blessed this Christmas!

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year. Mike's parents came from California and stayed with us for 4 days, and it was so nice having them here! They didn't have any problem "watching Maggie Claire" while Mike and I ran errands and had to be at all 6 Christmas Eve and the "Eve Eve" services. She had the best time with them, and today was looking for them when she woke up. They would have stayed longer, but they are moving to Denver next week, so they had to get back and pack up there house! She is the new CEO of MOPS {mothers of preschoolers} and we are all very excited about her new job!

Here is our family at the Christmas Eve service!

I wore my hair curled like this 3 days in a row. I'm thinking it should be my new hairdo for 2012 to spice up my "mommy look" a little bit! :) Right before we were leaving for church, I realized I never made Maggie Claire a headband to wear- I whipped this adorable one up really fast and it turned out too perfect! :) {I'm loving us in our matching pink too!!!}

Me, Mike, Maggie Claire, Mike's dad, sister and mom :)

Mags decided to stick her tongue out for the pictures of me and her. Then because we were all laughing she kept doing it. This totally sums up her personality! my sweet and silly girl! I love her and this picture of us!

My memaw came in town for Christmas too! Here is our 4 generations picture! Memaw, Maggie Claire, my mom and me!

Christmas day we woke up and did Christmas with Mike's family, and Maggie Claire got a cute little pony to ride! Of course, she loved it and loved the fact that it plays music.
After presents and breakfast at home, we headed to my dad's mom's house {Mama Nell}. She lives about 2 hours away, so Maggie Claire took a short nap on the way there and a LONG nap on the way home! I was so thankful she slept for just about the entire 2 hour drive on the way home! Here is me and a few of my cousins that were there. I should have taken more pictures, this is the only good one I got! Here is Meribeth, Madelaine, Blair, and myself. I brought headbands that I made and they each picked one out! so cute! :)
The last stop on Christmas day was at my mom's house. My grandparents, 2 uncles, and my brothers all came over to join the fun! I think there was a total of 18 people there, so it got really crazy {but to fun} when we were all opening presents! Here is Maggie Claire trying to chase after her big cousins, Jack and Tate. They had the best time together!
My mom got Maggie Claire the "over-sized" pottery barn chair for her room, and of course she loved it! Tate wanted to join in the chair too! :) They are so cute together, Maggie Claire loves Jack and Tate so much. She tries to keep up with them, and loves loves loves to hug and kiss them. In this picture, she is "patting" him! so precious!

We had a great Christmas Week. Mike and I have the rest of the week off work, so we will be enjoying this sabbath!!!

Thankful for our Lord and Savior who was born to celebrate this special holiday and then died on the cross for us to celebrate his returning soon!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas cards!

I love love love doing Christmas cards. I have done a photo card every year since Mike and I were dating{yea, I'm crazy like that!} and I try to make sure everyone who sends us one, gets one too, so bring them on! :)



My fabulous dear friend Jessi designed our Christmas cards this year and I love them! I should have ordered more, because I ran out after getting 1/2 way down my list, so I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas this year by sharing it through my blog and fb! I am off work today until January 2nd, so I will be relaxing and spending time with my family.... and monogramming! {hehe} Maybe I'll be blogging more too these next 2 weeks!

Merry Christmas from the Surratt family: Mike, Hilary, and sweet Maggie Claire :)

thanksgiving week

My house has been decorated in fall things, and I love it! {the Christmas decor will be coming out tomorrow, can't wait!}

Since my 25th birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, we had a lot to celebrate this past week!

I made a "happy thanksgiving" banner and place setting cards for all of our family coming into town to spend thanksgiving with us!

Last week I told you guys about my birthday present... and here it is! A new "monogramming/embroidery" sewing machine! I have actually been putting all of my paint, bake, & create business money that I've been making lately towards this machine, and then Mike surprised me the other day and said "oh, I ordered your machine and it's coming tomorrow!" Of course, I started flipping out and waited anxiously by the door all afternoon. I still have a lot of learning to do, so I am telling myself practice, practice, practice! :) I have seriously already almost lost my salvavtion over this machine, but it is coming together and I am loving it!!!

We found out this week that Maggie Claire likes corn on the cob- just like her mama! she was so cute eating it and did a pretty good job at it too!

Will and Maggie Claire enjoying a ride in the wagon. They are so precious together, and Maggie Claire loves him so much!

This picture of MC makes me laugh so much. Since she is walking now, I always seem to catch her with this serious determined face, love this sweet girl and I am so thankful for her!

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving weekend {we sure did!} My in-laws are leaving to head back to California today, we sure enjoyed having them here! The best part is, they'll be back for Christmas! yay!

****Also- My sister-in-law, Bethany, will be having my new sweet baby girl niece, Sophie Grace on Wednesday, if not sooner! I'll post all kinds of sweetness when she makes her big debut in this world!****

my lil cupcake

Today I dressed Mags up in her baker's attire. It hangs in the kitchen with my aprons and she always wants to play with it. She is just now getting into wearing the hat, so I had to snap a few pictures of course! She is her mama's girl and already loves baking!

She is officially a walker now. She walks more than she crawls, so I guess that means it's official. My "big" sweet girl!

Maybe she will surprise me with a cookie cake for my birthday on Thursday?! um.. only if her daddy helps!

Have a great day everyone!

welcome mid-november :)

sweet november!

I love November for many reasons, one of the main reasons is because it's thanksgiving, and just thinking about all the things I can be thankful for. My family is one of them, and so thankful that we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year! Mike's parents and grandparents are coming from California and St. Louis! I'm excited because I'm buying a turkey and making lots of yummy foods! oh, and decorating... which makes my heart happy! :)

Maybe one of the most exciting things about november is that it's my birthday month! ;) This year my birthday falls on Thanksgiving day, which what a blessing that is!! Everyone should be thankful for me. :) {I'm totally kidding, hehe} I've been saving up for my own birthday present this year, and I am just too excited about it... details coming soon!

I am so thankful for November and for this sweet baby girl who isn't so much a baby anymore. I'm also thankful for the excitement and busyness that this season brings.

Also for being in our new home this year. Typing that just fills my heart with joy knowing that this is our house to build our family in for the Lord! These pictures make me thankful for a my beautiful big backyard to take pictures in!

Watching this little baby girl grow has been one of the most precious things to see this year and I'm praying that her heart will be thankful the more she does grow.

I'm so thankful for my discipleship huddle that is so encouraging and challenging to me. We are doing a "no excuse november" that our women's ministry director started. It means there is no excuse to not read his word daily, so we are twittering #NEN for accountability along with a verse that we read that day. These women keep me accountable, and I am so thankful for that!

{follow me on twitter @hilarysurratt}

so blessed and so thankful!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

soaking in her "big girl" sweetness!

The time just kept getting away from me and I never posted these adorable 12 month photos that I took of Maggie Claire. Today she turned 13 months! This is my last monthly update of her and I am so glad I did these for her first year. I know that I'll always have these posts to come back and look on for all of us to remember! Without twitter, blogging, and status updates on facebook, I wouldn't remember anything! So thankful for amazing technology these days ;)

Now for the cuteness...

Maggie Claire modeling her leopard attire :)

She is full of personality! Sweet & happy as can be!

Her cuteness makes me giggle, complete from head to toe!

12 month stats:

19 pounds 8 ounces

30 inches

Last week when I took her in to the doctor for her ear infection, she weighed 20 pounds 3 ounces. Finally passing the 20 pound mark! ;) She was 12 months and 3 weeks old.

She is completely weaned now from breastfeeding. It was bittersweet the last time I nursed her. We were down to just the morning feeding and the next morning I skipped it, gave her the sippy cup with her whole milk in it. She was upset with me and cried because she new that wasn't in our morning routine of nursing her on our bed. :( She got over it in just 2 days, thankfully, because it broke my heart a little... just another baby step of her becoming a big kid.

Maggie Claire took her first steps last Wednesday! We were at church and she took 4 steps to me. I was so glad I was with her to see them! Ever since then she has been working on walking to us. I think the most steps she has taken total is 5. I'm sure by the couple next weeks or so she will be walking everywhere! We moved her up to the "new walker" room on Sunday in the nursery. I was actually working in that room, so it worked out perfect. ;)

This has been a big month for her! Not only is she completely on whole milk, she also learned to drink out of a straw, and she now has 4 teeth! Two on the top and two on the bottom. More are about to pop out soon- I already see them coming through!

The girl will eat just about anything you give her. She now loves bananas, spaghetti, and chocolate. Yes, the halloween candy stash has been found and I can't keep her away from it! hehe. I only let her have one chocolate bar though!

We are at the early stages of transitioning out of her morning nap. Two mornings a week she doesn't get her nap in , and she doesn't do too bad, but she definitely still needs it. Right now I try to only let her sleep an hour in the morning so she will be fall asleep in the afternoon. It works most of the time. But seriously, she is such a great napper and sleeper at night. I can't complain at all! Even if she doesn't nap, she still stays in her crib, plays with her blanket & bunny and I'll usually give her books to read. {her favorite thing to do}

She LOVES reading books. We wants us to read ALL of her books to her every night. It is so sweet, how much she loves it because when we get done with one, she hands us another one and immediately shows us her "please" sign! too funny.

Maggie Claire, you melt my heart everyday{multiple times a day}, and I just love you so much! You make me and your dad laugh all the time, especially when you talk all your jibber jabber. You have so much to say and you "talk" all day long! You are such a sweet and good girl. You don't like getting your diaper changed, or changing your clothes. Hopefully it's just a phase! You love love love your lovie bunny. You sleep with it, and as soon as I give it to you, you bury your face in it and way to go night night. You are just so precious and as much as I don't want my baby to grow up, we look forward to raising you for the Lord! Thanks for being the best daughter anyone could ever ask for! We love you Mags!!!!

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." Phillipians 1:3-4

party details

Party day! With all the crafting and preparation that I did for Maggie Claire's party, of course I would share all of the details with you!!

Here is her invitation made by the fabulous Traci over at punkinprints! She did the best job!!!!

{I cropped the bottom off because our address was on there}

I hung paper lanterns on the porch outside, and I had a couple of paper pinwheels too.

I made a ribbon wreath with a bag full of scrap ribbons that I had. It turned out so cute!

up close of the wreath

The kids corner at the party! On the left is the hairbow party favors that I made, and on the right is the pin the candle on the cupcake game. In the middle was bubbles for the boys.

hairbows for the girls :)

The cards said "Thank you for coming to my party! Love, Maggie Claire"

We served lemonade and sweet tea in pink cups with paper straws. The paper straws and the polka dot balloons came from The Polka Dot Market.

I made a paper pennant banner that said "happy birthday mags" to hang on the fence and it turned out so cute! I also made cupcake toppers for all the cupcakes with the same graphics.

I also ordered cupcake shaped cookies from my dear friend Anita. You should definitely check out Anita's sweets and treats! She does the best job and they are so yummy! I can't wait to have another party to order some more!!! {the stripes on them matched the paper straws}

The food table right before everyone dug in! :)

Here is the birthday party girl! Her outfit was so fun, I can't wait to put it on her again, she looks precious in it!!! Her outfit was from a local boutique in Charleston, but you can order it here.

We love you Maggie Claire!!!!

I would do a million parties for this baby girl!!!!!!

Cake time, she definitely enjoyed it!

She only stayed in my lap to open the first few presents, but she got lots of cute things and fun toys!

Thank you to everyone who came to her party! We enjoyed having you over at our house!