Our Year in Review 2009

Happy New Year!

We began 2009 pregnant!

We experienced the biggest storm of the year and spent a lot of time cleaning up our yard from all the tree debris. We also had to have some holes in the roof repaired.

In mid-January we had visitors- Gary, Janet, Abby and Brandon!

While they were here we got a new toy.

In February we headed to a sunnier location and spent a week in Honolulu, a babymoon of sorts!

As winter turned into spring, T began looking more and more pregnant.

In April we had visits from C's dad and our niece, Brandon. We also started cultivating a garden in our backyard.

In May, T turned the big 3-0! C surprised her with two amazing birthday trips. First she got to fly to San Francisco and spend a weekend with her Woodside friends. While there she was treated to a surprise baby shower in Woodside and a delicious birthday dinner in the city. The following weekend the two of us flew to St. Louis for a weekend with T's family. A wonderful opportunity to celebrate her birthday and spend Mother's Day with her mom. Truly a birthday to remember!


At the end of May, we flew to Southern California to celebrate our SIL's graduation from Loma Linda Dental School. We were treated to a wonderful surprise baby shower at cousin Andy and Danielle's.

In June T finished the school year and was excited for summer! A highlight at the beginning of the month was a visit from T's dear friend, Stacy, who was home visiting from Taiwan. We had just a wonderful time together and are looking foward to her return in June of 2010!

Our SIL came to see us for a week in mid-June and together she and T created the most beautiful nursery for our expected little one.

July came around and brought the wonderful warm weather we had been waiting for. We were eagerly anticipating the arrival of our little one and T was looking as though she was about to pop...

...and then she did!!

Little C
was born on
July 23, 2009

After Little C arrived we were blessed to have visits from our parents and siblings throughout the months of July and August.

Grami Jami

L-R: Nana and Grandpa, Little C, Papa Roly, T, C

Auntie Lindsey and Uncle Kirky with Little C

Uncle Bret and Jesssica with Little C

Uncle Chad, Auntie Kelly, and Keira with Little C

In September Little C took her very first plane ride as we flew to So. California to celebrate C's dad's 60th birthday in Huntington Beach.

As a birthday gift we surprised Papa Roly with a trip to Capitola. On our way up the coast we stopped in Camarillo to give Little C the opportunity to meet more of her family, including her Great Grandma Gail or 3G as we like to call her :)

Our week in Capitola was perfect. We enjoyed staying at the Venetian, eating at the Shadowbrook, and relaxing on the beach. Little C loved the feeling of the sand between her toes!

After our trip to Capitola we headed to Galt to spend a week with Grami Jami and Grandpa Gar-ball. We had a thoroughly relaxing time laying out by the pool in the warm California sun. The highlight of our time there was taking Little C to her first 49er game in San Francisco thanks to the Hadleys!

October was another busy month at our house! We had visits from Uncle Mike and Aunt Susie, Grami Jami and Grandpa Gar-ball, and the long awaited visit from Uncle Kurt and Trish who were meeting Little C for the very first time.

At the end of the month we celebrated C's birthday. Little C was happy to be a part of the celebration!

November was relatively quiet for us. Both Little C and T got sick with the flu so we followed the doctor's orders and postponed our trip to IL. By Thanksgiving we were all feeling much better and were joined by Papa Roly and Daniel for Little C's first Thanksgiving. Little C took the opportunity to roll over for the first time from her back to her tummy! We were so impressed!

December was a very busy month! First a visit from Grami Jami and Auntie Pam,

then a trip to IL to visit T's family and celebrate Christmas.

A week after returning from IL we flew to Southern California for two weeks to continue our Christmas celebration with C's family along with T's oldest brother and his family. A three part Christmas!

Before heading back home we rung in the New Year with Kirk, Lindsey, Andy and Danielle.


We are looking forward to all that this year will bring. It promises to be another memorable year for us and hope it will be for you as well.
Happy 2010 to all!

We wish you all love and happiness,
C, T and Little C

My First Christmas- Part I

Last week I got to go on a BIG trip to visit my Grandpa, Nana, and two uncles who all live in Illinois. We all were so excited to be going to celebrate my very first Christmas. Last Christmas Mommy and Daddy told everyone they were expecting me, and now I'm here!
On Friday we flew First Class (Daddy put some of those miles to good use!) to St. Louis with a short layover in between. The airplane ride was so fun and I met lots of new people. We arrived in St. Louis at 10:15p.m. and were picked up by Mommy and Daddy's friend, Kori. They went to school with her a long time ago. She was really nice and we got to stay the night at her house. The next morning I got to meet her little girl, Riley! It was fun to meet another new friend, but we didn't get to be together too long because we were picked up by friends of Nana and Grandpa who drove us the rest of the way. They were nice too, and didn't seem to mind too much that I got tired and hungry on our ride and spent a half hour telling Mommy and Daddy that it was time for our trip to be over. Although our time was short, we had such a wonderful time. I loved all the attention I got from Nana, Grandpa, Uncle Bret, Jessica and Uncle Kurt. I've missed them so much! We celebrated Uncle Kurt's birthday on Saturday, Christmas on Sunday, relaxed on Monday and flew home again on Tuesday. What a whirlwind but we packed a lot in for such a short time! I got lots of fun gifts for Christmas; a new doll, a talking puppy, new clothes, bath toys, teething toys, and lots more! Grandpa even got me a new snow suit that is so soft! I'm hoping when I go back to their house in January that there will be snow to play in! One of the best parts of my visit happened each night when Nana and Grandpa sang to me while Grandpa played the guitar. I love to sing and be sung to! I'm really looking forward to going back again in January but before that I have a big trip to Southern California to see all of Daddy's family along with Uncle Chad, Aunt Kelly, and cousin Keira. I think I'm going to be a lot like Mommy, I LOVE Christmas!

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A Visit From Grami Jami and Auntie Pam

The day Papa Roly had to go home we got more company at our house! Grami Jami and Auntie Pam arrived and I was so excited to see them!
We did lots of fun things together while they were here. On Thursday we went for a walk to Starbucks and got yummy hot drinks.On Friday, Mommy and Daddy opened some gifts from Grami and Auntie Pam. Grami gave us something very special called The Elf on the Shelf. Grami kept hiding him the rest of the time she was here and we had to find him. The first time was pretty easy, but then it got harder and harder. I know it will be so much fun to look for him as I get older too. Daddy thinks we should name him "Hans." We'll have to talk about that when he can understand what I am saying.
On Saturday we went for a walk in the park near our house. It was cold outside so Daddy snuggled me into his jacket to keep me nice and warm. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed walking to the bridge and watching the ducks swim in the river. That night Mommy and Daddy went out on their first date since I was born. Grami and Auntie Pam watched me while they were gone and did a great job! It was so fun to have them all to myself!On Sunday it was time to say "Good-bye." It's never fun, but I'll get to see Grami again at Christmas time which isn't too far away!

Rolling Over

How could I have forgotten to tell you all about the most exciting part of my very first Thanksgiving Day?! While I was getting my diaper changed I was really interested in the movie that was playing on the t.v. and I wanted to watch too. I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to practice a new skill, turning over from my back to my front. I've already been able to turn over from my tummy to my back, so I thought it would be good to try it a different way. Sure enough, I did it!! Not just once, but THREE times! It must have been really exciting for everyone watching because they cheered me on the entire time. I was so proud of myself. Of course, Mommy and Daddy got it all on video so you could see my hard work.

My First Thanksgiving

Today was Thanksgiving Day, my very first, and what a fun day it has been! My Papa Roly and Daniel are here and I am getting so much attention! This morning I woke up to Daddy, Mommy and Papa all singing to me. I love being sung to when I wake up. After my breakfast I got to have some play time downstairs with Daddy and Papa. While I took a nap everyone else was busy in the kitchen preparing a feast. When it was all done it looked delicious! I didn't have any, but I heard all about it. We had such a wonderful day all together and we have so much to be thankful for!

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