11 Months and Standing!

Grayson turned 11 months on January 2nd, which just does not quite compute in my brain. How is it possible that in just about three weeks our teeny-tiny baby will be ONE?! I cannot comprehend this time warp.

The last month has brought about several new motor developments for the buddy:

• Sitting independently
• Pulling-up to stand independently 
• Cruising 
• Several play-related milestones (stacking and sorting types of things)
• Dancing! (perhaps the cutest of all)

He went from sitting himself up to pulling up to stand within about a day, so that was a big leap that I can tell he's been mentally working on for a while. During naps is his favorite time to try out these new skills, of course... Anytime there is music from a toy or even on the radio or TV, he bops up and down dancing along, which is perhaps my favorite baby milestone since smiling! It's so much fun, and he really seems to love music.

I'm pretty behind in his first birthday planning, so my apologies to the family and friends who will be getting a last-minute invitation. We'll have all five grandparents in town to celebrate, and we're so excited everyone could make it! What a celebration it will be!

Anyway, pictures...he was in far too wiggly a mood to get very good 11-month pictures, but you get the idea.

"Mommy, let me see that camera you've got there! I want to push the buttons!"

Standing in his crib for the very first time! 

He crawled on over and pulled all the books off the shelf...

Running around and around!

Gray's First Christmas(es)

What a lucky boy Grayson is! He got to have not one but TWO first Christmases!

First we went to Kansas to celebrate the pre-Christmas weekend with my family. Lucky for Grayson, there was a little snow on the ground, so it was a partially white Christmas! He had a great time playing with Mommy's childhood toys, his grandparents, and lots of aunts, uncles and older cousins.

Next, we came back on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas Day at home. We had a fun Christmas morning just the three of us and then were joined by Grayson's aunt, future-uncle, and grandma for the afternoon and evening.

In all of this, two things are certain: Grayson is spoiled (lucky?) and Grayson is loved! It was such a magical first Christmas - which Mommy and Daddy surely enjoyed more than our little mister, but I've been overwhelmed with joy and hope for all of our future Christmases together. Having kids around at Christmas REALLY makes it sparkle!

Photos and videos galore...

Trying out his new walker:

Playing with Little People baby Jesus:

Our first Christmas as a family of three!

Watching cousin Emily play the piano:

Playing with his new walker toy:

Grayson squealing on Christmas: