Warning...Lots of Pictures!

December 1- Break out the Christmas attire!

December 3- I don't want to forget how sweet she looks in her Swaddle Me.  At naps and at bedtime, this is an absolute necessity.  She loves getting swaddled up and even sometimes laughs when I'm getting her ready.  Give her a paci and (usually) she will go right to sleep.

December 6

December 8

December 8- Has been very intrigued by her new silver shoes.

December 9

In the sweet shirt Mimi fixed for our girl

December 11- Before Mom and Dad left for a date night to the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra...which was VERY good.

December 12- Starting to like the Bumbo seat since it helps her to sit up.   The girl likes to know what is going on at all times.

December 14- Full of energy!

 

December 15- Eva Brooke is becoming very interested in Cotton.  This is just before she pulled her hair.  Cotton isn't getting too close these days :)

Did I mention she is a happy girl?!

Looking like, "Mom's making me wear these silly snow boots..."

December 17- Before her 4 month appointment

Daddy kissing her boo-boo after her shots.  Love this one!

No, she didn't actually try it, but she would have.  Diet Coke addiction does run in the family :)

December 18-  She loves her exersaucer.  Wow, what a great invention!

December 26

December 27

December 28- The family came over to celebrate Beth's birthday. Eva Brooke is modeling the outfit her cool Aunt Beth gave her for Christmas.

Happy 23rd birthday, Beth!

Her bib says, "My Auntie Loves Me"

We gave Beth a Dinosaurs DVD (I think she was a bit surprised).  Anyone remember this show that came on years ago??  We would hurry home from church on Wednesday nights to watch it!

December 29-  Love this.  She's such a busy girl :)

Mamma Lin handmade this corduroy dress for Eva Brooke, and Mimi monogrammed it!  We sure are lucky to have such crafty grandmothers!

December 31-  This is why we don't use the bouncy seat much anymore.  She can sit up and just almost fall out of it!  She has really got some abs!

Happy New Year's Eve!  Wearing her "Night Owl" pajamas.  She didn't quite make it til midnight (thank goodness), and we just barely did!

We bought the "Night Owl" PJ's in the Smoky Mountains back in September.  At that time, she truly was a night owl!  Oh, thank goodness she's sleeping better than she was then!  My mother stayed up with her on vacation one night (ALL night) so I could get a full night's rest.  She normally will sleep now from 8 or 9 PM until about 7 AM.  She will sometimes wake up, but usually reinserting the paci will do the trick.  Eva Brooke is a schedule-lover.  She usually reminds me when it is time to eat, nap, etc. 

Time is just flying... Every day she changes and learns so much.  I really wish I could just freeze her like this a while (tear)!

Cereal Girl

Does anyone remember the "Cereal Girl" clip off Sesame Street from years ago?  This song plays over and over in my head these days.  "I'll taste it, I'll give it a whirl.  And now I am a cereal girl..." (I have included the link below for your viewing pleasure if you'd like a flashback :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgIfdl6by1o

 My cereal girl!

We first tried giving Eva Brooke cereal back on December 19.  She had just had her 4 month check-up, and the doctor told us to get started with those solids.  Some days are better than others, but she usually does pretty well with it. She will only "give it a whirl," however, AFTER her main meal.

Eva Brooke weighed in at 14 pounds 12 ounces (75th percentile) and was 26 inches long (95th percentile).  Looks like she may be tall like her Daddy!

Here's a quick video of our girl's first night of trying cereal.

As you can see in the video, patience is not her strongpoint.  But...Mom and Dad have learned a few things too.  Keep that cereal coming (no lingering between bites), and don't give her so much at a time!  Lately, to keep her happy, I'm having to sing "Wild Thing."  Andrew singing doesn't work, and I can't change songs... ONLY, "Wild Thing."  Oh, the things you'll do as parents... Ha!

Here are a few more fun mealtime pics!

On Christmas Eve, in her new high chair from Mamma Lin and Granddad

December 27

December 28- Having Aunt Beth's birthday bash.  Sure, Eva Brooke, this cereal tastes just like those yummy cupcakes!

December 29

Notice the nice bowl-inside-of-a-bowl thing there.  This girl only likes her cereal warm, and this "water bath" is the best way we've found to keep it that way.  Wow, just as I write, I'm realizing how picky this girl is becoming.  She definitely is developing her own little personality!

Couples Bunco Night

I have been playing bunco with a group of girls from church for a little over a year now.  It has been such a great way to get to know the group and have TONS of fun.  In December, we had a couples bunco night for our Christmas party.  The men were VERY skeptical about the whole bunco thing.  Brad and Andrew kept texting each other up until they both arrived to make sure they wouldn't be alone :)

Shannon hosted this month at the Furniture Market...very nice!

Andrew and Bill

Did I mention there was a massage chair?  Definitely the most fought-after seat!

We never forget the food!

Andrew & Brad are so proud of their punches

With Mackenzie & Rae

As Angie usually says, "Happy Bunco Night!"

Mitchell sporting the "Big Bunco" clothespin

With Rory & Jill

With Jennifer & Bill (and Bryan popping in back there)

We did not rig this... but Brad won most "bigs," Andrew won most "littles," and I won most "littles" for the ladies.

With one of the best gifts of all times...

As Andrew said, now we know what Dr. Crosswhite does after hours! :)

A big thanks to Mimi and Pop for keeping Eva Brooke while we enjoyed a fun night out!

Merry Christmas to All!

Andrew, Ginger, Eva Brooke, and Cotton would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We wish you joy, peace, happiness, safe travels, and a few days off work!

December 5, 2010