Christmas, New Year's & BIRTHDAY!!

Happy New Year!  I can't believe that the last time I posted was Christmas.  I've been pretty swamped for the past month, but I still don't see how it's taken me until now to update the blog.  Even though it's February 2, I want to recap Christmas, New Year's and Maggie's birthday because they are definitely worth mentioning.  Bear with me - there are a lot of photos for this post...

Christmas Eve was special this year, not only because we had Maggie's first Christmas, but also because we went without Chris & Jen, my grandparents, and Annie's grandparents.  Chris & Jen were spending the holidays with Jen's family, my grandmother had broken her hip and was still recovering/rehabilitating from the first surgery (she had a second), and Annie's grandmother was not feeling well that night.  Anyway, instead of the usual family dinner at our house followed by the late service to ring in Christmas, we flipped it around this year for the kids' church service and then dinner.  Maggie definitely enjoyed looking around at all the other children.  We even had to hold her back from playing with the hair of a little girl sitting in front of us!  Nevertheless, it was very cute to see her experience this for the first time:

"Look at that little boy back there."

Maggie's attempt at looking attentive.

...and back to the observant, ever moving head of Maggie.

"Look at that up there!  Daddy says it's structural."

Dinner time at the Barden house - Midlothian:

Maggie needed a cracker to tide her over since dinner wasn't quite ready yet.

That's a girl!  Take pride in that chair!

We didn't have turkey for dinner, but Maggie sure looks tired in this pic.

After dinner wrapped up, we packed up the car and headed over the river and through the woods to my parents' house.  After finishing the last blog entry, we all headed to bed.

CHRISTMAS!!

Maggie awoke to a fun-filled morning, complete with the introduction of present unwrapping.  She really didn't know what was going on, except for the fact that the event was really fun!  Once she got the hang of it, she was helping everyone open gifts!

"Anyone want a biscotti?  What the heck is a biscotti anyway?"

"Check out my sweet kicks!  Mom & Dad got them for me last week!" 

The happy grandpa videotaping Maggie.  This is his usual look every Christmas, complete with camcorder.

Stocking time, courtesy of my parents!

More Gerber snacks for the solid food eater...

Desitin: the best in baby butt care.

Baby wipes: the other necessity in baby butt care.

Grandmommy & Maggie are talking to Uncle Chris in Canada.  Maggie waved at the phone a lot. :)

After breakfast and a little lounging, we packed up and headed back through the woods and over the river to Annie's parents' house for Christmas dinner.  After dinner, we had the family gift exchange, and Maggie really enjoyed helping her Gigi with the oversized gift bag:

First, it was just the tissue paper at the top...

Then she wanted to get out all the tissue paper...

She threw her whole weight into the bag...

And then she was IN the bag!!! It was hilarous to watch. :)

With Christmas behind us, we counted down to Maggie's first birthday, but first a little time to play and reflect:

Maggie's new "Learning Train" is really cool!

 

Snow became a fun fascination for Maggie.

She was also checking in on her doggie with Mommy's help on the stool.

New Year's Eve morning.  Maggie started her last day of being less than one year old by hanging out in the jump-up.  These days, she tends to just lean back and lounge rather than jump though.

After a busy day, we put Maggie to bed.  This photo, although grainy, was our last photo of Mag-pie before her birthday.

New Years Day and Maggie's birthday:

The day started with Annie sleeeping in and Maggie and I spending some morning time together, but the morning was cut short when Maggie fell asleep mid-cheerio!

She literally dozed off while chewing her last cheerio.  Don't worry - I made sure she had swallowed it. :)

Once we got ourselves put together, it was party time!  Maggie was definitely ready to shake, rattle, & roll.

I'm not going to narrate too much for the next series of photos. So, without further ado, CAKE PHOTOS!

Maggie didn't know what to do at first...

...but after a little coaxing...

...cake and icing were everywhere!

"CAKE IS DELICIOUS!"

"I don't know where your cake is."

"My cake is right here!"

"This cake is so yum...oh look at the light."

Clean up crew.

"No, Gigi, you blow out the candles like this."

"Birthdays are fun!"

So, after the long-awaited and anticipated end-of-the-year wrap-up, I'm struggling with whether to continue the blog or conclude it at the year mark of our little girl's birth.  For those of you out there that are still following along with our adventure, I'd love to get your opinion. 

Thanks for following along on our blog, and the adventures to come are sure to be exciting!

Cheers,

Peter

Remember remember the 5th of November...and all the other days of the month too...

OK...I have just a moment to catch my breath before the Christmas season really hits full effect.  (Who am I kidding?  I started this post on the 20th, and I'm just now tryting to wrap up the post at about 20 to midnight on X-mas eve), and what better time is there than this moment to make my November/part of December blog entry?  I intend on having a special Christmas edition, followed by the inevitable 1st birthday celebration. :) 

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by!  I feel like it was just a few weeks ago that we cancelled our dinner plans with friends on New Year's Eve due to Maggie's eventual arrival very early the next morning.  This whole year has been a great adventure and experience for us and our families.  The whole reason I decided to do this blog was to be able to mark milestones and look back to see how our new addition in our lives developed, changed, and grew before our eyes.  Needless to say, this has also been a great outlet for friends and family to stay updated on the latest Maggie photos as well as what was going on in our parenting adventure. 

So, to begin the photos, we will start with our early November trip to Maymont Park for a family portrait.  Our friend, Miah Sargent, is a professional photographer, and he was also our wedding photographer.  We got to the park at about 3:30 or so.  This was the first day that daylight savings time had ended, and the natural lighting provided some beautiful background color:

These three photos are my favorite of Maggie in her baptism gown.

This is my favorite of the photos, but it wasn't the one we decided to use for the portrait.

And these three photos are a fun progression of Maggie being silly!

And finally, the Maggie portrait, followed by two equally cute pics!

Now, I give you Maggie in November, and part of December:

Maggie's impersonation of Michael Jackson was pretty good, but her voice was lower, which threw the impersonation way off. :)

The giraffe rocker is the stepping stone to the big rocking horse.

Grandpa & Grandmommy have had fun babysitting for us.

Pausing from a bite to give the camera a smile.

The week before Thanksgiving, Uncle Chris & Aunt Jen came to visit because Chris was going to be going to an award dinner on Thanksgiving (which he won in his nominated category.)  So we had a mock Thanksgiving, and we spent a weekend at my parents house with them so the Canadian counterparts could hang with Maggie...

Annie's improvised coaster.

In true coaster fashion, it stuck to the bottom of the bottle.

Who knew that boxes and wrapping paper provided so much entertainment for a baby?

Sippy cup!

"Gimme that camera!"

"Look!  No hands!  I can do lots more this way."

"Come back Uncle Chris!  I gotta show you this!"

"...I dropped it."

"Rubber ducky: meet my mouth!"

Stare off...a tradition long held with Chris as the champion.  Maggie didn't have a chance.

Aunt Jen likes me!

The toy collection at the grandparents' house has begun! 

A cup: Maggie's toy of choice.

"I'm on my way to see my doggie!"

"Hi doggie!"

"Uh...hi, little...person...thing."

"Guard the house!"

"One of these days, you're going to be my friend and not run away from me."

"Come back doggie!!"

We also had a mini Christmas since Chris and Jen also weren't coming back to the U.S. in December.  Maggie got a unique rattle from them, and she loved it!

Take the picture before she loses interest...too late!

"Uncle Chris, that rattle sounds a lot cooler when you shake it.  I don't have too much rhythm yet."

Being little is fun!

"Hello Mag-fans!  Do you like my new scepter- I mean rattle?"

Tag team by Aunt Jilly and me.

And now we hit the real Thanksgiving back at my parents house.  She thoroughly enjoyed the food.

Tip that bottle back!

Boy, this is fun!

"I think there are a few more drops in here, and I'm determined to get them!"

Maggie and Gigi had some fun before the end of the night.

"Mom? How do you work this wrapping paper bazooka?  I lost the instructions."

We went to Courtney's house (Annie's friend) for the VT/UVA game. 

Aunt Jilly and Maggie dressed to cheer on the Hokies.

December....We went to cut down a Christmas tree with my parents at the beginning of December.  It was cold, but we made it through!

I apologize for doubling up on a post, but I'm sure between Christmas and New Years, I'll have two more postings.

It's cold, so I'll allow it today - and I'm sure I look cute - but, seriously, who's ever heard of a pink teddy bear?

This is the winner!

This is Grandpa's and Grandmommy's winner! (the big one, not the little one in front)

For the last few photos, I thought I'd treat the fan club to our normal routine after we get home from work:

Dinner time - "Is there something on my face?"

"Ok...as long as my face is clean, I'll smile really big for you!"

Teeth were sprouting in every other day this month.  It hasn't made for any good nights' sleep.

Bathtime - we will be retiring the baby bath very soon.  She's standing up and trying to climb out!

Then, the snuggle with Mommy, following by diaper, lotion, advil for the teeth, jammies, then, as the eyes roll back from exhaustion, rocking with Mommy.

Merry Christmas everyone!!