THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

For the second year in a row, you participated, with your cousins, in the Christmas pageant at The Chapel of the Cross. This year you were a donkey. You had a blast, of course! Thanks grams for inviting us!

And for comparison, here you were at last year's pageant! xo

GRANDPA'S RETIREMENT LUNCH

Last week you and I celebrated grandpa (guhguh) at his retirement lunch at one of your very favorite places, the fire house. You had a wonderful time and I got emotional as grandpa's colleagues wished him well after 28 years of service! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMS

BED-HEAD

The cutest case of post-nap-bed-head that I couldn't help but photograph. You have the best curls!!!

PET STORE FUN

I love how even the smallest of errands (getting dog food for Lilly and Louis) turn into adventures for you.

ROCK CLIMBING

"She thought she could...so she did."

Hargraves Park. November 2016.

SNUGGLE BEAR

November (and early December, really) was a little hard for us. We were all sick, on and off, daddy had to work a ton, and you weren't sleeping well. We suspected teething, a growth spurt, and a recurring little cold were keeping you up at night. For a month and a half, you didn't sleep through the night, and you only slept in your crib a handful of times. One morning you woke up with a high fever, and while we waited for you doctor's appointment (turns out you had an ear infection) I dragged our huge king mattress into the living room floor so that you could snuggle (your new favorite word) and play with your toys and watch some movies with mommy. Even though you were feeling bad you managed to have a good time, and were the cutest snuggle bear I ever did see! Happily you're on the mend, and sleeping and eating better!

THE RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE WITH MOMMY

A few weekends ago you and I kicked off the Christmas season by doing one of my favorite things: watching the Raleigh Christmas parade! Daddy had to work so you and I went downtown and had the best time! I was a bit nervous to take you on my own, now that you're more mobile than you were last year, and the crowds are usually thick. But you were completely into it! We especially loved the marching bands. The parade is huge and brimming with bands, so we had a blast.

Sadly, I didn't manage to get any photos of the parade (I only have two hands, after all) :) but above are a few snaps from the morning. We stopped by to visit our friends at The Cupcake Shoppe on Glenwood Avenue after the parade. While you didn't get a cupcake (you got a little cookie instead) you cried when we left. And we both really loved the tree I snapped above near the parking deck we parked in. So cool and pretty! Know what else is cool? We passed not one, but two, of naenae's murals that day!

AND I couldn't resist...above is a photo of you and daddy at last year's parade!

COUSINS AND CHRISTMAS TREES!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, you and I (daddy was working) met up with your cousins, auntie Gina, uncle Taylor and grams and grandpa at a Christmas tree farm. While we didn't bring a tree home (we wanted to wait for daddy for that) you had a great time with your family! xo

THANKSGIVING 2016!

Thanksgiving 2016! You had the best time! We spent lunchtime with the Dansbys (including aunt Jeannie!) and the evening with the Gaithers. So perfect! xo

HANGING WITH ISLA AND LOUIS

A few days ago we visited Isla, Louis and auntie Gina. And of course, you had a BLAST. You talk about your cousins constantly, and love being around them perhaps more than anyone else. Anytime you spend time with them, the rest of the day (and following day) is filled with you talking nonstop about them. It's the cutest! They were so gracious and shared their toys, showered you with hugs and kisses, and made you laugh so hard you could barely stand up at times!

Funny story: while playing the piano you looked up at the photo of uncle Taylor and said "Daddy!" Ha!!! I always forget how much they look alike!!!

Thanks, Gina, for the cute photos!!!

MY LITTLE GARDENER

For the last ten weeks or so we have spent every Thursday morning at the children's museum in Chapel Hill where you are part of the Junior Gardeners program. Today was the last day of the program for the season. It's been so wonderful to have a place to come back to week-after-week. You've gotten to know the directors (who always cheerfully exclaimed "Maeve's here!!!" each time we arrived), and you've learned so much. You've gotten to interact with other children, see plants and insects we wouldn't see otherwise, to get your hands dirty, and to practice skills like sharing and listening. I was sad to leave today, but so thankful for the experience!

We can't thank grams and grandpa (who surprised us by visiting today after you played for a bit in the garden), for their generosity. The museum membership has been something we've taken advantage of frequently, and something that has enriched both our lives very much! I can't wait until we return to the garden next spring! xo

SOCCER

Whether it's hanging out with daddy, grams and grandpa at Louis and Isla's soccer games, or kicking the ball around at fields we find open around town, you are in your element when a soccer ball is present. You talk about soccer all the time. Needless to say, we are counting down the days/months/years to when you are able to play on a real team!!!

MUSEUM DAY

A couple of weeks ago we met up with mom in Raleigh for a morning at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It's one of my very favorite places to take you. It's large, it's fun, and it's free!!! Each time I take you there you are interested in new things and notice the exhibits in new ways. It's really interesting to go back to certain places at different stages in your development. It's fascinating to see what piques your interest each time!

During this trip we also visited the adjoining Nature Research Center for the first time. It was easily my favorite part of the museum! And you still talk about the giant globe outside.

You loved the research center, too! From the giant screen showing natural science images, to the naturalist center and everything between, you were enthralled.

And it's always a treat to hang out with NaeNae!

It's my hope that you grow up appreciating the planet we live on, and all that it gives us! I know we will go here lots during your childhood, just like I did when I was a kid! I still have fond memories visiting often with my mom and dad, and on special school trips!

SO CUTE, I COULDN'T RESIST

HALLOWEEN 2016

Last month we celebrated your second Halloween (third if you count the one when you were in my belly!). Again and again and again. Ha! We went to three Halloween parties the week prior to Halloween so when the holiday actually came, you were well-versed on all of the particulars of the day (the costumes, the "trick-or-treat" you said so adorably by that night, and the goodies!).

Your costume rotation this year included a ladybug (a hand-me-down from Isla), a giraffe (a gift from NaeNae and grandpa) and a soccer player.

The soccer costume was the one you wore just once, on Halloween night, while trick-or-treating with the Dansby clan. I had a few costume ideas for the night, but I knew the one you would love the most would be a soccer player costume. You are obsessed with balls and talk about them and soccer all the time. So you and I went to a used sporting gear store where we got your uniform and shin guards. The only uniform they had that would fit you was for team Mexico, so daddy also got you a Mexican flag to go with your uniform. And suddenly you were an olympic soccer player! :)

I did not spend quite as much time on my costume for the evening. I was a junk drawer, and had various things one might find in a junk drawer velcro-ed to an old shirt of mine. Ha.

You didn't actually eat any candy from the night, but grams and grandpa thoughtfully gave you a goodie bag that included popcorn. Your new favorite!!!

Like last year, daddy managed to be the perfect companion for you Halloween night. The two of you are the cutest!

The holidays really are the best now that you are here, baby girl! xo