Baby's First Christmas

I am about a week behind with everything- but I guess that is what happens when the computer where you are visiting dies from a virus attack!

As I mentioned earlier, we were in upstate NY for the week of Christmas. It snowed several of the days, including Christmas, but it was sooo windy that we stayed indoors for the most part. We didn't even get to use the snowsuit that my mom bought especially for E to wear on this trip :(

Christmas morning, E woke up about 5:30 or 6 for a bottle and went right back to sleep- we didn't get up until 8:30- glorious! We opened some presents and then the race was on the get ready and head out for Christmas day at E's great aunt and uncle's house.

It was a nice day for E to meet and play with a lot of relatives who will only get to see her once a year at most!

Hmmmm- maybe she doesn't yet realize what today is....

That's better!

Scrutinizing a present

Opening presents!

No matter what exciting thing she opened after getting that rubber ducky- she wouldn't put it down!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Well, I think we were 2 out of 5 on our quest for Holiday Traditions. We didn't make it to Christmas Eve service, we didn't watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and there was no Swedish Tea Ring! We did get the tea ring a few days earlier for my Dad's birthday though, so we didn't have to suffer a total lack of it.
On Christmas Eve we did allow E to open her first gift, which was The Night Before Christmas, and read it to her for the first time. I meant to write a little inscription in it, but wrapped it before that got done. I was reminded that she wouldn't know the difference and that I should write it later and attach a copy of a picture with all of us reading it.
I think she enjoyed it!

Our little Jetsetter

E took her first plane rides over the Christmas Holiday and from all accounts she was the perfect little traveler. I can't speak from first-hand knowledge, because she flew with my mother while the rest of us scrubs (me, Michael and my dad) drove to upstate NY.
I am actually not that surprised, b/c our little monkey is generally in very high spirits when she is out in public and around new people. Such a social little girl. The thing I was most afraid of was how the pressure would affect her ears. Apparently she was all "PSSHAW, pressure shmessure!" They had to take connecting flights and on the first flight she slept through the landing and on the second flight she fell asleep before take-off and slept the whole way!
I'm glad that E had a good experience but mostly glad that she took it easy on her Grandma!!

Updates

Ack! It has been so long since I have posted. I am planning to add a few things before the new year, promise!

And just a quick note that E pulled up to stand in her crib tonight! She loves having us hold her hands to get into a standing position so I know she will enjoy this new trick- hehe. 

Photos are in!

We got the photos back from Emily's shoot a few weeks ago, and I still wish that I could afford to buy them all! The photographer's website has recently gone live so you can check out her work at www.christyjohnson.com . I hope we will be able to use her services again for E's first birthday!

If you would like to see E's gallery, leave me a comment with your email address :) I won't post the link here b/c they will only be up for a short time.

Baby Legs!

Thanks to an early Christmas present from her little neighborhood buddies (thanks Michelle :P ) E finally has her very own pair of baby legs. I have been eyeing some for a while now; target has their own brand, and there are several etsy shops that have them. These little leg warmers are great now that the weather is getting colder. We have laminate and tile flooring, so when E ventures off the area rug, she often encounters cold floors. She doesn't seem to mind but I don't like to feel her poor cold legs when I pick her up! Also, they are nice to use with dresses instead of stockings for quick diaper changes.

Now that she has one pair, it's going to be even harder to stop myself from buying these up!

Photo Session Teaser

Miss E was the star of a photo session yesterday. We were able to come across a young mother who is getting ready to start up a photography business, and was in search of clients to build her portfolio. I'm sure I couldn't think of a cuter model- hehe.
She posted a couple of sneak peek photos on her blog here. I am definitely excited to see the rest!

"Santa Claus is comin' to town"

E got to hang out with Santa for a while Friday night. He visited our neighborhood Cafe' so we had some supper and got some pictures. Hopefully his magical Santa powers allowed him to figure out her Christmas wishes even though she can't talk! She seemed way more interested in this Santa- the real one ;)- than the fake one they had at her daycare for pictures. She kept glancing back over at him all evening!

The Feeling is NOT Mutual

Most people who know we have a cat have asked at least once how the two are getting along.

Well.... E LOVES Spike. When she sees him she squeals and basically quivers with excitement. And now that she can move, she usually takes off after him if he is on the floor somewhere.

Spike is definitely not amused by the addition of this small and noisy person. Usually he just "cringes" when she squeals, unless she is after him, then he runs away. I think it's funny that even when she couldn't scoot herself across the floor yet that he would still run away if she looked at him. It is adorable when she knows he has gone in the kitchen and you hear her just grunting and squealing away as she tries to haul herself around the corner from the living room to get another peek at him.

I am wondering if he will ever get over this- our friends have a 2 year old little boy and he still vanishes whenever they come over. I really thought he might have gotten more used to her by now and start tolerating her enthusiasm to pet him (or more likely pull his hair).

Poor E, she just doesn't understand why he doesn't want to be her friend, but it isn't getting her down!

Here are a couple of videos for your viewing pleasure. These really aren't the best examples, but I never seem to be ready for the exchanges when they take place, so these will have to do!

Oh- and updating from the other day, apparently E does NOT like peaches. How can you not like peaches?! Oh well- once again, the real thing is probably a lot better.

Peas and Thank You

No that is not a typo, and this post is not a lesson in manners.
I have been really lax about posting lately and I feel kind of weird talking about Thanksgiving now that all the food has been eaten and it's not even November anymore! It's pretty obvious what precious gift we are thankful for this year.

Now on to the peas. E has tried a variety of solid jar foods including bananas, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes and... peas. She is definitely not impressed with the only green thing she has encountered. And since being offered peas 3 days in a row- she has been suspicious now when any solids are offered. She wants to make sure nobody is trying to sneak any of those nasty peas in there! I can understand her aversion though. I wouldn't say that any jar food is particularly appealing, but the peas seem especially bitter and unsavory to me as well! I think we will hold off on peas until we are giving her table food and can put a little flavoring on them for her.

Today she is trying peaches, so fingers crossed that she likes those!

Almost there!

I finally have a couple of videos of E getting on her knees and then pushing up on her feet. She really wants to get onto her feet and loves walking along while someone is holding her hands, so several people have commented that she may end up walking before she crawls. I'm not so sure about that, but I think if she figures out how to move her knees, she will realize how much faster it is to really crawl than just scoot/army crawl. She'll love being able to get into trouble even more quickly!