Family & Friends – Page 100

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Jennifer

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Christmas. Here’s some Christmasy photos to tide you over until I can post photos from our Christmas celebrations.

Wearing Santa Hat, 12/5/10

These next two are by our Christmas tree. Compare these pictures to those from last year in the same Christmas boxes.

In Christmas Box, 12/8/10

Playing with Ornaments, 12/8/10

These next few pictures were taken by Kristy at her house after our 2nd annual cookie baking extravaganza. I really like the one where James is tossing Jessica into the air and she is giggling.

Mommy's Christmas Present, 12/11/10

Being Tossed in the Air by Daddy, 12/11/10

Family Photo, 12/11/10

Watching Jessica Laugh, 12/11/10

14 Months Old

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Jennifer

On Thursday, Jessica turned 14 months old. Yes, I’m four days late in telling you all that has happened in the past month, but better late than never.

What Jessica is Up To

Jessica is starting to enjoy stuffed animals. It is fun to watch her interact with them.

Hugging Leo the Leopard, 11/30/10

Looking at Leo, 11/30/10

Jessica is a very active little girl. Crawling or cruising is still her major mode of transportation. Last week, she took a few steps all by herself. Today, she actually walked about three feet all by herself. I’m excited for her to start walking more, even if that means getting into more stuff.

At the playground, she is now starting to prefer the playscape instead of the swing. She loves to climb up and down.

In the Tunnel, 11/21/10

Mommy and Jessica at Dick Nichols Park, 12/5/10

Last Wednesday at Chick-fil-a, she climbed up in the play yard. That’s Lillie, Jillan’s daughter, on the right. I had a hard time getting her to come down so we could leave. She was having too much fun.

Jessica and Lillie at Chick-fil-a, 12/15/10

She is very inquisitive and gets into everything including drawers and cabinet doors.

Opening the Dresser Door, 11/26/10

She’s almost tall enough to open lever door handles.

"Nana, are you in there?", 11/26/10

Here she is trying to hustle me with a shell game using Christmas votive candle holders.

Shell Game, 12/13/10

What Jessica is Saying

Jessica likes to talk a lot. Here’s a list: yes, mama, dada, ball, woof, up, hi, hello, fish. There may be a few others.

How Jessica is Sleeping

Jessica is currently working on cutting at least four new teeth, doubling the number of teeth she has. The two upper lateral incisors have broken through the gums and the upper cuspids are getting close to breaking through. It’s possible she is cutting more, but she’s not real big on me checking her teeth out. Needless to say, she hasn’t been sleeping too well the past few weeks. It also doesn’t help that she is now experiencing some allergy congestion.

What Jessica is Eating

There are days when Jessica is a super good eater. For instance, last Wednesday we had lunch at Chick-fil-a and she ate three nuggets, all but the apple slices out of the fruit cup plus a cup of mandarin oranges that I had brought with me. Then there are days when I have to entice or trick her to get her to eat much at all. She definitely loves fruit a lot more than veggies.

Trying Out a Fork, 12/13/10

Visiting Santa

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Jennifer

On Friday, our playgroup met up at the mall to visit Santa. Millie went first and at first she was okay sitting on Santa’s lap, but then she got upset. Jessica went next and I thought she would scream bloody murder when I tried to put her on Santa’s lap, but she surprised me. She didn’t cry when I handed her to Santa. She didn’t cry when I stepped a few feet away out of way of the camera elf. She didn’t cry at all. I couldn’t get big smiles out of her, but she did great. I was so proud of her. Parker was the last of our playgroup to visit Santa and he had such a serious face the entire time he was on Santa’s lap. I have to say the Barton Creek Mall Santa is awesome. He has a real bead and he is so great with the kiddos. He tried so hard to make them smile. He had this little reindeer stuffed puppy and some sleigh bells and Christmas books. I would definitely recommend him if you’re in the area.

Jessica and Santa

Jessica Smiling Up at Santa

Taking Apart Blocks

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Jennifer

Jessica has been enjoying both of the block sets she received for her birthday. She hasn’t completely gotten the hang of building with the blocks, but she certainly knows how to take apart piece by piece. Here she is in action with the Lego set.

I doubt she realizes how excited this kind of play makes her mother. I can easily build her houses all day to take apart. Although I’ll be even more excited when we can build the houses together.

Wii and Quoits

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Jennifer

The Saturday before Thanksgiving, our friends Ranger and Clarisse hosted a “Wii Would Like to Play” party. We showed up a little late since it started during Jessica’s naptime. We arrived just as the quoit action was about to start in the backyard. I had never heard of quoits before, but it is a game somewhat like horeshoes that is prevalent in New Jersey where Clarisse and her brother Eric grew up. A quoit is the heavy metal ring you toss. Lori and I were the only adults who didn’t toss a quoit. Lori was the scorekeeper and I was the Jessica wrangler.

Phap, Linette and Ranger Getting Psyched to Throw Some Quoits

The first match was between Team 609rz, which consisted of Justin and Eric, and Team Dirty Jersey, which consisted of Clarisse and Phap. Even though Clarisse has played before, Phap and her got whooped 21 to 4.

Phap Tossing the Quoit

Justin Tossing the Quoit

Team Dirty Jersey: Phap and Clarisse

Team 609rz: Justin and Eric

The second match was between Team Gibbletz, which consisted of Ranger’s sister Linette and her husband Mike, and Team Lamb Chopz, which consisted of James and Ranger. I’m not sure where the teams came up with their names. I’m guessing you can tell the outcome of that match based on their team photo, although it was a much closer match at 21 to 18.