December 2011: Happy Holidays!

December went by in a flash! We were so busy this month it seemed to be over in a blink of an eye! I had a lot of double babysitting days, which made for long days for both Abby and myself. But she didn't seem to mind. They places we were had stairs, and she LOVES stairs. (I also love when she climbs up and down the stairs because it wears her out and she sleeps great afterwards.) At first she would go all the way up the stairs and crawl around and then I would carry her back down (at which point she would instantly crawl from wherever I put her down right back to the stairs and repeat), but soon she was just going up and then all the way back down like a wind up doll. I did not get a video of her going down, however, because I was too nervous that she might fall (which she didn't, she's really pretty cautious and surprisingly good at the stairs considering we don't have any that she ever climbs on, but of course we can't risk it).

We were asked if Abby would be Jesus (and us Joseph and Mary) in our church's Christmas pageant. We were very excited to be asked and said yes instantly. It was a lot of fun and she did great. She was so sleepy so it could have gone either way, but as soon as we were out front and center she switched it on. Baby girl is a natural haha. Grandma Ford, Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, Great Grandma Boyd, and Auntie Anna and Uncle Ryan all came to watch her big debut.

After the pageant, we took Abby to see Santa. Auntie Tracey, Uncle Adam, and Payton met us there. Abby was too funny. She alternated between smiling at us, and gazing up at him in awe. Back and forth, back and forth. So funny.

Abby started standing for longer periods of time and took her first step this week! Abby and I went to Grandma Ford's house the next day to help her put up her tree and show off her new skills. The first time she stood for such a long time that she didn't know what to do and started crying haha. But after that she was just very proud of her new abilities. When we went to set up the tree Abby was actually picking up ornaments and handing them to us to help us put them on the tree. It was very cute. She also took a few steps in a row while we were there! Chris didn't believe me that she could do it since the first time she did he wasn't there. But once he saw it with his own eyes he had to believe it!

Before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve! We went with Chris to his store for an hour or so for breakfast while he made sure everything was going smoothly at his Cafe. When we got in, Abby had some crazy static hat-hair from her winter hat. She had a lot of fun crawling around and exploring.

Then we had dinner at Great Grandma Boyd's house. Abby got all dressed up because she was going to go to church with Grandma and Grandpa. They didn't end up going, but it was great for her to wear her fancy Christmas outfit anyway.

The next day was Abby's first Christmas! Abby wore the adorable penguin "My first Christmas" outfit that Auntie Aimee bought for her for the annual Johnson family brunch.

After brunch we went home and open presents with Grandpa Ross before heading over to Grandma Ford's house for even more presents and dinner. It was a long (but great) day.

Abby got very spoiled by everyone in honor of her first Christmas! What a lucky little girl! She's really at the perfect age because she's too young to understand getting presents and the idea behind Christmas, but is just old enough to enjoy and be able to play with all of her new toys. Everyone got her such great stuff and she has really enjoyed going through and playing with everything!

She even wore her new penguin pj's that Grandma Ford got her to bed that night!

The next day we took a Johnson family trip to the Buffalo Science museum. Auntie Erin and Uncle Joe are considering having their wedding reception there, so they wanted everyone to come check it out to see what we all thought. (I think it'd be really cool, but they're still exploring their options.) Abby had a lot of fun with Far Far playing with the lincoln logs in the Connections area. Auntie Christa, Uncle Jon, JJ, and Sydney met us there too since they have an annual pass. We hadn't seen them in a while because they have been so busy, so it was great to see them and catch up! Sydney was even wearing her new Abby shirt that her Grandma made her for Christmas!

Grandpa Ross, Abby and I went to Cleveland for a few days between Christmas and New Years because my Uncle David was in town from Seattle. We hardly ever get to see him and he had never met Abby so it was great to see him, and the whole Cleveland crew, too, of course.We took a trip to Menchies while we were there (a delicious frozen yogurt shop) and we gave Abby some sorbet to try. She wasn't sure what to make of it at first because it was so cold, but once it melted a bit she loved it!

She also loved the musical turtle Uncle Dan got her for Christmas and had a fun time dancing to the music before we left to go back home.

Abby also decided she no longer hates baths this month! She got some great new bath toys for Christmas from Auntie Erin and Uncle Joe, and from Grandma Ford that she loves to play with. This makes our lives a whole lot easier because if she's happy, we're happy! Yay for bathtime fun!

Before we knew it it was New Year's! We had a get together at our house to ring in 2012. It was a lot of fun and we had a great turn out. Once again Abby was a party animal! Both her and Payton stayed up past midnight to watch the ball drop! It was great because back in September Abby tried to eat Payton's head and now the tables were turned! So funny!

Other than that, this month Abby continues to enjoy walking around holding on to our fingers, while growling of course. She is so funny. It's as if the two are connected, "Oh I'm moving, I need to make noise!" Our little baby dinosaur. She also started shaking her head. But only in a "no" shake, and hasn't yet learned to nod (which is funny because we really don't say no to her that often but she seems to enjoy the reaction she gets when she does it). Sometimes she even seems to grasp what it means. For instance if she's doing something she knows she shouldn't be, like going after the puppy dishes, and you say "Abby...." she will stop momentarily, look at you, and shake her head (and then of course go right back to what she was doing). She's a riot. She also, however, shakes her head when she's excited or "dancing," so who knows! Also, still no teeth!! We keep thinking they're coming but none so far... Maybe next month. Happy New Year Everyone!!!