a stunning new hairdo with her gooey, grubby little hands!

After a hand wash, a great walk and some more visiting, it was time to head to Round Two at Uncle Randy and Auntie Karen's.  Toots took the opportunity to get in her turkey-induced nap on the way, since it was a little bit of a drive.  But when we arrived, she was ready for some more deliciousness - just NOT a fan of Auntie Jennifer's pilgrim hats!

Brisket, sweet potatoes, some more turkey...she downed it all like a champ and finished off with some sweet peaches.  This girl knows how to eat!!


After dinner, Makenna had a ball playing with whatever she could get her hands on.  

Some spatulas,

a magazine,

and maybe a napkin or two.

She faced off with Rudy, the dog, and just generally kept us all entertained.

All in all, I would say it was QUITE the successful first Thanksgiving!