in the spirit

merry christmas from portland!

i will start by saying: i cannot even believe it is december 13! where did 2010 go? seriously, it has been a whirlwind... pretty much since june 6.  the last six months have been difficult, sad, and horrible, but also wonderfully filled with giggles and special moments with grayson (thank God for those moments, they have gotten me through some rough patches).

we got our tree about a week and a half ago... it is absolutely beautiful! the new house has a little bit higher ceilings than our last so we got taller tree this year. it looks great.  and the little dude loves to stare at the lights, it's so cute.  ever since we decorated it, i've been in the Christmas spirit.  grayson and i have been shopping a lot and i am almost done with all the gift-buying (and wrapping!!) that i need to do before christmas. we have been playing holiday music and a lot of times i grab grayson and dance with him while singing the songs... he thinks it is hilarious :) anyone that might walk by our front windows MIGHT think i'm a huge dork.  but i don't care, it makes me think of my mom, and G loves it! i've been itching to take him to macy's to get his picture on santa's lap... i secretly (ok not so secretly) want him to cry because i think those pictures are way cuter than the posed ones...  a screaming baby on a creepy old guy's lap with a slightly yellowish beard surrounded by a perfect backdrop? sounds amazing.

chad's family will all be in portland for christmas this year, and we are also carrying on the armington-"dokzales" Christmas tradition (where we spend the holiday with maya and JL)... it will be a great gathering between family and friends. i can't wait. next on my "spirited" list: baking Christmas cookies! happy holidays everyone!!

grayson, 5 months