Pictures that Make Me Smile

Choosing a Christmas tree at Lowes.  It was soo cold and that is a post in its own right!

My favorite people!!!

My sweet girls and I

SUPER LOREN!  These super hero items were from Dawson's birthday party.

All smiles from the smallest and biggest Wingates!

Our sweet friend, Brooke, makes yummy Christmas cookies each year.  She invited Loren to help her ice some this year!

Winter Wonderland Fun

My friend and former co-worker (he retired), Mike, loves to decorate his house for Christmas.  He makes and sets up all his decorations himself and each year dresses up as Santa one evening.  We have been taking Loren to visit "Santa" at his house since she was a baby.  She was totally comfortable with Santa this year. Arden was upset at first but then was quite curious about Santa and even gave him a few smiles.

Loren was eager to see Santa and tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

Arden warmed up to Santa while feeling secure in her Daddy's arms.

Loren and Leo (Brooke and James' son)

My friend and co-worker Brooke.  We have a picture with Santa Mike almost each year!

Santa and the Wingate girls!

Nine (and one half!) Months

Arden is growing like a weed. I can't believe what a big girl she is.  Here are some of Arden's most current stats:

• At her nine month check up, Arden weighed 23 pounds and 12 ounces.  She was 30 1/2 inches long.  Just for comparison, Loren weighed 22 pounds, 14 ounces and was 30 1/2 inches long at on year!
• Arden is wearing 12-18 month clothes (she has a footed pajama that is 24 months and fits well!)  and size 4 diapers
• She is still eating five bottles a day.  Four - five ounce breast milk bottles and one six ounce formula bottle right before bed.  
• Arden loves table food including puffs, cheese, smashed banana and especially "Baby Mum Mum" wafers.  She still doesn't quite seem to know how to drink from a cup but enjoys playing with it.
• She still LOVES bath time.  Arden can be very fussy to the point where we call her "delirious" but will perk up and be all smiles in the bath tub.  Here if a fun video of her splashing:

• Arden usually sleeps from about 7:30 to 6:15.  This is usually uninterrupted sleep and we are so thankful for it!
• She still only has two teeth - on the bottom front.
• Arden is crawling everywhere and fast now.  She has been doing the "army crawl" for a good while but just in the last two weeks or so seems to have really mastered crawling on hands and knees.
• She is close to pulling up to her feet and frequently pulls up to her knees now.  Andy just dropped the crib mattress as far as it will go! 
• Arden loves to play peek a boo - particularly on the changing table or in the car.  She also waves "bye-bye" frequently.  We are trying to teach her to "blow kisses" with her hand.
• Arden loves her sister Loren very much.  Loren is a very big helper for Mommy.
• Overall, Arden is a super sweet and happy baby girl!  She smiles all the time both at people she knows and does not know.

Thanksgiving 2011

I am fashionably late on this post too - ha!

Thanksgiving was pretty low key as usual this year.  We had my parents, Meagan and Benji and their boys over to our house.  We ate traditional Thanksgiving food.  Benji baked a delicious rosemary turkey, and potato salad.  My Mom made a ham, turkey breast, sweet potato casserole (one of the only ways I will eat sweet potatoes) and dressing.  I made macaroni and cheese (homemade kind) pumpkin pie, and fresh cranberry sauce (even though Meagan is the only person that likes it.)

I really wish we would have taken a nice family photo or two.  I guess we were all to busy talking.  Andy had taken my Dad and Benji with him to an FSU game not too long before this so I think those three were "bonded." :) Although it doesn't directly pertain to Thanksgiving; I do want to note that the Seminoles thoroughly beat the Gators this year!  (again - woohoo!)  When I was in school we used to have shirts that said, "Forget the turkey, Let's eat gator!" (Wish I still had one of those!)

Noah sat in Arden's high chair and she sat in my high chair from when I was a baby.  (Yes, it is officially an antique.)  It was cute seeing her in it.

Here are the only two other photos I took on Thanksgiving Day:

Papa and the girls

My girls in their matching turkey outfits.  I love the smug look on Loren's face.