Flashback Friday!!!

I just couldn't resist taking a look back at what our baby girl looked like last Christmas. She was so easy to pose under the Christmas tree last year and this year we are lucky to get her to stand still for two seconds. In fact, we have so many cute pictures of Lilly last Christmas that I couldn't pick just one.

The Little Mommy

Lilly loves taking her baby for a walk in her new baby doll stroller.

Little Drummer Girl

Our Arizona Christmas

So we are heading to Amarillo on Tuesday for our Hague Family Christmas and we didn't feel like hauling all of Lilly's presents so we had our Arizona Christmas yesterday. I think its a good way to spread out the presents so Lilly doesn't get too overwelmed. Plus its nice to have just the three of us with our own little traditions too. On Friday night we had our "Christmas Eve" where we get to open one present from the "Sandman"...the present is always new PJ's and then we all get in our pajamas and take pictures. Jon and I have also started a tradition of letting Lilly open one small present to keep her busy on Christmas eve. This time it was a drum from her Uncle Colby...its the same drum that I have seen her fighting over in nursery so now she has her own and she loves it. This was the first year that "Santa" had some real work to do after Lilly went to bed. He put together this awesome little tricycle for Lilly. The best part of the whole morning was seeing her face when she came down the stairs and saw her bike in front of the Christmas tree, I guess that is what all parents look forward to on Christmas morning. After the excitement of the bike faded a bit, she dug into her stocking. We then had to take a 30 min. break while we waited for her to finish her mini twix bar...she wouldn't do anything until she was done eating it. It is so funny to watch her eat something with caramel in it, she chews and chews and chews. Finally it was on to the presents. She got 101 dalmations from Uncle Chad, a Little Einsteins rocket from mom and dad (she's scared of the noise it makes so we have to turn it off), a little doll house from Grandma and Grandpa, some new books, puzzles and some new warm clothes. It was a great day! Enjoy the pictures! And Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Elf Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Colder Weather Here We Come

We love the cooler weather we have been having lately. We finally had to give in and buy Lilly some new winter duds. We think she looks pretty cute in her new puffy jacket...like a little marshmallow. Now she is ready for an Amarillo Christmas!!!

Silly Lilly

Lilly's song...we don't know the words but at least she sings with feeling... and hand motions.

St. Nick Night

Growing up in Wisconsin we adopted a German tradition of celebrating Saint Nick Night on Dec. 6th. The children all leave their shoes by the back door with their letters to Santa and in the morning the letters are gone but a little treat or surprise is left behind in their shoes. It is a fun way to get even more excited for Christmas and getting a little gift seemed to "hold us over" until the big day. So Lilly left her shoes by the back door and woke to find presents in her shoes. Well, actually just one fit in her shoes (jingle bell bracelet) but she also got a Christmas lift-the-flap book and a Christmas My Little Pony.

18 months

Lilly is 18 months today!!! It seems like we just had her 1st B-day...where did the last six months go? She had her first day of nursery at church on Sunday and did great. We walked to the room hand in hand but as soon as we crossed that threshold she was like, "k mom, I'm good, you can go now" thats if she were talking, but you get the idea. She just seemed happy to have other kids to play with. Jon and I kept going and peeking in on her even though we probably had nothing to worry about. After the 2 hours was up Jon picked her up and her nursery teachers said she did great, she did eat everyone elses snack, spilled her water and ate some crayons, but I could have told you she would do all of that. We just can't believe what a fun and spunky little girl she is turning out to be. Always searching for the spotlight and applause, she certainly is a crowd pleaser.

At 18 months this is what Lilly is up to:

Climbing on top of anything and everything

Flushing toilets

Opening doors

Can go up and down stairs all by herself

Climbs into her car seat all by herself

Still loves the playground and slides, but has to do them all by herself (seeing a trend here?)

Eating everything we put in front of her

Her favorite foods are cheese quesadilla, spaghetti, brocholli, turkey dogs, english muffins, graham crackers and mini MM's

She is finally sleeping thru the night...most nights

She takes one 2 hour nap (i love this!!!)

Says: Bubbles, ball, baby, ba-ba(we think this means binky) Bye, Choo Choo, mama, dada, no no no, and many more that I still can't understand

She loves all animals, ecspecially stray cats at the park

Her new favorite TV show is Little Einsteins

She gives the best hugs and finally gives us kisses

She loves playing with balls and cars

She is such a fun ball of energy and certainly keeps us busy as well as entertained!