A look back at 2008

January--Abby moves into her "big girl room"

February--our nephew/cousin Whitt is born!

March--Easter

May--by far the biggest event of the year for us, the birth of Andrew Robert!

June--Steph turns 30

July--4th Celebration at Kings Charter

July--Abby as flower girl in Debra and Ricky's wedding

August--Rick fulfills his dream to see a game at Yankee Stadium

August--Abby's 4th birthday

September--Abby's first Hokies' Game!

September--Hippy's long-lost sister Polly joins our family

October--Halloween

November--Thanksgiving, forevermore to be known as the year Abby throw up at the Thanksgiving table

December--Andrew's dedication on Rick's birthday

December--Our first Christmas as a family of 4!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 FROM THE WHITTINGTON'S!

After Christmas

Well, today I am un-decorating some. I couldn't take all the extra stuff up plus all the new toys. I am not a fan of clutter at all! I'm ready for the tree to go too just because Andrew is always in it, but we will wait a few more days on that. I'm looking forward to a night "off" tomorrow evening so I can go spend some gift cards!

By the way, our Christmas pics are posted on www.stephwhittington.shutterfly.com!

Christmas Cheer

Abby was so excited to see that Santa brought her a "big girl bike". She's given a try a few times and she's getting better at riding. Santa also had a momentary sanity lapse and gave her a Barbie guitar. He also brought a cute little mail set that includes a mailbox, postman mail bag, and little letters you can write on and then erase and use again. I gave her a big bag full of art stuff--doodle and marker pads, watercolors, new markers and colored pencils. Rick gave her a precious little sterling silver heart ring to wear on special occasions. Every time she opened a present she said "It's just what I always wanted!". When she talked to my mom later in the morning she said "Santa got the right thing!". It was too cute and so much fun.

Andrew enjoyed the wrapping paper the most. Santa brought him a little walk-behind toy, some lamaze toys and a name train. I gave him two books and Rick gave him a little baby basketball set. In his stocking he got a squishy VT ball which he loves. I guess he's learning early :) He was such a good boy all day, even though he stayed up way past his bedtime!

Rick and I gave each other stockings with little goodies inside. Our real present comes in two weeks--we're going to the beach for a weekend without the kids! We can't wait!

Later in the morning Rick's family came and we enjoyed lunch and presents with them. Bad Santa made his annual present drop-off. Whitt and Andrew both napped through the whole gift exchange.

We headed down to my grandparent's for MORE eating and MORE presents.

This morning we had Christmas with my parents. The rest of the day we have just been lazy, which has been very nice. Rick tried to play golf but got rained out :(

We'll head back to Richmond tomorrow. Got lots of new toys to play with!

born this happy morning....

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning!
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

O, come let us adore Him
O, come let us adore Him
O, come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve in the Whittington house includes cooking ham, baking a cake and cookies, getting our table ready for lunch tomorrow, getting camera batteries charged and ready, and attending the service at church this evening!

From our house to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

In Memory

In Loving Memory

Angela Christine Harris

"Angie"

September 18, 1979-December 25, 1994

Also our grandparents who have gone to Heaven:

Oliver Low

Ann Whittington

Robert Bass

Dedication and Birthday

We dedicated Andrew on Sunday, which also happened to

be Rick's 32nd birthday. It was a great day!

The birthday boy.

I love this picture of Rick. When he knows he's being photographed

he doesn't do a genuine smile.

The dedicated boy.

Zephaniah 3:17(NIV) The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.

You can see more pictures at www.stephwhittington.shutterfly.com.

Up on the Housetop--Whittington Style

Up on the housetop the reindeer paws
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones Christmas joys

Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with good St Nick

First comes the stocking of Abby
She's been as good as she could be
She wants a pretty new big girl bike
Pick out one that you think she'd like

Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with good St Nick

Next comes a stocking for Andrew
Please, dear Santa fill it too
He'd like toys for a boy so small
How about a rattle and a nice soft ball

Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with good St Nick

Then comes a stocking for Daddy
He likes things that say VT
Maybe a gift card would be nice
Or even a trap for catching mice

Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with good St Nick

Lastly a stocking for our dear Mum
Lotion, chapstick, and peppermint gum
Vera Bradley is what she needs
Or a necklace that's made of beads

Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with good St Nick

Abby's Christmas Play

Rick took Abby to see the Christmas pageant at church last night, which turned into this conversation today:

"Mom, Hippy and I are doing a little program, it's a play actually. An Away in the Manger play. I'm going to be Mary and Hippy is Joseph. Billy can be a shepherd, and Whitt and Kevin (Hippy's brother). Andrew can be baby Jesus. Polly will be the angel. And after the play we will go to the supper room (I think she means the church dining hall) and have cookies. Want to come, Mom?"

Abby's Christmas Program and Birthday Party for Baby Jesus

Getting ready to go.
Abby singing.

She LOVED the angel wings she got to wear.
The crew....Ryan, Hannah, Abby, Sarah Jane, and Richard.

Christmas Tea

FLO (For Ladies Only) sponsors a Christmas Tea at our church each December. It is a HUGE hit and almost always sells out! It is a great ime for the ladies to sit back and enjoy an afternoon of fun and fellowship. Take a look at some of these gorgeous tables:

Each table has a hostess who bring her own china and centerpieces.

I love this! The centerpice was dolls having a tea party!

This hostess used pictures of her kids with Santa as her centerpiece.

Fun with a hat centerpiece. Many of the ladies wear hats to the tea.

Beautiful!


Me with my table hostess and friend Barbara.

The men wait on us at the tea!

Servers include husbands, sons, and staff including our pastor Jim Somerville.

This year our entertainment was "Staff Harmony" who gave us a stirring rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas, First Baptist style. Our speaker was Christy Somerville who gave a moving talk about her grandmother and the things she and her daughters learned from her.

Busy December Days

We've been busy merry-making! I had a Christmas tea at church, we celebrated with our cousins, aunt, uncle, and grandma, we went to see the lights downtown at the James Center and saw Santa! Abby and Andrew did so well....both sat on his lap with no tears. Here's a picture:

To view more, please go to our shutterfly site (Family pictures link to your right). They're all up there!

Oh, and feel free to COMMENT on my posts....folks tell me they read the blog but no one ever COMMENTS! Except Sarah, who is now my favorite blog-reading friend for that!

Caught under the Christmas Tree!

For someone who isn't yet crawling, Andrew sure can find his way to the tree fast!

A baby changes everything....

I think this one is my favorite "new" Christmas song this year....
see Faith Hill singing it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SJigHz4mQk



Teenage girl much too young

Unprepared for what's to come

A baby changes everything



Not a ring on her hand

All her dreams and all her plans

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything



The man she loves she's never touched

How will she keep his trust

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything



And she cries

Ooh she cries

Oh ohhh...



She has to leave, go far away

Heaven knows she can't stay

A baby changes everything



She can feel it's coming soon

There's no place there's no room

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything



And she cries

And she cries

Oh she cries



Shepherds all gather 'round

Up above the star shines down

A baby changes everything



Choir of angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

Everything, everything, everything



Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah



My whole life has turned around

I was lost, but now I'm found

A baby changes everything, yeah

A baby changes everything

Why I love our Christmas tree

I know theme trees are the "in" thing, but I love that our tree is a hodgepodge of many special ornaments. The pictures aren't that great, but you get the idea:

an ornament I got at an ornament shower given to me by my college friends the Christmas before I got married

this one hung on my grandparent's tree

JMU!

this one was given to Rick by his grandmother right after he was born

(his birthday is Dec. 21)

no Hokie fan's tree is complete without the Hokie Bird!

my Nanny gives me a bell every year

an ornament from Martha's Vineyard, where we went on our honeymoon

Abby's creation

Rick's creation, age 5

Baby's first Christmas--Abby

Baby's first Christmas--Steph

Baby's first Christmas--Andrew

a conversation with Abby

Today at dinner Abby was telling us about visiting the sanctuary at the church where she attends preschool. I asked her what she saw, and she said a Chrismon tree (yes, she said it right!). I asked if there were special ornaments on it, and she replied "they are symbols, actually."

It's a tooth!

I noticed Andrew was chewing on his bottle, so I felt his gums....and there was a little tooth poking through!

Andrew's first haircut

Before.......

After......such a handsome boy!

Crystal gave Abby her first haircut, too!