Happy New Year!

We celbrated New Year's Eve at a Irish New Year's party. It was lots of fun and we got to celebrate New Year's at Irish time (7pm), so we could go home a put Bella to bed. We watched the ball drop on TV later.

All Dressed Up for Church.

We had to dress her in her Christmas outfit for church today. She didn't manage to get out of her pajamas on Christmas, so we saved her Christmas dress for today. She felt very pretty--look at that smile!

All tuckered out.

She completely passed out after the boys left. All that flirting exhausted her. :)

Merry Christmas Harrisons!

The Harrisons came over to visit us when they were in town. It was great to see them. Bella was so happy to finally meet Cody and Caleb. They have grown so much! Aren't they adorable? Wow! We've come a long way since PSU, right Carly?

Bella's First Christmas!

Bella had a wonderful first Christmas(and four month birthday)! We all woke up and said goodbye to Chris. He had been visiting for a few days. Bella had a great time with him--and so did we! Thanks for coming down to visit us!
Then, it was time to open presents. We opened our stockings first. Unfortunately, Santa left Capo a pile of coal in his stocking. I guess he'll have to try to get off of the naughty list next year. Bella got a lot of great presents! She didn't want to take off her new hat from G-ma. She thinks she's the house jester. She also loved playing on her new monkey blankie that the Blumes sent her. She was enchanted by the lights on the tree when we laid her under it. What a cutie!
After presents (which we managed to stretch out through most of the afternoon), it was time for a bath and then a story. She got to listen to her Aunt Dawnie reading Humphrey's First Christmas to her. That was very special. Aunt Dawnie, Uncle Scott, Trevor, Greyson, and Brodrick sent us a big box of wonderful things, but the most wonderful gift was a CD of their family signing songs and reading stories for Bella. She absolutely loves listening to it.
Then, Gramma came home, and it was time for more presents.
Bella had a wonderful Christmas! Thanks to everyone who thought of us today, and made it so special. Merry Christmas!!!

Family Christmas Party

We celebrated Christmas with some of our extended family today. It was a really fun day, and it was really great to see everyone. Thanks to everyone who traveled such a long way to come and see us! We really missed our family that couldn't be there today. Hopefully we'll see all of you soon! Bella figured out that she's going to have to learn to talk a lot to fit into this family. :)

Fun With Josh and Noah

Bella had a good time playing with her cousins today. She can't wait until she can run around too!
They made us an adorable gingerbread house. Bella's favorite part was the M&Ms. At least that's why Mommy says they all disappeared.

She's a Happy Girl!

Merry Christmas Crazy Crumbs!

Bella and Regan exchanged Christmas gifts today. Regan got her a baby's first Christmas bib and an ornament with Bella's name on it. Thank you Regan!
They had a really great time together. Bella REALLY laughed for the first time. She thought that Regan was hilarious--she's fun just like her mom and dad. Bella was laughing at her for about two minutes straight. She got Anne, Jacque and Mommy cracking up too. Her little laugh is contagious.

Christmas Card Picture

We were successful in finally taking a picture with the Grandmas for our Christmas card picture. No guaranteees as to when you will all receive these mysterious Christmas cards, but I'll try to get them out before next Christmas. :)

Another Adorable Outfit

Mommy has a problem. She absolutely has to buy any outfit that has ears on it. Who doesn't loves babies with bear ears?
Bella loves chewing on the front of her Baby Bjorn. As you can see, she's done a lot of work on it today. All that chewing and drooling looks like it really tired her out.

More New Stuff

Check out the progress! She's actually starting to like tummy time now that she can hold her head up better. She's also really started playing with toys. She won't just drop them an forget about them. She'll pick them back up and, of course, get back to work on figuring out how to get whatever it is into her mouth.

A Visit From Bruce and Max

Bella got to see her buddies Bruce and Max today. Cowboy Bruce played some sweet tunes on the guitar. Max was getting a little frisky with her. We'll have to keep an eye on him. :)

She was Psyched to See Santa Today!

Bella Sees Santa Again!

Bella ran into Santa twice this weekend! Once at the mall and once at Daddy's squadron Christmas party. Santa is making the rounds in Norfolk! Mommy thinks that she heard Bella ask Santa for a cell phone. Kids want those things younger and younger these days.
PS I'll fill in the older pics later. I just wanted to throw something out there for the baby picture monster. :)

Don't Go See Santa on Sunday

Rookie mistake. We were in line for two hours. Bella got a little nap in, Mommy did a little shopping, poor Daddy was just stuck standing there forever. Next year we will be going on a weekday. We love Santa, but we don't need to make a full day of seeing him.

Bella Meets Santa for the First Time!

Bella met Santa today for the first time at Todd's squadron. Santa flew in on a helicopter and he brought a huge elf with him that looked a lot like Uncle Pete.

First Day in the High Chair

Today was Bella's first day in her high chair. Those high chair people are very safety conscious these days. As you can see, the high chair is fitted with a five point harness in case of an accidental launch into the atmosphere. How did we live through our childhoods? Really. All I remember (from the pictures) is a single lap belt when I was a baby. Anyway, she really enjoyed her very safe high chair. She like being up at the table, so she could see everyone. The bouncy seat on the floor just wasn't cuttin it anymore--this seemed to do the trick.

Going to Pick out a Christmas Tree

We had a few that we were looking at, but Bella wouldn't budge on this one. So, we got it. Unfortunately, they had spray painted the Christmas tree dark green. So, the needles were falling off everywhere once we got home. Next year-no spray painted trees. Who does that anyway?

Big Stuff!

She has just started really noticing her hands. Sometimes she'll just stare at her fist as it moves in slow motion toward her mouth. That's her big goal right now--figuring out how to get everything she sees into her mouth.

Look at that Face!

Helping Mom Put Up Christmas Lights

While Daddy and G-Ma were out shopping Bella helped Mommy put up the Christmas lights outside. By "helping", we mean that she sat quietly in her swing and didn't cry. It was a little chilly outside, so her cute little cheeks got all rosy.