Happy New Year!

 

 

Post Christmas Tidbits

McKinley is back to eating milk products and other finger foods after a two-day banana and applesauce cleanse. She is enjoying her new toys and crawling up a storm, following me everywhere around the house. Other interesting news: We discovered her very first diaper rash this afternoon, and she is getting another top tooth.

  

Thank you Eric and Debra, for my awesome

winter hat and scarf!

The Most Memorable Christmas Ever

Merry Christmas from our little family.

(Picture taken at our small group white elephant gift exchange.)

So, we knew our first Christmas with McKinley would be memorable, but we never imagined it would begin by finding McKinley lying in her own vomit with chunks of french fries in her hair.  Whatever Benji caught on Christmas Eve, he passed to McKinley, as she threw up twice more Christmas morning.  My poor babies! Benji was achy, tired and had no appetite, while McKinley was sluggish and dehydrated. We managed to open all of our presents between a late breakfast and bouts of tiredness. McKinley got so many toys, books and puzzles that Benji and I agreed that we need a bigger house! Thank you to our friends and family who sent her gifts.  After lunch I spoke with the on-call pediatrician, and we gave McKinley some Pedialyte, which she guzzled. Benji surprised us by coming home early from work. We spent the rest of the evening playing with McKinley's new toys. After an eventful Christmas, I am happy to report that McKinley seems to be back to her normal self.  Although I'm thankful her stomach bug didn't last very long, I will most certainly miss her cuddling and clinging to me. 

First round of pj's:

Little Mermaid pajamas from Great Grandma B.

The Demke family's favorite books.

Momma's Willow Tree figurine of mother & child.

Outfit from Auntie Susan and Uncle Tom.

Second round of pj's:

Little People Princess coach from Uncle Travis,

Auntie Natalie & Micah-moo.

Puzzle and pot from Gramma & Grampa C.

Fluffy boots from Great Grandma Howard.

  

 

"McKinley" barrettes from Aunt Kathy, Chad & Kylee.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Today's schedule of events: 1) Morning bath for McKinley (she is long over due for one, and I figured we wouldn't make time in the evening before her bedtime.) 2) After pleading with Benji, McKinley finally opens her present from Ahmma & Dumpa. (good thing....because it takes us an hour to assemble it!) 3) Braving the insanity that was Fred Myers in order to get last minute eggs for Christmas breakfast (apparently everyone in Newberg had last minute things to shop for!) 4) Benji takes an afternoon nap. 5) Community Christmas Eve service with all three Dundee churches. 6) Emergency Walgreens run for some TheraFlu. (Benji isn't feeling well.) 7) Burgerville drive-thru for dinner. 8) With no resistance from Benji, McKinley opens a few more gifts before bedtime.  Merry Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Adam, we went to the swanky Bridgeport Village

to get McKinley's picture taken with Santa. However, we didn't 

account for the fact that Santa might also be a little too upscale and 

pricey for our tastes.  We settled for some pictures in front of

their beautiful Christmas tree.

Thank you Ahmma & Dumpa for my Laugh and Learning House!

Christmas Eve church service.

Thank you Auntie Susan & Uncle Tom for my blocks!

Eleven Months...already?

I can't believe that Miss McKinley will be one next month. I honestly feel like this past year has gone by faster than any other year in my life.  I don't know if they officially become toddlers at one, but she is still my little baby....a 19 lb, 10 oz baby at that! So, the biggest news is....she has started crawling.  She isn't entirely mobile, but she is getting better at cruising on our wood floors. She still rolls and does some bum-scooting, which is hilarious to watch. She can pull herself up to her knees, using me or the couch, but that's as far as she gets. She points at everything, which I LOVE!  And she babbles constantly.  This photo shoot proved to be the most challenging, as she wouldn't stay put next to the Christmas tree.

  

Momma's Christmas present...an area rug for our living room!

Early presents and purple poofers

  Gramma and Grampa C. sent us a Christmas box with specific instructions for some of McKinley's gifts, such as 'open now' and 'open Dec 15.'

 

'Open Now'

McKinley's 'First Christmas' ornament

Gramma & Grampa C. recorded their voices to tell 

the story of 'The Very First Christmas.'

'Open Dec. 15'

McKinley's pretty Christmas dress with daisies!

Last week I snapped the second half of our Christmas card photo in the backyard. Although there was no snow, there was some rain.  McKinley had some trouble holding her head up while wearing the furry hood. So cute!

 My little eskimo!

O Tannenbaum

This year we opted for a less expensive tree over cutting one down ourselves.  We found a quaint little Christmas tree farm in the Dundee hills advertising $5 noble firs....U choose, they cut!

Huckleberry Inn

Last week we drove to Mt. Hood to take our Christmas card photo in the snow.  We had to go all the way up to Timberline Lodge to find it, and in doing so, we also got lots of wind.  Benji scouted out a wind-free patch of snow nestled in the trees, so I set up the tripod  and quickly snapped some shots before McKinley's face turned into a popsicle. Before heading home, we decided to stop and have lunch at the Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp. While we were eating, it started snowing. *Sigh* I love where we live!