Christmas Holiday

We have had a wonderful Christmas holiday. We were able to travel to Lexington and Cincinnati to see our families. Once again Isabel was a wonderful traveler. She really enjoyed the airplane flights and I think she even liked all of the long car rides.

We headed to Lexington first and were able to be there for my sister's 21st birthday which was fun. We saw Grandma, Grandaddy, Katie, Stephanie, and even Dennis for a little while. It took Isabel a day to warm up to everyone, but soon she loved being held and didn't really care as much that it wasn't mommy doing the holding, she even let Stephanie hold her for a little while.

On Christmas Eve we headed up to Cincinnati to Robert's mom's house, and Isabel got to meet her other Grandma for the first time. The loved each other on the spot, and Isabel really loves Grandma's bird, squealing with joy every time she saw or heard her.

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. Isabel really enjoyed tearing off the wrapping paper from her gifts and was really excited by all of her gifts. She talked and talked to/about each one of them, checking them all out. In the afternoon we headed over to my Grandparents in Indiana, and they were also able to meet Isabel for the first time along with the rest of the family. I think all of the noise and commotion and people was a little much for her, but she did really well and everyone thought she was adorable.

We had a wonderful trip, but are glad to be home. Hope you all had a happy holiday as well.

Endeavour

In today's news:

"For the first time since 1997, a space shuttle will be making a brief stop in North Texas .

Because weather in Florida forced the Endeavour astronauts to touch down at an alternate landing site in California Sunday, it is now making its way back to its home base at Cape Canaveral riding piggyback aboard a specially-modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Weather conditions along the planned route have forced NASA to shift its next intermediate stop to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. The spacecraft will remain at the base overnight before continuing its transcontinental journey on Thursday morning."

Isabel and I decided to brave the cold and go up and see the shuttle land, with daddy coming out to join us at the last minute. It was awesome to see, it is amazing to me that they can put something that big on top of an airplane.

Christmas Card Picture

I spent a whole day trying to take a picture of Isabel for our Christmas card, she was not cooperating. First she had a complete spaz-out when I tried to put on her dress, look at it carefully you might not see it again. I think the sound or the feel of the crinoline was too much for her. Second she wouldn't look at the camera at all, no matter what I tried. A gazillion pictures later I had two that I liked, but oh well, she's so cute no matter what. Here's a preview of a picture we didn't use.

Putting up the Tree

Isabel notices everything these days, so she was all agog when she woke up from her nap and there was a Christmas tree in the corner. She helped put on the first ornament, her first ornament which Grandma had sent last month, and then we put up the rest after she went to bed for the night. Every morning she comes out and points at it until we go over, take a look, and turn on the lights.

I have a dream that I'm sure not many other people have. I keep hoping that I'll set her down in the family room and come back from doing something and she'll be pulling all the ornaments off the tree. It seems to be good incentive to get her moving at this point, I hope she doesn't get bored of it. ;o)

I love the Christmas season and it is so fun to share it all with Isabel.


Also, happy St. Nicholas Day to those of you who celebrate today.