Happy New Year

Daniel wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May 2008 bring you many blessings.

He has been a little under the weather due to the vaccination shots he received on Friday. So he has been sleeping on Mommy all weekend. He started to perk up today so we got a few pictures on the awesome bunny blanket that he received from Uncle Scott and Aunt Erica on placement day! He kicks his legs like crazy b/c he wants to move but has not figured out how to crawl yet!

Our Big Boy

Daniel had his 4 month pediatrician appointment yesterday. He is 26 inches tall and weighs 16 pounds 14 ounces both of which are in the 90 percentile. Michael thinks he is going to be a linebacker while I am hoping for a less violent sport like basketball (not that we have any control over Daniel's preferences - he definitely already has an independent streak).

Daniel also got 4 more shots and he was very brave. Daddy took care of him all afternoon and then Jen and Bennett came over with Robyn and BJ. Three year old Robyn even managed to beat Michael at Wii Bowling :)

Jen and Bennett got Daniel a football and he loves playing with it or gumming it (anything to help with his teething).

Boxing Day

Yes, Michael and I might actually do some boxing on his new Nintendo Wii!!!!!!!!! Someone has a really great wife who buys the best presents.

Daniel is wearing the cutest reindeer outfit and he really wanted to grab the reindeer paws on his feet and put them in his mouth. We caught him trying to get to his Advent train - he was so close he could almost reach it if he knew how to crawl!

Gram and Pop-pop enjoyed playing with Daniel and his new soft dump, tow and fire trucks. Pop-pop was flying Daniel in the air like an airplane (as it happens Daniel got his Daddy an airplane for Christmas - no not a real plane, just a cool metal plane from Pottery Barn). He already knows how much his Daddy likes Airplanes and Football. He also got his Daddy a book called "I love my Daddy" which is illustrated with a papa and baby bear.

Michael and Pop-pop are attempting to put together the Exersaucer for Daniel. After 4 hours of hard labor, Michael and Pop-pop were successful in assembling the Exersaucer and Daniel loves it! There are all kinds of sounds, lights and toys to play with and he can turn 360 degrees. Hours of entertainment which is a good think for Mommy and Daddy.

After Christmas Dinner

Daniel was a little tired after dinner b/c he is teething and had a pretty exciting day! So we changed him into his PJs to make him more comfortable (plus Mommy had some spit up all over). He gave cards to Gram, Pop-pop, Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Valerie/Uncle Eric so that they would all know how much he loves them (with some help from Mommy). Here you can see the special stockings that Nana and Grandpa made for Daniel - the cross-stick stocking was made with a lot of love from Nana and the felt stocking is a family tradition. Daniel's stocking has a Stetson cowboy hat to represent Texas!

Baby's First Christmas

Today was more special than any Christmas b/c Daniel is in our life! We have been so blessed by God when Daniel joined our family. Michael and I just want to kiss and hug Daniel all day on his first Christmas. Gram and Pop-pop got in some play time with Daniel this morning while he was hanging out in his Christmas PJs.

Aunt Valerie, Uncle Eric, Nana and Grandpa joined us around noon for Christmas. While Daniel was taking his nap, all the adults opened our presents! Then our little angel got up and we opened all his presents - he got a ton of loot and really liked the wrapping paper the most. Michael and I had a blast sharing his presents with him and taking a ton of pictures. Daniel was definitely the star of the show.

We had a lovely prime rib dinner with the family and Daniel got a bottle! He was really focused on the pumpkin pie that Mommy was eating.

Our best present ever is Daniel! We started a new tradition where Michael and I give Daniel a book at Christmas and write a special note to him. Plus Michael had me hunt for my gift all over the house with little clues! Nana made a special new stocking for Daniel for our house and one for Nana and Grandpa's house that matches all the other family stockings.

I said special prayer this morning for Daniel b/c he has made this holiday so special and so much fun for our entire family!