Top 10 of 2010

Here's my list of my top 10 favorite pictures of Hannah in 2010. They are listed chronologically because there is no way that I could rank these. Enjoy!

1. This was our first look at Hannah's face, and the day we found out she was a girl. When I look at this picture I remember the joy I felt that day, just knowing that she was healthy and growing strong.





2. This is my absolute most favorite picture of all time. This was the moment we met. I was afraid to touch her because she looked so fragile. And the only thing I could say was "she's so beautiful." And she was.

3. Here Hannah is about to take her very first bath. I love the way she's posing with her hands up by her face. And look at that tiny newborn tummy! (and by the way...we took off her diaper a bit early and she was totally pooping ALL over the place while we took this picture).

4. Oh, Daddy. This is what I found waiting for me after my shower one morning. Nice isn't it?

5. As an English teacher, I've really focused on getting Hannah interested in books right away. This picture just makes my heart melt with pride.

6. Those eyes! Those cheeks! love.

7. Her first time in the pool. Hannah is definately a water baby.

8. I love this little Halloween outfit.

9. My little monster learning to crawl. She wasn't quite there yet in this picture, but it didn't take her long to figure it out.

10. And this is what happened when Daddy changed her diaper one day.


Happy New Year!

XOXO
　

Pajama Day

Usually when I get Hannah out of her crib in the morning she has some breakfast and then I get her dressed for the day. But today we decided to have a pajama party instead. Because, you know, when you’ve got jammies as cute as these it’s hard to trade them for your day-time clothes.



Who can resist a good pair of duckie footed PJs?





She wore them all the way up until bath time…



…in her duckie bath tub!

XOXO

First Christmas

Granana came over this morning to have breakfast and open presents with us. We sipped some delicious hazelnut coffee while I put the monkey bread in the oven. And then we opened our presents with the warm scent of cinnamon and sugar filling the room.



At first Hannah didn’t know what to do with her presents.



She was really excited to just look at them, but then Daddy showed her that there was something underneath the paper…



And that’s when the fun started!



Hannah enjoyed all of her presents and thought the paper and bows were really fun (to chew on). She is in love with her Leap Frog music table and has been pounding on it with her little hand all day and shrieking with excitement.

After the presents we ate a delicious breakfast of monkey bread, bacon, eggs, and fruit. Then Hannah took a nap, mama took a shower, and we headed over to my parents’ house for more presents and lunch.
We had a wonderful day today. But the best part came at the end when it was just me and my daughter in a warm and quiet house, getting ready for bedtime like we do every night. I gave Hannah her bath and we played with her new bath toys. Then we dried off, put on some cozy pajamas, and snuggled up together with a bottle until my beautiful baby fell asleep in my arms.

XOXO

Mall Santa

Today Wytmer and I set out to brave the mall in order to introduce Hannah to Santa. Yes, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Yes, we waited until the last minute. Nevertheless, we couldn’t let Hannah’s first Christmas pass by without a picture with Mr. Claus. I was fully prepared for multiple melt downs, and not just from the baby.

The mall was surprising manageable, and Hannah did great in the line, despite missing her nap and having to wait almost three hours. The only issue we had was having to come back an hour after we first got there because Santa was on break.

Right after they snapped this picture she freaked out a little and a few tears were shed. I think she would have been fine if I didn’t have to step away from her. You can see the fear building on her face. But look at her pretty Christmas outfit! And why the heck does she look so big?? Is she really that big? No, I’m going to say that Santa is just really small.

Merry Christmas!

XOXO

A Letter to Hannah

My daughter,

you are growing so fast. Every day you are more of a little girl, and less of the cuddly sweet baby who used to curl up on my chest and sleep for hours. How can it be that you are already waving at mama and trying to say "hi"? How can it be that you are following me from room to room and laughing when I call your name? That you can play on the floor by yourself with your legs crossed beneath you and a quiet song of "babababa" whispered to your toys? That you can be so headstrong and stubborn, and silly and sweet? My daughter, you are crawling and tumbling out of your babyhood faster than I can keep up with.

I am thrilled to see your future unfolding and to feel the excitement of watching you meet each new milestone with eagerness. But part of me struggles to contain in some way that sweet cuddly baby, and all the joy I felt in those precious moments.

And so this space is my attempt to bottle up the scent of your sweet milky breath, the touch of your downy hair, and the sound of your breath in the night as you peacefully dream; all of those moments and memories that are so close to us now. My hope is that one day we can look back at these letters together and remember where we started and where we came from.

Forever love,

Mama

XOXO

Here We Go!

Welcome! Let me start by saying that this is going to be a work in progress. I have a lot to learn about the blogging world.

XOXO