Week 12

This week, Anna was really not interested in looking at the camera.
She checked out her nails...

...gave her bear the stink eye...

...and looked out the window.

finally, she looked at her Mama...

...and gave us a smile. I think Grandma G was making lots of silly faces to eek this one out!

Anna has loved her week with her grandparents! She is cooing up a storm and has shifted from a one-loud-scream-covers-all to punctuated, protesting cries when she's unhappy. She's a bit dramatic, sending out those cries, but then as soon as someone pays attention, she coos and smiles and talks.

The craziness of the holidays messed with her sleep schedule a little bit, but for the most part, she's a sleeping rock star. She goes down between 7:30 and 8 after her bath, then wakes up at about 3am to eat, then sleeps until about 7.

Since they've been here, her GrandDan gets up at 6:00am, comes down stairs, makes coffee, then settles in to watch the video monitor for any movement that might indicate Anna is awake. As soon as he sees her eyes open, he heads upstairs, picks her up, talks to her, changes her diaper and plays with her.

Pretty cute stuff.

She's also become more facially expressive, using the pursed lips that first appeared in week 11 more often. She's also started raising her legs up off the solid surface when she kicks. And she kicks a lot! It's so funny when she's laying on her back and KICKS! KICKS! KICKS! like crazy! Sort of like she's trying to run really fast.

Also this week, she was able to spend some time with her Great Uncle Doug from Oklahoma.


It was really fun to introduce them! He and my aunt gave her the cutest book called "Kitten's First Full Moon." I think I"m going to start giving that for a baby gift. It is a sweet, sweet story.

Bumbo Baby!!

Joining Her Faith Family

This weekend our Anna was baptized! It was a very nice ceremony and so meaningful to her dad and I. Though views on infant baptism vs. dedication vary in our family, our church baptizes the babies and that is what we decided to do.

Anna made it very memorable by crying loudly the second the pastor took her. She cried during the actual baptism/anointing, but then stopped crying immediately upon being handed to her dad. Several people later remarked to me how sweet it was that she was so comforted by being given to her daddy!

The ceremony focused on our commitment to raise Anna in a home where faith is discussed, demonstrated and valued. We vowed to raise Anna in the church and to know the Lord.


We feel so blessed to have been given this child to raise, we were happy to commit to raising her to know about God and Jesus and live a Christ-like life.

Over the last few years, there were many Sundays I would sit in church, watch the babies be baptized, and pray that God would bless us with a baby of our own. Those were hard days. Now that that prayer has been answered, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to stop praising the Lord!!

It was special to have my parents here for the occasion.


Anna's Godparents were only too happy to snuggle her as well.
We are so thankful for this tangible reminder of God's graciousness.


From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised.
~Psalm 113:3

Christmas Day

Christmas Day started bright and early! This girl was adorable in her "my first Christmas" PJ's...though the photo leaves a little something to be desired.

The morning was crazy as a whole slew of people arrived with presents galore.

Anna spent most of the morning on the coffee table, taking in all of the activity.

The people, presents and noise were all sorts of fun.

She was able to snag a couple cuddles with her favorite cousin...
...who eagerly helped her open her presents! (she recieved lots of fun toys and books! We'll have a ball this year playing with her toys. Her dad has them all assembled and ready to play.)

Oggy enjoyed the Christmas cheer and his gift. He was hilarious helping "open" gifts by grabbing the edge of the paper and pulling.
Such a fun first Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We had such a fun weekend celebrating Christmas with our Anna!

It started with church services on Friday afternoon. Dressed up, we decided to take a family photo. Of course, Oggy had to be in it. He was pleased as punch to do so. Evidenced by the kiss he gave his dad.

Anna was all done up in her Christmas Eve outfit...

And we had no trouble finding someone to hold her. GrandDan is always up for a snuggle...

As are her Grandmas.

She spent a lot of time in her Daddy's arms...

but perhaps the person who loves to cuddle Miss Anna the most is her cousin Nicholas. He loves this baby. And we love him.

While we were waiting for everyone to arrive at Gma and Gpa K's for the Christmas Eve festivities, Nicholas told Anna about Santa, how he travels with reindeer like Rudolph and how the local weatherman estimated Santa was currently near Japan.

While telling her these very important things, he softly rubbed her little head. ~melt~

Soon all of the cousins arrived...

...and Anna got her first taste of the magic of the Christmas Craziness!

Such a fun night! So glad we were able to celebrate with so much of our family. And so glad our family is a bit bigger this year. :)

Christmas Thoughts...

Our pastor has been doing a series on parts of the Christmas story we may not know a whole lot about. Last week he talked about the journey Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem. When Mary days away from delivering her baby. A trip they took on foot (or donkey, perhaps, but really I can't imagine that to be much better than walking), through mountains and wilderness and desert, for several days. He showed video of that part of Israel. While anyone would feel bad for her, being so recently pregnant, I can't imagine. Then delivering among animals. Wow.

I imagine that Mary was as enamored with her baby as I am with mine...and to know he was the Son of God? Her mind must have been blown. This passage, called "Mary's Prayer" from a Max Lucado book has always struck me as a powerful read. But this year, as I marvel at the "parts" on my baby...it has a whole new meaning.

What a special time of year.

11 Weeks

This week can be summed up in one word: Dad!

I returned to work and Miss Anna spent a couple days with her dad (who, by the way, is phenomenal with her! He has her napping, taking bottles and is just generally a baby pro. For someone with no baby experience going into this thing, he is impressive!).

She has been recognizing him for a few weeks now, but this week she's reacted to him with sheer and utter delight!

This was her expression when I started the 11 week photo shoot...

This is what happened when her dad came over and started talking to her!

That gummy grin takes over!

Wrapping that dad of hers tighter and tighter around her chubby little fingers!

Pretty Tutu's...

...don't necessarily make for happy babies.

This may be one my all time favorite photos of her!

Yeah, probably not on the fast track to becoming a prima ballerina.

10 Weeks!

This girl...
...is 10 weeks!
And just under the 11 lb. mark.

How cute are baby tootsies...

...sticking out of a sweater dress??

Coincidence?

That the most wonderful time of the year...

...produces the most wonderful cactus blossoms of the year? I think not.

Adorable...

Adorable little hand...

...and adorable little chin...

...and adorable little smile...

..and adorable eye lashes.
Please ignore the boogy.