Maggie is 8 months!

Our little Maggie is 8 1/2 months old and I can barely believe it. She continues to grow and change every week and is developing more of her personality.  Here are some things I want to remember about her:

*She loves food!  Especially spinach, banana, sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, cheerios...ok anything I've given her she has loved except for white potatoes. 

* She loves her paci and if she sees it and can reach it, she sticks it in fast!  She also rubs her bunny on her cheek as she goes to sleep.

*She sleeps well although is in a funny early wake-up thing right now. Hopefully she will get over that soon! 

* She just learned how drink out of a sippy cup well. 

*She sits up, lunges for things she want, but is not crawling.  She can stand holding on to the table but is still a bit wobbly.  She might just walk before she crawls like Olivia did. 

*She smiles at everyone, giggles a lot and adores Luke!

*She says "Da  Da" a lot and one time looked at Forrest and said it.  Was it a coincidence?  After 3 kids, I'm not taking it personally that she doesn't say Mama!

*She can sign "more" but also waves her hands in the air.  Actually when she waves them in the air it can mean, "pick me up", "I'm happy", "I'm angry" "I want more food", etc.  Complicated girl. 

*She claps her hands to music and tries to move around. 

*Is great for babysitters. 

*Loves to jump in her exersaucer

*Loves to be held.  Uh - oh....does this ever happen to a 3rd kid?  Honestly I can only handle so much noise , so I have picked her up a LOT to quiet her...which she has grown to love.  Oh well, they are only little once!

* She doesn't have much hair at all, but it sure is blonde!
*2 bottom teeth... and I am regularly thinking she is teething again.  Teething is a good excuse for fussiness!

December in pictures

December around our house ended up not exactly as we had expected or planned. We had a nasty flu that made it's way around the family and were also very busy with Christmas parties and other work. But , we did still stop and enjoy this special holiday with our sweet family as they are beginning to understand more and more of the wonder of the Christmas story. 

Here are some pictures from December at our house.  Sorry - in no particular order.  I'm just happy they're getting on here !

 Luke and Olivia's school had a holiday celebration for New Year's (major holiday here).  Apparently 2012 is the year of the dragon. 

 Luke, some kids from his class, his teacher, and some dad of another kid.  Oh, and Santa and his granddaughter too.  Yes, Luke is dressed as Spiderman.  These holiday parties at schools are more like Halloween - costumes and way too much candy. 

 Olivia, her American buddy, and a few kids from her class. 

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas morning! 

 Christmas break always means tons of game playing  for us. 

Our special stockings.  

Enjoying their presents from each other.  Luke gave Olivia makeup, Olivia gave Luke a ball that sticks on the wall, and they both gave Maggie some baby soap. 

 Making gingerbread houses at a friend's house

 always begging for a craft

 They do really love each other.

 Olivia opening her stocking on Christmas morning. 

Luke showing off his new ear muffs

Maggie turned 7 months old!!

The expat women in our city have a tradition of a Christmas cookie exchange. You might gain weight just looking at this picture.  You have no idea how hard it is to pull off these kind of treats here! 

Luke and 2 of the ladies that are planning to marry him.  I'm not joking  The first girl is from Holland and told her dad, "If I marry Luke, I'l have to move to America and speak English all the time! "  The 2nd girl draws him pictures often with "I love Luke" written on them.  Who knew we had such a ladies' man!

Sweet Maggie's 1st Christmas

Annual Christmas shopping trip (for each other)

Christmas Eve

Maggie and her 1st stocking!

Maggie and her 1st baby doll - is basically the same doll as Olivia's beloved  "Baby Ruth".  When we opened it, Olivia   said "the same eyes, the same mouth!!"  Maggie giggled and then threw it, as she throws most things these days.  I bet she will grow to love "Baby Claire" too.

Messy eater but loving every  bite

Christmas party with other expat kids

Finally, one of the hardest parts of December. My grandfather passed away after a long battle with emphysema.  Here he is in June holding newborn Maggie.  I wasn't able to go to the funeral but I'm thankful for his long life and the impact he had on many.  I only wish he could see this little sweetie grow up (and the others too). 

Maggie at 6 months

I'm playing a bit of catch up.  Here's Maggie's 6 mo shots.  A friend here took them for me and I was so pleased!  She looks so big and grown-up.   I read on a friend's blog " Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."  I need to remember that as my baby girl gets bigger. 

 This green dress was mine as a baby. I have a picture of Olivia in it as well!

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