Mikaela's First Christmas

Mikaela's first Christmas was a cold and snowy one. Even though she won't remember it, we certainly will remember it with fondness. Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after.

Daddy nestled her in with Christmas stuffed animals on our guest bed...
Under her Santa hat fast asleep after the Christmas Eve service.
Bundled up for a cold Christmas eve...
A quick picture in the snow storm. She was napping during the big flakes so this was the best we could get. And don't worry... we were outside for about 10 seconds.
Christmas morning out front with snow. She was more interested in being fed however.
Already asleep on Christmas Day and we hadn't even opened presents yet. Graempa had to referee Appaloosa as well.

On the day after Christmas we went to Gran and Papa Bill's in Greenville.




Aunt Amy has more pictures I will post when I get them. They babysat Mikaela on Christmas Day so that we could go see "It's Complicated." Here's Mike with actor Hunter Parrish.

6 weeks

She is beginning to smile quite a bit, though I've yet to really capture it on film. She holds her head up really well and likes to sit up and watch people. Reflux is still an issue and there are times when she really doesn't feel good, but hopefully as she grows that will get better and we also have medicine. She even slept in her own room last night in her crib (instead of the pack n play in our room). Our little girl is growing up so fast!

Another Christmas Picture

Christmas Pictures

Welcome to Our World

On Sunday, December 13th, Mikaela played the baby Jesus for special music so Mike and I were Mary and Joseph. Here is a picture from the actual performance (which is why the lighting is poor). We simply looked at her/talked to her at the manger while a young teen in our church sang "Welcome to Our World" by Chris Rice. Mikaela did very well. She didn't cry and was awake and alert through the whole thing. She even reached up her hand to my face at the very end as though on cue. Mike thinks she was really working the crowd.

Here are some shots taken before church that have the appropriate lighting.

Backtrack

My sister took lots of pictures but I'm just now getting copies of them to post so here are some from her first couple of weeks.
These are pictures from when she met Graempa for the first time. She was 5 days old. In the picture above, her hand is in his pocket.
These pictures are from our first visit to church. Those are several members of our life group all huddled around to meet Mikaela.
Wow... we look tired...

New Play Place

Some co-workers of Donna's got Mikaela a little activity center. She spends a little time each day looking at all the various toys one it. I can't wait to see her really interact with it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We got the tree up and decorated. Mikaela loves to look at the lights. Daddy decided to lay (lie?) under the tree with her to look at them.

At Graem-ma and Graem-pa's there is a countdown calendar that Aunt Amy and I had growing up. It is felt ornaments hung on a tree. Christmas Eve you hang the star. This year, Mikaela got to hang the bell ornament in honor of her first Christmas and her middle name.

New Bath Fun

I had a work shower on Dec. 2nd and one of the gifts was a little cover for Mikaela while she is taking her bath so she doesn't get cold. Here she is trying it out.

One Month Old

At her appointment on Wednesday, December 2nd, here's what we found out: She weighed 7 lbs 11.5 oz (20%), 21 in (50%), and 14 in head circumference (10%). We also found out she has reflux so we got medicine and she slept for 6 hours last night! Things are looking up! Pictures and videos to come!

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Here are some photos from Mikaela's first Thanksgiving. We went to Graem-ma and Graem-pa's to celebrate the holiday.

Mikaela in her Turkey Bib:
A family photo:

Results of the turkey enzyme:
Rocking with Graem-ma:
Appaloosa was very curious.
Cute:

Curious Appaloosa:

Curious Beauregard:
Amy's dog, Appaloosa really wasn't sure what to make of Mikaela. She was quite unsure for a while and then decided she had to be wherever Mikaela was. It was cute. Beau (my parent's dog) didn't even seem to notice her until we did tummy time then he paid more attention to her.

It was a pleasant holiday. We are thankful for a healthy little girl and time spent with family. Thank you, Lord, for your abundant blessings.

Happy (Late and Early) Birthday

For our 30th birthdays (Donna's this past September and Mike's this coming July) we got these two light fixtures for our kitchen. When did light fixtures become the birthday present? I guess that's part of growing up - but we love them!

Random Photos

Here are some more photos of our little darling. Above, a photo of Mikaela, the prayer warrior.
Below: Sometimes the best way to calm her is for Daddy to swaddle her and then gently jiggle her up and down. She falls asleep that way. She's our little Martini - shaken, not stirred.
I included this shot because it's the first one I've seen where I can see that she really does look like me. I'll have to dig through my baby book but I think there's a picture of me with a very similar expression.
Hanging out with the puppy...
Napping with Daddy...
In her swing...