Kelly Plays Peekaboo

Finally! I've been dying to capture Kelly's giggle on video for awhile now. Guaranteed to make you smile.

And lest you think she's just a lay-there-all-cute-and-adorable-like-a-BABY, the end of the video shows how very close she is to walking. (Eek!)

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas. Here are some of the favorite pics and memories from the last few weeks.

Opening presents on Christmas morning

Santa scored big by bringing "Thomas" and a new bike.


Kelly's First Christmas

Witnessing Shannon's complete joy and obsession with all things Christmas

Our pre-Christmas snowstorm

We did a lot of baking this year

(Oh, that silly Daddy...)

Our 2nd annual trip to Hersheypark with Marty and Stefanie

A full house...We got to see lots of family and friends... we hosted the McGee's on Christmas Day, a Christmas visit from Grammy & Papa and Mike & Pat, Addie stopped by (seriously, no pics? Mon, send some please!), Marty & Stefanie part 2, a cousin sleepover, hanging out with Kaelyn and Andy... man, no wonder I always feel like I need a vacation after a vacation. We stayed busy!

I think Winston's got modeling potential. Look at that paw placement. Must be because he is so happy with his gift.

It's been a sweet time of year. Happy 2010!

Christmas Card Blooper Reel

This is why:
a) we didn't include a shot of all four of them together
b) we didn't even attempt a photo with us in it too
c) we love digital photography (and the 100+ snaps that went into this year's card!)
d) all of the above

Kelly: Eight Months and Nine Months

Kelly-Belly, you're just too cute. Your smile is so big and so bright. You love to laugh and we love to make you giggle because its so sweet.

You are into everything these days. Somewhere back in October you started pulling up on things and now you are a serious cruiser. You can climb a full flight of stairs. You are FAST. You wait for the second I turn my back and grab whatever it is you've scheming about... plates, paper, Shannon's stuff. Oh, and the bowl of dog water is a daily mission.

You are suddenly an eating machine. You love munching on graham crackers and crackers and can pick up cereal and puffs. You still are enjoying the purees I make you (and even share your "squished up" pears and peas with your sis sometimes).

You recently learning how to wave (see the second elephant photo up top) and can sign milk. You babble mama and dada, but I think I've heard you really SAY dada a few times.

Your latest trick is shaking your head no (is that because you hear mommy use that word about 400 times a day?). Which has inspired "the Kelly dance" at our dance parties.

But as fast as you're growing up, you're still a sweet little baby.

Christmas Came Early

Last Sunday, Shannon woke up from her nap to find this:

Let me make sure I'm not still dreaming...

Yep...it's a PUPPY!!!!!

We named him Winston (despite Shannon's multiple suggestions of the oh-so-clever "puppy-puppy"). So far, he's fitting in quite nicely.

For the record, he's this big.

Apple Picking

Wait, isn't it December? Yep, but our recent visit to Linvilla reminded me that I never finished my pre-Halloween post about our last trip there: to pick apples and find a pumpkin.

We had a great time in the orchard. Daddy was our best picker (see above), but Shannon gave him a run for his money.

Kelly sized up the crop (almost like she knew that many of them would become apple puree for her).

Since we had walked a long way out and it was a gorgeous day, we decided to take a snack break before heading in. Something about these shots felt like they came from a simpler time to me, so I had fun playing around with the vintage effect.

After our snack, it was time to head over to Pumpkinland and pick out a winner. And try to get a cute shot of the girls in the sea of pumpkins. Kelly got the idea right away!

And we had to see how everyone measured up.