This Christmas...

In the beginning of the month Josh gave me my Christmas gift....a new camera!  Hence all of the photos...  We went to Josh's parent's house to decorate for Christmas.  Anya wore the dress from Grandmama.

Josh tackled the tree. 

 Papa read to Anya while she put the pages in her mouth.

 Anya's loves listening to this dog sing at their house!  She gets a kick out of it!

 The tree is almost done!

 Papa got Anya a sippy and some baby food treats.  Anya is getting so good at holding and drinking from a sippy!

 "They let me stand on their table."  ~Anya

 We went to the Christmas Concert at our church.  Shel, Echoing Angels, and Smalltown Poets performed!  We had a wonderful time!

 After church one Sunday in December by the tree!  This year it is decorated with gifts and Proclaimers (Gospel translated to native language for first time ever!) to our Church Sponsor in Sierra Leone. 

 Looking at the train with daddy...

 Baking the BEST sugar cookies ever....recipe from Pinterest of course!

 Anya enjoyed rolling around while we frosted cookies with the BEST icing you've ever tasted!

 I had to get photos of Anya in her outfit from Auntie Kates!! It looks so cute on her!

 Anya and I had a pajama day!  Which involved a full day of snuggles, relaxation, and cheesy Christmas movies on Hulu...something I need to do more of.

Playtime with Daddy!

 What do you think of Anya's leggies?  My total mismatch girl!  I lover her...

 Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Josh's extended family.  Anya had a cold but that didn't affect her personality one bit.  She had a blast!

 Playing with Papa's glasses is fun.

 This is the outfit I bought for Anya. 

 It's very hard for her to sit still....

 I want to crawl...

 No, Anya you need to sit....

 But I want to crawl mom....

 Happy first day of Winter!  We even got a few snowflakes that came down that looked like cotton. 

 Anya is wearing the snowsuit from Aunt Cindy.

Only 3 more days until Christmas!  I'm definitely dreaming of a white Christmas...but unfortuantely this year the odds of seeing that pretty white stuff isn't likely.  I'm alright with that since we have family traveling in from KY and OH.  It makes things much less stressful for them as they drive and us as we wait.  The Christmas weekend officially begins today for the Nilsson family!  Today we plan on visiting downtown Geneva for a few hours today with Anya...maybe just for lunch... or a visit with Santa...or a stroll around the town...we haven't completely decided but just want to get out together as a family and go someplace festive.  In years past, we visit Chicago for the day but this year we decided to pass since it's normally too cold and Borders closed down...sad face.  Plus we have a baby now and babies just make you tired, and going downtown can be very exhausting since we are anti-taxi.  So off to Geneva it is (and much less expensive I might add).  Tonight we are headed to church for the Christmas Eve service, or in our case the Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve service.  I'm very excited to have my sister Katie and her boyfriend Tommy join us!  Yay!

Friday my other sister Cindy and her husband Tony are coming in from KENTUCKY!  I love saying that...in years past we would have to say CT, but Tony had a job change which brought them much closer!  What an answered prayer that has been.    We are treating them to Portillos Italian Beef.  Saturday Tony's parents are coming in from OH.  Cindy and I are very blessed that our in-laws and parents are good friends!  It makes celebrating Christmas much easier, that and the fact that Tony and Josh are both only children.  Sunday we are celebrating Christmas at my parent's house with everyone.  I'm excited to see everyone and have them share Anya's first Christmas with us. 

This Christmas Katie and I have decided it would be fun to get totally decked out and dressed up.  When else do we have the opportunity to get totally dressed up?  We have also planned a hot chocolate bar...courtsey of Pinterest! My dad will be making his specialty Cornish Hens.  There will be plenty of laughs, games, and food! 

Since it's Anya's first Christmas Josh and I finally get to put our Christmas family traditions to use!  Well, we always have, but now it seems more fulfilling.  We'll make our Jesus cake...my Great Grandmother's Tea Ring, read the Christmas story in Luke 2, and make sure to read Anya plenty of children's books about Jesus' birth. 

Stay tuned for PHOTOS from Christmas weekend!

Dear Anya, Happy 7 Months!

Dear Anya,

Daddy had to open and close an umbrella over my head to keep you from rolling over, hence the face!

You love this new game of shaking the container of toys and we dump them out.

You were helping Daddy purchase my Christmas gift online.

Happy 7 months...yesterday!  Like always time is really flying!  This month you have grown so much.  Currently you are wearing sizes 6-12 months!  I just recently cleaned out your closet and pulled out a bunch of larger sizes 12 month-18 month that I bought at garage sales last summer.  I never knew how quickly you would be in those outfits! 

You have tried so many different types of food: avacado, mango, apples, chicken, carrot, pears, string beans, peas, banana, and Cheerios.  You love eating!  Sometimes I give you pureed foods and other times I let you try to feed yourself...it's really cute watching you try to chew. 
This month you got your two bottom teeth.  Teething has not been bad for you at all!  No fever, and you've still been you happy, wiggle worm self.  The beginning of the month we found out you weigh 17 lbs and some ounces... we have another appointment in a week and we'll see how much you've grown.  You just finished a growth spurt but it always looks like it just goes to your height (crazy I'm not saying length anymore!).  You aren't a chubby baby, but do have chubby cheeks that everyone loves to kiss!
This month you have become quite the handful!  You are constantly rolling over making diaper changes and getting ready for a bath near impossible!!! You are still army crawling but make your way over to anything you want...like daddy's xbox wires and Charlie's toys.  Those always seem more interesting than what you are playing with.  The other day I made you stand up (you love standing) and you held onto the couch and stood all by yourself.  You are still wobbly but are getting good at standing with support.  When we play you like to sit upright sometimes for a different perspective, but I think you prefer to be playing on your tummy.  We moved you up to the crawlers room at church and they volunteers love you.  You go to the nursery at least twice a week for church and my Bible Study and the ladies say you are so pleasant and such a happy baby.  You absolutely love being at church and are very independent!  Tonight we had a Bible study and went to pick you up and you were playing on the floor with a teething ring, just chewing away. 
As far as sleeping goes you are still waking up once or twice to nurse, but it's fine with me.  I love rocking you because it's the only time you let me cuddle with you.  You don't cry as much as you used to and have gone down much smoother at night and at naps.  You love to sleep with your little Mr. Monkey friend...he makes you feel safe and comforted.  Many times when you wake up from good naps (2+ hrs) you just start entertaining yourself in your crib by looking in your mirror and playing with a few toys I've placed in there for you.  Sometimes I hear you talking up a storm.  This month you've started to say Mama, Mom, and hi!  It's adorable to hear you say Mama!  Yesterday you said it while my back was to you and Daddy said you were looking right up at me when you said it.  Melts my heart!
Your favorite toys this month are your excersaucer, Mr. Monkey, ball spinner, and Charlie!  But really anything you can grab and put in your mouth you adore:-)  Oh Miss Anya, life is so much sweeter with you in it.  Happy 7 months little miss!

Thankful Heart

1.) Devoted, loyal  husband

2.) Beautiful, sweet daughter

3.) Caring and involved parents and in-loves

4.) Compassionate, dependable sisters

5.) Loving friends

6.) Cuddly, cute pooch

7.) Passionate church

8.) Transforming Bible Study

9.) Friendly community

10.) Unconditional, perfect, forgiving, merciful, sinless, gracious, loving, servant, peaceful, precious, mighty, (and the list goes on and on)  Heavenly Father

I am blessed.

Closet Listener

It's official....the Christmas music has turned on here in Chicagoland. I confess I love Christmas music and totally listen to it.  But I do admit that some of it gets a little old by the time Christmas rolls around.  But it just puts me in such a great mood.  Especially the classics! It's funny because every year I tell myself this year will be different.  I'll wait until Thanksgiving, but I totally get sucked in.  I refer to myself as a closet listener because my hubby doesn't approve of it before Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving is a great holiday and one that needs to be recognized.  I look forward to November as a month where I look more closely at my life and realize all I have to be grateful for.  As a family we do not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving...but I do sneak a listen here and there. 

What are your thoughts?  Are you a closet listener like me?  Or like my hubby and prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving?

  

Dear Anya, Happy 6 months!

Dear Anya,
A half a year ago I was giving birth to a beautiful baby girl...YOU!  What a joy our life has been now that you are in it!  This has been the fastest 6 months of my life.  This month has been full of new adventures and developments.  You have started solids and love them.  So far you have tried rice cereal, apple sauce, peas, sweet potatoes, pears, and string beans.  You love apple sauce and sweet potatoes...but are still getting accustomed to the green beans.  Daddy loves watching the silly faces you make when you swallow it.  I have started to eat dairy again as it is not bothering your tummy anymore:-) 

Aside from eating, you have become a total wiggle worm! It is impossible to get your diapers on without you rolling over.  The other day Grandma Nilsson babysat you and she put your diaper on backwards.  I can only imagine how squiry you were for her that she thought she had it on the right way!  You are still stationary, but want to crawl so badly!  Actually  you want to walk so badly...we do "walking, walking" and you put one foot in front of the other.  It's adorable! 

This month you went to your first pumpkin patch, celebrated your first Halloween, and started sitting like a big girl in your stroller for walks.  You love being able to face out see the world.  The colorful leaves and your best friend Charlie have all of your attention!  We read books all the time, but when you are sitting on my lap you just want to put the book in your mouth.  You love grabbing your feet, it's so precious to watch.

It looks like you are going to be getting your first tooth soon.  I see a tiny white spot on your gums.  Mommy is still waiting for the nights when you are constantly sleeping through the night.  A few days earlier this week you slept 11 straight hours!!  But then last night you woke up 3x.  Mommy is tired, but I'll do anything for you. 

We are excited to see you grow this next month!  We have a doctor's appointment in a few days so we will find out how much you weigh and how long  you are now!  My arms have started hurting when I hold you so I am guessing over 20 lbs!

 Love you always,
Mommy