Alex is officially a crawler! We saw her take off across the carpet on Saturday, December 22nd. She is now very busy getting in to everything and has become quite proficient very quickly. Mom captured some video of her in action!
We thought she was going to skip crawling all together, but we were mistaken. She has a slight "tweak" to the standard crawl...she does NOT crawl on her knees, but instead uses the inside of her knee area...so her legs are turned in a bit. It is pretty darn cute.
On the Saturday before Christmas, we met the Loomis Family for an afternoon of hot chocolate and sugar cookie decorating. I was a lovely wait to kick off our Holiday break:
Lots of pretty cookies!
On the Sunday evening before Christmas, we went to the Electric Safari at the Zoo! It was REALLY chilly and REALLY busy, but we all enjoyed ourselves and will definitely try and do it again next Christmas. We got to visit the BRAND NEW Elephant Barn. It is very cool, and you can get a good view of the Elephant's from above:
"Look, Gavin!"
Alex and Gwyn all bundled up. Burrrr...
On Christmas Eve, we decorated (more) cookies, listened to Christmas Music, drank hot chocolate, and took a drive to check out the neighborhood Christmas lights.
Did I mention I like to eat icing straight-up? No cookie? Yep.
Moses supervising (and hoping for a taste).
Alex watching the cookie decorating:
Haaay!
Christmas Eve (sipping on Hot Chocolate with 64 marshmallows):
My Baby Sister and I, in front of our Christmas Tree.
I of course, fell asleep on our drive checking out the Christmas Lights.
Oooh! Pretty.
Turns out...SANTA CAME!
Christmas Morning, checking out all that Santa left behind:
Alex got a really cool Ball Popper!
I got tons of goodies in my stocking. Toothbrushes, chap stick, Hot Wheels, M&M's, Band-Aid's, etc.
I got TWO Fire Trucks, and a couple other really fun trucks for me to push around.
Awwwww....
Alex LOVED riding in my new Dump Truck.
Weeeeee!!!!
Baby's FIRST Christmas was a blast.
OH! & it SNOWED on Christmas Day! Alex's First Christmas was a WHITE Christmas. Just lovely.
Grandma and Grandpa came over Christmas Morning to open presents. Somewhere between the time Mom decided to get showered, and Grandma and Grandpa coming over...Mom threw out her back! Yuck! Bad timing, Mommy.
Mom put on her "tough face" but she was in quite a bit of pain )-:
Me opening a present from Nanny and Adie:
Alex had fun playing with all the bows and wrapping paper:
Grandma & Grandpa and Don & Margaret came over for Christmas Dinner. Thank goodness my Daddy and my Granma are so helpful, because Mom was pretty much worthless! They managed to pull off a wonderful Prime Rib dinner, complete with all the fixings from start to finish. Dad was a dish scrubbing champion.
Grandpa and Alex enjoying some appetizers:
Playing in front of the tree before dinner:
Getting ready to feast! Prime Rib, Green Bean Casserole, Double Baked Potatoes and Candied Yams. Let us not forget Chocolate Pie and Apple Pie for Dessert!
It was shortly after dinner that I started complaining that my head and my "mouth" was hurting. I also started running a 102+ fever. Again..no bueno!
Alex was also SUPER fussy, and kept yanking at her right ear (the same ear that was infected just a few weeks prior). So, the morning after Christmas...we were off to see Dr. Reich. Dr. Reich couldn't find anything wrong with my sister, but she diagnosed me with an ear infection, and strep throat (although we decided NOT to do the Strep Test). I was put on antibiotics, and didn't start feeling better until they were changed 4 days later. Mom had some X-Rays done on her back, and ended up going to see the Chiropractor 3 times. Dad ended up going to see the doctor (and put on a round of antibiotics) for a sinus infection. 4 different co-payments paid for all four family members within 24 hours. Whoa! See what I mean about already looking forward to NEXT Christmas? We need a DO-Over.
We all started feeling better just in time for the Knowles Family to visit. They were a welcome distraction from all of our ailments.
Aunt Lynda and Alex:
Katja, Uncle JJ and Alex:
Jazelle & Katja posing with M&M:
Playing games with Katja on Aunt Lynda's lap:
Dinner out with the Cousin's at Freddy's!
Katja and Vondrea (who just turned 12). Katja and I are about 4 months apart. She was born in Feb of 2010 and is getting ready to turn 3.
Grandma & Alex:
"Here, Grandma. Eat my fingers!"
Feeling much better!
Pretty girls!
Cheese!
Daddy and Alex having a cuddle moment:
On Friday, December 28th...we all went to ITZ! It was a late night!
Alex having a "serious" meal:
Grandpa lovin' on Alexandrea:
Grandma with her "babies" and her babies with their babies! (-:
We had a very nice visit with The Knowles Family, and were happy we got to spend 3 days with them before they left to return to Peoria, Arizona (much warmer there...can you blame them?).
After my cousins left, we decided it was time to take down all the Christmas Decor. 3/4 of a day later...our house seems very...plain and boring without all the Santa's and lights and Snowmen!
Alex throwing a fit (maybe we traumatized her by taking all the decor down? Nah...probably just teething).
We ended up with even more fresh snow on New Year’s Eve!
Playing with my new Play-doh toy.
We decided to spend a little play time at Little Monkey Bizness on Christmas Eve (Alex had never been...and she had a blast):
Alex "playing goalie" on the cool interactive game mat:
After playtime, we went and had New Years Eve dinner at Cracker Barrel! I still wasn't feeling 100%, but was quite a trooper.
Alex eating a Crayon:
We had a pretty laid-back NYE. Mom and Dad were both in bed by 10:30. On New Year’s Day, we went to my buddy James' house for MORE Prime Rib, Black-Eyed Peas, homemade Mac N Cheese, and Cheesecake. It was a very nice afternoon spent with new friends. We are looking forward to 2013! Think it is going to be a fantastic year.
Alex and I, went to daycare for a couple of days last week...while Mom and Dad had some time alone. They got most of the party planning done for Alex's FIRST Birthday, did some furniture shopping, went and saw a movie, went out to eat a couple of times, and got some stuff done around the house.
Breakfast at Over Easy (downtown):
I had James and Jameson over to my house Sunday morning for a play date. We went to the park, and ate pizza for lunch.
James going on a wagon ride with Alex:
Alex bundled up:
45 degrees! Heat wave!
As I mentioned...Alex turns ONE on Sunday! Can you believe it? We are having a small gathering for her Birthday Celebration for her on Saturday afternoon, and Shannon Coker is coming over to do a Cake Smash photo shoot at the house. Plenty of pictures to follow.
Happy 2013, friends and family!
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