first christmas!!!

So, I think Kim and I started planning to spend Mary Beth's first Christmas together, oh, about a year ago! We knew it would be a tough time with memories of trying to celebrate Christmas last year right after Dad passed. And seeing Mary Beth just brings out the smiles in anyone, so you can't go wrong there. Kim bought her a plethora of gifts, and couldn't wait to open presents with her on Christmas day.

We headed down to San Antonio on Wednesday, which apparently was the right move since most of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area was snowed and iced over on Christmas Eve. Bad that we didn't get to see the snow, but good that we got out of there before it got nasty. Over the next 5 days, Bob and I put a lot of miles on Loop 1604 going back and forth between family gatherings -- seems everyone wants to see the little tike on her first big holiday! She spent most of Christmas Eve with Bob, Jeff and Andy, Christmas day with us and Kim/Matt at Mike and Carol's (Matt's dad and stepmom), and even the day after with Terri for a while (Matt's mom - AKA "quasi-grandma).

I joked that I was only going to give her boxes, wrapping paper and bows for Christmas. Turns out that those things really were some of her favorite items to play with. But she also loved her toys, clothes and books from everyone. What she didn't like was the boo boo she got on her nose when she took a dive off the leather ottoman. With me RIGHT THERE. I caught her as she caught her nose on the rug, cutting it. So poor baby looked like Rudolph on Christmas. Hey, 9 months old and this was the first visible injury -- I call that a winner.

 

 

well this can't be good...

Mary Beth is starting to figure out how to pull herself up on things. That won't lead to any trouble, right?

calling all you angels...

Dear Mary Beth,

I know he visits you. So does she, but I know even tonight your Grandpa came and visited you and made me come into your room. I felt him there, trying in his not-so-sly way to remind me that there is so much more happiness in my life going on to feel sad that he is gone.

What games does he play with you in the mornings when we hear you "talking" in the early hours? Don't fall for the one where he says he's got your nose. It's just his thumb. And quit listening to him when he tells you to burp up on me. That's just not nice. I know he thinks it's funny though. I'm thinking he also loves watching you dart across the room in your turbo crawling speed. Have loads of fun playing with him. He could always make us laugh, entertain us and just plain have fun with us. And he always had a soft spot for really cute girls, so you're in luck there! I think he'd even look past the fact that you have red hair...

I miss him tremendously. This last year has been such a strange year filled with terrible sadness and great happiness. Maybe that's why it happened when it did -- to help me keep things in perspective. Still sucks though. Wait, don't say "sucks." Bad Mom. Eh, if that's the worst word you learn in our house, I'll be happy.

So I'm not sure what Grandpa looks like when he visits you, but I thought you may want to see some of my favorite pictures of him. Ask him about some of his plaid suits. Classic Filmore.

Love,

A Very Sad Mom

from the desk of mary beth

normally mommy writes me a letter each month saying all the fun things i've done. but you've all seen my fun things already - smiling, swinging and crawling. LOTS of crawling.

so tonight i hijacked the computer to write a letter to them.

mommy, keep the milk coming. and food. i like when you give me little bites of your chicken and fig newtons. and i like when you roll around on the floor with me making me giggle.

daddy, COME HOME ALREADY!!! it's been fun hanging out with mom all week, but i want my daddy!! i like when you hold me up over your head so i can be tall. and let me splash you when you're giving me a bath. plus, mommy looks like she could use a nap and you'll have to play with me during that.

everyone else reading this, i really like this crawling thing. i didn't know it was going to be this fun!! there's a whole world of things to get into now!

it's bed time now. off to my crib where i get to roll around and pull the monitor down in the morning. what? it has a pretty green light on it, and i LOVE flashing or shining lights. and then when i do that, mommy or daddy come into the room and laugh when they see me smiling. life is good.

love,
mary beth

santa claus is coming..

The neighborhood that we moved into has a TON of kids. None of them really live by us, but just a half mile down the street today they had a Christmas gathering. Donuts, hot cocoa, an old-fashioned fire truck and SANTA!!!! Well I couldn't let that opportunity pass by, especially on her 9 month birthday! So we bundled up (about 45 and drizzling) and headed down for her introduction to jolly ol' St. Nick.

She did  SO good, and didn't cry. But when we took out the 9 month sign, she got a little fussy. Still, I'm impressed with my little munchkin.

crawlin' fool

No real reason for the post except to give more photos and let everyone know that Mary Beth is a crawling fool now. Shoes and remotes are not safe on the ground anymore. Nor is leaving her on our bed left to her own devices. And poor Orbit...