Happy New Year!!!

CHRISTMAS (AKA: Spoiling the OG Rotten)

OG and the SC
Ah-ma and I took the OG to meet Santa for the first time. I expected the OG to cry when she saw him – I certainly did – but she was a little buttercup…she even smiled for her picture. In fact, the picture was so cute that I was suckered into buying a 5x7 for $24! Yipes! I guess when Santa is sitting in front of Neiman Marcus and next to Burberry and LV…they figure they can charge that much and people will actually buy it. Smart.

Holiday Party with Auntie Jane
The OG came to work with me on the Friday before Christmas for a Children's Holiday Party. She had fun making friends with my colleagues and their kids and she even met the new General Counsel of Allstate before I did! Most of all, she loved hanging out with Auntie Jane and hopes that she will soon conquer her fears...

Lucky Girl

Christmas went by in a whirlwind of family, fun and, of course…PRESENTS! The OG was VERY excited for Grandma and Papi to come from Las Vegas. The OG has so much fun tugging on Grandma's glasses and playing peek-a-boo with Papi. She especially loved that there was someone to hold her every minute of the day...she certainly was spoiled!

Uncle Jason also came home from California to see the OG. Even though it’s only been a month since he has last seen her…he thought that she had changed a lot (see developmental news, below)! The OG loved to sit on Uncle Jason's shoulders and pull at his hair - it looked like a lot more fun for her than it did for him!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

On Christmas morning, Ah-Ma made Steph dress up like Santa Claus. He wasn't too happy about it, but was willing to make the sacrifice for his baby girl. Unlike the Santa Claus at the mall, the OG did not enjoy this Santa at all...

The OG received so many presents this year...although truth be told, she was much more interested in eating the wrapping paper and playing with the ribbons than in what was inside the box. She still has so much to learn...

Big thank yous to Auntie Lily, Uncle Huey, Auntie Emmy, Sydney, and Uncle Travis and Auntie Cori...thanks to all of you, the OG will continue to rival Suri Cruise in 2008 as the best dressed baby on the block. :)

NEW YEAR'S EVE
We had a lot of visitors for New Year's Eve this year - Auntie Kari and Uncle Bleg (from Florida) and Auntie Phelps and Uncle Grant (from the UK). We started the evening at Uncle Huey's. The OG was very excited to be spending the last day of the year with her Uncle Huey...but, she was less than thrilled to be anywhere close to Uncle Huey's puppy - Tucker. Tucker and the OG has previously been friends, but for some reason she was terrified of him this time. She would scream and cry anytime Tucker came near her (and thanks to a certain, instigating Auntie...the puppy always seemed to be around her).






We spent New Year's Day watching football and lounging around. Auntie Tamra and Uncle Mike stopped by to show off Mike's skills on his new meat slicer. Who knew of all the hidden talents that Uncle Mike possesses - Auntie Tamra has found herself quite a catch! (And, yes, the OG misses Mike whenever he isn't around...)


DEVELOPMENTAL NEWS
Snaggle-riffic! (Sorry, Tam)

It’s official. The OG's bottom right tooth has emerged from her gums. We've been expecting it's arrival for a few weeks and it's finally here! The OG has been very patient with the whole "teething process" - she hasn't complained too much, although she does wake up a few more times throughout the night to feed.

Sitting at the Grown-Ups Table

The OG has her first official high chair. Thanks to Dad and Uncle Travis for putting it together! We had been using her Bumpo chair and a booster chair to feed her, but as she is learning to eat more types of (messier) foods, it seemed like the right time to introduce the high chair. She loves sitting in it. She pounds her two little fists on the tray, waiting in anticipation for her meal. A few months back, Stephane won a little toy grocery basket filled with plastic fruits and vegetables from a raffle at Little Hands. It’s perfect because now we use the produce to show Olivia what she is eating in her meal – so, if she’s eating corn puffs that night, we’ll give her the ear of corn to play with.

Expanding her diet

The OG has been such a good eater that we’ve moved her on to finger foods. She’s starting with circle-o cereal (we can’t afford the name brand after paying for the Santa picture) and cereal puffs. The puffs are shaped like little stars and essentially melt once inside the mouth. Olivia likes to pick up the puffs and play with them…usually only about two or three actually make them into her mouth. The rest end up on the floor or turn into mush from being placed in and out and in and out of her mouth.

Sluggo!

She’s been so good at eating her veggies and fruits, that we’ve moved her to the next stage of baby food – this stage has a thicker texture and will prepare her for eating table food. With the thicker baby food also comes thicker you-know-what. I think the OG's sluggos scared (and scarred) Uncle Huey a bit, but he's put on a brave face.

She's Gonna Be Trouble...Soon

The OG has been trying really, really hard to stand on her own. Uh-oh...We've heard that learning to walk is a "game changer" for us. We already have a hard enough time trying to keep her in one place since she learned how to crawl...I can't imagine what is going to happen when she is running around. I guess this is one instance where having a small house is beneficial!

The OG is growing so quickly and changes so much each day...sometimes I have to sit back and remember that she is still just my little baby girl.