[Belated] Christmas 2012

 Please forgive the lapse in posting... I'll just say I'm thankful for my sweet baby, a great job, family, friends, busy days, lots of fun, and all those other reasons I have neglected my blogging.

Jane was 8 months old on December 22. What a fun age! She is super alert and interactive, always babbling and chatting. She is so observant, always taking in her surroundings, and at times seems very serious. She is happy and smiley but you sort of have to earn it from her... She isn't that baby that just smiles at anyone and anything, but is happy nonetheless. She is still such a good and is very flexible for the most part... Unless you try to push her past her bedtime or mealtime, and then its game-over. She is sitting and reaching for things, and even moves to be on her hands and knees, but quickly gets frustrated there. She loves all of her food, especially fruit, and she loves to eat the little puffs we put on her tray. We have to break them in half or she swallows them whole and chokes. She has the cutest 2 little teeth in the bottom middle, and I secretly wish she would not get any more because its so cute.

Jane and all of her Bauchiero cousins at Breakfast with Santa. How cute are they?!

Family picture! This a rare happening. 

Jane and her daddy. Ya'll, this guy is in love with his baby girl. It is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Makes my heart so happy. 

Rare moment in a headband! I love it and daddy couldn't wait to take it off 

'

No smiles for the camera. Sorry, mom. 

We spend every Christmas Eve (all day) at the Bauchiero house. It is so much fun to be with all the kiddos, and it was fun to have our own little one in the mix this year. She woke up early from her nap and had some rare alone time with all the adults. She soaked it in, cheesing it up for the camera, AND she got to open presents with GrandNan by herself. Such fun. 

Cheeks and chins galore. So yummy! 

Hey. 

Every year, the kids do a Christmas pageant, and Jane was Baby Jesus this year. She wanted to sit up in her basket, and not lay down... And her paci kept her content while she watched her cousins sing and read and put on the most adorable little production. 

Um, why are these kids always touching me?!

We then spent the night at my parents house and woke up to have Christmas morning there. It was a totally different scene, as you can imagine. Jane was the only child, and everyone loved making a huge fuss over her. She honestly loved the paper and the boxes more than anything, but she scored lots of great prizes anyways. I love this little shopping cart she got in the picture above. She's not quite able to enjoy it yet, but its a perfect place to store toys and she will be pushing it around before long. 

Please see the adorable bear paw slippers she got. Cutest thing ever. 

Christmas is always a fun time of year, and it was extra special for me this year. It was so sweet to have Jane as the best gift we could ever have been given. And it also gave me a new way to see the gift God gave us in His Son, and how amazing that really is. The thought of "Baby Jesus" and Mary, and really the whole story, took on a whole new light for me. 

We are truly so blessed and thankful for all that has come our way this year. As always, Christmas was also a hectic time of year, and I was thankful for it to pass, take down the decorations, and welcome 2013. 

I looked back in her little Baby Calendar I keep, and wanted to put up a few of her little events:

- When you visited Santa, you sat on his lap without a tear. You didn't smile, but he didn't terrify you (yet)

 -I went for a 5 day girls weekend and you stayed with GoGo/Grandad and Daddy for the weekend. You did amazing and everyone loved their quality time with you. I had a blast but was so happy to come home to my little family. 

- Family from South Africa came to visit in the middle of December and it was so fun to introduce you to them and get to show them around Nashville. 

- We took you for your first sick visit to the doctor for a yucky cough. They said everything looked great, and the cough went away on its own. You also had a cold for about a week. It honestly didn't slow you down at all, and it was way more sad for mommy to see you all congested. 

- Catherine came for a sleep over and she loved getting to play with you and was wanting to hold you and tote you around like a little mommy. 

Janie Bear- we love you so much! We are so thankful that God gave you to us and we pray every night that you would always know how much we love you and how much God loves you. What a joy to be watching you grow up!