Presenting the new Shirley Temple...

I can't believe she actually let me do this...probably because I let her chew on a curler. But look at the result...

The new Shirley Temple!!!
She actually looks quite silly but also very cute (of course). I am in LOVE with this picture because it is the first one in which I can really see what she will look like as a little girl. It also makes me sad because she is growing up so quickly...but isn't she pretty?
(click on the photo to see it larger)

Mini gym

Here are some pictures from the "mini gym" class that we took -- the session is over now, but Lucy really had fun so I think we'll sign up for another session soon. Or, we may try a music or sign language class. She's getting pretty good with her signs, so that may be what we do. It will help cut down on her shrieking if she can let us know what she wants with a sign...I hope so, anyway!

Happy New Year!

Lucy wore a very beautiful outfit last night for New Year's Eve. My boss and his wife bought it for her in Vietnam when I was still pregnant. They gave it to me soon after Lucy was born and I thought at the time that it looked so big that it would never fit her. Well, it just goes to show what a difference a year does make! It is still a bit roomy and fits her more like a long gown than a tunic, so I think she'll be able to wear it for another year or so still. She was especially excited to wear it in honor of her new great friend, another little Miss Lucy Elise who has just been adopted by her mommy & daddy in Vietnam. Lucy gives a shout out to Lucy today!!! She can't wait to meet you!! And happy 5-months!

After Lucy got all dressed up (including a snazzy new hair flower from Santa!), we went to a party at my boss's home, so I was really happy that she was wearing the outfit they gave her. She was quite a hit at the party, showing off her walking skills and making new friends. So many people told us how adorable they thought she was! She really did look especially cute in this outfit. We kept calling her the "little empress." Also, she was a really, really good girl at the party. Her behavior lately has been, well, less than stellar (lots of high-pitched screams when she doesn't get her way), so we were worried about how she would act. But she rose to the occasion and was a real charmer! We left the party just after 8pm and then she went right to bed when we got home. Jeff and I crashed fairly early, so we "missed" the New Year. Oh well, it was turning midnight somewhere (over the Atlantic, I suppose!) when we went to sleep.

Happy New Year to all...may it bring you much love, joy, growth, health, and PEACE.

Bah hum(stomach)bug

Here are some photos from Christmas...I was sick with a stomach bug from about 2pm on Christmas Eve until the 26th. So, basically, for the whole holiday! But Lucy seemed to have a great time, which is the most important thing. Plus, Christmas became the first day since Lucy was born that I changed zero diapers and got tons of rest. So, perhaps the sickness was a blessing in disguise...

Look what Santa brought for Lucy!

Lulu loves her new dog!

Kisses for Lucy!

Santa's elves must really like to make hair bows!

Mommy manages to smile, thanks to her Christmas girl!

Santa Claus!

What's that sound, Nonno? Who is coming??

Oh, it's Santa!!!

Lucy loves Santa

She is a very lucky girl to have her very own Santa Claus...

and Mrs. Claus is a lucky woman!

Bye, bye Santa! See you next year!

Some special ornaments

Here are some special ornaments from Lucy's very own little Christmas tree.

This is a Nativity scene inside what looks like a little egg. It was handmade in Peru. I bought it at a local store that supports fair trade. I plan to get Lucy a new Nativity ornament every year for her tree.

Lucy and I painted this together -- those are her little red fingerprints!

This is her very special Lenox "Baby's First Christmas" ornament. Here is the best part...

It has her name on it! I think this ornmanet is so precious.

These boots were made for walking

We thought that Lucy deserved a little "walking present"...ok, so we just wanted to buy her these adorable boots and we needed an excuse!

Baby steps!

Here are two short videos we took of Lucy walking tonight. She has been taking a step here and there for a few weeks now, but tonight she really seemed to be getting the hang of it really well! The most steps she took in a row was 11, but of course we didn't get that on tape. The second video is so adorable because she tries to do a little wave at Jeff as she steps and then claps her hands when she is done because she is so proud of herself. We're so proud of her, too!

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Party time

Me and my girl, all dressed and ready to greet our guests!

Daddy's girl!

The Christmas cookies that I made...I was very proud of them! They are all gone now, so I guess people liked them.

We had our annual holiday gathering last night. Parties are always a good source of motivation for us to get our place in really good order. We spent a lot of time in the weeks leading up to the party making sure that things around the house got done. Everything ended up looking really nice I think -- I just hope that no one looked inside our closets!

The party got started at 5pm so that people with kids could bring them along. It was so fun to see all the little ones running around exploring! At one point I felt like there were children just oozing out of every corner of our house. It was really cute. Lucy has so many nice little friends, including tons of really cute boyfriends :)

We thought we had plenty of food and drinks, but people really brought their appetites with them and we ended up running out by 8:00 or so. Jeff actually had to run out and get more cheese and wine! I take it as a sign that people had a really nice time, but I feel badly that we didn't have enough. Next year I will buy twice as much! We just feel so lucky to know such nice people, many of whom are fellow new parents that I have met over the past year and half since I got pregnant/had Lucy.

We asked guests to bring a toy for Toys for Tots rather than the obligatory bottle of wine. I am amazed at peoples' generosity -- I literally have 5 bags full of toys to drop off. I would love to spread the word about this idea because I think that lots of toys could be collected at holiday parties. And I think people really had fun picking toys out!

I feel like we have already had so much Christmas already, and it's not even mid-December yet. I certainly am taking full advantage of the holiday season this year. I knew that holidays with a child would be fun, but I had no idea they would be this much fun! I really want Lucy to enjoy Christmas every year and to look forward to it the way I always did (thanks, Mom and Dad!)...I think I'm off to a good start...

Fa la la la la

Santa's little helper, Miss Lucy Elise

The tree fits perfectly in our bow-front window

The stockings...hung by the chimney with care

Lucy's tree!

We decked the halls this weekend, getting ready for Lucy's very first Christmas. I have always loved Christmas, but this year it is extra extra special for me. Before I even had a child, I remember looking at a Christmas display in a store and thinking about all the wonderful years I had ahead of me sharing the holidays with my own children. I just can't wait to make Christmas as special for Lucy as it was for me as a child. I am so glad that our new home has a fireplace -- that is one of my fondest Christmas memories...sitting by the fireplace, looking at the tree. I am trying to rememer not to put too much pressure on myself this year to create the "perfect" holiday for Lucy. The perfect holiday, I know, comes from the wonderful times we will spend with our friends and family and does not depend on how much I decorate. Still, I just love how everything looks this time of year and it really gets me in the spirit of the season!

Teething is a messy business

Here is a little video of Lucy chewing on a teething biscuit ("mmmmm!" she exlaims) -- and throwing it on the floor. She also demonstrates her skills in clapping when she is asked "Are you happy?" (thanks to her Nonnie for teaching her that!) and waving "bye bye." My little genius :)

I had another bad cold this week so I sound very stuffy in the video. Lucy had a small cold, but it was accompanied by a cough that acted up at night. We are both on the upswing now, I think!

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving last year...

...and Thanksgiving this year!!! What a difference a year makes!

Lucy looking adorable in her dark purple party dress

Lucy and Daddy snuggling on Friday morning. Gee, I wonder who she gets her coloring from?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We actually got to have two celebrations because we went to Jeff's parents' house last Sunday for dinner (see video below) and then we went to my parents' house on Cape Cod for dinner on Thursday. As many people know, Jeff and I are "mostly" vegetarian -- I eat fish but never eat meat, and Jeff occasionally eats meat when he is traveling. Both of us eat dairy and eggs. Anyway this means that on Thanksgiving...you guessed it...we eat Tofurkey! This was the second year that we have had it and we think it's pretty good. Maybe it's just because I haven't had meat in well over two years, but I really do think it tastes like turkey. At the very least, it is a decent substitute and it allows us to participate in the dinner without having to eat just mashed potatoes and green beans. Both our moms cooked the stuffing outside the turkey so we were able to eat that as well. We even had vegetarian gravy! After two meals and leftovers, though, I am ok with saying bye-bye to Tofurkey until next Thanksgiving. Maybe Lucy will try some then. This is not to say that she did not participate in the meals this year, though -- she LOVED stuffing and ate all the little stuffing balls that I put on her tray. I joked that I should start making her Stovetop stuffing for dinner -- pretty funny in light of the fact that most of her food is homemade and organic. For now it is, anyway!

Lucy looked soooo pretty in the "party dress" I bought for her to wear on Thanksgiving day. It is dark purple velvet on the top and a lighter purple taffeta on the bottom, with some flowers at the waist. It came with velvet bloomers as well. The dress is size 12 months so it was a little big on her but it looked fine -- except for the bloomers, which were WAY too big and as a result were quite visible under the hemline of the dress. Her new patent leather mary janes were also a bit big, as were her coordinating tights. Oh, well! She looked adorable anyway. I will have her pictures taken wearing this dress when she turns one, though I think I will dispense with the bloomers, tights, and shoes and opt for just Lucy and the dress and her bare little legs...oh and maybe a hair bow :)

I cannot help but think of all the things I am thankful for this year...there are so many! Actually, the things I am most thanful for are not "things" at all.

I am thankful, most of all, for my wonderful family...

For my beautiful daughter, who is truly a miraculous gift from God

For my amazing and loving husband, who is the best companion for me and THE BEST father to Lucy that I ever could have hoped for

For my parents and Jeff's parents, who showed us how to be marvelous parents and who shower Lucy with their affections

For my grandparents, who are experiencing so much joy in being a part of their great-granddaughter's life

For the rest of our families and friends...for our health...

We are truly blessed!

Pigtails :)

Lucy looks so cute in her pigtails today, I just had to post a picture...

Look Who's Talking...

I should also call this post "Guess Who's Walking?" because Lucy Elise took her first two unassisted steps last Friday, Nov. 17! In this little video she is taking some steps but is holding on to the crib rail...mostly she's just doing a lot of chattering!

Enjoy, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

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Lucy's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

We went to Lucy's Grammy and Popi's house today for a (pre)Thanksgiving dinner. Here is some video of Lucy sitting in her daddy's old high chair enjoying her new reindeer toy! (Press the right arrow to play.)

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Little Patriot

We saw a few babies out last Sunday with little Pats jerseys on and Jeff said he really wanted to get one for Lucy. Well, wouldn't you know it, the very next day I found one...in T.J. Maxx! It is a size 2T so it's a little bit big but not too bad. And it's a #12 Brady jersey -- my little girl is already showing great taste in men!

Haircut!

We took Lucy for her first haircut last Friday, Nov. 3. The baby mullet/rat tail was just getting WAY too long and was starting to look like we intended for her to have it. So, off we went to "Snip-Its," which is a kids' hair salon. I felt better about the process knowing that it was being handled by a professional...Jeff and I both knew that if we cut it ourselves, I would either blame myself or him if it came out wrong. Lucy looked sooooo cute sitting in the chair. She even had the little smock on like she was a grown-up at a salon :) It took all of about 30 seconds for the stylist to clip off the back and a little bit off the sides. We did not let her touch the top at all -- we didn't even let her undo Lucy's ponytail. We just love her little moptop so much and did not want it cut! They put the mullet pieces into a little plastic bag and attached it to a "Certificate of Bravery" so that we have a momento for her baby book.

We are very happy with the result of the haircut. I think it actually makes her look more "baby-ish" because the back of her hair is now even and short like a 9-month-old's should be and not like a Whitesnake fan from the 80's.

Our little ladybug

Well, "Lucy the Ladybug" certainly did have a very full Halloween "season"...here is what we did:

• "Photo shoot" at home in her costume to get picture for her Halloween cards
  
• Party at Jeff's office on Friday
  
• Party at her friend Dylan's house on Sunday
• Party at her daycare on Halloween (Tuesday)
  
• Walk around our neighborhood on Halloween

Our walk around the neighborhood was very cool -- they do it up huge on one of the streets nearby and all of the houses get into the action. One of the houses was made up to look like a big haunted pirate ship. It was really amazing! There were kids and parents everywhere. At that point, Lucy was pretty much "all Halloweened out" -- but I think next year she'll get a real kick out of it all!! I was so glad to see that Halloween still "exists" for the kiddies -- I was afraid that trick-or-treating went away amongst fears of poisoned candy and razor blades (I know that all of that stuff is pretty urban myth anyway, but it seems that people still buy into it). It feels like we live in such a changed world from when I was little that I was glad to see that something so fun and magical still exists. I have such fond childhood memories of Halloween and am so happy that Lucy will have them someday, too!