Santa Came to Town

At Flinn Village we're still digging out from the snow...and the presents...and all the treats.  We've been blissfully buried with social events and celebrations with family and friends for the past few weeks.  Christmas day was spent at home with my mom, sister Becca, and our friends, The Charlsens.  We got so much snow I think the weathermen lost count and stopped reporting the inches.  Christmas was  followed by a fun-filled 24 hour trip to Jared's hometown for the annual Flinn Family Rob-Your-Neighbor showdown.  It's been back to work for Jared and I this week, but we'll soon be headed to the lake for some down time during New Years.  The only hiccup in the holidays has been Maggie's first cold.  Our little sugar plumb is all coughs and sniffles right now, so we're praying for quick healing.  Merry Christmas to all, and a blessed New Year.

Fallsing Asleep on Christmas Eve

Stockings!!  I love to give stockings. It's my favorite thing.

Maggie's First Stocking

She Loves Her New Doll

Truxton Loves His Stocking Too

What Every Woman Wants...Tools

Mother Nature's Gift -- A White Christmas

The Snow Blower

Before clearing our drive, Jared cleared two of our neighbors' drives.  What a guy!

Meat!

This is everyone watching Jared cut the beef tenderloin. We like food!

Daddy's Girls

Maggie Wouldn't Let Go of This Rob Your Neighbor Gift

Grandpa aka "The Baby Whisperer"

Flinn Family Rob-Your-Neighbor Game

Using a dump truck to roll the dice...

We are sooooo parents now.

This Child and That Child

This week of Christmas Maggie will turn 4 months old.  In fact, she'll turn 4 months exactly on her Grandma Linda's birthday. What a wonderful week of celebrations.  We just had Maggie's 4 month appointment and she continues to be a very healthy little girl.

Weight - 16lbs 1oz; 95th percentile
Height - 24.5in; 50th percentile

As I give praise for a healthy child, I also reflect on the Child that was born to bring us peace, and died to give us life. He is the reason we receive such blessings this time of year and always, the reason we'll be with friends and family over the coming days in celebration.  And yet there are still children struggling with disease, abuse and hunger.  Having a child of my own has heightened my sensitivity and compassion for these children.  They are on my heart and I pray for them. I hope they all get to experience a bit of joy this Christmas.

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 9:5-7

Weekend Photo Shoot

Our good friend, Danny, was visitng over the weekend.  We always love it when he comes around because not only is it wonderful to catch up with him, but he brings two of my favorite things:  (1) his Cavalier King Charles, Barney and (2) his camera.  Here are some favorite photos from the weekend.

the maggie-hawk

Meeting Maddie Clare

Barney and the Camera Bag

Christmas Checklist...

Decorations hung --You bet.
Presents bought -- Check.
Cards sent -- Done.
Pictures of my nearly naked daughter taken that will embarrass her for years to come -- Oh yeah!

Cheers to Maggie's first Christmas.

Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Her Head...

Kansas City is blanketed in snow today, turning our little Flinn Village into a little Winter Wonderland.  Maggie missed seeing her first major snowfall last night because she slept for 11 hours!  She's really taking this 'be good for Santa' thing pretty seriously.  Meanwhile, Jared, Truxton and I cozied up by the fire.  I love our home at Christmas time.  The snow, the lights, the fire...it's all just so beautiful.

Our New Reindeer

Truxton's Favorite Spot, by the Fire

The "Fire Man" and His Trusty Sidekick

It's A Girl Thing...

Today Maggie sports her first hair accessorie. I think she likes it.

You Know It's the Holidays When...

You know it's the holidays when my office starts to look like this: 

Mrs. Flinn-Clause Workshop

And Jared and I start to look like this:

First Christmas Party of the Season

In about 18 days we'll look more like tired elves with bellies full of holiday treats, but it's all worth it!

Happy, happy, merry, merry.

Leap of Faith...

It's official! I've resigned from Ticketmaster.  It is, without a doubt, a leap of faith but I feel pretty good about what I'm leaping in to. When I left Maggie at my friend's this morning she was smiling and playing with her toys, and it gave me peace of mind about my decision. Well, really OUR decision, because I couldn't do this without Jared and his support.  Today I began letting my teams and colleagues know.  It's was the first step towards the end of this chapter and towards the next adventures in my life. Giddy up...

Three Months Old and Oh So Busy...

Happy Thanksgiving week!  Our pre-Thanksgiving activites kicked off over the weekend with a trip to Integrity Hills and Springfield. And with the short work week I'm too busy to write very much, so here's our weekend in photos.

Maggie Finally Met "The Girls" - Grammys BFFs

Grammy, Marla, Paula, and Rhonda

Beautiful Little Ladies

The Cross at Integrity Hill's Chapel

(this is Jared getting artsy with his photog work)

Walking the Grounds at Integrity Hills

Getting a Pie Crust Lesson from the Expert, My Mom Marsha

Magge Paid Very Close Attention to the Lesson

Happy Smiles - Maggie at 3 Months Old

Wardrobe Changes...

Jared and I probabably spend a wee too much time picking out our outfits for work in the morning. To say we're both a bit paticular about our clothes is a fair statement. But Maggie tops us all! In fact, if she doesn't like the outfit she's wearing she'll simply poo on it as insistance to be changed. This morning Daddy dressed her in all bubble gum pink -- totally adorable. But soon after I made the comment about how she looked like a pink bandit, poo goes everywhere and a big smile appears on her face. So, out with the pink and on with the blue butterflies. I'm pretty sure she liked this outfit as she proceeded to chat up a storm telling me all about it.

Ho ho whoa...

It doesn't seem possible that the holidays are nearly here. This year has gone by so quickly and soon we'll be diving into Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas stockings.  Two signs the holiday season has begun:  (1) XM Sirius radio channels have turned over to holiday music and (2) we've had our first dusting of snow coupled with frigid temperatures.  Here's Maggie's first snow day picture:

Water Works...

It was inevitable, my return to work that is.  I knew it was coming but for the past 12 weeks I chose denial and embraced my new role as stay-at-home mommy. And I absolutely loved it.  How woulda' thunk it?!  Me. Lil' miss career girl always on the go, loving more than anything spending my days with a little munchkin who can't talk or walk.  Maggie and I had so much fun the past few months. We had lots of girl talk, shopped, and made dinner every evening before Daddy came home from work. And God blessed us with incredible weather. Nearly every day was sunny and above 60 so we took long walks with Truxton. 

Today, on my first day back to the office, the weather is cold, in the 30s, and raining with a chance of the season's first snow. How apropos! The change in weather couldn't fit better with the change in our family today.

In addition to the rain, I admit I shed a few tears this morning when taking Maggie to her babysitter -- my good friend and personal angel, Anne.  I am so thankful for Anne and jealous of her at the same time.  Afterall, she gets to hang out with the coolest little chick I know all day long.

Welp, as I always say..."make the best of the situation."  I'm busy catching up on work and grateful to have a great job.  I count my blessings.

Here's some recent pics.

Maggie on Back to Work Day

Sporting Her Winter Coat for the First Time

Loving Bath Time

(sorry for the risque pic!)

My $19 Birthday Present to Myself:

A Silver Cupcake Stand

Tummy Time Fun