I win! I win!

A few months ago, Wes and I made bet. I said Reese would walk before she got her first tooth, and Wes said she would get her tooth first. This isn't to say that Reese is walking everywhere all the time, but she walks a lot. She takes a few steps everywhere she goes, and several times a day she walks all over the living room. I consider that a victory on my behalf, right?! My Prize, you ask? A massage and facial or something like that. Ahhh...
I do think a tooth is on its way, or from the way she's been acting, she's getting all the teeth most 15 month olds have at once. It's ugly around here in terms of whiny and fussy behavior, but the sweet smile and laugh and love are all still there. I'm really hoping teeth are coming because I definitely need something to blame these past few days on besides her just becoming a for real toddler.
It's been a week of big announcements in my world, and although I don't have one to make, I'm really excited and happy for all of my dear friends who have recently gotten some pretty great news. Babies on their way, baby coming home from Ethiopia, and a big move for another friend and her family. Yippee skippee, and praise the Lord indeed!
Right now I'm getting things ready for a big night and a full weekend. Our 2nd Annual Walker Brothers and Wives Dinner is tonight at Bonefish, followed by our "community group" Christmas Party. Then get ready...tomorrow some of my best friends from high school are coming up for the day and to spend the night. It's going to be so much fun to hang out up here, and thanks to Wes, it will be another girlfriend weekend for me.
I'm saving too much to do on Monday, but I'll make it work. Baking a cake and taking it to the Mercy NICU, making some treats for friends and delivering them, packing for 6 days in Conway, and probably a few more things here and there. I'm going to try to blog about Reese's 15 month check-up and her updates on Sunday, but now that I'm away from the monthly updates, I don't remember the 18th as well.
Enjoy one of our last minute Christmas card picture rejects and a few pretty pictures of our little girl...

I cut out this "really cute" Joy to the World sign to hold up, but you can't read what it says. So, you won't be seeing the sign on the Christmas cards that are on their way to many of your homes right now. We had to choose from one of the few pictures without the sign for the card. Oh well. Crafty ideal fail.

I was trying to get the lighting right, so Reese was my cute subject. Excuse the dusty and bird poopy chairs.

I washed her hands after this. Don't worry.

My sweet girl.

Okay, so now I'm going to go research some nice spas or salons in the area. Massage and facial recommendations, anyone?! Hehe.

A Weekend Away

Before I left on Thursday morning, I was determined to get our Christmas card picture taken. However, other plans won. Reese was all dressed and ready...

And she sure was in a cute mood. 

We ended up canceling our picture date because Wes had to pick up his parents who were on their way up here when they hit a deer and were stuck in Clarksville. Reese was put in her pajamas and into bed before they got here, and then I left before she woke the next morning. Oh well. We have plans for a photo shoot tomorrow. We just need a photographer at lunch time. Anyone?!

Onto the trip...It was fantastic. And I'm exhausted. I won't go into all the details, but I'll share lots of my pics with you this morning. We are all sharing our pictures with each other soon, and a couple of the others brought real cameras with them, but these are just my phone pics. Enjoy, and try to soak in the holiday spirit that was found ALL over the city.

Night #1. Balthazar in SOHO. 

A stroll through Rockefeller Center after dinner.

It was a gorgeous night with perfect weather.

THE tree.

Friday morning. NYC Public Library.

Bryant Park with the birthday girl.

Bryant Park.

Grand Central Station.

Central Park.

Right before our carriage ride.

Here you go, Mom. This is her favorite hotel.

My NYC purchase.

Pre-Broadway dinner at Rino Trattoria. YUM.

Dinner at Mesa Grill by Bobby Flay. Oh My.

These are totally out of order, but last night when I got home, I walked in the front door to a completely decorated home. Thanks, Susie and Tommy for doing some finishing touches and the fresh garlands outside.

Christmas cards began to come in while I was gone, and they are possibly one of my favorite things about December. I can't wait to see them fill up my mailbox and frame in the next few weeks.

Ahhh. I love the greenery.

I need a close-up of the basket here. It's gorgeous. Thanks, Susie.

9/11 Memorial. I was incredibly moved.

Times Square.

Madison Square Garden. We watched Duke and Oklahoma State play. Pretty cool and very awesome for the two huge basketball fans and one OSU alum.

Sardi's post-Broadway for dessert.

Here's how the locals get their Christmas trees. Love the festive-ness.

We had some crazy moments such as stopping to clip toe nails in the middle of Times Square, sitting by ourselves on the horse-driven carriage while our "driver" used the bathroom in a restaurant across the street, watching Santas take over the entire city all day long on Saturday as part of a Santa Bar Crawl, and running into one of my friends who moved to NYC this summer randomly in the Subway. This trip was so much fun and such a great time with some of my dearest friends. Okay, I'm going to go get some things unpacked before Reese wakes up from her nap. Or I may catch a short snooze myself.

While The Men Are Away

A few things before we get to the good stuff...

1. My camera camera (that's what I call my nice camera) has been a little ill lately, so all you have been seeing are pictures from my phone. Not bad, but not as great as they could be. Luckily, camera camera is fixed just in time for my girls trip to NYC this coming weekend!!!

2. Reese has been adding several fun tricks to her repertoire lately, and now that I don't do a monthly update, i'm not doing a good job of recording things. So...Reese is now pointing to her mouth, feet, and ears when I ask her where they are, she babbles ALL the time, she signs please just as often, and she has taken a few steps when I stand her up and ask her to walk to me only to fall into my arms as soon as she's close enough, or she just sits down because she doesn't feel like standing up. We are getting over a not-so-fun trick of throwing her lovie or pacifiers out of the crib and screaming at the top of her lungs about it. She waves by clasping her fingers instead of the old whole arm wave, and it's really cute. She still crosses her ankles when she sits, and she's getting funnier by the day. Oh, and I think her first official word other than momma, dadda, uh-oh, and lots of consonant sounds was puppy. 

3. Yeah, I'm going to New York City with three girlfriends this Thursday morning, and I would appreciate prayers for safe travels and happy, healthy kids at home.

Okay, so Wes is on his way home from Omaha visiting our friend James who is recovering from Pancreatitis. Five guys from church loaded up early yesterday morning and headed up north to spend some time just playing games and catching up together. Wes was also gone Friday night volunteering at rEcess, and I've had several nights to myself lately. While my man has been away, Reese and I have gotten busy. And we have had a good time, too.  Here's proof...

A little Christmas decorating. 

Bentonville Christmas Parade with SJ and the Mooney kids.

Our friends Matt and Ginny are adopting sweet Lena from the Ukraine as we speak, so their other two little ones are spending the first few days with their grandparents who brought them to the parade. Read more about the Mooneys here and here.

Post-parade lunch date with Kari and SJ. Goodness knows Reese and Sarah are going to be great buddies. They were so cute flirting with everyone and mimicking each other.

We watched our girls compete in a nearby cheer competition last night...first place, baby!

And then once Reese was asleep, I wrapped the gifts that have come in so far.

And today, I had to finish the book I've been reading, so Reese got out WAAAY more toys than usual. She played so well by herself for close to an hour or more.

More decorating. Waiting on the other two stockings to get monogrammed.

 Three little rascals.

Video Party

I've been meaning to post some videos lately, and although there are five here, I narrowed it down to that many. Yeah, I've been phone camera happy recently. Sweet Reese is just making me smile more and more every day. Enjoy these videos. They are short and sweet...just like my girl. 

Reese LOVES the new Santa that Mopsy gave her. Check it out.

My Dad always did this to me as a kid, and I think he's been dreaming of the day he could do it with a grandkid for about 23 years. Clearly, Reese hasn't gotten used to the "buddha-sitski" yet.

This one I call "Bunny Hop."

Reese and E-Dog. Sorry about the flash-induced red-eye.

More red-eye, but she is just too cute not to share.

Thankful Thanksgiving

It was quite the week. Reese and I spent nine days away from home. I'll just pick up where I left off on the last post. Wes and I were getting ready to leave for our date night...it was perfect. We left around 2:30, went straight to The Capital Hotel, enjoyed some peace and quiet, and then met some friends for dinner down the street at Flying Fish. Great food and even better company. Wes and I then started looking up movies, and the only one that either of us wanted to see at a good time was Breaking Dawn. Yeah, I dragged him to see Twilight, and it was ridiculous. Entertaining, but crazy. Having read all the books back in my 8th grade English teaching days, I have gone to see the movies very faithfully. Luckily, we made it out in time to make it back to Ashley's at the Capital for dessert. YUMMY. 

The next morning we had breakfast there...I had Ashley's Signature (chocolate French toast) and FRESH orange juice, and Wes had fabulous pancakes. We did some major Christmas shopping that day, and then we headed back to Conway. 

Thanksgiving Day was great. Incredible food as always, thanks to my mom. We then loaded up for Camden and grabbed Gran on our way out of town. She held the laptop for Reese to watch a movie the whole way down, and thank goodness she did. The fellowship hall at First Presbyterian of Camden was full as it is every year, and the food was great again. After a CRAZY late night Camden Walmart run with JB, we did our tradition of local shopping on Friday. The Walker ladies got our rings cleaned at the jeweler where all the boys bought our rings. Of course we then headed back to Mema's for the BIG game. Not so great, but I love my Hogs. Lots of really good family time this weekend. I so enjoy being with my in-laws and the extended Walker family. 

I'm very thankful this Thanksgiving. For extended family who loves well, for my little immediate family who brings me joy and love I didn't know possible, specifically for my husband who leads and guides me faithfully, for Reese who makes me smile more than anyone, for my friends who are always there for me, for my home, for food, for technology, but most importantly...I am so thankful to be called by Jesus Christ and saved by His Grace. I didn't do anything (and I still can't) to receive this, and God loves me still and calls me His. 

Here are 15 pictures from the second half of this week.  Yeah, 15. 

Breakfast at Ashley's.

Mopsy's Thanksgiving turkey.

The ladies.

Reese exploring the Kids Area at Camden Thanksgiving.

Go Hogs. Go Hogs.

Marion and Reese sharing goldfish.

We have watched many Arkansas-LSU games in front of this TV. The years we play in Louisiana, we stay in Camden. The years we are in Little Rock, we go to War Memorial.

Even a hard loss can't destroy the goodness of Mema's Cinnamon Toast.

Oh yeah, that's good.

PTL! She fell asleep for 30 minutes on the first leg of the trip home!

But the second leg was filled with a little movie watching. A Portable DVD player or iPad will be purchased at Christmas.

Home Sweet Home indeed. Mom sent leftovers.

Reese and her new owl hat. She loves it.

Don't know why these pictures are at the end, but...

Anthropologie, Apple, and J.Crew are now in Little Rock. Good shopping for sure!

Happy Thanksgiving! Love, The Walker Family