Our First Christmas 2008

In all the years since I have been born, we have always spent Christmas day with my Dad's family (when I met Todd we shared that day with his family as well) and Christmas Eve with my mom's family. It was a rare occasion that we hosted Christmas at our house.  Well, this year we had that chance and it was a blast!  With this being Shannon's first Christmas we wanted to be able to celebrate and relax without needing to rush home for her bedtime, so my family came to our house a couple days after Christmas. We all really don't mind celebrating on another day and it kind of extends the celebrating as well!  You may be asking yourself "didn't she already see her parents and brother like 10 times already this week?" and the answer is "yes". However, those times are usually with extended family and doesn't allow us really savor and enjoy the special time with my immediate family.

We enjoyed a delicious traditional meal of honey roast, double baked potatoes, broccoli casserole, and various other small sides. We opted out of baking and purchased the most delicious bakery goods from a bakery that prides itself on flavor and presentation. Although our house is small (cozy i like to say) we made it work and now have precious memories of Shannon's (and our) first Christmas.

The hit of the evening was the Radio Flyer wagon packed with all the bells and whistles from Grandma and Grandpa.It includes a sun shade, cup holders, fold down surface for a "table", and an attached cargo trailer to carry along extra treats and toys! As soon as we wheeled it out, Shannon was all over it! She isn't what you'd call a sweet, calm little girl. Sweet yes, calm no way.  Watching her climb and crawl in a red sweater dress with white fur at the trim, is a picture we will never forget!

Thank You Aunt Wendy!

From the day we asked our sister in law Wendy to be Shannon's godmother, we knew we made a perfect choice!  She has been more loving, sweet, and interested in Shannon's life than we could have ever imagined. For Christmas she went above and beyond what it means to be a Godmother.  

For many years Wendy had been collecting ornaments of various Disney characters.  As a gift, Shannon was given all of those ornaments to put on her own tree someday (or our tree should she choose to do so).  They were packaged in an adorable ornament container along with another empty container for future ornaments Wendy will give her each Christmas.  When Wendy explained the gift she was crying, I was crying and I even think most others had a tear in their eye as well.  In addition, she decorated a play table and chair with Shannon's name and cute

 decorations.  It will be a perfect place for Shannon to enjoy snacks, color, and play!

Thank you Aunt Wendy- words can not describe your thoughtfulness!

"F" Family Christmas

Christmas with Todd's family was once again filled with fun and traditions. Grandma Jan works so hard to make the day just perfect. From the beautifully decorated table and tree to the scrumptious dinner and bazillion desserts, it couldn't be more perfect.  Jan has a way of making everything so cozy and comfortable. I'd like to think I'm good at some of those things as we create memories and traditions for Shannon. I will openly admit however, that Todd will have to be in charge of the food part. I think because he grew up with a mom who was such a good cook, he developed the love of and skill for cooking!

Shannon with her cousins, Alex, Adam, Christy and Mark. Please ignore (we'll now you will look if you haven't noticed already) Mark's unchristmas like attire!

Adam is just the best big cousin! He loves to hang out and play with Shannon and she returns and welcomes the attention! 

So typical Shannon, staring at new things and people like they have 2 heads! It had been a while since she had seen Aunt Lisa and couldn't take her eyes off her!

This was Shannon's second outfit of the night (hat included). The first one got a little damp if you know what I mean. We got caught up in all the excitement and change in routine of the day that we forgot a diaper change! Oops!   She loved the giant bow and was finally starting to figure out how all the present opening worked!

Monaco Christmas contd.

Shannon enjoying a very fancy gift of a water bottle. It kept her occupied while we opened gifts.

Uncle Tommy asked if he could feed Shannon. She didn't quite know what to make of him!

Somewhat interested in a opening Aunt Anita's gift. 

Hanging out with Daddy before dinner enjoying all the new sights and sounds of Aunt Anita's busy kitchen.

So again, I think we enjoyed the first (more to come) Christmas celebration and  gift giving more than Shannon. I'm guessing next year she will be more involved! 

For some reason this blogging system only let's me upload 5 pictures at a time. So, as you can see, I have to publish multiple posts for one day to get it all in. I'm sure there is a way to do it but I haven't figured it out. 

Monaco Christmas

Shannon and grandpa playing in the mirror.

Uncle Tommy showing off the Cubs barbeque apron we bought for him.

Uncle Mike and Jen.

Shannon spent the first half of the evening playing in Aunt Anita's and Uncle Tommy's coffee table. A you can see it had a glass top and Shannon couldn't get enough of it! Does she ever sit still you ask.... not too often.

Even though no one in the family is any longer named Monaco exactly, I still call it that. Since the beginning of time (my time) we have always celebrated Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family. Over the past few years that has varied on the actual day, as it did this year when we got together the Sunday before Christmas. 

Anita made lasagna, pasta, and homemade meatballs using my grandma's recipe. We don't have that very often any more so tasting all the food brings back many years of memories of dinners, holidays, and birthday celebrations at my grandparent's house.  It's days and moments like these that I miss them the most and wish they could meet Shannon for just one day. They would love her more than we do!  My grandma could sew anything and would have made Shannon her very first Christmas dress. I guess I'll have to teach Shannon all about her great grandparents through memories, stories, and pictures. We hope to create everlasting memories for Shannon as well so that she can someday feel the same about her family. 

New Surprises

Shannon received her first Christmas gifts this week!  My good friend Deb gave Shannon an adorable navy sweater with ruffles around the cuffs and a perfect hat to match!  Deb is very much like me so when she asked me what Shannon could use and my reply was "something simple and practical" she was more than happy to do that.  The navy sweater will get so much use and the material is versatile for now and for spring or cool summer nights!

Nancy, Shannon's wonderful day care provider, bought her a color book for babies and a cute pig toy that shakes and vibrates when his nose is pushed.  Shannon gets a kick out of biting his nose and watching him go!

She wasn't quite sure what to make of it all.  In general she is not tentative about too many things. But this time it was funny to see her keep her hands back (as she does when she is not sure of something new) as I guided her in opening gifts.   She gave this cute smile when she figured out there was something inside. After that, the box and wrapping were much more fun to play and make noise with.

Shannon seems to like hats and..... doesn't she look cute!

She was glad tissue was part of the gift!

On The Move

Getting comfortable letting go and turning around. 

She loves boxes!

Hi Shannon!

4 Total

2 More teeth have arrived. Aren't they cute? 

The Day After Thanksgiving

Since we went to my parents for Thanksgiving this year, we went to visit Grandma Jan the day after.  She is the best cook I know. Even my mom suggested we go to Jan's for a better meal!  My mom is quite a good cook when she wants to be, it's just not her thing.  Hence, it's not my thing either. If it weren't for Todd I think we'd starve, or, become sick from the same 5 meals I can make well, which include grilled cheese and meatloaf. 

Anyway, back to the visit.... we enjoyed turkey sandwiches, homemade beef vegetable soup, and my favorite, Hawaiian salad (I only like Jan's because she uses grapes and pineapples with Cool Whip).  Jan was dog watching Dori while Uncle Paul, Aunt Lisa, Alex and Adam visited their aunt in Texas.

Shannon wore her "Turkey" jumper- again (for us to enjoy seeing her in it!!).

Uneventful 1st Thanksgiving

It is obvious that for babies holidays are nothing more to them than another ordinary day of eating, sleeping and playing.  The parents and families are the ones who get all excited, dressing them up, taking pictures, and so diligently creating a big day for them (us). This was very apparent on Thanksgiving when Shannon slept away most of the day at Grandpa and Grandma Marilyn's house! Don't get me wrong, it did add more relaxation to the day than we anticipated and it was nice in the fact that more adults were available to help fix dinner, etc. However, we're planning that next year will be more exciting for all of us. 

When she woke up (we had to wake her after an almost 3 hour afternoon nap) she did enjoy some Jello-O with daddy after dinner. Shannon had turkey with rice and sweet potatoes with cinnamon (baby food of course). Grandma Marilyn gave her a Thanksgiving balloon that she just loved.  We realized her love of balloons after her day care provider, Nancy (who we absolutely love), had first given her a Halloween balloon that Shannon had to play with every morning when she woke until it ran out of air!

Although I am the actual blogger and I would be the one to take this picture of a plate of food, Todd was the one who suggested I do so.  He is very proud of his homemade mashed potatoes and the fact that he was looking forward to this wonderful meal!

9 Months Old

Here we are, another month gone by.  Shannon is 9 months old today.  She has become much more interested in the world around her, almost too interested! She has always been a curious baby but it seems as though the world has now opened up to her.  The crosses in our living room just fascinate her.  At first I thought maybe someone who has passed was talking her to her through it. We believe my Grandma Monaco has visited us since she has passed away in 2004. Over the last 4 years there have been a few unexplainable happenings to my mom, Anita, and myself. Maybe great grandma is talking to Shannon!! 

She is now 28 1/4" tall (falling into the 75%ile) and weighs 17lbs 6oz. (35th%ile). So... she continues to be tall and skinny!  She is now pulling herself up on furniture and anything she can get her hands on. She loves to be in motion and clap and we think she is saying "hi" and "daddy" if you listen closely (sometimes).  Dogs are fast becoming a favorite.  In the last few weeks she has visited Uncle Mike's dog Max, Aunt Wendy's  and Uncle Greg's dog Skeeter, and Aunt Lisa's and Uncle Paul's dog Dori.  

Shannon hasn't been quite ready for table food yet.  We've tried some chunkier baby foods and some mashed and cut up table foods and she gags on them to the point where I am not comfortable watching her do that.  I have to admit I am a little disappointed as I was looking forward to her eating while we did, but also remind myself that she is only 9 months old and there is no reason to rush all these things. Until then, I will cherish these moments when she still needs us! 

Merry Christmas U.S. Troops

Before I knew my sister in law Wendy she use to make wedding cakes.  In an attempt to get a small business going, she took on a wonderful opportunity to say "Merry Christmas" to those families who have had a loved one in Iraq or who will be deployed before Christmas.  With donations from local businesses Wendy made over 300 gingerbread and sugar cookies for a luncheon/reception to honor the troops and their families.  If all goes well, one of the organizers may be using her for future events or baking for local military personnel. 

She LOVES to bake, but hates to decorate. Ironically, I LOVE to decorate and can actually do without the baking part! So... we headed over to her house to spend the day so I could help with decorating. Todd and Greg hung out with Shannon. Christy helped watch Shannon while Wendy and I decorated. Then Christy joined in decorating as well.  Later that night, Todd and Mark (our nephew) hung out dueling guitars. Mark is a natural and really good at playing, so Uncle Todd played the 2 songs he knew and let Mark take over!

Go Bears!

37-3, Packers.  Well, for Shannon's first Bears party it would have been nice to say they won, but they didn't, not even close. Bummer.  But winning is not always what counts, right?

As you can see she had a fun time. We lined up the kids and took 1 "nice" picture of everyone and then took a 2nd picture, which explains the beer bottles.  Shannon was hilarious.  We were laughing so hard our eyes were watering. First she took the bottle from Zachariah, then she tried to kiss him (or something?), and then started banging the bottles together. She loves making noise.  We would have watched the game anyway, but it was fun to dress her up in Bears' wear and call it a party.