Christmas Eve 2009

Though it is already January 6th (17 months old today), we did celebrate Christmas as a family this year in grand style. I was looking more forward to this year than last year, mainly because Lucy is so much more aware of what's going on. Who am I kidding really? This girl doesn't miss a thing.

We celebrated Christmas Eve at Big Eric's house, one last hurrah in the beautiful house, as my friend Crystal referred to it, with Tim, Sara, Jacob, Matt, and the family of Eric's new girlfriend Renae. We had a wonderful time exchanging gifts, eating, and laughing together.

Lucy was all decked out in one of her two Christmas dresses (extravagant, I know) and was just the most adorable little Christmas girl you'd ever want to see. The most wonderful part of this year was she didn't scream for 14 hours straight resulting in a trip to the emergency room for us at 3:00 in the morning. Can you believe it? I mean, she didn't exactly sleep through the night that night, but after last year anything's an improvement.

Big Eric and Renae got Lucy some wonderful tows including the Wonderpets barge that rolls and sings. All the little creatures kind of sit on posts on the top along with their sail but Lucy yanks them off and rolls the barge around solo. She loves it, probably because the song is rediculously annoying. I have new appreciation for my mother and the Pound Puppies Christmas tape Ryan and I listened to ad nasauem growing up.

The Wonderpets at one point cheer and clap as their barge rolls along. Lucy got a huge kick out of her audience that would cheer and clap along with her.

Aunt Sara looking wildly excited that she was able to pick up Lucy. Note that Lucy isn't looking, but this is also a huge improvement. Huge. And Aunt Sara loves babies.

Some family shots ...

Big Eric and Matt

Tim, Sara, & Jacob

Renae, Lily, & Annabelle (who I called Isabella all night then realized it after they left)

Us!

And ..... then we went home to get ready for Santa!

Art

Lucy has recently discovered a love of drawing, and apparently a love of the taste of the non-toxic (thankfully) crayola pipsqueak markers. She's really good so far about not using the markers to draw on anything that's not the paper we have, though perhaps that will change if we leave her unattended in reach of them, and has already completed several masterpieces. :) Well, it's a start anyway.


Mmmm, ink.


This one's a keeper! By the way, the writing's not hers, I did that.

December

Just about the time I forget we're quickly approaching winter in Maine, it snows. Lucy and I got a chance to go out and play in the snow. It was part Christmas Story part slasher movie. Lucy was not impressed with the cold, her snowsuit, her boots, the terrain, anything really. Once we got out into the road where it was easier walking she felt better, but I don't know if I have a snow baby on my hands here.

November

We had such a nice November this year. It wasn't freezing, not a lot of rain. Many warmish sunny days to take walks on.

Lucy and I took Shorty to the Bangor city forest, a treat for everyone. Shorty has a ball in the woods (though firmly attached to her leash) and Lucy loves watching Shorty run, especially with her new red coat.

I know the winter reality of December is coming soon, but it's hard to believe it now.

Bring it on

We're ready when you are, old man winter!

Up Up and Away

Our burgeoning escape artist.

It's no longer enough to just have a gate at the bottom of the stairs at Grandma's house. Lucy figured out she could squeeze through the two bars on the bottom step, therefore bypassing that pesky gate to make a run at the stairs. Note the new addition of the bungee cords.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween 2009! This was Lucy's 2nd Halloween (but the first of which I have subjected her to a costume) and she dressed up as a clown. This is the same costume I wore on Halloween when I was 1, 30 years later. Grandma kept the costume in great shape, and even sewed a few new pom poms on for us.

We had a busy day on Halloween, visiting family who all wanted to see Lucy dressed up before trick-or-treating for the first time. We found out she LOVES chocolate. We had a bowl of candy the trick-or-treaters didn't get and Lu went through and bit into each wrapper, hoping to find an open one. No luck, she had to wait for us to unwrap.

Lucy also had a chance to play with her cousin Lennon at Mammy's work. We just happened to show up at the same time. Lennon was a lion but his costume was way too hot so he was only dressed in his Halloween thermals. The only unfortunate part of visiting? Mammy only had one ball to play with.