I actually LOVED this outfit. (Check out my best friend Katie’s outfit on her blog today too!) I don’t know why I’m always so hesitant to wear my tulle skirt. I guess I always feel like it’s too formal or scratchy or I’ll look like a fat ballerina. It doesn’t look quite as formal as I picture it in my head, though, and it’s incredibly comfortable. The best part is that it just FEELS so festive!

Blouse: H&M, Skirt: SammyDress, Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Our family party is anything but formal, but I still like to dress up for anything and everything – especially now that I’m a stay at home mom and the occasions are fewer and father between. At the same time, I wanted to be able to eat whatever I wanted and crawl around on the floor with Reese. This outfit was the best of both worlds.

Fun story about these shoes – A blogger I follow has them in pink and I LOVED them. I did some embarrassing digging and found out the brand (Dang Jessica Simpson I’m actually really impressed with your shoe line!), determined to buy my own. I checked every website, called stores, asked sales associates… nothing. Sold out in my size, almost completely sold out in pink everywhere. Finally I found a pair of reds and even though they weren’t pink and they were half a size smaller than I normally wear I bought them completely out of anger and aggression. Turns out they fit perfectly, are totally comfortable and I super like them! I am going to keep looking for the pinks though. Even if I have to buy them used. I MUST HAVE THEM.

Alright now it’s about to get good. Reese is getting very festive round these parts.

Onesie: Old Navy, Pants: Walmart (!!), Bow: Yasmi & Crew

Part of me is like “Danica you’re an idiot for buying Christmas-specific outfits – and don’t start giving me that BS about how they’re gender neutral! You know the odds are slim another baby will be the right size around Christmastime!” but then part of me is like “GINGERBREAD MENNNNNNNNNN!” and that part is much louder.

I’ve said before – Christmas 2 years ago was boring. My brother was gone, Ryan and I were celebrating our fourth Christmas together, no good Christmas movies came out that year… it just was boring. It was the first time I felt like “Oh. Something’s missing. This WOULD be a lot more fun if there were kids around.” And you know what? It totally is.

Reese got this adorable Minnie Mouse Choo-Choo Train walker/scooter (which is great because CRAZY TOWN she is already kind of trying to walk) from my awesome Paletta cousins and she was INTO IT. Then I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I literally teared up watching Reese see the displays at the Spanish Fork Festival of Lights.

The picture is so so bad but I just couldn’t let the moment slip away from me. I’ve been going here with my family for as long as I can remember. And this time I got to bring this perfect little chunk who looked at those 20 year old jumping frogs with fresh eyes of wonder, and the cutest little “oooooooh”s and “ahhhhhhhh”s.

I can’t believe I get to have her. And I can’t believe I’ve got 5 solid days of Christmas celebration ahead of us! I am not at all sorry about the instagram overload that is sure to come. It’s Reese’s first Christmas!!!!!!! I’m allowed to be crazy!!!!!!!

Linkssssss!