New Year and New Age

What a great holiday season it has been!! Although I'm sad to see it go (Grace said 'bye bye' to our Christmas tree this morning as Mike took it out and I told her it would come back next year), I'm also glad for all the fun times ahead in 2009. Trips, new babies and weddings are a few of the things we're already looking forward to in the New Year. I turned 33 on the 31st (yikes) and Grace enjoyed all of my birthday festivities. She has changed so much in the last couple months and has turned into quite the little ham and entertainer. She loves to close her eyes and stick out her tounge, dance and speak her baby babble. She says mama, dada, hi, bye, duck, papa, no, bad (because we say bad to Rosco when he's chewing her toys) and uh oh...among a few other words I'm forgeting right now and she gives great hugs and kisses if you catch her at the right moment. She understands pretty much everything we say to her and she can pick-out many animals and objects from her books. She LOVES books - we must read at least 10 a day - and she's a great little eater. We hope the New Year brings you as much joy, happiness and peace that we find in being parents to our little angel :) Love, Tracy & Mike

Christmas Pics

Finding Santa's gift!

Opening gifts with Daddy

Christmas Eve playtime

I like presents!!!

I love my new rocking horse Star (Star was the name of Mommy's rocking horse that rode for hours and hours when she was little...until the springs broke one day and threw Mommy off)

Family time

Winter Wonderland....CA style

As a result of the incredible storm we just had in So. Cal, there is a heavy layer of snow on the Saddleback mountains right behind our house. This is the view from our balcony upstairs. It's the first time I've ever seen this since we've lived here so it's very exciting! On the other side of our house (from our bedroom), there is a clear ocean view today, which we normally only get when it rains. Hey, even though it's many miles away, it's still an ocean view to me :)

Santa Baby - baby wasn't having it

Was it the fluffy white beard? Or perhaps the strange hat? Either way, Grace wasn't having it. She didn't like Santa with mommy on his lap so we thought we'd throw daddy into the mix, which clearly didn't help - as illustrated below. Oh well, she'll like him when she realizes he brings her toys.

Visiting GiGi (Grace's great grandma)

Yeah, a Babysitter

Grace had her first real "non-family" babysitter this week - our neighbor Gisselle. They played and had fun while I got to go the gym.

Stats & Feeling Merry

We visited the pediatrician today for Grace's 1 year check up. She was great until the nurse came in with those darn shots. I don't blame her - it hurts me as much as it hurts her.
Stats:
Wt: 21.4 lbs / 43%
Ht: 30 in / 66%

On a different note, I'm getting VERY excited about Christmas now that its December. The house is decorated, I started the outdoor lights today (see below) and we're planning to take Grace to get our Christmas tree next weekend. Let the Fa la la la la fun begin!!