The New Year's Babes

Me and cuddly baby girl.

New mommy, Courtney Pastor, and her 4-month-old future football star, Nate.

Hostess with the mostest Christine De Lessio Miller and her 7-month-old son, Liam.

The girls and their babes.

Yep, one shot was not enough.

Darling siblings, 6-year-old Cate Miller and her baby brother, Liam.

New daddy, Frank Pastor and his sleeping baby.

"Peace out," says Nate.


Livi gettting a catnap on Michele's pillows.

As life does when you have a baby, things change. So, there was no doubt New Year's Eve 2009 was not going to be a night celebrating into the wee hours complete with lots of elbow bending and ending it stumbling back home. We were delighted when our good friends the Millers invited us to a low-key dinner party at their beautiful home in Wesley Chapel.

The idea was to give those of us with new babies (three of my girlfriends had babies within five month's of Olivia's birth) a way to enjoy ringing in the New Year together in a safe, family environment.

So David, Olivia and I packed what looked like a weekend's worth of supplies and baby equipment and went over to the Millers about an hour away from our house, arriving around 6 p.m.

They had a delish steak dinner and all the guests brought most of the sides and other goodies. Sure, there were a few drinks but nothing crazy. And the place seriously looked like a day care. Several couples were there, including some we didn't know, with their infants and tots. And a few of our single friends joined us, too. It was really a nice evening.

The funny thing is our midnight toast was around 10 p.m. when sleepy babies became cranky but too excited with all the people to nod off. Everyone left long before midnight. It wasn't because it was a bad party. No way! The adults seemed to be sleepier than the kids. We made it home with six minutes to spare before midnight. We quickly put Olivia in her crib, and turned on the TV in our bedroom to catch the ball drop. Then it was time for shut-eye and that was OK by us.

Happy 2010!

Olivia's First Christmas

Olivia sporting her "My First Christmas" Santa hat sideways.

I'm cuter than my new baby doll!

Hanging with Aunt Sharon and showing off her new shoes.

Well, not exactly the holiday family portrait we imagined.

Three generations of the girls at Christmas.

The Davis Manse fully decked. Sort of.

Back inside, Teddy's cheerful.

Staircase in all it's Christmas glory.

Our smallest of our five trees. This year, we only got four up and the fourth was only partially decorated.

Our main tree in the living room.

Same tree in its nighttime glow.

Detail shot of same tree.

First Christmas morning!

Ohhhh, I'm starting to get it now.

Wrapping paper is yummy!

Daddy put the finally touches on his precious gift.

And I'm totally cool with that.

I'm SO excited it's Christmas!!!!

Christmas dinner. My mom seems to look stoned in 99 percent of the pictures taken of her. Sorry, Mom. You know it's true.

Mmmmmmm Christmas roast.

Well, that's all folks. Mommy, Livi and Boo-Boo kitty are ready for some R&R after a long two days.

Has a month already passed since Christmas? Seriously where does the time go?

Since she was born, I had dreamed about Olivia's first Christmas. Because I was born two days before Christmas, it's just my time of year. I love to deck the halls. I love to buy gifts and send Christmas cards - and receive them. I still enjoy watching "A Christmas Story" repeatedly (as well as many other Christmas movies). I adore the sounds of the season. All I wanted for Christmas this year was for Olivia's first one to be perfect.

I wanted all FIVE of our trees up. I wanted the exterior of the house to glow. I wanted her to wear at least three of her Christmas dresses.

It turns out perfection is even more of a monumental task when both parents work full time, have to spend quality time caring for their 9-month-old baby girl (not that we're complaining) and squeeze in some holiday baking and shopping. Man, I'm exhausted all over again just thinking about it.

So we only got up four out of our five trees and one was only partially decorated. Entire strands of exterior lights kept going dark and apparently they don't make matching ones any more. I got our cards out but never got the cards sent to us strung up in our archway. I heard very few Christmas songs. And I didn't watch one Christmas movie. Oh, and the weather was so warm, it was too hot for most of Livi's special holiday dresses. Thankfully, it turns out perfection is a matter of perspective.

Well, there's no doubt Olivia's first Christmas was a successful one. Adorable Christmas dress? Check. Plenty of wide-eyed moments? Check. Spoiled baby girl. Check, check and check!!!!!

After we returned home Christmas Eve from Disney we rushed home preparing for the relatives to arrive for a night of good eats, a Yankee Exchange and mostly just basking in Livi's glow. Olivia looked darling, I must say, in the dress Aunt Carole sent down from Massachusetts. There's no doubt our sweet daughter LOVED being the center of attention, too.

She didn't know what to make of the present thing but she really dug the wrapping paper. In fact, she thought it was so tasty, she swallowed some. Then she laughed her head off. Strange child we have but oh so cute.

She got lots and lots of gifts, including gifts sent all the way from her Massachusetts family. She got adorable clothes from Auntie Beth, Uncle Chris and Cousin Gracie, and even more stylish clothes from Cousins Cheryle, Joe, Justin and Courtney. She got lots and lots of books, mostly Dr. Seuss from Mommy and Daddy. Nana and Grampy gave her a baby doll and a toy computer since she's always trying to use her folks' laptops. Uncle Rich gave her a cool talking pig. And among her favorite gifts were a baby stroller to help her learn to walk and a plush baby doll from Auntie Sharon, Uncle Mike and Cousin Sarah. Yep, she cleaned up for sure.

Livi even enjoyed a lovely roast beef dinner at our house Christmas Day when we hosted her Nana, Grampy, Uncle Rich and his friend Geremy. By the end of the day, we were all full - and exhausted. The only thing missing, really, was our Massachusetts and Miami family. But we did have ourselves a merry little Christmas. Perfect, I guess you could say, after all.

Davis Family Gets Goofy at Disney

Well, pee-pee pants and all we've finally arrived at the gates.

Yep, we're a goofy family.

Livi and David thrilled with the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle.

Olivia's idea of waiting to get on It's A Small World.

Livi enjoying Disney's Christmas Parade down Main Street on the best perch in the house. And yes, she's usually missing a sock or two.

Olivia's first carousel ride. Weeeee!

Disney after dark during the holidays.

The awesomely electrified Cinderella Castle.

Everything is Mickey back at the hotel.

Look at me standing!

Just chillin' at the hotel.

Quality jammie time!

For my birthday this year, I decided to take advantage of the free birthday admission at a Disney park. On Dec. 22, we packed the Jeep and made the two-hour trek to Orlando for a two-night stay. I still get excited when I see the Mickey Mouse shaped electrical posts just over the Polk County line. You know something special is just up the road.

We checked into Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort where we would call home for the next couple of days. Livi was even given a Disney First Visit button. The rooms at the hotel are wilderness themed and very cozy. Mickey Mouse's face can be found on a shelf, the comforters, soap and even Olivia's portable crib sheet. We enjoyed a lovely dinner that first evening at the resort's Cajun-themed restaurant and strolled around the woodsy grounds before all three of us got into our jammies, snuggled up, watched TV, played and gigged before calling it a night.

The next day, we headed toward Magic Kingdom. After parking the car, we had to take a tram to the tickets booths. I got my free ticket and purchased David's. Of course, Olivia was free. So as we were preparing to take the monorail over to the the park's entrance David asked me where the camera was. DOH! Neither one of us grabbed it from the Jeep. He headed back to the parking lot on the tram and Livi and I waiting under the warmth of the sun for Daddy's return. Within a few minutes of his departure my thigh was suddenly warm. And wet. Yes, Livi piddled on me. And no, I didn't bring a change of clothes. For her, of course. Me, not so much. So even though they dried, I knew I was wearing pee-pee pants all day. SIGH.

But the park was magical despite our start and the fact it was packed for the holidays. There was so much less pressure to see the park when you only had to pay for one ticket. We wandered the park under a warm sun and 70-degree weather. We went on a few rides: It's a Small World, The Many Adventures of Pooh, and the carousel. Olivia discovered an excellent way to make the time pass when waiting in line. She slept and woke up right when it was time to board the ride. Wish I could try that.

Anyway, she was in awe of the place, the characters and the people all day. She even tried a bit of ice cream for the first time and seemed to love it.

For me, though, the very best part of the couple of days was just spending it with my wonderful hubby and beautiful baby girl. I loved our jammie time. The trip was the best birthday gift of all.

A Full December Day

Cutest Bundled Up Baby in Florida.

Weeee a firetruck.

Creepy sunglass-wearing Ronald McDonald.

The fam hamming it up at sweet Tanner's First Birthday party.

Daddy's Girl.

Olivia's man enjoying his first birthday cake.

The happy couple playing on a crisp Florida afternoon.

Olivia picking her first blade of grass.

Saturday, Dec. 19, was a busy day for the Davis family. We decided to take in Tarpon Springs' Annual Christmas Parade and let's just say it was a far cry from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

It was a bit chilly and windy that day here in Florida so we bundled up Olivia and headed down the street where we parked her stroller at the end of the parade by Spring Bayou. Parade marchers mostly consisted of a frightening looking Boy Scout troup, a bunch of local politicians riding in a local car dealer's cars, a homeless Vet begging for money and screaming that he fought for our freedom (for that I do appreciate him), a creepy Ronald McDonald and about a dozen new and vintage fire trucks. OH, and we mustn't forget the THREE adults who handed our 9-month-old daughter hard candy. Thankfully, we grabbed it out of her hand before she tried to eat it. So much for her first parade.

From there we continued on to a beautiful local park, John Chestnut Sr. Park on Lake Tarpon, for Olivia's boyfriend's First Birthday party. Tanner and Olivia are inseparable at day care. It was a chilly but nice couple of hours. Watching Tanner smoosh cake all over his face and he and Olivia playing on a blanket in the grass were highlights of the party. Here, Olivia also picked her first blade of grass.

The lovely day ended with dinner at Hellas, our local favorite Greek restaurant, with our good friends, the Newborns. But darn it we didn't take any pictures of that part of the day!