We're home. We all had a terrific time! I'm going to update in segments because I have too many pictures and not enough time to do it all at once.

Our first party was Christmas with Damon's immediate family. Abby got lots of toys. His sister, Paula, made sure she bought noisy ones.








I wish this picture would have turned out sharper. So cute!





Which toy should I play with first?


So many choices.

12 Months In Pictures

We're leaving in the morning and won't be back until after Abby's birthday, so this is all I'll have time for until my baby turns a year old! I thought it would be fun to see how much she's changed in the past year.

About 8.5 hours old.


1 month. See that ball that's hanging from the arch by her feet? That's her favorite toy now. Once she got too big to lay in it, it converted to a tunnel but I couldn't get the toys to stay on. Now, she likes to carry that ball around and suck the air out of it.


2 months.


3 months.


4 months.


5 months.


6 months.


7 months.


8 months.


9 months.


10 months.


11 months.


12 months.

Most of the time, Abby feels more comfortable walking when there's something in her hand. Lately, she's become obsessed with an old bottle of baby Tylenol. It started a long time ago when I'd reach for anything handy to give her during diaper changes in the hopes that she'd just lay still for a couple minutes! The Tylenol bottle worked well for a long time. One day recently she ended up carrying down to the basement with her, and she has been holding on to it ever since. She's cutting her next two bottom teeth, so I guess the squishy dropper top feels good on her gums.











We've also found a new favorite food. Over the weekend, the baker in me took over and I made cookies and a couple different kinds of candy. It turns out Abby loves chocolate covered pretzels. Whenever Damon opens up the tin, her face lights up like our Christmas tree, and she will race over to him to get a piece. We have never seen her get so excited over anything before. It's a great way to distract her away from the tv.

I found a snowsuit

Macy's didn't have the one I found online. I found this one 50% off at Sears. Abby wasn't impressed. The problem is that it's so bulky she can't really move in it. It definitely kept her dry and warm, though. She reminds me of Randy, the little brother in A Christmas Story. I think I'll put it on her around the house a few times to let her get comfortable in it before taking her out again.

Our First Outing

Abby was as excited to get out of the house as I was.

Abby will be walking by tomorrow! She's been making huge strides the last few days. It started late Thursday afternoon. Her new favorite thing to do is to walk laps around the furniture. For some reason, she feels more secure when she's holding something in her right hand while she walks. She'll use her left hand to hold on to the furniture, but she'll take a couple of steps on her own before lightly touching the couch for balance. She goes round and round like this. She's been walking on her own more as well. All of a sudden I'll look over at her and she's walking towards me! Today, she made it almost halfway across the basement before she'd fall. She kept going farther and farther each time. She had so much fun walking towards me. She loves to have us cheer her on.

I've Learned My Lesson

Don't wait until December to try to buy a snowsuit!

Land's End had this one, but it's backordered until January.

LLBean offers free shipping, which is awesome, but they're one snowsuit isn't available in the bigger size (2T), only 18 months. I agree with everyone that Abby really needs the bigger size.

One Step Ahead only has this one-piece snowsuit, but again with the 18-months. They do have this jacket and overall pants combo, but the pretty violet one isn't available in her size.

Hanna Andersson is the only place I've been able to find one in her size so far. Wait, I just found another one there.

Hey, I just found this one at JCPenney and it's only $29.99! Does this look like it would keep dry and warm, though?

Now I'm getting somewhere! Macy's has this adorable two-piece set with gloves on sale for $34.80.

One thing I've learned is that 2T and 24-months sizes are exactly the same! I always thought that 2T was a little bigger. If they're the same, why bother having the two sizes?

I was really hoping to get her a one-piece deal because I figured that would keep her the driest, but I don't think I can pass up that cute one from Macy's. What do you think? My head's spinning.