The Holidays Craze

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to everyone! I've had an absolute blast the past few weeks with lots of holiday activities.

I'm really digging this celebration of two holidays thing. It's double the parties and double the gifts! It all started with the whole family going to a tree farm to find a Christmas tree. I loved running around there and we picked out a really nice one. Mama and Daddy also took me to a toddler gingerbread house decorating party at the local community center and Mama and I had SO much fun sneaking icing and candy in our bellies when we were supposed to be decorating.

I also had a Hanukkah party at school where I got to make my own dreidel and eat yummy latkes and jelly donuts. Later that day my best friend Miya and her family came over and Mama made another Hanukkah party at our house. I loved lighting the menorah every night and even learned how to say "Happy Hanukkah."

Christmas was wonderful, as Daddy's whole family came to visit us! I got to spend a lot of quality time with my Auntie Kerry, Granny, Grandpa Frank and Great Grandma, who I call Mimi. It was very special for us to have everyone here and I loved all the attention I got!

Mama says I got too many presents, but I'm very grateful to all of our wonderful friends and family who spoiled Jilly and I this year. Jilly mostly liked the tissue paper, I've got a few things to teach her.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!

Here are quite a few pictures of our festivities.

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Half a year already

Believe it or not, I turned six months old on the 9th! Mama and Daddy just can't believe how fast it has gone.

It has been a rough couple of weeks here with Nina being sick, my vaccinations, Mama's stomach flu and Daddy's stressful job. We are all tired, especially Mama and Daddy, and they have warned me that it's time I start sleeping through the night or else...yikes.

Fortunately family is arriving soon for the holidays and we are all looking forward to that. Also I'm going to try my first solid food soon! I'm very excited, I always look longingly at Nina's meals.

Anyway, to celebrate my big milestone, here is a photo of Nina at 6 months and me, in the same outfit. We really don't look alike at all, but it's still cool to see us side by side at the same age.

Much love,
Jilly D

Jilly's Big Adventures

Jilly D here, thought I should write as I'm the one who has experienced all of the most recent adventures. Mama and I took a trip back East to visit her friends and family for Thanksgiving. It was exhausting for Mama, taking care of me all by herself, but well worth it.

I loved spending so much time with my cousin Thea and Uncles Luke and Benny. Thea was a great big cousin, she helped change my diaper and gave me lots of blankets and toys to use. She was a wonderful hostess! I miss her already.

Nina and Daddy did great by themselves in Seattle. We missed them a lot and were very happy to be reunited once again.

I can now roll over both ways and am working hard on sitting up!

Here is a link to all the photos, Mama is trying something new, let us know what you think:
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=7617438007/a=59179036_59179036/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Big helper

I've recently become very interested in my baby sister. I like to "help" her with her pacifier and point out her various body parts. I also like to "help" Mama and Dada burp her, I'm really good at banging on her back.

Here is a video of me "helping" Jilly.

Halloween and such

It has been a really fun couple of weeks! I've been spending a lot of time with my friend Miya and her family. We all went to a pumpkin patch together, decorated our pumpkins and hung out at a Halloween party at Gymboree. It's fun to hang out with her b/c she has a new little sister too and feels my pain.

We had a super fun Halloween, especially b/c my Granny and Papa Frank were here to visit! I had a blast with them, showing off all my new words and tricks. We all went to a costume party together and I loved all the attention Granny gave me. Jilly didn't love her owl costume, but Mama was happy to just get a couple of pictures. Mama and Daddy were also very grateful for their visit b/c they got a night out away from us.

Here are a lot of photos from our recent adventures, Mama had a hard time eliminating since they were all so good!

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Slowly but surely

Jilly D here with some video of me rolling over! I've got front to back down, though it does take me awhile. Starting to work on the other way....I'll report back when I've made some more progress.

Pumpkin Fun

This weekend was a blast! We went to a pumpkin patch with the Mancinos and I got to take a hay ride out to pick my own pumpkin. Of course Max and I found the most enjoyment on the cement slab in the parking lot, we danced and hid in the grass and kept saying "uh oh" to each other. It made us laugh.

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