Anna's first snow!

The day after Christmas, we got 8 inches of snow!  It was beautiful!  Anna was able to use her new L.L. Bean sled she got from Grandma and Grandpa Pike right away!  Good thing we live so close to Broad Ripple Park!  

Baby's 1st Christmas

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday and this year it was extra special because it was Anna's first Christmas.  I love the decorations, the winter weather, the shopping, seeing and being with family, seeing Santa, picking out a real tree, fires in the fireplace and watching Christmas movies.  It's just such a magical time and I really hope that I instill in Anna first and foremost, the reason for the season and the importance of family and giving.

Anna, putting the star on top!

our tree!

Anna on Santa's lap!  She was so happy!

Ready for Christmas Eve mass!

Christmas morning - Anna crawling towards the tree!

Santa came!!!!

Time to open presents!

Time out for a little bit!

My new walker!

Next onto Grandma and Grandpa Pike's House!

Santa came...again!

Dave and Grandpa Pike!

Anna and Grandma Pike!

Opening presents - my first chair!

Anna's first sled!  It came in handy the next day - we got 8 inches of snow!

We also went to Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's but I forgot the camera!  We had such an amazing day!  Needless to say, Anna slept great that night!  Lots to be thankful for this Christmas! 

 

Anna: 9 months old!

My baby girl is 9 months old already!!!!  How is this possible!?  I know I always say this, but I don't know where the time has gone.  It's so hard to believe that a year ago, we were preparing for her arrival and I was around 8 months pregnant.  I have looked over my entries in my blog from a year ago and it's so funny to see where we were and where we are now - what an amazing year it's been!  We are so blessed!  

Anna is so sweet - she is such a happy baby and smiles for everyone - even the random people we meet at the store!  She had her nine month check up the other day and she weighs in at 16 pounds 4 oz!  I don't remember her length but will look it up and update as soon as I find the paper!  She is now in the 25th percentile for weight - nothing to be concerned about and her doctor is happy with her weight progress.  I think she is just petite, yet long.  Her dad thinks she's going to be a model!  Anyway, I think she's perfect!  She loves her pears and loves Veggie Straws - if you don't know what these are, Google it, because they are amazing!  They're a great snack and they keep her busy between feedings if she needs a quick bite!  She also loves broccoli and lentils!  Beans are a must for protein in her diet as she doesn't care for chicken.  She loves sweet potato, green beans, spinach, blueberries, apples, bananas, broccoli, lentils, potato, avocado and oatmeal.  She takes after her mama and tends to go for the plain jane type foods.  She is feeding herself some finger foods - Gerber puffs, cut up grapes, cheerios and the Veggie Straws I mentioned, but is still eating the pureed food I make her as she doesn't yet have teeth.   

Anna is crawling and getting into everything!  We finally purchased a baby gate and she wants to be a part of everything!  Cooking dinner is usually a challenge because she wants to be right up in the action!  She is still sleeping through the night and is finally taking one nap a day =)  

Anna is such an amazing little girl and we are excited to announce that she will have a cousin arriving in June 2013!  Amy and Geoff are so excited as are we!!  

Here are more pics from this month - as you can see, it gets harder and harder each month to capture our ever-in-motion Anna!

Anna's Baptism

Anna was baptized on November 25th at St. Pius - the same church Dave and I were married in five years ago!  It was an exciting day!  Anna did so well - she didn't cry or fuss when Father Jim poured water on her head and was a trooper during the other baptisms as well! 

Here's Anna hanging out before the baptism - she wore the same gown that my Mom wore 60 years ago!  Lots of Aunts and cousins have worn it since and it was an honor for her to wear such a special family heirloom!  

Here is Anna getting baptized by Fr. Jim!  She did so great!  Godparents, Carolyn and Jered are right behind us watching on!

Fr. Jim holding Anna up to present her to the church as a newly baptized member of the Catholic church!

Getting sleepy after all this attention!

Dave, Anna, me and Fr. Jim

The Godparents - Jered and Carolyn!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Wuensch, Mom and Dad

Grandpa and Grandma Anderson

Uncle Andy, Aunt Carolyn, Aunt Amy and Uncle Geoff

Party time!

Anna's cake!

 

Hi Uncle Andy!  Look at all those presents! 

Thanks Aunt Carolyn for the UGG boots! 

The party was fun and we managed to squeeze everyone in our cozy house!  We had the Colts game on in the back bedroom and enough food to feed a small army!  Anna had a great time at her party too - slept through the whole thing!  Happy Baptism baby girl - so proud of you!