Tis the Season

I am so glad that Wylie came in time for the holiday season. However, it has definitely added new challenges to traveling for the holidays... not to mention the additional trips for Ben's interviews.

First we went to Ben's parents' (Gran Gran and Grandoc) house for Thanksgiving. We spent a total of 2 weeks away from home, which wasn't easy to do with a one-month old, but Ben's family took us in and made it feel like home-away-from-home. We got to spend a lot of time with not only Ben's parents and sisters, but our little niece Lucy who is only three months older than Wylie. She was showing Wylie the ways on how to smile, laugh, kick, make all sorts of noises, and even roll over by the end of the trip (Lucy that is... not Wylie, after all she was only one month at this time). They became the best of friends and even dressed alike thanks to their Gran Gran.

 In addition to our Thanksgiving trip, Ben had some interviews. On the front end was Memphis, and after Thanksgiving he had interviews in Charleston, Augusta, and Lexington. Wylie, Gran Gran, and I joined him in Charleston. It has been an interesting process, but I'll be glad when it is all over and find out where we'll be living the next 3-6 years.

We were then home for 10 days... barely had any time to put the tree up. Wylie likes the tree and even helped out a little.

A week before Christmas, we left for my parents' house in Belleville, IL.  It was a busy and fun-filled time. Ben and I were able to take a date night, which was a present to ourselves, and go to the Trans Siberian Orchestra. It was a great show!

The following afternoon, my mom hosted a Sip 'n' See for her friends and mine to come see Wylie. We also went to see Santa with Charleigh. I think Wylie knew that this Santa was just one of "Santa's Helpers" since she's trying to peak behind his beard.

On the Monday before Christmas, Ben and I (along with Wylie) were on the road again to Louisville for another interview. After that we drove over to Lexington to get a feel for the city since that was one of the programs Ben has preferred, and I have never been there. Of the places he has interviewed, he likes three of the programs/cities equally. It will be hard to rank them since each program and city has something different to offer. He has two more interviews to go in North Carolina in January.

Finally Christmas was here! To no surprise, Santa felt most generous towards Wylie. She had at least twice as many presents under the tree. Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve, morning, and day.

The night before we left for home, it snowed. Here are some pictures of Wylie's first snow. I guess she's like her mama and does not care for the cold, since she wasn't very happy about it. I also had to wake her from a nap in order to get her in the snow suit, so she may just have been tired and not in the mood for a photo op.

When we got back home, there were some more presents waiting for Wylie. Here she is kicking back and enjoying being back home.

Little did she know that Christmas was not over, and Grandoc and Gran Gran would be here in just a few short days for another round of Christmas gifts.