Merry Christmas 2009

Mother Nature visited us for Christmas and left 10 inches of snow, 4-foot drifts and 40 mph winds. Our Christmas plans to travel to Colorado got snowed out and we were disappointed we missed seeing the Stricklands. We look forward to celebrating with everyone next week though! December has been a busy month -- getting ready for the holidays and lots going on at work. Thea has been healthy and happy. Her new favorite words are "ho ho ho", Santa, cheese, cookie, clock, hot, baby, Thea and papa.

Fall 2009

Thea briefly sported a giraffe costume for Halloween. She hung out at the park with Miles, her friend, this past Sunday and got together with her grandma and grandpa in Wahoo on Halloween.

Booty Queen

It has been a while since we've last posted. Thea is getting more teeth, getting faster, getting taller. She has a few more words -- ball, cookie, night-night, to name a few. Here she is eating her favorite -- Pirate's Booty! We have been enjoying long walks and hoping for a few more days of Fall before winter sets in. She is also pictured here in a beautiful kimono given to her by mommy's friend, Tomoko, from Japan.

Thea is Toddling!

And she's off! Although she's been cruising for months, she's really gone out on her own this last week. Watch out world!

She's also had fun with her friend Miles, her cousins on the 4th of July and going for walks in her stroller almost every night!

Thea's First Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THEA! Thea had lots of fun with family and friends at her 1st birthday party! She wasn't so sure about the cup cake, though.....

Besides trying to walk and becoming more successful every day, Thea is crawling up stairs, eating lots of new things and enjoying her summer! She says "duck" and "dog", plays peek-a-boo and likes to read books to herself. We've been walking almost every night -- this Nebraska summer has been mild! She LOVES going out in the neighborhood in her stroller.

Growing Up Way Too Fast!

Since our last post we have been to Colorado over Easter to see grandma and grandpa, Aunt Laura, Uncle Scott and cousins Sidney and Jesse. We also have been recovering from several bouts of the stomach flu. Thea is getting so mobile. She loves to stand up, clap her hands and play peek-a-boo. Eating solids has been challenging. Hopefully now that she's feeling better we'll make some progress. We can't believe she's almost 1!!!

Nine months strong!

Thea is busy crawling, cruising in her walker and standing up in the crib. She is getting three more teeth (she already has three) so hopefully she'll be up for some more finger foods soon.

Sitting Pretty

Eight months old and loving being able to sit up on her own.

Ready to Launch...

It'll be a matter of time before she's really moving. At seven months she's scootching and rocking on her knees....just trying to figure out how to crawl a few steps at a time. Thea likes to say "mmm" and "ddd," too.

6 Months Old!

Weighing in at approximately 16 lbs., Thea is doing very well. She's starting to scootch and is ALMOST sitting up on her own. She's got two bottom teeth. Trying out all of these new foods just wears her out!

Her first Christmas was wonderful. She got to see both sides of the family; everyone was amazed at how much she's grown!

Happy New Year!