Big Steps

The last couple weeks Gwen has made some great progress with crawling and walking!! I'm so proud.  I was getting pretty worried about her not crawling for so long, but she has finally started to do it.  She still doesn't like it, and I still have to bribe her to do it, but at least she can do it.

My favorite is how she goes from sitting to her hands and knees.  She is so flexible that she just does the splits and rolls herself froward until she's on her belly and then she pushes up.  It's pretty funny, and impressive to watch.

Next big step?  She's taking some steps by herself.  She is getting ok at pulling her self up to her walker so she can push it around.  She'll take a few steps between Dan and I, and if she's feeling really ambitious, I can set her against the couch and she'll take a few steps to me.  It's really cute how proud she gets of herself.

She is still pretty tentative and unsure so she doesn't really like to do it on her own unless we semi force her to do it.  But she's learning, she's just taking her own sweet time and doing it on her terms.  She has also been such a snuggle bug lately.  She will just snuggle and give me loves all day.  I love it.  She is getting so big and smart, and it's hard to see her grow up, but so fun at the same time.

Some Birthdays

We've had a couple birthdays in our family the last month.  My dad celebrated his 58th birthday on January 18th.  Man, he's getting up there!! (Just teasing, dad)  He is seriously the best dad and grandpa in the world!  I love watching him play with Gwen, and I love all the things he teaches her.  He taught her about light, how to say papa, and is always willing to share his treats with her.  I'm so glad he's my dad and that Gwen gets to have him for a grandpa.  Happy Birthday!!

Next, my nephew Jack turned 4.  He is so fun and funny.  He loves Gwen, and is always squeezing her cheeks.  He always tells me that she's cute or pretty and that she's squishy.  Since I had Gwen, I've been able to spend some more time with him since my sister and I are able to get together and hang out more often.  I've loved being able to get to know him a little better and see more of his funny personality.  Happy Birthday, Jack!  We Love you!!

Oh, and that top picture in the right corner is a few days before my dad's birthday.  He had the day off and took me, Gwen, my sister and her kids to lunch.  We loved it!!

11 Months

Today is Gwen's 11 month birthday.  I can't believe she's been with us for almost a year.  It seems like she was just born, but at the same time like she's always been with us.  

She has continued to be so fun this month and is learning and growing even more.  This month she has mastered:

*The word "light" I say, "Gwen, where's the light?" and she looks up, points and says, "a yite" It's very cute

*She can play peek-a-boo

*She still loves to stick out our tongue

*She's getting pretty close to crawling.  She does kind of an inch worm thing where she scoots along and half drags her head on the carpet.  It's pretty pathetic but I guess that's what you do when your head makes up half your body weight.  She is starting to get up on her hands and knees and kind of rock, but usually she just does the inch worm or army crawls.

*She is constantly jabbering trying to sound out words and talk to us

*She sometimes says "thank you"  It sounds like doo doo, but with the same intonations that I use.

*She's very into sharing toys and food

* She can half way blow kisses.  She gets her hand up to her mouth and makes the kissing sound, but forgets to give the kiss away.

*She has 4 teeth, and one coming through and she's started to bite me, little stinker.

*She still loves balls and is LOVING her teddy bear.  We walk into her room in the morning and she always has her teddy up by her and she's just chatting away with it.  Its so cute.

*She still prefers to walk holding our hands or pushing her walker.

We are loving watching her grow and learn.  She is so sassy and is getting so stubborn.  I'm afraid she gets that from me.  I wish she didn't.  She is so hard to help because she wants to do everything herself. I'm afraid we have Carlie Junior on our hands, and folks, I'm going to have a run for my money with this little spit fire. But, I guess in this world a girl's gotta have some attitude, and at least she'll be able to stand up for herself.  She will be heard.

Happy New Year!!

WOW! I can't believe another year has come and gone.  We had a really great 2012, and I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.  We spent New Year's Eve at Von & Ash's house, with a few friends, and fabulous fondue.  Then we played catch phrase, girls against boys, and GIRLS won!  We ended the night by watching the ball drop and watching hilarious youtube videos until way too late.  We were beat the next morning, but it was such a fun night, thanks Von & Ash for hosting!!

I also wanted to include some highlights of 2012:
*Gwen was born
*Dan got accepted into the U's MBA program
*I was able to go back to work 1 day a week at the lab
*Going to NYC and crossing a few things off my bucket list
*Buying our home
*Celebrating 6 great years together
*Bear Lake
*Being able to stay home with my little angel
*Cutting down our first Christmas Tree

There are lots more things that I'm sure I'm forgetting, but Oh well.  One of my New Year's Resolutions is to start a "Good Happenings" jar, and whenever anything good happens, write it down and put it in the jar.  Then on Jan. 1st next year, we will open the jar and see all of the wonderful things that happened to us that year.  I am excited to see what new things will come this next year.  Here's to hoping 2013 is even better than 2012!