Early Christmas

I got a lot of time off of work for Christmas this year, so we decided to spend a few days up in Groesbeck with the Cahills and then go straight down to Lafayette to spend New Years with the Dentons. We were supposed to bring my brother and his wife from Vidor to Lafayette, so space was really tight in the car. We decided to let E open up some of her presents from us up early, to conserve space.

Her favorite gift was this cool car!

She loved it so much. Now she uses it more than the stroller.

After seeing the car, she was ready for more.

Anticipating how to open the gift.

Hmm...what will it be?

Oh a baby doll! E loves to walk around saying baby all the time.

She couldn't wait to get it out of the package.

She walked around the rest of the day cuddling her baby. It was so cute!

She also got a Leapfrog laptop. Her favorite is pushing the donkey button over and over, "Hee Haw" "Hee Haw"

Baby has been big into reading, and animals, so she got an animal book that makes sounds. It comes with us every car trip

Finally she got a color wonder marker set. But looks like I bought this one too soon...she didn't seem very interested in it.

Overall it was a great Christmas and we loved watching her enjoyment over her new toys and books. E is truely a blessing in our home and we look forward to many more Christmas's

Hair

I am so proud of my baby for getting some hair finally. Surprisingly it is growing in evenly. But on the flip side E refuses all headbands, bows, and ponytails. Occasionally I can put in a single ponytail on top or pigtails. But she pulls them out the minute I put them in

In fact, all I have to say is "hair" and she immediately touches her hair to make sure I didn't sneak something in.

Occasionally, I can get her to wear a bow for a quick picture, but I better have my camara ready or else it will be gone before you know it.

Some other accomplishments of baby:

• increasing ability to express herself (words, pointing)
• follow simple directions
• getting her own things when mom and dad are busy
• watching Elmo
• wanting feeding herself
• bike riding with dad

Wearing the big socks

E has started finding socks and shoes and putting them on. She doesn't care if they are hers, mom's, or dad's. In fact, the bigger the better. (easier to put on)

She even doesn't care if they are in the laundry basket and she has to dive for them :(

She has also found my craft drawers and think that the contents need to be on the floor.

Daddy's shoes are her favorite

Houston Zoo 18 months

We took E back to the zoo this week. She has gained a big interest in animals lately. When she sees a monkey she will say "Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh" and she can roar like a lion too. So because of this and our nice Houston Weather we decided to let her see the real thing.

It never fails; she will always fall asleep on the way to the zoo

Look at those cute pursed lips; so good for kissing

Our first stop the sea lions

The morning was a little chiller and winder than expected, but we were prepared

Next were the Elephants, she was mesmorized!

We couldn't even get her to look our way for a picture

Okay so here are her favorite! LIONS! She loved it. I think there were 3 that day and the two females were fighting over the male. We even heard some Roaring, which was surprising for a zoo

Trying to get a closer look

On to her next favorites..."oohh, ohh, ahh, ahh" or as E says "ahh ahh, ahh ahh"

This cool mama monkey was carrying her baby and still swinging from limb to limb. How cool!

Decorating Christmas

E had fun decorating the Christmas Tree with us this year.

She loved playing with the lights...

And would carry the Christmas balls around saying "ball, ball, ball" over and over

In fact she loved playing with those so much, that we had to put them only on the top half of our tree so she wouldn't pull them all off. It was a funny looking tree :)

She loved helping daddy put the hooks on

Then Daddy helped her hang it

Searching for the right spot

Oh she found it (it was later moved up higher)

That is my angel...looks like she is about to get into trouble

All wrapped up like a tree

Where's Elizabeth?

There she is!

She had so much fun decorating with us this year!

Merry Christmas 2011