Christmas 2012 part one

What a fun Christmas we had! I know it's already January, but whatever. I still want to record my memories and photos even though I'm a little late. I really enjoyed being at home for over two weeks with my family. Cliff was gone a lot with basketball, but we still squeezed in as much family time as possible. When he wasn't around, it was just me and the kiddos, and good gracious, that will wear you out! No wonder I haven't made time to blog lately.

Last year was such a fun and special year since it was the first year Amelia really "got it," and it was our last Christmas with her being our only child. This year was even more fun because not only did she really get the whole Santa thing, but she understood more about what Christmas is really about, the birth of our Savior. She was just so excited about everything. G, of course, couldn't have cared less about the whole holiday, but he did enjoy getting so much attention. And he really liked playing with all the wrapping paper and boxes!

I'll just share a bunch of photos rather than more boring commentary from me.

We started off the season with a quick family shoot with Katie for our Christmas cards. These pictures make me so happy!

After 12 years together, we hardly ever take any pictures of just the two of us.  I'm so glad we took these.

This makes me laugh. 

Amelia got to do a lot of fun things this year like perform in a Christmas program at school, 

Sister with one of her favorite people, her teacher Miss Melissa at her school program

 Marching in the parade with her dance class,

And performing in the most precious Christmas program at church, The Christmas Cupcake. We are still listening to the CD Every. Single. Day. in the car. Annoying, but it is so precious to hear her sing Christmas songs and her personal favorite, "Happy Birthday, Jesus." How can I say no?

 Ok, since that was already a ton of photos and I have a bunch more to share, I'll split this into two posts. Next up, even more photos and Christmas Day memories! I am so thankful for my sweet family and the chance to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Graham at nine months

Nine months was a month of continued growth and trying new things for our sweet boy. We enjoyed a week at home together for Thanksgiving and over two week at home for Christmas during this month, so we have had lots of time together. Here are some highlights from month nine:

• wearing mostly 12 months clothes and a size 3 diaper during the day and a 4 at night.
• has two 6 oz bottles a day, and usually one more at night
• still has just the two bottom teeth
• still loves all of his baby food and is great at self feeding little snacks and yogurt melts. He cleans his tray off in lightening speed.
• becoming a chunky monkey! Not sure what he weighs now, but he was 20 pounds the last time we went to the doctor a month or so ago.
• started doing better at drinking from his sippy cup. He likes to drink it while you hold it for him like a little bottle calf, ha. But he can and does hold it himself when he wants to.
• really started mimicking sounds more. "Ma-ma-ma" comes mostly when he's whining and wants me to pick him up. "Da-da-da" is all the dang time. I think he's starting to get that that means Cliff, and I'm pretty sure he knows I'm mama. Can't wait to see what he will call sister. He will also wave bye-bye and say the words a lot. Sometimes he just randomly starts waving at people and it is so precious.
• loves playing outside, swinging, and playing on the trampoline.
• really improved his crawling skills, but mostly just army crawling and going backwards. Still has been pretty content to stay in the same place for a while.
• loves his teacher at school, Miss Margaret, and his Sunday School teachers, Miss Sandra, Miss Kim and Miss Chris.
• kicks his feet wildly when he gets excited about something. Examples of kick worthy moments: when he sees his bottle, when I pick him up from school, when I get his food ready to feed him, when Amelia comes into the room, when Cliff comes home, and once he was so tired that he kicked when I took him in his room and walked over to put him in his bed. Sweet, sweet boy.

Teeth!

Best friends

Sweetest boy ever!

Just being Christmassy on his nine month birthday with Sister

Graham at eight months

 

Eight months was a big month for Graham. Back in November and December. Oops. I wrote this over a month ago, and it's been sitting in the drafts folder waiting for a photo. But at last here I am to catch up on my baby's memory keeping. .At eight months our sweet G:

• Finally got teeth! After months of gnawing and slobbering, those little two on the bottom popped up at the same time shortly after he turned eight months.
• started sleeping all night in his own crib. While I was nursing, he slept in the bassinet beside our bed, and usually ended up in the bed with us at some point in the night. When he outgrew the bassinet a month or so ago (it's a large one, ha), I started putting him in his crib to start the night, but he never lasted long and  eventually ended up with us. Not sure what happened, but it was just like something clicked and he started sleeping all night in it at eight months. It's so strange waking up and seeing him sleeping peacefully on the monitor. Since Amelia slept with us until she was two, it finally feels like we're getting our money's worth out of the crib and bedding, ha.
• started making strides towards crawling, but didn't go all the way quite yet. He would go from a sitting position onto his belly, but only succeeded in moving backwards a little bit. He's was still pretty content to just sit still and I have been very OK with that!
• started waving all the time and saying "bye-bye." He also makes the "da-da" sound but I don't think he associates it with Cliff yet. He waves at everyone and just grins at them until they wave back and it is so precious. He is such a friendly little guy!
• has absolutely no interest in playing with toys. This should make Santa's job easy!