New Camera Pics

Here are just a few pictures I took over the past couple of days with my new Nikon...I love it!

Christmas 2007 Highlights

While things didn't turn out quite as we had planned, the baby's first Christmas was filled with other "firsts"and lots of love and merriment. Josh woke up on Sunday morning with a sore throat and was feeling achy...and by the evening had a fever, so on Monday he rested and we had a quiet Christmas Eve at home with Grandpa Dean and Granny Mel. We will have another Christmas celebration next weekend with Ohma, Ohpa, Gotta and Lauren....but we all sure missed them Christmas Eve! Then on Christmas Day we had a wonderful time opening gifts, relaxing and watching Grandpa and Grandma cook the turkey and all the trimmings (what a treat for the baby, Josh and me!). We will miss them when they leave on Thursday - they got to have lots of quality time with Dagney and she loved it! Here are some of the highlights of Christmas 2007...

Our Christmas tree all decked out.

One of the baby's "firsts" over the long weekend was learning to wave...here you see her waving back at Daddy while Granny Mel took the picture. Now she'll be crawling along downstairs, stop and give me a wave.

Dagney opened two gifts from Grandma and Grandpa on Christmas Eve to warm-up for Christmas Day. She got the hang of ripping open the presents pretty quickly.

One of Dagney's gifts from her Grandparents was a little xylophone with balls on top that you hit with a mallet...she thinks they're especially tasty. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Josh didn't feel good, but hung in there like a champ so he could spend time with us all!

Dagney started tall kneeling a couple of weeks ago and is demonstrating another of her Christmas "firsts" - pulling up to standing.

Granny Mel got a special gift this Christmas from her hubby - a beautiful ruby ring that she had eyed at a store in Washington State several months ago - and then had regretted not buying! Those Bunkers men really know how to surprise their women...

Even with all of the brand new electronic gizmo baby toys strewn around the living room, Dagney's favorite gift turned out to be the little wood blocks from Granny Mel.

Grandma Connie sent some wonderful gifts for the baby and us - among them was a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament and a cute shopping cart cover that Mommy really needs!!

I got two big surprise presents from Josh this Christmas and both made me cry - a camera that I've been wanting for at least a year, but never thought I'd own and, just when I literally said that "nothing could top that," I opened up a diamond necklace just like the one I lost last year, which Josh had given to me two months after we first met.

The awesome turkey with giblet stuffing that Dad and Mel prepared for us Christmas Day.

Dagney getting ready for her pureed turkey and veggie dinner...sporting a new bib from Mel.

Dagney posing with her handsome Cousin Emmet.

Here she is opening a gift from Mommy and Daddy. She received so many beautiful gifts for Christmas including adorable outfits from her Aunt Jenny and family and a Lamaze light-up musical flower toy and Dr. Seuss toothbrush from her Aunt Jessie and family. More pics to follow!

Christmas Countdown

Santa...where are you?

Just try to catch me, Mommy...I can get to those presents under the tree faster than you now!

I've been so good Santa has definitely taken notice...just look at my angelic little face!

West Coast Bunkers Invasion!

Grandpa Dean and Granny Mel arrived Thursday evening from Washington State. They are staying at a local military base called the Picatinny Aresenal until the 27th. Dagney is so excited to have her favorite West Coast grandparents here to play with her and celebrate Christmas.

Playing hide and seek with Grandpa.

Grandpa snuggles.

I love my Granny Mel!

Me and my Daddy...isn't he handsome??

Now that the Grandparents are around I'm going to try to get away with anything I can!!

Welcome Grace Serenity Keller!

Congratulations to our very close friends Jenny and Mike on their beautiful new baby girl! Grace was born on Thursday December 20th at 12:05 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces. I got to visit the happy parents for about an hour this evening...thoroughly enjoying each second I got to hold my sweet little "niece". Jenny looks great and is recovering well and they expect to be taking Grace home tomorrow. Just in time for Christmas!

Learning Inspires Learning

Dagney was so proud and felt so inspired by her Aunt Jessie getting her Ph.D. today, she crawled over to her little craft drawer, took out a marker and taught herself to write. After which, Dagney reminded us of her actual age and pooped her pants once again.

Dinner and a Movie

We spent Saturday night with the Crafts - soon they will be heading to Canada to spend Christmas with family and we wanted to celebrate before they left. Dagney enjoyed crawling around and exploring a new house (and stuff under someone else's Christmas tree), putting her hand in Daddy's jambalaya and showed about 30 seconds of interest in Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (I'm not too worried - over the next 5 or 6 Christmases I'm sure she'll love it just like her Mommy). Cole continues to get cuter and cuter every time we see him (bigger, too)...we're looking forward to the time when he and Dagney are both crawling around and can entertain eachother.

Showers of Happiness for Jenny

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Jenny's family and friends at Cryan's Pub in South Orange to celebrate the arrival of Baby Keller, due December 28th. The food, games and company were wonderful...but most importantly Jenny was beaming throughout the whole event. I can't wait for this little baby to get here!

My little bump pales in comparison...
The happy mom-to-be.
Opening my gift - I was excited all week for this moment.
The diaper bag Jenny wanted, filled with essentials...
and a little crystal swan to go with the two I bought Jenny and Mike when they got married. She was so surprised and excited, which was the best part!