Merry 1st Christmas

This was Adley's first present. A Baby's First Christmas ornament 2007.

A gift to Daddy AND Adley from Mommy

"Dad's Surfer Girl"

Mommy & me and some fun play time to come!

Wow! What is it?

"It lights up! And plays music! And giggles!

How did you know?"

Auntie Anna wrapped this present with this cool yarn and baby tag.
What will we do for toys now that the presents are gone?

Auntie Anna and Uncle Andrew sent this cool Wartburg outfit where they're motto is "Be Orange!" Yea Wartburg!

Merry 1st Christmas - part 2

Reading fun with Daddy...

...and on our own.

Thanks Grandma Mary & Grandpa Al for this cool ornament and kitty cat pajamas.

"What a pretty picture! Hey...I know that girl!"

Thanks Grandpa Ed for a cool mousepad that never goes out of style.

Grandma Mary & Grandpa Al sent us this story collection. We had to read "If you give a mouse a cookie..." right away.

Does this look like fun or what?

Adley could be in the next Charlie Brown Christmas special. She'll bring the music!

Thanks everyone who sent us fun presents to open. We'll post more pictures of our "fashion show" with all of Adley's new duds later on.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December Happenings

As I'm sure many of you have noticed this blog has remained un-updated for quite some time. Unfortunately, the most logical explanation:
some very busy days and long hours (Jared),
a cold, cough, sinus infection and ear infection (for Adley, over the course of a month),
and all-of-the above, two Christmas programs at church, a banner to make and a head cold (Michelle).
There you have it. The December update on our family. Very Hallmark, I know.

Despite the above distractions, we were actively preparing for our first Christmas celebration with Adley. Adley and Mommy have enjoyed practicing all of the Christmas hymns with the children at church and visiting Daddy during the day. At home we have done some baking, listened to lots of Christmas music and Adley rearranges the presents under the tree daily. Her favorites include the one that rattles the most, the present with the red ribbon to untie and the present from Auntie Anna with the cool baby tag.


Adley decides to view all the presents at the back of the tree.
Why just look at the ones in the front?

"Its prickly! And I can't get out!"
She did get stuck back there. Not because there wasn't any room to crawl, but rather, because everywhere she moved she was "pricked" by the tree and she did not appreciate it.
She told me later she was just minding her own business when the tree came up and grabbed her. Silly tree!

This is the finished product. The banner made for the Sunday School Christmas program that I've been working on during nap times for the past month. It is a dark blue back drop with a white cross. All the other pieces were added one at a time during the program. It was a labor of love. Lots of love!

Up next, Merry First Christmas! and presents!

I thought it was too quiet.....(12/18/07)

Just when I thought I could get something done. I noticed it was too quiet...

And this is what I found...

"HI MOM!"

Winter Wear & Winter Weather

"Carpet angels anyone?"

Just in time Mommy found some outerwear for Adley that actually fits. (Its hard to find outerwear smaller than 2T and larger than 9 months. I wonder why?)

"These pants are much harder to crawl around in!"

This was Dec. 5, after an official 5.5 inches in Joliet and 6.5 in Naperville.
Yeah for us! We got both cars in the garage just in time!!!

"These are a little better."
(They're 18 month pants! Who knew?)

"Too much pink! I can hardly move!"

First Words

It's official. Adley is saying her first three words: Ma-ma, Da-da and Uh-Oh (pronounced Uh-uh). Yesterday, 12/4/07 she proved beyond doubt that she also knew the meaning of Uh-Oh.

We were walking through a store doing some Christmas shopping and she got bored so she decided to take off her shoes. The first shoe came off and she dropped it out of the stroller, proclaiming "Uh-uh." Then, the next shoe, followed by "Uh-uh." (Many of you know what's coming). She removed one sock, threw it out of the stroller and then, proudly, "Uh-uh."

This comes from playing while in the high chair. When Adley would drop a toy or a teether, we would say Uh-oh. Of course, you know we've created an Uh-Oh monster but the "Ma-ma" and "Da-da" more than make up for it!

Winter Clothes - Nov 29

Thanks Grandma Judy for this comfy winter outfit that we found in Sacrament while it was 90 degrees outside. It pays to plan ahead!

Christmas, Kisses-kisses & A Happy Girl

"How do you explain the concept of "not yet" to a 10 month old?"

"Kisses-kisses"

Happy Girl!
We are blessed with a very good-natured child.
This is one of the times we actually caught the laugh with the camera.

...starting to look a lot like....MOMMY!

...well at least Mommy thinks so.

Check out these latest pics.

You be the judge!

Thanksgiving

Catsuit

First Tooth

I can't tell you that this was one of our happier photo shoots, but if you look really closely, you can almost see the first tooth!

Better now. Look at that smile!

( She thought Mommy was going to leave her there in the crib).

But its ok as long as Mommy sticks around.

"You are sticking around, right Mom?"

"Check out this great outfit Grandma Mary bought for me when I was first born. Can you believe I can still wear it?"