Christmas Traditions

With a new little addition to our family comes new Christmas traditions for our little family.

Some of them will evolve over time, some will start fresh this year, and some may be so intertwined with our own childhoods, that they enter our home without even a thought.

--

Above all else, we want Elle to know that Christmas is SO much more than the presents, the gingerbread houses, and sitting on Santa's lap.  

Although all of those things are wonderful,

{and we fully intend to make them a part of her Christmas}, 

we want her to celebrate not these things, but the birth of her Savior.  

It is so important that we, as a family, not get wrapped up in all of the excess; but know - truly know- that this season is ALL about Him!  

{and enjoy Him in it!}

To foster a true sense of gratitude and to force us to slow down and reflect on Christmas morning, Michael and I are writing down the things we're grateful for and prayers that have been answered on gift tags.

Into the stocking they go and we'll read them together as a family on Christmas morning.

We're also starting the 4 Gift Rule this year:

. something to wear .

. something you want .

. something you need .

. something to read .

I love its simplicity.  And I love the fact that it forces us to truly consider in the weeks and months leading up to Christmas what would truly be meaningful to each person in our family.

Michael and I were so much more intentional in giving each other gifts this year and hope that in the years to come it helps us to know and listen to our little ones just a little bit closer.

We can't wait to see this tree fill up with hand made ornaments from our sweet girl.  

For now, though, she's gotten quite a few beautiful ones already

It's going to be a magical Christmas with this little one.   

Wishing you all a joyful Christmas season!

-Michael, Emily & Ellery

5 Weeks

It's hard to believe this sweet little face has only been in the world for five weeks; and yet it seems like she's always been right here with us!

Elle has had an exciting week getting ready for Christmas.  Saturday was dreary, rainy, and COLD!  The perfect day for Christmas shopping.  With Mariah in the background and Michael at the wheel, we set a Knotts family record. . . all most of our shopping done in one afternoon.  

Thanks to this little snoozer:

During the week, baby Elle made her first visit to Daddy's work and even snuck in a cuddle with the boss!  

. . .and even sat at Julie's desk!

Our little love is growing by leaps and bounds every single day!  

But the best part of week 5??  This precious grin:

Elle started smiling at the beginning of the week and hasn't stopped since!  I think she's trying desperately to live up to the meaning of her name.  Ellery means "cheerful one," and that she is!

EXCEPT when she gets tired of Mama playing dress up with her: 

{She loves going on walks, but getting bundled up for them isn't her favorite past-time}

We can't wait to share in Elle's first Christmas next week; and hope that yours is filled with many blessings and lots of JOY, as we celebrate the birth of our King!

"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

Leaving you with this: the Christmas story as told by little ones.

I watch this every year and somehow it never gets old.

Merry Christmas!

-Emily, Michael & Ellery

One month old!!

Happy one month, sweet Ellery Gray!  

It's been quite an adventure and we love you more every single day. . . 

Our little Elle has changed so much in just four weeks.  She's gained 2 pounds and grown 4 inches!! Sadly, she's also losing that beautiful black hair.  We think she's going to be a blondie now like her mama.  For right now, though, she's kind of bald :)  But thank goodness, she's still got that sweet disposition and those funny, curious faces!

Our little Elle is tall for her age!  Butler genes are in there somewhere :)

Sweet pea was so much more calm at the doctor this time!  She only whimpered softly when the doctor gave her the shots.  I was the only one who cried . . . brave like her daddy!  

{Have a feeling she might share Michael's love of jumping off very tall things}

And by the looks of this picture, she might just share her mama's love of shopping 

{even if it is just Target}

Love to you all from Emily and Michael and our sweet one-month old Elle!

Keeping It Real

I'm sure, by now, many of us have heard this quote from Steven Furtick.  It came to mind again the other day as I was sorting through pictures for our Christmas card.  I kept tossing aside so many photos because Ellery was crying, or my hair was in my face, or Michael's shirt had spit up all over it.  

(Can't blame him....these days there are very few articles of clothing without spit up on them.)

As I was tossing aside anything less than "perfect," I was disappointed in myself.  Michael and I never want to pretend like we have it all together or that this adventure we've begun with a newborn baby is always like the Johnson & Johnson commercials (baby coos and cuddles with a mom, who looks effortlessly put together.) 

Over this past month, we've discovered that that's not at all how life with a newborn looks.  In fact, I feel sure that's not how it should look.  I've been reminded of this many times this month.  

Though our Elle is a true blessing from God, beautiful, healthy, and so sweet natured, we aren't promised a perfect life.  We do know, though, that there will be crying, there will be 2 am feedings, there will be countless diaper changes, and there might just be those times when it doesn't seem worth it.  At the end of a long  day, though, we know it is!  

What an honor and privilege to be entrusted with this sweet little life.  

We wouldn't trade it for the world; but on this blog (and in life) I always want to be real rather than just sharing the highlight reel.  I love looking at gorgeous pictures of perfect families doing perfect things in perfect lighting; but even more, I admire those families and moms who aren't afraid to be authentic and imperfect, who don't hide the messes, but learn from them.

Michael and I want to be that kind of family.  

So in that spirit, here are some glimpses of Elle's last week:

Poor baby!  She's such a trooper usually but last week just wasn't her week.

It was a hard one in some ways, but we've already learned so much along the way. At the beginning of the week, our sweet natured girl seemed to be in so much pain.  She was crying non-stop each evening for 3 hours or so.  The crying was hard to hear (at one point, I had to give her to Michael and just go for a drive.)  But even more than that, it was heartbreaking to watch her in so much pain.  

THIS is where the advice of a wonderfully authentic friend saved the day.  I called her in tears and she first calmly reminded me that these days don't last forever and it's "just a season."  

"Before you know it," she said, "it gets great!  You're halfway home already."

I could have driven across the country at that moment just to hug her.

She then told me about her sleepless nights, her bouts with PPD, and a baby who cried endlessly for the first three months.  I have known this sweet friend for years, but never had I been so grateful for her authenticity and unwillingness to pretend that her life was perfect.

This was a greater gift than 6 weeks worth of casseroles to fill our fridge.

The next morning, the doctor suggested that I cut out the dairy in my diet to see if Ellery had an intolerance.  

NO DAIRY??  Oh my!

But this tiny person was worth it:

Within a few days, our little Ellery Gray was back!  The crying spells subsided and Elle returned to her usual laid-back, precious little self.

In all of the chaos, though, we've been reminded not to compare ourselves to other seemingly "perfect" families, or even to what we imagined parenthood to be.  We're figuring this out one day at a time and the really wonderful thing is....we're not alone.

We are surrounded by such incredible family members who step in at just the right time, friends who have the boldness to be real, and most importantly a God who grows us up in the midst of challenges.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Counting Our Blessings

"Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thess. 5:16-18

We have so much to be thankful for!  Our little family has been abundantly blessed this year with an easy pregnancy, a healthy baby girl, a family that loves fiercely, and friends who have wrapped their arms around us and reminded us what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Christ.  In the midst of our abundance, though, it is our prayer that we will be a blessing to others this holiday season and always turn back to praise our Heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts! 

Sweet little Elle's first Thanksgiving was just perfect.  She finally got to meet her Aunt Belle and Uncle Mattie.  It was love at first sight for this little niece:

These two were inseparable all weekend!  I even caught them snuggled up napping together one morning.  Elle was in heaven! Sweet girl loves a good cuddle.

She was captivated by her Uncle Mattie as well.  His funny noises made her face light up like we've never seen.  We tried to imitate them after he left, but she just looked at us like we were crazy.

He's got the magic!

We're so very thankful that Elle has baby girl cousin on the way to spend summers with in Fairhope.

Baby Dykema makes her debut in late February and we couldn't be more thrilled to meet Elle's best friend!

No turkey for Elle this year; but she did get lots of lovin' and her own spot at the table next to Pops:

No TV needed this weekend, we all just stared at sweet girl's little faces:

Waking up happy just like her Daddy!

Anna & Matt gave her the sweetest rocking sheep.  

She looks a bit scared of it now; but I know she'll love it soon.

In the meantime, she's loving her sheep Wubba from cousin Emily.  

{"Lambie" as we call her has saved our life on many occasions so far!}

The Thanksgiving festivities didn't end there.

Ellery got to spend Saturday evening with Mimi's family, meeting Pam, Joe, Jaime & Rafael for the first time!

Though she wasn't any luck to 'Bama that night, 

we had a blast with Michael's sweet family!

Probably worried about Auburn's field goal return at this point.

In other news...

Elle had her first shopping trip this week (Mama's girl already!)

She I picked out some hair bows :)

Miss Ellery Gray also went OUT to dinner for the very first time

with a very handsome dinner date!

At the end of a wonderfully busy week, we have to pause again and thank God for His many blessings!

We are thankful.  Thankful, indeed!

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Psalm 95:1-6