The one day you managed to sleep in longer than mommy! Daddy and I woke you up with a teddy bear that sings “We wish you a Merry Christmas” (from Aunt Lori + Uncle Bob). You smiled but looked quizzically at us as if to say “What’s up with the furry Santa bear and that high pitched tune?” We started opening stockings, and soon Grandma and Grandpa Robbins arrived, and now you figured it was going to be a really fun day with all this going on. The gift opening began with a bit of confusion, though the crinkling of paper and the chewing of bows seemed a big highlight, not to mention one special box. (Readers: You’ll have to watch the movie below! Get your popcorn… it’s 10 minutes and 33 seconds… and lucky you, this is just the highlights. I edited out the other 120 minutes!) Soon enough you were quite into it.
(Click arrow on image above to play)
Highlights of Christmas:
Going to Christmas mass with G&G on the 24th, followed by dinner and caroling at the Brothers. (You didn’t stay awake past dinner, so we missed the caroling).
Mushroom, Cheese and Bacon Strata for Breakfast
Your home-made stocking by Mommy, featuring a snowman with big glittering carrot nose
A roaring fire to brighten a rainy morning
Daddy working on your special rocking horse at Rick’s shop (shhh…. it’s still a surprise!)
Kisses for your first baby doll (I think you’ve called her Abba. “A bbaabaaa” you squeal with delight.)
Building block party (all of us constructing 40 blocks of cardboard from a set)
A yummy Christmas dinner, with Nancy and Rick, and generously catered by G&G Robbins. Ham, potatoes, beans, salad, pasta salad, pickles… you happily ate it all.
It was a lovely first Christmas with you. I can’t even imagine what Christmas was like before you. The celebration is different now — it has new meaning and joy. Just like life.
I can’t believe how fast this first year of your life has flown by, but not going to dwell on that yet. You’re 11 months and one week old, and you are picking up at least a new trick every day.
Today you learned how to flip the hall light switch on to make the light come on. Every time we pass the light you look up at it on the ceiling, like someone just put it there.
As of yesterday you are quite confident standing up on your own. Although just 2 days ago you fell while standing and grasping your music center, and fell and thumped your head on the hardwood floor. Not sure if you were more hurt or surprised, but it got you some good mommy hugs and cuddles. (Maybe that was more for mommy).
Sharing your food is also something you have started doing. Especially with Cheerios or peas. Sometimes you pick one up, extend your arm to offer it to me, with a little raised eyebrow, wait for me to open my mouth, then with a little smirk you retract your arm and pop it into your mouth. You giggle while munching.
You stood up for the first time yesterday all by yourself. We were at grandma’s house, our backs were turned and you did it. I turned around and there you were, all standing up, clutching your aide, Mr. Laundry Basket. This always gets a laugh… Daddy or I walk with you down the hallway, and bob you up and down along the half wall, so you can see the person waiting in the living room. “Boo”. You giggle and seem to think it’s pretty funny as you disappear and reappear above the wall. “Boo.” You’re often quite chatty these days and will go from a monotone babble to a babble with inflection, as if you’re telling a story in a foreign language. I’ll repeat what you utter and you take your turn in replying. I wish I knew what you were saying! (And soon enough it will become clear). Rolling a ball has become a source of great entertainment lately. You haven’t quite figured out how it works but are quite happy with yourself when the ball releases from your grip and rolls across to the person you’re playing with. You’re playing with the balls made for you by Grandma and Aunt Sarah. You’ve met Santa twice now for photos, the first day you were too near nap time and although you were intriqued and not at all upset at being held by a stranger with a long fluffy beard in a big red and white suit, red hat and white gloves…. you were awfully tired looking. So we went the next day to the park in Los Gatos where Santa was hanging out for more photos. You liked him and were keen on telling him what you want for your first Christmas.
You stood up for the first time yesterday all by yourself. We were at grandma’s house, our backs were turned and you did it. I turned around and there you were, all standing up, clutching your aide, Mr. Laundry Basket.
It always gets a laugh. Daddy or I walk with you down the hallway, and bob you up and down along the half wall, so you can see the person waiting in the living room. “Boo”. You giggle and seem to think it’s pretty funny as you disappear and reappear above the wall. “Boo.”
You’re often quite chatty these days and will go from a monotone babble to a babble with inflection, as if you’re telling a story in a foreign language. I’ll repeat what you utter and you take your turn in replying. I wish I knew what you were saying! (And soon enough it will become clear).
Rolling a ball has become a source of great entertainment lately. You haven’t quite figured out how it works but are quite happy with yourself when the ball releases from your grip and rolls across to the person you’re playing with.
You’ve met Santa twice now for photos, the first day you were too near nap time and although you were intriqued and not at all upset at being held by a stranger with a long fluffy beard in a big red and white suit, red hat and white gloves…. you were awfully tired looking. So we went the next day to the park in Los Gatos where Santa was hanging out for more photos. You liked him and were keen on telling him what you want for your first Christmas.
