Abby's baby carrier - sewing project

Probably one of my favorite sewing projects in a while. Loved how this turned out!! Now Abby has her very own 'ergo' as she calls it, though it is actually a mei-tai carrier. Here is a link to the tutorial I used. 

Rua - 4 months

Dearest Rua,

Happy four months darling girl!

Some firsts and fun things from this month:

• You have officially learned to roll over, both directions. You did back to tummy first then just last week did tummy to back. It's funny, the days you figured these out, you did it over and over. And now, its hardly ever. It's as though you had to practice, practice and now you can say, 'check, can do that. Don't need to do it any more!'

• Along with all your rolling, you are becoming more mobile in your own, four month way. While lying on your back you can scootch yourself around, so that you rotate yourself in a circle. 
• All this moving most often happens when you are diaperless. I guess it's easier to move around without a huge cloth diaper bum.

• Full of smile and laughs. Just yesterday, Abby and I discovered that you think the noise of my phone taking a picture, and even more a video, is absolutely hilarious. You were cracking up so hard each time I pushed that button. 
• You make all sorts of cute sounds

• Still drooling all over yourself and whichever unsuspecting person happens to be holding you.
• Abby finally succeeded in getting you to take a pacifier, a least a little bit. She has been awfully persistent. However, you have also discovered your thumb, and seem to much prefer that.
• Speaking of Abby, you just adore her. You love to watch her play and she loves to play with you and read you books. She often also tries to offer you her fingers to suck on. 

• You had your first beach trip
• Another first - you were baby-sat for the first time yesterday by someone other than Dad. And it went terribly. I was only gone less than an hour for a job interview and you would not calm down and you were soooo mad when I came home. All that stress and crying must have worn you out because you proceeded to take a five hour nap. 
• Another sad first - you had your first cold and it was heartbreaking to see you sick. 

I love you little girl!

Love, 

Your Mamma

Rua - first beach trip

 We realized a couple Saturdays ago that we hadn't yet taken Rua to the beach. So we fixed that. The girl has now seen the ocean.

Catching up - Christmas 2014

Yes, it is a month after Christmas. And yes, I know probably no one else cares at this point. So this is really just for us, but here is our Christmas. :)

Christmas was so fun this year. Abby was so excited for it all, which made everything that much more fun. We stayed in SD for Christmas this year, so it was just our little family.

Christmas baking - Abby loved helping us make Christmas cookies. Good thing Eric talked me into make the sugar cookies (I'm not a fan and wouldn't miss them).

                         

                                                

                                                

                        

Santa - Abby, for the second year in a row, was terrified of Santa and sitting on his lap. We visited two Santas, at the church party and at story time. She did not want to go near him, I asked her if it would be okay if I held her and we stood next to him and she was ok (barely) with that. Definitely didn't want to push her to sit on some strange guy's lap. And we hadn't talked up Santa, if we had, maybe she'd be more excited. We just haven't decided how big a role Santa is going to play in our family, so we just kind of ignored him this year. 

                       

                                              

Isn't this one great? And he played the part extremely well. (story time Santa)

Christmas lights - Eric did his research and found us some of the best Christmas lights in SD. This street was amazing. We will definitely be back.

                         

                         

Abby had to introduce her Rudolph stuffed animal to all the Ruldolphs we met. So cute!

                             

Christmas Eve we kept really simple. Homemade mac and cheese with pigs in blankets for dinner (per Eric's request). We saved the traditional Anderson family 'walk around dinner' for New Years Eve. Abby loved the walk around dinner and has more than once since then talked out the 'snack party' as she called it. 

And of course we had to act out the Nativity story. We all played part while Eric found a recording of someone famous reading the Christmas story. 

Going to bed that night, Abby was all wired up and kept coming out. So she of course got a glimpse that we were up to something out there which did not help things and we had to do some pretty impressive ninja moves to cover things up before she saw. :) Rua seemed to know something was up too, she woke up right a midnight ready to start the day. 

Christmas day was also simple and fun. Stockings and gifts intermingled with a yummy Christmas breakfast. Then we spent time together as we prepared our little Christmas ham dinner. 

Our little Christmas tree. Can you guess what Abby got?

Rua's first Christmas!! 

Abby loved showing Rua the gift she gave her.