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thebusybodies.blogspot.com

We are trying something new! I am officially closing our chapter on Plaid Proposal (which I suddenly revived to make a couple of years worth of scrapbooks). Now we're starting a new chapter called The Busy Bodies. Not only is it a daily log of the ways we grow, learn and have fun, but hopefully it can be a resource for other new moms who are looking for ideas too!

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with all our love,

The Busy Bodies (aka the crazy Lairds)

Goodbye 2011; Goodbye Baby Belly

Everyone was praying little Baby Laird would come early and the whole family would be in town to see her, but she stayed warm and stayed in. We said goodbye to 2011, said goodbye to all of the family, except for Eric and my mom, and waited for this baby to arrive. Happy New Year.

Carroll Kidz Celebrate Christmas

Christmas brings out the Carroll Kid in everyone and it is always great to be together even if it is a couple of days later. We still wore matching pajamas and took pictures on the stairs. Santa brought us some beautiful gifts for Baby Laird, but Rique made out with the greatest gift from the Philippines. Ramsey is really in to boxing lately and RESPECT.

We also did a little touring of the city. Mom wanted to see the Masonic Temple and we took Rique to my favorite bookstore near Eastern Market.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Although it was our first Christmas alone together, we loved it! It was the perfect relaxing day and we loved starting our own traditions and sharing one's from our family. Santa was even excited for our new addition. We also spent Christmas Eve with our wonderful neighbors the Lorenzanas. Reading stories to Francesca on Christmas Eve was the perfect way to celebrate the holiday.

Once the special day was over we started preparing for my family to get back in town. Target's after Christmas sale was a necessity and a stop at Costco to pick up essentials. Plus, Eric needed a hot dog. 

Final prep for the family coming home: getting Bailey all dolled up in her Ralph Lauren sweater to greet the family.

Carroll Christmas in D.C.

Being pregnant means participating in the greatest form of creation. It also means NOT participating in some pretty fun events (i.e. cruises). My family decided a cruise was in order for this year's Christmas, which meant Eric and I would be spending Christmas just the two of us and the baby bump. Fortunately, the whole family flew in and out of D.C. so we got to spend the beginning and the end of their trip with them.

We kicked off the party at Serendipity to celebrate a late birthday for Rique and an early birthday for Mom. Rique went in to serious dessert coma and wouldn't wake up the next morning. Mom just got on a sugar high and decided we needed to decorate a gingerbread house.

Oh and the family left Bailey with us. She started bonding with the baby in the womb while the rest of the family was gone.

A Botanical Christmas

The nation's capitol goes all out for the holidays, especially Christmas. There is so much to do and we barely scratched the surface this season. On Sunday after church we went to the botanical garden to see the train exhibit. It is entirely made up of plant life. The details of the little village are incredible and they even do models of the monuments and historical buildings in the area. Plus the view from the National Mall is astounding this time of year.

Deck the Halls and Party

The ward Christmas party is always early in December because so many people travel home to visit family. As groups of families we all visited an assisted living home and sang Christmas Carols. Then we headed back to the church to eat cookies. I made a batch of cookies and seeing all of the kids interact with the people in the home got me in the spirit of Christmas. We decided it was time to deck our own halls and buy our first live Christmas tree.