Bad Blogger

Well, I have been finding myself quite lazy lately, by not updating my blog. But, I admit, mostly it is because we didn't take a lot of good pictures during the holidays, which I am kicking myself about now. Another reason I have been failing to keep up this blog, is because I am writing articles once a month for Lola's Toddler class. There is a newsletter put out each month and I have been contributing as part of my duties at her school. It has been so much fun to write, and I hope to continue this in her class next year.
A lot has happened in Lola Belle's life over the last few months. As some friends and family would say, she is a different child completely! She is growing every day and making such amazing progress, really 'coming into her own'. She isn't nearly as shy and cautious as she used to be. She is waving and clapping, as well as giving high fives. She also uses sign language, saying 'more' and 'all done' at the dinner table. We couldn't be more proud of her and am confident that she will only become more social over the coming months.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were both shared with lots of family in Seattle, which was such a nice treat. Already the challenges are arising with traveling out of town for the holidays and wanting to start our own traditions at our own house. This Christmas, a few traditions were started. Lola's Grandma sent her a gingerbread house in the mail, that will arrive every year around Christmas time. I bought her the movie "The Small One" in hopes that every year we can watch it as a family. It is a story of a boy and his donkey and how he has to sell him because the donkey is old. Long story short, he ends up selling him to Joseph and Mary, so the donkey can carry Mary to Bethlehem so she can give birth to baby Jesus. I have fond memories of watching this when I was a child.
Here are some pictures from over the last few months, I tried to just pick out ones that I really liked. My favorite one is where Lola is sleeping on her bumper pad in her crib. She just slid down after standing and crying for a while. Such a funny child!