Sunday, January 20, 2013

A Very Ellie Holiday Season

We had a great holiday season to wrap up our amazing 2012.  We had a great time with my parents in town, did a turkey fry for Thanksgiving and enjoyed our fondue tradition for Christmas.  We took Ellie to three Christmas markets - Aachen, Monschau and Cologne.  She probably won't remember these activities but she enjoyed being toted around in her carrier and smelling the brats and gluhwein. ;)

During this time we got to see Ellie's first smile - in response to me saying "Good morning, Ellie!" in a crazy enthusiastic voice that surfaces when talking to babies.  She was just barely a month... and we know it wasn't a gas-related smile since we got her to repeat that smile almost every morning for a bit after that. 

Smiley Ellie

Thanksgiving turkey fry - it was a DELICIOUS turkey!
Gramee and Bear with Ellie

Waffle and Hot Chocolate break at Monschau Christmas Market

Cologne Christmas Market under the Dom

Cologne's Christmas Market
Ellie has no problem staying warm in her stroller... and with those CHEEKS!



Ellie's First Christmas... she doesn't resemble Colin AT ALL, does she? ;)
Kleine Maus spent the vast majority of Christmas Day monitoring the ham on the counter.


We got to see Ellie grow remarkably fast - 4 pounds and 4 inches in 2 months!?  With that head of hair and healthy cheeks, she just doesn't look much like a newborn any more!



We are happy to say that the new baby growing pains continue to be pretty minimal as she is still a great sleeper, and obviously a big eater.  Both these things and Colin's antics keep her very happy, and we just keep having so much fun with her!



I thought it might be a bit of a challenge to wait out the cold winter months with the baby and no travel, but it hasn't been tough at all.  We do lots of book reading and some tummy time.  Her little smile warms my heart better than a mug of gluhwein and the time is passing so fast.  We look forward to our next trip - to California in March!

Reading my favorite book "Look Look"

Workin' hard during Tummy Time