Christmas 2009 (dada-mama-baba)

This Christmas was a whirlwind! My brother, sis-in-law, & nephews were in town from CO.  I took the week off & we had lots of fun hanging out.  We also got to hang w/ the whole big blended family which was quite entertaining. We went to the World of Coke w/ Tommy/Nickie/boys on Wednesday - it was fun.  Aislynn got to show the boys all the cool stuff since it was her 3rd trip there.  In the tasting zone, there's a drink called "Beverly" from Italy.  It's the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted (only once, and never again)... of all people, Kaden, my 4 yr old nephew, drank it - and liked it! It was funny to watch.  Nickie describes it as tasting like "ear wax" :)

Christmas Eve the crew came to the church service (awesome) and then we all gathered @ my dad's for his famous pasta dinner with other friends from church.  I swear all I did was eat (or "graze") the last week.

Christmas morning, we woke up, opened stockings and our presents.  Aislynn was so cute - of course she wanted to put all the wrapping paper and tissue paper in her mouth!  She loved all of her stuff though.  I made creamed corn & then we went to my dads.

After the whole crew came over, we had a turkey dinner, ornament exchange, and then presents.  There are 11 grandkids (from 8 months to 15 yrs old) not to mention the adults... everyone opened presents at the same time (paper was flying everywhere).  After a long Christmas Day, I crraaasshed - I'm still not caught up on sleep or cleaning!!!

Saturday, all the "gals" went to Sips N Strokes for some fun, and fun it WAS! We painted angel pictures, had some food & wine...

Sunday, had lunch @ dad's w/ the whole crew again, then took a family picture (all 20+ of us) Except Michael. He totally got sick Sat eve, then was wiped out completely Sunday... I thought it was swine - but there was no fever.  He's on the mend now, but has had a rough few days.  Then, Aislynn got a fever & has been fussy the last few days. I think it's an ear infection creeping in (round 10 of teething) she's been teething for 5 months, no teeth - and probably 1 month to go.  So she's been getting some antibiotics, and her fever went away this morning. 

(can you tell where Michael is supposed to go?)

After being off this past week - I enjoyed my time with her so much - I miss her when I'm at work.  Every week she does something new... the last couple weeks, she does this fake/funny laugh thing, it's like a forced "ha.... ha.... ha... ha..." with spaces in between. 

OH, HOW COULD I FORGET?  She also said "DADA" on Monday, 12/21.  The next day, she was saying "dadada dadadadada dadada dada dada" aaalllll day!  It's so funny to hear her talking different.  THEN... on Saturday or Sunday, she said "Mama" and sometimes says "mama mamamama mama"  She's also thrown a few "baba's" and "gaga's" in there.  She defintely likes her "a" vowel and is experimenting with volume levels (whispering 'dada' and using her tongue a lot more to form words).  She'll turn her tongue sideways to feel around in her mouth & kinda chew on it.  She's SO CUTE! :)

Another thing she's doing more, when she's hungry for baby food - she closes her mouth real tight (like she's sucking in her lips) and goes "mmmmm mmmm mmmmm" in this chanting tone. 

I need to start keeping better track of her new weekly tricks.  Oh, the week before last it was the hand clasp thing where she just kinda opens & closes her hand real fast like she's grabbing air.  We are teaching her sign language & it kinda looks like the sign for milk, but I know she's not signing back to us yet.

So - New Years is around the corner.  I'm not ready to say goodbye to 2009!  What a year....

Jan: our precious Rosie girl passed away - the saddest saddest day of my life!!!!

Feb: my first baby shower & 6 year anniv!

Mar: my 2nd baby shower & finished getting baby's room ready

April:  4/8 - best day of my life!  My sweet girl arrives (lots of other April bdays, including my 31st!)

May: my first Mother's day - baby starts smiling

June: Trip to CO to visit family - they got to see Aislynn for the first time

July: Return to work :( :( :(

Aug: our 6 yr wedding anniv (Aislynn starts laughing) - baby gets dedicated

Sept: trip to Canada for Aislynn to meet Canadian family 1st time

Oct: Peter/Travis visit - trip to Tampa for Misty's wedding - baby says "mama" - Michael's bday

Nov: baby's first Thanksgiving

Dec: baby starts to crawl - Tommy & fam visit - baby's first Christmas & starts to say dada & mama all the time. - we say goodbye to our awesome pastor & family :(

I'll post more pics & video later...

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!

I LOVE Christmas time.  I love everything about the holiday, especially the meaning.  But I like all the other traditions too (stockings, santa, christmas trees, decorations, family, food, friends, cookies, parties, white elephant gifts!)  We haven't decorated like we normally do - but this year has just been so busy!  We did take Aislynn to see Santa for the first time - she did GREAT!  It's such a joy to watch her experience new things.  She's the best gift I could ask for - no others gifts required this year :)

My brother & his family will be flying into town next Monday, I can't wait to see them.  The entire GA blended-family-clan will be home for Christmas, so it will definitely be entertaining... man I still have so much shopping to do!
Christmas cards have been ordered - going in the mail soon... and for convenience, we created an electronic Christmas Card:

Make a Smilebox greeting

This last weekend, we heard the sad news that our WONDERFUL Pastor, Chuck Angel, and family will be moving to lead another church in TX.  Sunday, he shared from his heart, the unexpected calling God put in front of him - something that he is saying "YES" to.  I will miss him & his family terribly, but know it's all for the glory of God.  I can only imagine the amazing things that are in store for the church in TX.  So, this Christmas, will be especially hard to say goodbye (for now) to such a special family.  9 days till Christmas!!!

Aislynn: 8 months & creepin-crawlin!

Aislynn is 8 months today! I wish time would sloooooww down! Last Thursday, 12/3 I took the day off to get caught up on some housework (I know, pretty sad I had to use a vacation day for that), but it was so worth it. I loved playing with baby all day. For the past month, she's been rocking (really, since she was about 6 months) I got to watch her scoootch herself across the floor in her official first "crawl". I was so proud of her, but also a little sad b/c she's just growing so fast. So there she was on her blanket. I had some toys in front of her... She'd get up on her hands/knees and rock, rock, rock... then she'd push herself forward w/ her knees and use her elbows to pull herself, then she's pop up and she'd be a little further then she was. She kept doing this till she reached her toy. During the last few days, she's gotten even better - kind of inch-worm, army crawling. Just wait till she realizes she can really take off!
She's just so much more sturdy in general - when she sits, she balances really well - she's just starting to lower herself from a sitting to laying position. Other updates & new characteristics:
*6 mo was the birdy chirping (high pitch) & rocking...
*7 months + she started screetching & yelling again (playfully) just these high pitch squeeling noises, her voice got the loudest it ever has... to the point that it rattles.
*Full on hair pulling to the extreme :) and MAJOR signs of teething w/ pink cheeks & all
*She started wanting to hold her bottle more by herself
*She really gets to batting on things (like she's playing drums)
*She started sitting in her tub now, she doesn't like to recline as much
*We introduced "meats" into her menu... she doesn't mind them too bad (still doesn't like peas) but she eats her veggies a little better
*Tried the little fruit "puffs" and she gums them up like she's chewing
*Weight at 7 1/2 mo was about 16 lbs (I need to take her other measurements
*Still wears size 2 diapers, still wears a few 3-6 months onesies/dresses, 6mo, 6-9month for other clothing.
*moved to taking 4 bottles a day and eating solids 3 times a day at 7 1/2 months (she drinks about 6-6.5 oz of milk
*Even though at 6 mo she said "Baba" and "Mama", she stopped - and now is starting to make "bwah,buh" type repetitive sounds. She LOVES to talk and babbles constantly.
*She gets a kick out of dogs
*We started limiting the amount of TV she watches. Now usually just 15-30 mins a day broken up
*She spins herself in a circle by getting on knees and moving one hand over the other in side-ways motions
*Likes to bite (I mean attack) faces especially if she can bite on chins
*Still sucking fingers, still sleepin on tummy or side, still holding blanky over face
*Oh, and now she is all over the crib and likes to play or "roll" a little red spinny thing on her fisher-price sound & lights aquarium (attached to the crib)
*Won't stay put on the changing table, instantly flips as soon as it's time to switch out the diaper.
*Getting rosy cheeks from either dry skin or just from teething
*Hair is growing longer - still not enough to clip a bow in.
*First Crawl: 12/3/09 - almost 8 mo old! (still no teeth)
I do have video of the crawling that I'll post later. I can't believe Christmas is 17 days away! (It was just Thanksgiving!?) I need to get Christmas cards out the DOh'. I wanted to take Aislynn to get pictures with Santa too - How fun it's going to be! We still have to put up some decorations and get our stockings out. I wish I had more time to be creative b/c there are so many things I wanted to do this year (like make our Christmas cards, make us all matching stockings... not to mention the gifts I actually have to make!) ugh!

Anyway, it's weird b/c last year, this time, I was pregnant - 1/2 way there. I remember identifying with Mary b/c I thought "how could she go through this pregnancy, knowing the baby she would birth would be the son of God, ultimately giving his life for others?" This year, I identify with her in a new way b/c now I truly FEEL the amazing love you have as a mother, watching my child grow - wondering what's in store for her, wanting to be a good mom & raise her right. I think about what Mary felt knowing she was raising the SON OF GOD! a Prince! I know God loves my Aislynn as much as He loved Jesus and I feel an overwhelming responsibility to raise her like I was raising Jesus. I think about the scene from "The Passion" - where Mary is watching Jesus carry the cross... and how he stumbles... she's reminded of a time from when he was a little boy running, and stumbling... Every night, I thank God for my precious baby. Aside from God sacrificing his own son for me - Aislynn is the most amazing gift. Instead of being sad that she's growing so fast, I want just want to rejoice that my baby is on her way to becoming something amazing - someone that will bring light to others, and glory to God!
So, my busy week began with a productive day of cleaning on Sunday. Lots to do still in preparation for Christmas (as mentioned above). Friday we have a Christmas party for our church worship team (fun!) then this weekend I have to get our package ready for Canada. We're already behind schedule! I wish I could take the rest of the month off! We did hire a deck-contractor and HOPEFULLY he'll hurry up and start/finish by this weekend (although it's unlikely w/ this rainy weather).

Will post more pics/video soon! One thing I HAVE to remember is to take her hat off while traveling in the car... This weekend on the way home, she fell asleep and AGAIN her hat slipped down - lights out... so cute!

Aislynn 7 days old & 7 1/2 months old