Elena's New Game

It's called "Baby in the Sack" and basically, as the name implies we put Elena in a pillow case and she loves it. We swing her around and she can't get enough! Granted I wouldn't attempt this with any old pillow case, but there was one from wash day that just felt super-duty. She's almost so long that she doesn't fit in the pillow case, as you can see from the first picture. Did I mention I LOVE having a child?! :-D

-Jason

*NEW* Picture Gallery

Elena's best of November/December gallery is now up on the blog. It can be found just below the videos (yes, I need to update those also) on the right hand side if you scroll down a bit.

Why did I combine both months? Is it because we're taking less pictures of her? Is it that she's become less photogenic? Maybe we're running out of memory and hard drive space? HOGWASH! She's cuter than ever and we've got disk space to spare, but we're also busier than ever keeping her off the stairs and out of everything she's getting into - and I mean EVERYTHING.

Basically, she has to be the TALLEST 9 month old around (95 percentile) which means that any object on any table (previously safe places to put things) is now fair game for her "big" little hands to grab. She can even pull herself up to the piano and play the keys from a standing position!

But I digress, again. You can also check out Elena's newest picture gallery directly by clicking the link below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/naugahide/BestOfNovDec2008?authkey=TNBdVNrwcb4&feat=directlink

I hope to have new videos up sometime soon - maybe I'll find time this weekend and add another blog entry soon as well. She's growing up so fast...

-Jason

A few more cute pics

Jen thought MAYBE if she slept in the crib Elena would like it more (glad it's a sturdy one)

Elena kept wanting to be on my lap as I played (don't comment on the flannels)

I kept trying to show her how to grab the neck the correct way but she didn't want to...

So... I have lots more great pictures and am late getting the most recent "Best Of" galleries up. She's SO cute these days there are so many great ones to choose from.

BTW, Elena turns 9 months TOMORROW! I can hardly believe where the time goes. Thanks to all who have been following our blog faithfully. You're the best! And I'm sure Elena loves the attention.

-Jason

Elena's First Christmas

Eating a candy cane... (our friend Rebecca's idea!)

...and now making a mess of it!

Opening up her first present...

...and then giving up and just chewing the ribbon!

I know I'm WAY overdue for a blog update. I blame the holiday season. It's been a crazy, sick, Akron-y, busy Christmas this year. I've been working a lot - though I did have xmas eve and day off. I had to work both NY's Eve and day which was fun. :-P I survived it all, but I've been trying hard not to get the plague that my wife has been harboring.

Elena had a fun Christmas. She kinda got the idea of the presents, but preferred to put the wrapping paper in her mouth than actually pull and unwrap any of her presents. She got a nice 1st Christmas picture frame from her Grandma G and a lion walk-behind-toy from her Great-Grandma C. Elena even got a bead maze from my parents, but I think she's not sure what to do with it right now.

Elena has been growing SO fast. She will climb most of the way up the stairs if you don't watch her closely. She stands up constantly and grabs anything she can get. She crawls super fast and you really have to keep your eyes on her. She says "hey dada" or something of the sort. And she is getting good at drinking from sippy cups. Yeah!!

I have some more pictures to blog so I guess I'll end this one for now. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. We did.

-Jason