A hard, long day . . .

For such a small family, we really know how to make a full day out of Christmas. Grace took a good early morning nap, but then was wide awake from about 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM. She crashed hard on the way home and slept in her car seat for about an hour and a half before waking up and being put down for the night.

Christmas Night

We enjoyed presents back at the Taliaferro house, along with a light dinner. Boy do we know how to make a day of it.

Grace enjoyed sweet potatoes as part of her Christmas meal.

Christmas Day

After having lunch at Kristie's parents' house with my parents and my grandparents, we enjoyed opening gifts with the Gibson-Adams family back at our house. Grace's favorite part was ripping up tissue paper.

Grace especially enjoyed spending some extra time with her great-grandparents.

Christmas morning - Santa made it!

Santa made it to our house and we enjoyed a Christmas morning where Grace opened her stocking gifts and found a present or two from Santa.

Christmas Eve

We were happy to have our parents join us at our church for Christmas Eve worship. We attended the family service, in which there is a birth story and procession, complete with donkey. It was a fun service and Grace enjoyed seeing all the lights and colors in the sanctuary.

How to make a baby angry - Part 2

Many of you may remember the much earlier post, "How to make a baby angry" (available at http://gracegibson.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-make-baby-angry.html).

Well, let's just say going to see Santa Clause was not too dissimilar an experience. Actually, Grace was very happy the 40 minutes we stood in line, but it didn't take long once situated in Santa's lap for the crying and screaming to commence. It was so bad that a small crowd was gathering at the exit from Santa's "work shop" to see what was the matter. Luckily, the photographer did snap one very quick picture right at the beginning before the actual wailing started. We even tried holding her while Kristie and I sat next to Santa . . . no luck. So, this is all we have to show for our $30 and almost an hour of time.

Busy at play!

This holiday season seemed extra busy. Between the shopping, work, chores, and Kristie and I fighting our way through colds, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas went fast. It didn't keep Grace from having time to play, however.

Holiday photos

Grace had her holiday photos taken the week after Thanksgiving. Many of you saw the family photo as our Christmas card this year.

Thanksgiving

We were so glad to share Thanksgiving with both of our sets of parents and Brian's grandparents. We enjoyed a great meal at Ridglea Country Club. Grace wore her "Grandma's Little Gobbler" Thanksgiving bib.

Miss Flexibility

Actually, the reason for the photo was we looked down while eating dinner only to observe that Grace had managed to put the ring of her toy (meant to clip around a handle of a car seat carrier) around her ankle. The real test, and entertainment, was watching for the next few minutes as she kicked her leg, with toy attached, around. We wondered if she would be able to figure out how to get it off. Sure enough, we looked back down and the ring was back in her hands. Smart kid, huh?

Our little sitter

Grace is now able to sit up without support. If she leans too far, she generally will catch herself . . . as long as she goes forward or to the side. If she leans too far back, it's all over!

Bananas!!!!!

Mmmmm, Grace's first bananas.

Month 6 - so many "Firsts"

First solids (rice cereal).

First Halloween.

First Taiaferro family reunion.

First time to sit in her high chair.

Rolling over, pushing up and other adventures

During Grace's 5th and 6th month, it has been amazing to watch the progression of learning to roll herself over, push up, not quite crawl (but definitely getting the urge), and sit up all on her own.

She is also enjoying play time in her Bumbo, Exersaucer and Jump-N-Go.

4 Month Portraits

We were supposed to do 3 month portraits, but when we took Grace, she got fussy real quick and we didn't get though the photo shoot. So, we rescheduled a week or so later. Then, Kristie got sick and we had to cancel that appointment. But the third time was the charm, and on her 4 month birthday, we finally got the studio shots done. We are very proud and thought we would share some of the shots with all of you.

Meet the teacher day

On Friday, August 31, we wrapped up a busy month with Meet the Teacher Day at the University Christian Church Weekday School. Grace will be attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 to Noon, and eventually to 2:30, with five other infants. She is going to have so much fun with Nana, Miss Brooke, and Miss Leigh.

Pictured to the bottom right is sure to be one of her first playmates, Charlie.

Making noise!

Grace is already practicing her vocabulary. She is making all kinds of noise now, and is especially vocal in the mid-morning and early-evening.

While you cannot hear it through these pictures, maybe her facial expressions will give away her babbling and screeching!

Becoming more playful

One of the real fun things happening the past month or so is how much more playful Grace is getting. She grabs toys and books and especially loves to play with her feet and toes.

She is also rolling over on her side a lot, but not quite rolling all the way over yet. She is also learning to sit up, with the help of her Bumbo.

Grace's First Trip

August was such a busy month!

It got started with a very big event the first week of August, Grace's first trip. The trip included her first plane ride AND her first boat ride.

Kristie, Grace, and I made the journey together to Surf City, USA (Huntington Beach, California). My parents were able to join us on the trip, which really helped to have another two sets of hands. I had a business trip that included meetings in the mornings for three days, with some group outings in the afternoons and evenings. We left on a Sunday afternoon and returned on a Wednesday afternoon, so the trip was short but sweet. It was amazing how much stuff we had to pack for 3 and a half days away from home with an infant!

Grace did great on both her flights, only getting a little fussy once or twice on each.

She also had the opportunity to go on her first boat ride, as one of the group outings was a boat tour of Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, California.

All in all, we had a great time, but were pretty tired by the end of our short trip.