post-christmas cheer.

 since winter is unavoidable when you live in michigan, you might as well figure out a way to enjoy it. my cousins have a pond in their backyard that makes a perfect ice skating rink. we put millie in her snowsuit and took her out under the lights to see what she thought...

it was so quiet and beautiful back there. we had a great time.

it's faux fur (no need to freak out).  not nearly as warm as my real rabbit fur version, but too cute to pass up. i got it big so she has room to grow into it. right now she keeps it on her head for a total of about twenty seconds...

in keeping with christmas tradition, the feenstra ladies came over to visit. we had two extra girls with us this year... millie and alyssa. thirty years of friendship between our families- that's a beautiful gift! 

 i don't know why i don't have any pictures of the two girls together. maybe because they didn't sit still the entire afternoon?

checking out alyssa's abc blocks.

mixing up some soup in alyssa's singing soup pot.

drinking from alyssa's sippy cup.  

 

 millie clearly had a blast trying out all of alyssa's stuff. 

(note to self: need to start working on sharing)

these cousins are a sweet little pair. olivia is great at making millie laugh. lots of smiles and giggles when these girls are together. 

uncle scott came over with a princess ride on scooter for millie. she hasn't exactly figured out how to climb on it quite yet, but she has most definitely mastered pushing the buttons to hear it play music. jake  it too... plastic pieces are his favorite kind of toy.    

 bye - bye christmas break...

 ... see you next year!

feliz navidad!

santa managed to find millie at her poppa and ama's house in michigan. if presents are based on whether you're naughty or nice, he must not be counting the first three months of millie's life against her because she got loads of gifts!

like most babies, she was more interested in the wrapping paper and ribbons than the toys inside. it's quite possible that the fruit loops in her stocking were the highlight of her christmas morning! we could have stopped right there. i hope that she'll always be at least a little bit delighted by simple things...

poppa and livvy (sporting an angelic little halo) were there to help her tear into that wrapping paper...

 

(her mouth is stuffed full of fruitloops!)

ama gave millie her first baby doll.

a gift to grow into... a big girl chair with her name on it! she hasn't quite mastered how to climb out of the chair without falling on her face. 

 

i found a little people nativity set for her - complete with a stable and three wisemen. she liked the baby jesus. :) 

 

these three spent much of the day parked right here...

we were in chicago for christmas last year because i was too pregnant to travel.  life has changed a whole bunch in just a year. millie has been the best gift.
i'm so grateful that we were able to be at home, all together for christmas.

the 2nd annual caref cousins sleepover

millie's first sleepover was a big one... seven of her cousins came over for a slumber party. most of the fun stuff happened after she was already in bed - walking tacos, christmas bingo, movies and popcorn.
(slightly) organized chaos. really funny kids. good times.

snow.

one of the songs i used to sing as a little girl (i think that my mom even has a cassette tape recording of me belting it out one winter day)

it snowed last night
it snowed last night.
the sky bears had a pillow fight,
tore up all the clouds in sight,

tossed down all the feathers white. 

i sang it for millie during our last big snow. she gave me a funny look and went back to watching her daddy out the window. in her book, shoveling is pretty funny.

amelia was so interested in what was happening outside, i thought we should get bundled up and go check it out. the snow was so pretty. for the most part, she stayed right on her bum... not quite sure what to do with the strange white fluff.

if daddy likes the snow, than i suppose that millie does too...