Merry Christmas!

Photography Lessons

Aunt Rachel likes to give photography tips on her blog. Here is is her latest one. I have been practicing the technique. Not entirely sure I am doing it right, but I liked these ones of Stella.

Making Ornaments

With Mama's help, Jordan made some cinnamon-applesauce Christmas ornaments for her teachers. Here's some pics of us making them and one of the finished product.

Sweet Potatoes

Liz was kind enough to feed Stella dinner last night.

What she didn't know was that Stella thinks all food is finger food.

Here's what it looked like when it was all said & done.

Liz was a really good sport. :)

December in Carolina

While we are having the worst drought on record here in NC right now, the weather has been just amazingly nice lately. Saturday was a balmy 75 degree day. We enjoyed an afternoon in the backyard playing on our new swing set. Both girls just had a blast out there.

Do you see the six snowmen in this picture?

I let Jordan decorate most of our Christmas tree. She pretty much made clumps of ornaments at her eye level. Last night, she looked up near the top, where I had hung a few ornaments. She said, "Mommy, get me that little snowman--he wants to be with his family!! I then looked and saw what she was talking about & got her the prodigal snowman. :)

Stella & Ken

Ken & his wife Laura are two of our favorite people in the world. They are very special to our girls, too. The other night, Ken & Stella were being really sweet with each other.

Bad Hair Day

Stella woke up with a serious case of bed head the other day. We all had a big laugh!

Stella's first meal

Stella had her first solid food last Friday. She thinks rice cereal is pretty yummy!

Even More Aunt Rachel Pics

Here are a few more that Aunt Rachel took. I think she does an amazing job of making the girls look even prettier than I think they are... (mommy's opinion!)

if you haven't checked out Rachel's professional work, but want to, go here: http://www.rachelhendersonphotography.com/

More Aunt Rachel Photos

Aunt Rachel posted some photos she took of us on her family blog. Click here to see her post.

Fun With Family

This weekend was the annual Henderson Family Thanksgiving gathering. The girls had a great time with everyone there!

Tummy Time with Great Aunt Claudia

Great Aunt Pru loved holding Stella

Chloe & Jordan were like two peas in a pod

Grandma with newest cousin Harriet and Stella
(Grandma is very talented, isn's she?!)

and Stella with Papa Goose!

Pony Tail!

Stella tried a pony tail for the first time the other day!

Stella & Taylor find one another interesting...

Jordan's 3rd Birthday

Jordan turned three on Sunday. We can't believe that she is so big now! Here are pictures of the day!

Wearing her new tights from Gramms & shoes from YeYe & NaiNai

Looking forward to opening her presents

Thanks for the hat, scarf, and gloves, Brian!

Enjoying "Where the Wild Things Are" from Ken & Laura

Michelle made her an official princess with a butterfly crown and wand

Blowing out her three candles

Saying "Cheese" with Dexter

All tuckered out, cuddled up with her new toys.
Who says a toaster isn't a great snuggle toy?!
(Look closely in her hand)

Sweet Sisters

The girls really like to cuddle.

5 month update

Time is flying by and Stella was 5 months old yesterday. We continue to feel so amazed and blessed by her presence in our family.

Here's what Stella is all about now: She loves her sister and gets very excited when Jordan plays with her. She rolls smoothly from back to belly and belly to back. Sometimes when I put her on a blanket and leave the room for a minute, I actually have to look for her when I come back because she has rolled away! She has a favorite toy, which is a little bird with textured tail and feathers that she can chew on. She self-soothes by sucking on the two middle fingers of her left hand. She talks a lot and sometimes just likes to listen to how loud she can make her voice. She's added the "h" sound to her repertoire to go with "g" and the vowel sounds. She gets mad if she is trying to talk with you and you aren't looking at her. She laughs if you tickle her face with her feet. As you probably saw in an earlier post, she can stick her tongue out. She definitely recognizes her bottle and if she sees it, you'd better get it to her fast! And, hooray, as soon as we started letting her sleep on her belly at night, she is sleeping for 6-8 hour stretches! She enjoys playing Peek-A-Boo. All in all, she is developmentally age appropriate (in my professional opinion ;) ).

Lots of folks ask me if Stella is a lot different than Jordan was. My answer is always "yes" and "no." Jordan was such a sweet and easy baby, pretty much nothing ever phased her, unless you wanted to hold her too much (go figure). Stella is definitely more particular, she has preferences and she lets you know them. And she is a total cuddle-bug. I feel like her personality is just more intense. But having said that, we are amazed to find ourselves with another complete sweetheart. She is so very engaging and affectionate, even already. Her eyes communicate so much joy and zest for life. We ran into Jamie's mentor from seminary the other day--he's been a pastor for nearly 50 years and is very gifted in the Spirit. He took one look at her and said, "there is something very special about this child-I feel the hand of the Lord is on her already, I hope I live to see what He will do with her." It was a very powerful moment for me...those are the things that I hope for for her, that she will be special to God and others and that she will be used by Him for His purposes. So, what I am trying to get at is that--we weren't sure that another baby could be as special to us as Jordan was--so, its a good thing we got Stella. She makes it so easy to be totally in love with her.

3rd Birthday Party

Jordan & Thomas had their 3rd birthday party today at a neat place called "Ray's Splash Planet." It was a lot of fun!

Jordan, Thomas & Tate--the three musketeers

Stella came, too!

the cake!

with Aunt Amy

Mommy & Jordan on the "Lazy River"

Fashionista!

Having lots of fun in the water!

Trick or Treat!

Great Grandma Arliene got the girls decked out for Halloween...

Stream of Consciousness Song Writing

Silly Face!

So, Stella discovered how to stick out her tongue yesterday. She did it over & over & over... It was pretty cute.