Santa Came to Visit!

...well, not a creature was stirring in the house except for Millie Janalee.  She was restless all night and would whimper here and there going back to sleep immediately.  So, I never went up to check on her until she started crying pretty good.  My mom actually beat me to it.  I don't think my mom ever actually went to sleep that night.  She was working in the kitchen and helping Santa maybe.  It wasn't long until I heard my mom calmly call out for help on the monitor.  Russ and I raced up the stairs unsure of what was going on.  Millie Janalee had gotten sick, and it was everywhere.  My mom went to change clothes and put hers and Millie Janalee's pajamas in the wash, Russ went back to bed for his early morning, and I took over rocking duty.  She went immediately back to sleep, but she was so pitiful.  It was obvious she didn't feel good.  Around 6 or so that morning, my mom came in and offered to rock her for awhile.  We were so afraid she was getting the stomach virus.  Thankfully, she was not.

Needless to say, when Kristin and Lee arrived to see what Santa brought, I decided to let Millie Janalee sleep in.  We sat on the stairs...the same stairs we waited on for the past 20 years or more...waiting on everyone to get ready.

And, yes, my brother has on adult footie pajamas.

We walked into the living room to find that Santa did enjoy his milk and cookies from Millie Janalee.  We also found many fun surprises from the big man himself!

Yummy!

He came!

Millie Janalee's loot from Santa

It looks like Santa had a little bit of help this year.  He came twice for Millie Janalee!

Since Millie Janalee wasn't awake to see what Santa brought her, us big kids got to dig in first. 

Dustin always puts on all his clothes and accessories he gets for Christmas.

Santa even came for me!

This portrait took my breath away!  Santa secretly talked and conspired with Mike Wharton to draw this exquisite graphite portrait of our precious baby girl.  He captured her perfectly!  Every detail.  Beautiful framed perfection.  Mike and my mom were in art class together in junior high and went through school together.  He is still in the Jackson area.  I highly recommend him for any portrait you would like commissioned. Head on over to his website to see more of his work.

After looking at all our gifts from Santa and a delicious breakfast prepared by my mom, Lee got busy putting one of Millie Janalee's gifts together.  Santa didn't put it together during the night because the hammering was so loud.  Lee needs the practice anyway.

Around 11:00, Kristin and I decided to go wake Millie Janalee before Kristin and Lee had to leave for another family Christmas.  Lawsy, I think they have 16 different family celebrations.  Haha!  Millie Janalee opened her little weak eyes and stared at us and her little angel doll.  Poor thing had a rough night.  And we never put a new top on her, because we didn't want to wake her up once she went back to sleep last night.

I put some fresh pajamas on her before bringing her down to see her surprises.  She gasped and said, "What's this?!"  It was just so cute!  Of course, she went for the big, bright colored things first.  Her new "clubhouse" for Susu and Pawpaw's house and her Cozy Coup.  She was a fan!

"[gasp] What's this!?"

Santa obviously had help this year with this big setup.

Checking out her stocking

It's a car my size!

"What else is in here?"

After some convincing, she made her way over to the rest of her Santa loot.  Thank goodness for the xylephone!  The sounds of the music is what lured her out of the clubhouse.  Ha!  We spent some more time exploring all the fun activities, books, and toys sitting around her brand new chair.

Such a musical talent!

"Let me check out this movie."

Another stocking

Susu helping her through her new tunnel

Sadly, Russ had to work Christmas Day so he missed it all.  I made sure to video everything for him.  We watched it that night...where I realized exactly how long it took for Millie Janalee to look through all her surprises.  Ha!

The rest of the morning was spent playing with our toys.  Big boy toys and baby toys.  Everyone enjoyed the blessings and thoughtfulness of Santa and his elves.  Lee and Kristin are set for baby Hughes, Millie Janalee and I are ready for Disney, and Russ was able to get his iPad Mini with Retina Display with his money and Amazon gift cards.  He's very happy.  Dustin has already had a little bonfire at his house with his new firepit.

All is well.

Lee trying out his new camera.

Trying to link up

"Whoa!  A little chair my size!"

She kisses everything these days!

"Hey baby!"

Pawpaw taking her for a ride

Although our Christmas Eve ended with a yucky night, Millie Janalee still loved all her gifts!  She was such happy girl.  Of course she was on the "Nice" list this year!  She's been a trooper through quite a lot lately.  She's flown, gone through customs, visited other countries, road tripped, froze through parades and carriage rides, and more!

We determined that her yucky night was due to exhaustion.  Everything finally caught up to her.  She didn't eat much and was quite clingy all day.  But after another good night's rest and staying in pajamas for 36+ hours, she was back to her silly, spunky self!

Merry Christmas to my happy girl!