Merry Christmas!

From Christmas Eve...

...to the excitement of opening presents from Santa...

...to getting all dressed up for Christmas Mass...

...to celebrating with the entire McGee bunch the following day...

...we had a great time celebrating Shannon's First Christmas! Hope you had a nice Christmas too!

Shannon Meet Addie, Addie Meet Shannon

Ohhhh, as if there wasn't already enough to be excited about this time of year! We a fun visit from Baby Adeline this weekend. This little cutie pie is six weeks old. She lives in DC with Mommy Monica (my BFF from Georgetown/Spain) and Daddy Steve. They were on their way to visit Steve's family and we were one the way. I love being back on the east coast on days like this!


My camera battery was dead for most of the visit and Monica did an awesome job of capturing the highlights on Addie's blog.

The girls will get to see each other again when we head down to DC in January to watch the Hoyas take on the Irish.

Five Months

Our little girl is five months old today! This last month went by in a blink, but what a fun one it has been.

She really is turning into such a little person... the other day I found myself handing her a toy and it was only a few seconds after she took it from me that I realized that I had just HANDED her a toy and she TOOK it from me! A few months ago she didn't even know she had hands!

Speaking of extremities, she's found her feet. Shortly after she learned how to grab them, she learned how to put her toes in her mouth. Think we can take back all the Christmas presents waiting for her because she has found the best toys in the world.

We've always been a house of drool but Shannon is giving the dogs a run for their money these days. And, we are proud to report that the first part of a tooth has made it's way through on the bottom!

She continues to be a smiley baby and you can really get her laughing by tickling her or being silly. She is still a big fan of "z" sounds so Mommy sings "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" quite a bit (try it! there are LOTS of "z's") and Daddy plays a funny game called buzz cut.


Her very latest trick is a reverse scream... think about the huge inhaling sound you'd make before saying something like "you scared me" or "what was that?". Now add some shrieky baby joy and you've got it!

Visiting Great Grandma

Shannon took her holiday smiles on the road this weekend. Our desination was Erie, PA where we introduced Shannon to her Great Grandma (who turns 94 next week!).

Great Grandma was impressed by Shannon's grip and got to see how playing "sit down-stand up!" can be a fun game for hours!

Holiday Giggles

If you're not in the holiday spirit yet, this should make you all holly and jolly!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1271002071

(Thanks for the website, Erin!)

Although it feels so long ago...

...here are a few pictures from Shannon's first Thanksgiving.

Both sides of the family came to our house for our feast.

Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Kathy

Aunt Hanna, Uncle Mike, Great Grandma Rose, Grandpa, Grammy, Rico Suave

Shannon participated in her first Thanksgiving morning hike...

...and provided the designer placecards at the table.

So much to be thankful for this year! :)