This first pic has nothing to do with Christmas, but I had to share it. When my cousin April took pictures of Kendall the week she got home from the hospital, we had some taken in this super cute bathingsuit a friend from College Station gave us. It was 0-3 months but on a 5 lb. baby, it was HUGE! It looked more like a dress on her and I had to hide a ton of fabric behind her.
Anyway, as I was recently packing up the preemie and newborn clothes that don't fit her anymore, I found the suit again and had to snap a pic of Kendall in it when it actually fit her! This was one of the few where she wasn't stuffing the little skirt into her mouth and chewing on it...
The weekend before Christmas, Isaiah's sister Amber and her family came to visit for a few days on their way to visit Ernest's family in Santa Fe. It was fun to see Kendall's cousins, Gabby and Tori, play with her and I think Amber had fun loving on her as well.
Their gift to Kendall was one of those fabulous Hallmark books you can record your voice in, called Counting Kisses. Gabby and Tori took turns reading the pages and we listened to it over and over. It's so cute!
Of course we waited to take an all-cousin picture until Kendall was cranky, but I think it's funny. Tori is sporting the Marlboro hat our neighbor, S.M., gave her. She loved it and wore it all day, much to the adults' delight. Too funny!
One thing I also should mention...we attended our first Posada at the home of our neighbors, Louis and Sylvia. It's a Christmas thing they do through their Catholic church and we took Kendall with us. It was neat seeing their traditions and of course scarfing down lots of homemade Mexican food! Kendall stayed warm and comfy throughout, snuggled up in our neighbor S.M.'s lap during the singing and then in my sling during dinner. She was the perfect little guest!
Our little squirt turned 6 months old the Sunday before Christmas, so here she is in her Baby's First Christmas outfit. She also had a doctor's appointment later that week, where she weighed in at 12 lbs, 4 oz. and 23.5 inches long! It's hard to believe she's tripled her weight since she was born.
My folks came into town on the Thursday before Christmas, which also happened to be my Dad's birthday. We celebrated with dinner and Dad's favorite, a German chocolate cake. Then we opened presents with Kendall on Christmas day. She got some toys, books and clothes, but her favorite thing was Baby Tad! I've bought several Tads for our nieces, nephews and friends' kids, so it was fun that Kendall's Nana and Grandpa bought one for her. She's enthralled with him and loves to listen to him talk and sing.
Family photo, courtesy of my camera's timer setting and a ladder set up in the living room!
Tuggy and Murphy couldn't be left out, so we put their Santa hats on that Clay and Maryann gave them a few years ago for Christmas. They look like they're really in the holiday spirit, don't they?!?! (It was quite a feat getting them both to leave the hats on and sit still!) :)
On Sunday, we got together with my mom's side of the family at my Aunt Kathie and Uncle Mike's newly renovated house in Canyon. Of course we feasted until our bellies were full, played games and laughed until our sides hurt, decorated ornaments with the kiddos and had an all-around fun time. Kendall also got lots of loving from her relatives, and I got several cute pictures of her cousins and aunts/uncles holding her. This was one of my favorites though, of her sleeping in my cousin Erin's arms!
Here's all the big kids playing with the Nativity...someday Kendall can join them!
The week after Christmas, we made our first foray into the world of semi-solid foods! Kendall's pediatrician gave me the green light to try rice and oatmeal cereals, as well as apples, bananas and pears. We've started out with rice cereal and she did GREAT her first time. As you can see, she just opened right up and took it like a little champ!
So even though we didn't get to travel this year, it was great to get to spend time with so many family members and friends. We're so grateful for another wonderful year and are excited to see what God has in store for us in 2011!
Awww, Tad!! I didn't know they were making him again...he was hard to find when Judah was a baby, but a necessity because Audrey loved hers so much she had worn him out! Hope Kendall loves hers as much!
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