This Year, Last Year

What a difference a year makes!

As I was rocking Emily to sleep tonight, watching her hold her own bottle, and listening to her tell me "Christmas Tree Off", I realized what a difference a year makes in the life of a little one!


Last year, Noah had just gotten his glasses and "forgot" to wear them most of the time...

This year, he happily wears them all the time!

Last year, Emily was lacking hair on the sides of her head, her "style" was not much of a "style", and the color was light brown...

This year, she has to have haircuts every 6-8 weeks to keep her "bob" trimmed, and the color has become a perfectly (naturally!) highlighted blonde!

Last year, we were able to go to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christ's birth...

This year, I spent Christmas Eve and Day in bed with the stomach flu.  We wore our Christmas clothes and did our church celebration on Sunday though!

Last year, Emily was too little to be too afraid of Santa, while Noah was completley content to share his wishes with the jolly ol' guy...

This year, Emily was terrified of Santa, while Noah remained completely content to share his handwritten list (in his own writing!) of wishes with Santa!

Last year, Emily was a women of few words...

This year, she sang "Jingle Bells" and "Happy Birthday Jesus" and pointed out that our "Christmas Tree fall down" on our front porch.  She knew "Santa" and "snowman" and "reindeer" and most importantly, "Angel", "Mary", and "Baby Jesus"!

Last year, Emily loved the wrapping paper far better than the contents of the boxes...

This year, the wrapping paper was instantly thrown on the floor in quick pursuit of finding the contents inside! 

Last year, Emily received her first baby doll for Christmas... "Baby Caroline"...

This year, she received 4 more baby dolls and enough baby gear and "accessories" to fill the playroom!  She knows every baby doll's name, sleeps with them at night, and mothers them each and every day.

Last year, Noah was aware that Christmas was really all about Jesus, but didn't fully comprehend it...

This year, he "got it"!  On Christmas morning, he came straight into our room, crawled up on our bed, and said... "Mommy, it's Baby Jesus' birthday!"  He also wrote "Jesus" as one of his first ornaments on the "Thankful Tree"!

Last year, Noah was a "true blue" Jayhawk sports fan...

This year, he momentarily became a WILDCAT fan!  He returned to his senses once he figured out the rest of the gifts (namely Jersey's, basketball shorts, golf tees, billfolds, etc.) were undoubtedly going to be red and blue!

Last year, Emily couldn't walk and her Christmas tutu overwhelmed her...

This year, she runs and her Christmas tutu was "too too" perfect!

Last year, Noah could write his name and a few additional letters without help...

This year, he wrote his own special Christmas cards... with me just telling him the letters to write!  (See card in Uncle Brycie's hand)

Last year, Emily didn't like to go to bed and woke at least twice in the middle of the night...

This year, she asks to go to bed AND (drum roll, please...) she sleeps through the night!

Last year, Emily only had 4 teeth...

This year, she has a full out "cheesy" grin!

Last year, Emily was a baby...

This year, she is a little girl!

And there are a few things that will never change...
 Last year, both kids were precious in their Christmas clothes...

This year, they were equally precious!

Last year, both children were spoiled silly!

This year, they were spoiled even sillier!

With anticipation, I look to the New Year and the many changes that are certain to take place in the developing lives and personalities of my two greatest blessings!

Happy New Year!