A few resolutions, with sprinkles on top

Be more adventurous.


Just do it.  Don't waste time worrying/thinking too much/stressing over things that need to be done.  Do it and move on.


Go with the flow.


Smile more.


Don't give up.


Don't hold back.


Love and be loved.


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We spent the last night of 2011 with good friends decorating sugar cookies.
What 2012 has is store for us is yet to be determined but I think we are ready to find out.

Let me hear your battle cry

I have been suffering from a cold/sinus issues for almost two weeks now (Phillip has been in the same boat for about a week).  Not fun.  I have been living off cough drops for days (I prefer strawberry).  Halls cough drops have “a pep talk in every drop”… little motivational messages printed on each individual wrapper.  Here are several examples:

Keep your chin up.

Don’t try harder. Do harder!

March forward!

Put a little strut in it.

Fire up those engines!

You got it in you.

Go get it!

You’ve survived tougher.

Seize the day.

Get back in there champ!

Put your game face on.

Don’t give up on yourself.

Nothing you can’t handle.

You can do it and you know it.

Buckle down and push forth.

But the one that really gets to me is “Let’s hear your battle cry."  Seriously?  Phillip decided to take it one step further and sent me this picture with the caption Let me hear your battle cry.

It all started with me mentioning the company was providing pizza for lunch and him responding, “Alright, alright” – like Matthew McConaughey says in almost every single movie he has ever been in (he made sure I knew to read it like Matthew says it).  And earlier today we had been talking about the cough drops.  It had to be done.

In an attempt to come across as cheery on the phone today I have been ending most of my calls with “Happy New Year”.  Going the extra mile… it’s what Matthew McConaughey would do and obviously what Halls expects me to do.

She's my Pretty Pretty Princess

An Ellen Original

Actually two Ellen originals

Christmas 2011: Highlights

Swimming on Christmas Eve (there's a first time for everything)

Ellen's reaction to all of her presents

New router for our computer

Watching the Christmas episodes of all of Ellen's favorite shows

Cherry cheese pie

Ellen playing her new guitar from Grandmother and Granddaddy

Making strawberry cupcakes with Ellen, Ashling and Cade

"Mommy, I'm not even a little bit tired"

Spending time with Andrea, Caleb, Ashling and Cade

At naptime

Phillip:  Do you want me to lay down with you?

Ellen:  Yes, but I don't want to be able to see you

The excitement and anticipation of Christmas

Spending Christmas Day with good friends

Cuddling on the couch

Hot chocolate mustaches

Setting out presents on Christmas Eve

Ashling playing with George

Laughter

Ellen riding her new scooter around the house

"Is Santa downstairs?"

Cade's love for the [play] kitchen

Packages on the porch

Sweet prayer before Christmas lunch

Cole:  Please help the poor people get money...

After the prayer Phillip says to me "He prayed for us."

Knowing next year there will be one more McCullough to share the magic with

Three new books just waiting to be read by yours truly

Capturing special moments like this one...

No plan. No back up. No choice.

When I saw this caption on the new Mission Impossible movie poster, perk of working next to a movie theater, I immediately thought of us – my family – and laughed (and then almost cried).

My c-section is scheduled.  My last day of work will be January 11^th, help will arrive on January 12^th and then baby Lilly is set to be born on Friday, January 13^th.

We have a date but there is still so much to do!

While we were at Walmart over the weekend (on Christmas Eve!) we stopped by the baby section because it dawned on me that we do not have any of the basics… diapers, wipes, pacifiers, etc.  We have plenty of clothes, blankets, bibs, burp cloths, etc. leftover from when Ellen was a baby but none of the other basics.  We just picked up a few things, including a special Night Night for Lilly (wonder if she will take to it like Ellen did to hers), but I feel better knowing that if you took a peek inside of our nursery you might actually think we have it together.  Even just the appearance of competence is good enough for me at this point :)

Our First Tennessee Christmas

These pictures are pretty much all the same but Ellen had a wonderful Christmas.  Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take any "before" pictures but we had everything set up so she could take it all in as she came down the stairs.  This girl went gang busters on her presents.  I think she was done unwrapping in about 10 minutes flat.  Santa did leave several unwrapped presents by the fireplace but she made quick work of the ones from us left under the tree.  We had about an hour to play before getting ready for church.  Happy happy, joy joy!

  

Biggest reaction... chocolate Santa from her stocking :)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2011

Hyatt Suites in Brentwood

Christmas with the Clausets

Friday, December 23rd