LOL

We cannot look at Raeann in this hat without cracking up! It is too adorable to not enjoy on her. It's actually the only hat she doesn't hate putting on, and she doesn't even play with the poms at the end of the flaps. The balls of fur are actually coyote fur, and she doesn't even eat them. Double wow! Thank you Kathy Huntley for making this hat for Raeann!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Our tree ran out of room this year, all due to proud grandmas and grandpas that love to spoil their granddaughter. We didn't even bother to buy Raeann anything this Christmas. Over 20 of these gifts are for her.

This is her "meager" pile of presents. She liked Tom and Amy's package the best - it had a bow on top. That was all she was really interested in.

There she is, looking adorable, about to yank that bow off.

So I had the duty of opening the presents for her and letting her explore at her will. Trust me, by the time we got to the last one I think she was a little over-stimulated.

Here's my saying for the year: "Repeat the sounding joy!" May you all repeat the sounding joy of Christmas and the love God shared with us that day throughout the year.

Christmas cookies

I wanted to make some Christmas sugar cookies (the only time of year I like them - they belong at Christmas) and Raeann decided to help. Well...it was more like, she wouldn't let go of my pant legs so I gave up and put her in the Snuggli to make them. I think she enjoyed watching and trying to grab all the utensils.

Before...

And after...okay, so I'm not that creative, but they sure are yummy!

Too Cute!

This is one of my favorite outfits that Raeann has worn so far, and it was just thrown together one morning. I actually think that shirt is really a dress, but it's December in Colorado so...yeah, enough said.

Is this a sign of an early walker? Raeann has always known what she wants and has been determined to takes steps to get it.

Left Out

I ordered this play pen, or cage as Mike calls it, mainly to keep Raeann penned in while Mike and I both were doing something, but realized that for the first month we would have to keep it around the Christmas tree. I don't know if Raeann thinks this is fair, but Tadd certainly likes it (notice him on the other side of the fence to Raeann's left).

Patty Cake

We had to get a short clip of Raeann's reaction to this nursery rhyme. She's super cute and funny every time I do it with her.

Everywhere at Once

Raeann is tiring me and Mike out rather quickly these days. She's pulling herself up on everything, so we have to be there constantly to catch her if she falls or pulls herself up on something not as sturdy as it seems. Needless to say, she's bumped her head more times than we care to count, so now she's starting to learn to let herself down more slowly, as you can see in this video. She also loves the camera so instantly starts crawling for it. We wish you all could see her in person!