Christmas Highlights

While the photo of Anna trying to see over her cheeks to examine her shoes was cute, it didn't make the final Christmas photo cut. After taking about 117 pictures, this is the one we sent out in most people's Christmas cards.
Though Anna was in the dark about most Christmas specifics this year, she still managed to get herself completely wired on holiday energy. Between the excitment at Granddad & Mom-Mom Kulp's on Christmas Eve and the sea of presents at Grandpop & Grandmom Heebner's on Christmas morning, Anna knew something was up. We also managed to make it to Aunt Ellen & Uncle Richard's house on Christmas Day where 31 extended family members gathered for dinner.

Anna was in all her glory with the huge crowd. She is definitely her father's daughter when it comes to socializing and otherwise putting on a big show. Despite extensive efforts by four family members, there was no afternoon nap to be had. We thought she'd be toast by the time we got back to the Heebner's at the end of the night, but she was still all geared up and happily floated around the extended Heebner/Turner crowd for another hour. Amazingly, she managed to calm herself down enough to go to sleep at 8:30.

One huge Christmas highlight for Anna was Ben's dog Scooter. Anna's head would whip around every time Scooter went by, so we decided to finally let her snuggle up with the dog. (For the record, Anna's fascination with Scooter does not bring me any closer to granting Josh's request for a dog!)

"Seriously mom, shoes? I can't even walk."

Cheerios Are Exciting

Anna always strikes this pose as we're trying to slip her into her highchair, like, "Hey, feed me, don't feed me, whatever." But as the following video reveals, she's actually pretty excited about eating... especially her new found love -- Cheerios.

It's Beginning To Look A Little Like Christmas

With only 12 days left until Christmas, Josh and I finally got our butts in gear and put up some Christmas decorations. A big thanks to Nan and Danny who sent us a wreath for our front door! Unfortunately, it feels like the outside is still lacking something... like maybe a new paint job. Seriously, who paints siding and shutters gray? Talk about bleak. Historically, Heebners have been known for 1) being adamantly opposed to fake Christmas trees and 2) vastly overestimating the height of their ceilings. You can imagine my shock when Josh suggested we get a fake tree this year. We didn't depart from tradition entirely, however, making sure that the tree we bought was entirely too tall for the room. Yes, despite measurements being printed right on the box, we still managed to get it wrong. Josh was "absolutely certain" that our living room could house a 9 ft tree. Turns out, we have a regular 8 foot ceiling in the living room. Thanks to Josh's fun factory of tools, that was "no problem." He just went and sawed a foot off the bottom. Well, that solved one issue and left us with two new problems 1) the presents have to go around the tree as opposed to under the tree because the lowest branches brush the floor, and 2) without that extra foot of support on the bottom, the tree lists dangerously to one side, as pictured. Sigh.

SNEAKS for CHEEKS

Given the cold weather, it didn't seem right to keep carrying Anna around in just her socks, so we bought the kiddo her first pair of New Balance sneakers. Turns out they're as much toy as they are functional accessory in her world.

Anna's Week End Highlights

This week, Anna started making a cute clicking noise with her tongue. (Possibly one that only a mother thinks is blog-worthy?) Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to edit video clips, so you'll have to wade through a full minute and a half of video in order to get the show!

Anna got to spend some time with her buddy Talia this week. Lori & I think there's definite friendship potential here... as opposed to one of those awkward situations where the moms are friends and they force they're children to be friends too! If Talia looks worried in this picture, it's probably with good reason. Lori was worried about Talia hurting Anna, but as it turns out, it's my child who has NO IDEA what you mean when you tell her to be gentle!

...and speaking of friends, this is long overdue, but I'm finally getting around to posting a photo of Anna with her other buddies, Nicholas and Matthew who she got to hang out with way back in October. Just two more men in the giant pool of friends' baby boys that I'll allow her to chose from when the time comes!!