Christmas Day 2008

Here is Miss Lydia flipping the pages to her new wooden princess book from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Ruth.

Trying on mittens from Granny and Baba

Playing with her new tea set from Granny and Baba

A new doll house from Mommy and Daddy

Opening a new baby doll from Grandma Jan

Grandpa and Granny got Princess boots for Lydia - she had quite a time walking in them - of course, today the temp was 75 so we may have to wait a while to wear them :)

Lydia was so gracious as she opened all of her gifts. She "oohed" and "ahhed" for each gift she opened - it was so sweet!

Christmas Festivities

I will do my best to update the blog, but I was a little overwhelmed when I did my picture upload and it told me I had 155 pictures!!! Oh, my! We have had a busy week. This blog will have some of the activities we've done before or after Christmas - I will do another post with just Christmas pictures.

I love this picture with my little girl - at the Dallas Arboretum.

Here's the fam...from left to right...Grandpa, Granny, Me, Lydia, Matt, Aunt Krista, and Uncle JD

I love the look on Lydia's face as she's walking.
Here we are at the Gaylord Texan after visiting the ICE exhibit.

The Nativity at the ICE exhibit.

Grandpa and Lydia - all bundled up!

I love this pic - cute, cute!

An attempt at a Christmas picture...

Lydia with Grandpa and Granny

A picture that could have gone on Christmas cards, if we had done them :)

Daddy and Lydia

Mommy and Lydia

Cuteness Captured on Film

Above is our cutie patootie!

Lydia has learned to kick a ball. She is rather exaggerated in her efforts - she arches her back and lifts her leg rather high to kick it. She is getting better but it is so cute!



Here is Miss Lydia helping me make some chocolate chip cookies. She was much more interested in her pretend batter than the real stuff. She is such a good helper!

Our Christmas Design Assistant

"Hmmm...what would happen if I pull this sheet? Maybe I could see the houses a little better."

"Okay, you see the little high chair? That's the one I need...Just need mom to step away for a minute and it's all mine!"

"What? My hand is empty!"

Today we had the special task of putting up the outside lights. Okay, Daddy did most of the work but we showed up in time to help a little and to inspect the work that was done. Lydia is an excellent inspector - very thorough!

Our inspector was so helpful we had to contain her to the speedracer for the rest of her shift.

Here's a video of Lydia inspecting the lights. You'll have to excuse her little toots in the video :)

Time for Christmas

"Mommy and Daddy told me that the Christmas decorations are in the attic - I guess I better go get them. Daddy, I'm comin' up!"

"So, mom, where do you want this candle?"

Look at all of those teeth!!! Miss Lydia has been teething for the past week!!!

Grilling some steaks...

Momma's Christmas village...

Here is Lydia cleaning up...

Just a quick add-on...

I was telling Matt what I had written on the blog (with Lydia in the backseat of the car) and I listed the words I had put on there as well...loud and clear from the backseat, she pipes up with "Uh-oh"....how could I forget her infamous "uh-oh"?? Anyway, that would make 6 words in her collection....

Let it snow, let it snow...

Just wanted to update everyone on Lydia's new vocabulary....As you know, she is in therapy so any new sound or word is VERY exciting :) She now says the following words:
Mama
Dada
Ball is "baw"
Banana is "b"
Dog is "dog" - pretty close to right on
Yea! That's 5 words!!!!

Well, we're in Illinois for the week and this morning we awoke to about an inch or so of snow...

The kids posing for a picture.

The New Kitchen

Here is a picture of Miss Lydia (per Granny's request for a "close up") :)

Here is Lydia's new kitchen, assembled.

Checking it out...

A little video of Miss Lydia at play in the kitchen...

Christmas Comes Early for Lydia

Well, we decided that we wanted Lydia to have a kitchen for Christmas. At school, she is like a magnet to any room that she knows has a kitchen in it - she loves them. So, we decided to check out Toys R Us. I wanted a wooden, classic kitchen and Matt was fascinated by the kitchens with all the bells and whistles. In the end, we visited two Toys R Us stores and 2 Lone Star Baby stores. We found the one we wanted and Baba and Granny offered to buy the early present. So...here is Miss Lydia atop her new gift, ready to help. Too bad bedtime came and she wasn't able to help Daddy. But, in the morning, it will be like Christmas morning at our house. Daddy has turned out to be quite the softie when it comes to his little girl.

Chuck E Cheese and the Arboretum Make for a Busy Day!

We decided to take Miss Lydia to Chuck E Cheese since she had liked it so much the last time we went. As you can see below, she could hardly contain her excitement...

Grandpa and Daddy thought it would be such a waste of tokens to let them sit while Lydia snoozed...so, of course, they did the only thing they could...

Finally, Miss Lydia woke up and off to the rides we went...Here she is with Barney...

and pretend Chuck E....

even Grandma and Grandpa sneaked in a ride....

After Chuck E Cheese, we went to the Dallas Arboretum...Here are some photos from the visit...

Trick or Treat

Here's our monarch butterfly checking her bucket for candy.

"Mom, when did you say the kids would be coming?"

"Maybe I should just close the door. I don't think they're coming."

"How do I put on my antennae again?"