Christmas Tree

One of our great family traditions, started the first Christmas Travis and I were dating, is to go cut our Christmas tree from the national forest.  For the past 5 years, that's been in the Buffalo Creek Wilderness Area in Pike National Forest, which is surprisingly just down the road from our house now.  This year, we had to shoehorn it in around a European adventure, a wedding, possible food poisoning, and a crazy work schedule, but we managed to carve out the time to do it, even though it sat undecorated for a week.  And I have to say, I think this is the best tree yet.

The one

Beautiful Colorado day

We had a winter picnic with hot dogs, chili, and hot chocolate

Stringing the lights

Belly Laughs

Two of Andrew's favorite things: peekaboo and mommy's hair.

Also, the last one of his front teeth came in on 12/13.  So for those of you keeping track, that's four teeth in 10 days.  Phew!!

A New Aunt

Uncle Devin and Aunt Kathleen got married!  Andrew has his first aunt (officially) and Amy and Travis both have their first sister - this is a big deal!

We flew out to Indianapolis and got in at a much more reasonable hour than we did on our last trip - no three hour delay! - and then stayed the night at the Radisson Indy Airport.  We then headed up for the lovely ceremony and totally fun reception at the Anderson Center For the Arts (TACA), and had fun with family and friends old and new.

The Groom awaits.

Uncle Tyler the Groomsman

Andrew really enjoyed Great Uncle Tim's ceremony - he was so well behaved!

Look how pretty Grandma looks!

Their unity ceremony was blending paints - it was SO COOL

Kissin' the bride!

Nursing at the gorgeous venue

The nephews

Why, yes... she is my older sister...  :oP

Wedding par-tay

"Blue Steel"

My brothers.  *sniff*  They're so handsome.

Too much fun with ATB Monique to be non-blurry

Robert is a natural.  I think he needs one of his own.

Sorry, guys, you have an interloper at the head table.

It was a beautiful evening, a beautiful couple, a beautiful wedding... and we hope and pray it will be a beautiful marriage!  Congratulations!

teeth!

All of a sudden, we have three! The first to come in, the top right in the front, appeared on 12/3/11.  The second one, right bottom front, snuck in without us realizing it on Friday, 12/9/11.  And the top left front has been showing the telltale dark spot on the gum for a couple days, and finally made it's appearance today.

The funny thing is that the one I was sure was coming in at Halloween was the bottom front left... which is the last one of this set to show up.  Shows what I know.

friends and family

We took a short trip over to Indianapolis before Thanksgiving.  It was Andrew's first flight as a Premier on United.  Congrats, buddy!

We took the opportunity to visit our friends the T's who live in the Urbana-Champaign area.  Believe it or not, Indianapolis is their closest major airport!  It was a bonding time with our old friends now that we have a child and can talk with them on whole new levels.  Unfortunately, Andrew was coming down with a cold, and we had a couple of really rough nights.  But we made it through!

Ooh, new toys!

Puzzles with Evan and Nora

Learning to sit up is hard.

We then headed over to Kokomo to attend Aunt-to-be (ATB) Kathleen's bridal shower.  It was fun to see family and to meet new family!

In fact it was exhausting.  Thank God for Grandma!

We wrapped up our trip with a stay at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Indianapolis, with excellent views of the Indiana State Capitol.

This is my favorite nursing picture ever.  My post-baby belly may be hanging out there, but this is my life!

An unfortunate coda to this trip: I left my wallet in the rental car and it was never recovered.  Three days before leaving on an international vacation!  AGH.  I blame mommy brain.  Not my brightest moment.

solids!

I am SO far behind on blogging.  ...But in the meantime, here's some fun with Baby Led Weaning!

Steak

He's had steak twice.  He goes to town on it.  This boy != vegetarian.

Pear, Avocado, and a bit of oatmeal

Avocado, you say?

Family and Football

Over the weekend of November 5, we hosted Grandma and Grandpa along with Uncle Tyler and Aunt-to-be Monique.  We all headed down to AFA to watch the Falcons beat Army and claim the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the second year in a row.  (To be honest, the first half was about the worst half of Air Force football I'd ever seen, but they made it up in the second half.  A "W" is a "W," I suppose...)

Grandpas are for sleeping

"Goodnight Moon" with Uncle Tyler.

Tailgaitin'

Happy half birthday!

6 months old - hard to believe.  It's been a crazy half-year of life.

Weight: 18lb 0oz (50th %ile)
Height: 27.5 inches (76th %ile)
Head circumference: 17.5 inches (62nd %ile)