It's my birthday!

Not Gwen's, but Mommy Ashley's!  Today I am 26 years young and having a great day!  Although the weather isn't great--icy rain may be causing some problems tonight, but my students were all excited to be practicing their Christmas program for me today (they practiced and had no speech, but I came to watch the rehearsal).  Gwen smothered me with hugs this morning and I hope will do so tonight!  I have no problem turning one year older because I have so much to look forward to this coming year, and 26 is not bad!  Happy Birthday to me and to Auntie Erin!  

Since this blog is really for Miss Gwen, here are some fun shots from her Christmas shoot that didn't make the card...        





         

Happy 9 month Birthday!

"I'm 9 months old...that is so cool!"

"I want to stand for this pic- I'm sooo big!"

When people would tell us "Don't blink, she will be a year before you know it!" or "Time flies, so enjoys every minute!",  they weren't kidding!  Today is Gwen's 9 month birthday... amazing!  I have tried to capture every minute I can on camera to lock it away in the computer's memory (since my memory seems to be going down hill already), but I still can't believe that it has been 9 months already.  I still feel like I just brought her home last week!  She certainly is not the same baby that she was then...She is babbling, walking, eating anything you put in front of her, laughing at the sight of the dog... Gwen does keep me very busy, but like I have mentioned before, I wouldn't change a thing or want to go back to the way things used to be.

At her 9 month check up yesterday-Gwen surprised the doctor with her motor skills, speech skills, and her personality!  Dr. Kreilein actually told Gwen " you're amazing!"  She is healthy as can be and her stats are:  27 1/4 inches tall (31st percentile), 19.15 lbs. (50th percentile), and 18 inches for head circumference (88th percentile).  So basically, Gwen is a petite, average girl with a big head.  But we love her that way!

Since it is her day, and a Saturday, the agenda will be: cuddle when she wakes up, play on the floor, follow her when she leaves the living room for an adventure, eat breakfast, embark on another adventure, eat lunch, rest for a bit, dance around the house, find something new to play with, get into Christmas decorations, Gwen-rest/Mommy-upload photos to Snapfish and make Christmas cards, Daddy comes home and we all play on the floor and have another adventure, eat dinner, play, bath, and bed! 

"Pooka you are just so funny! Let me take your picture."

"Bed head?  What is that?"

"Do it again!"

Gwen now is showing her sense of humor.  The other night I dropped an empty coke bottle (the new round ones--which, by the way, make great noise makers when filled with rice, beans, etc.) into the sink.  It bounced and made some noise and Gwen cracked up.  So we did it again.  And again.  She is now starting to drop things on purpose just to hear me say "uh oh!" or "whoopsie!"

Look at Gwen go!

Life at our house has been a bit on the hectic side lately. Gwen is continuously in motion, which keeps me on my toes, and Thanksgiving was this week! We have so much to be thankful for it was hard to narrow it down to a few to mention, but we are most thankful for Gwen and our families whom we could not imagine life without!
We all had a great time at Brad's aunt and uncles, tons of great food and people to visit with! Gwen actually was a little shy, however she warmed up after she was there a while. She is nearing 9 months, she will actually turn 9 months next Saturday, and she has her next check up on Friday. We will keep you posted on how she does--I am sure she will be just fine! I just wanted to say "hello out there" and share some fun that we have been having. We are heading out to do some Christmas shopping, so I better run. Happy decorating to all of you!

Gwen really likes eating food when it is off of my plate--today it was BBQ chicken wings for lunch! Guess who wanted to lick the sauce off the bones? You guessed it! Sorry Kelley--I think she likes meat.
Such a big girl, she can't even play with one toy at a time!
Happy Thanksgiving! "I am thankful for everyone and everything!"
Auntie A came home and brought a friend, Karishma (sorry if I can't spell). Gwen loved distracting both of them from their work!

We caught a little of this walking on camera for all to see! I can't believe she is walking already, but that's just Gwen! We said she would be walking by Christmas, and I guess she took us seriously! :-)

Gwen can walk!!!!!

She did it!  She took 2 steps towards Mommy today!  I thought it might have been a one time deal, but she did it later for Daddy!  How cool!

Baby it's cold outside!

Hello all!  It know it has been awhile since I was on, but I just have been so busy trying to walk.  I almost have it!  Here are some new pictures of me to enjoy!

Putting on my new coat and hat--I look like a puffy marshmallow!

More teeth?  I am chewing everything so they are coming!

I know I am almost 9 months old, but here is my 8 month picture

Wow! Look at me now!

Gwen is really moving now! She also just started standing on her own Monday night, and waving on purpose as of today! And tomorrow she will be 8 months old!

Happy Halloween!!!!!! Again!

Daddy and I getting ready to Trick-or-Treat!

Then Gammie and Gampie came to visit me!