Michael's First Week

Michael will be one week old tomorrow and his first week has been great. He seems to be a really easygoing, sweet little boy who loves to sleep. We had a little scare in the delivery room--the umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck and he was a bit blue, but all is fine now and he's back up to his birth weight. We went to the doctor on Monday and he was down to 8 pounds, 1 ounce, so I went back today for a weight check and he was 8 pounds 11 1/2 ounces. The doctor and nurses were pretty impressed. The girls are adjusting really well to life with a little brother and are great helpers. Ashley's favorite job is to burp him and is thrilled when she actually gets results. So far, life with three little ones is good (but we haven't had to leave the house by ourselves yet!) and I'm feeling great.

Before:
Grandaddy Michael and Baby Michael Big Yawn

Here's how our little buddy sleeps:

Christmas Morning

We had a great surprise this Christmas! My parents drove up on Christmas Eve and were here for Christmas and Michael's birth. The girls had a really fun time playing with their grandparents and their new presents.

Baby Michael

Michael Jordan Gillespie

born December 27, 2007

3:48 PM

20 inches

8 lbs, 11 oz.

Santa's Village

Last night, the girls, Charie, and I went to Santa's village downtown and got to see Santa, Mrs. Claus, real reindeer, elves, and pretend snow. They got to make jingle bell bracelets and frost gingerbread cookies. Ashley was feeling too shy to tell Santa what she wanted, but Paige told him she wanted a new teddy bear (to go along with the 25 she already has...) and that Daddy wanted a new game to play.


Mrs Claus read the girls a cute story about a southern snowman (he had to be kept in a snowglobe, of course!)

Here's the fake cinnamon-sented bubble snow (we're pretty sure that's as good as it's going to get this year, but the girls are both absolutlely convinced that it will snow on Christmas.)

Here's the cutest Christmas tree I've seen!

Ashley loved the nutcracker bear!

No, those are not actually real candy canes, but the girls wanted to taste just to make sure. Delicious!

Christmas Program

Yesterday, the girls had their Christmas program at preschool. It was really cute and the girls did a great job. Paige's class started the program out by walking down the aisle, shaking some jingle bells and standing in front singing Jingle Bells, then she got to come sit with us and watch the rest. Ashley's class and the other 4 year old class sang and then acted out the nativity story. Ashley carried the gold down the aisle and delivered it to a wise man. We've been trying to figure out what she was for a few weeks--she said she gave the gold to a shepherd--and I asked, "you mean to the baby Jesus?" "Nope...to one of those guys," "Oh, so you're a wise man?" "No" "A wise girl?" "No, I carry the gold" Hmmm. We just figured she was a wise man, but I guess she was the gold. It was a fun way to get ready for Christmas! (The pictures didn't turn out very well because of the lighting, but here are pics so you get the idea)



Paige's class--she's second from right on the back row.



Paige was supposed to come sit with us, but apparently there was something more interesting up front. James had to run up and get her.



Ashley's class--she's in the back row, center, waving :)


The gold, frankinsence, and myrrh girls.

Ashley waving again

In her classroom after the program

Christmas Presents

When we were picking out our Christmas tree, Paige found a box that was just her size and hid in it. James found her and said, "I think we should wrap you up and put you under the tree!" Ever since then, the girls have been begging to be wrapped up. Here they are:

We are having a really fun tree this year. While I think that white lights and fancy decorations are beautiful, the girls were SO EXCITED in the store when we let them pick out the colored ones. Then, when we put them on the tree and lit it, they burst into singing the first line of "Oh, Christmas Tree" over and over and twirling around and around. Since all of our decorations are in storage, we now have the most colorful candy canes Target sells, sparkly tinsel, and some ornaments the girls made today on the tree. We are planning on making our own angel/star to go on top--I'm not exactly sure how, but I know it's going to involve a lot of glitter.

Circus!

The Barnum and Bailey circus came to town last weekend and we had a great time! We really liked the pre-show, where the girls got to talk to the performers and see everything up close. Ashley was really excited to see the trapeeze artists and all the different animals. Paige fell asleep halfway through (and it was LOUD!), but James tried to wake her up for the really funny performing dogs. She saw some of that and then managed to stay awake the rest of the show.

Talk about front row seats!!