Becky left tonight. Things seem so different around here without her. It is really hard to believe that she has been with us since the beginning of October. We are really going to miss her. She not only watched our children, but did laundry, dishes, made dinner, graced us with baked goods, and took out the trash on a daily basis. We basically would have been lost without her over these last four months.

With Becky leaving however it also means that I will be home with Ian and Emma full time after Monday. Wow! It is really hard to believe. I still have so much to finish up at Williams and Jensen so my excitement hasn't quite set in but I already have lists of things I want to do with Ian and Emma.

I cannot believe the month of January is almost over. Unfortunately I feel as though work basically consumed us this month, zapping us of energy, but on the flip side Ian and Emma seem to be sleeping much better. We have a bedtime routine in motion and cross your fingers, it seems to be working well. Both Ian and Emma are going to sleep on their own which gives us a few more minutes of extra time in the evenings, and they are sleeping fairly well at night only waking a few times. I always hesitate to show any sort of confidence on the sleep front because as soon as I do one of them starts crying or completely changes their habits.

January did bring a lot of "new" beginnings however. Ian FINALLY got a haircut...spread out over two days by two different people- Uncle Jesse and Tim. Emma is getting ready to crawl. She gets up on her knees and rocks back and forth. She is also starting to eat rice cereal and veggies three times a day. So far she likes peas and squash. Emma is still a little peanut for her age weighing in at 12 pounds at six months.

The spirit of Christmas is still alive in our house. I don't think Ian will let it die until next December. He prays for Santa every night and also insists on lighting candles every evening while we sing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. He whines for presents every day as well. When diapers were delivered yesterday he screamed, "My PRESENTS! THANK YOU MOMMY!"

THE HAIRCUT IN PICTURES

Seriously Mom, I can't see out of my eyes.

Jesse, do you even know what you are doing?

Hold Still.

Of course you can finish cutting the other side IF you let me watch Wallace and Gromit.

The new do..not too shabby.

Our little sunshine

Always smiling