'Twas the Night Before Christmas

This Christmas was extra special because we got to celebrate it with our best little Christmas present--baby Luke. We enjoyed staying home for Christmas this year and had a very quiet and relaxing holiday. We missed seeing our family and friends in Utah, but didn't miss all the hustle and bustle of running from one house to the next. It was nice to open presents in our own house by the warm fire and let the kids play with their toys all day long.


Our little Christmas baby

We missed the snow on Christmas Eve, but could you have an extreme scooter contest in the snow? Spending Christmas in Texas was a fun change. While the kids (Mike included) held their contest, I cooked a yummy Christmas dinner--ham, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, raspberry pretzel jello salad, and pumpkin pie. And Luke took a 4 hour nap! We made homemade gingerbread cookeis and then read the Christmas story, with a darling Mary, Joseph, angel, and a real live baby Jesus. : ) The kids got to open their one gift on Christmas Eve--pj's of course (not a dictionary). We set out milk and our homemade cookies for Santa and then read The Polar Express. (One sad note: we lost our Twas the Night Before Christmas book and couldn't find it to read that night. We will have to get a new one before next Christmas.) Last, the kids were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Luke has found his hands

2 weeks old

Look at that cute little bug. : )

With all Luke's tummy aches the first few weeks, I let him take naps during the day on his tummy where I could watch him.

I have the best 3 baby tenders in the world. Luke loves all the attention.

Grandma Eileen's Visit

Hooray for Grandmas! We were so happy to have Grandma Eileen come see baby Luke when he had just turned 1 week old. It was so nice to have her swoop in and help us get kids to school, piano, and dance, do dishes and clean the house, and watch Luke so I could get some much needed sleep. The big kids were so glad to have Grandma here to play with too! Thank you, Eileen for all your help! I don't know what we would have done without you.


Grandma also got to go listen to Makayla sing at her Christmas concert while she was here.

During Luke's first week home from the hospital, we had 3 cute helpers to hold him and help take care of him. It was so fun to see how much Makayla, Logan and Savannah love their new little baby brother, and to see how he recognizes their voices and loves to snuggle with them.

There were also many late nights with our new baby those first couple of weeks home from the hospital. Little Luke had his days and nights mixed up and would sleep for long naps in the day and then be up every couple hours all night long. He also has had a sour tummy with lots of burps and reflux, so when he would start to fall asleep, a tummy ache would wake him up and he'd spend the next hour crying. Mike was such a sweet husband to stay up with Luke and hold him or sleep with him on his tummy. At first the only way we could get Luke to calm down and sleep would be for one of us to have him sleep on our chest. Luke is a snuggler and loves the comfort of being all warm and cozy with his daddy.

We also got to take Grandma with us to the zoo. It was Luke's very first outing. He was so good and loved riding in the stroller. He slept the entire time.

The kids thought it was so fun to pull out the double stroller for Luke. They all wanted to ride in it. Never too old to want to be the baby and get all the attention.

Our New Love . . .

First Bath

Baby Luke is Here!

Luke Taggart Manwaring

Born December 1, 2010

7 lbs. 9 0z.

20.5 in. long

We were so lucky to get the best Christmas gift ever--a new baby! I feel so blessed that little Luke could come and join our family. He is the sweetest little snuggly guy. I love him so much and am enjoying just sitting and rocking him while the big kids are at school. (I better enjoy it since that is pretty much all I do.) Makayla, Logan, and Savannah are really excited to have a baby brother and have been so cute with him. They love to hold him and help feed him, and we're working on diapers . . . He's a lucky little guy to have such an adoring big brother and sisters. And we're lucky to have such a perfect little baby. (We think so anyway!)

Baby Luke 1 week before I had him.

Waiting for Luke to come.

He's finally here! Hello world.

Coming home from the hospital. Look at that tiny cute little bum.