Eight Months Old & Thanksgiving

Here is our cutie last Wednesday, when she was officially eight months old. She has been learning lots of new things waving, giving high five and just this morning she started clapping.

Gretchen playing with her cousin Amayah.

Here she is in her Thanksgiving bib, thanks Julie!

Her matching hat is just too cute!

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

May your stuffing be tasty.
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious. May your pies take the prize.
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Photo shoots with Mommy and Daddy

Here are a few photos of Gretchen that Nathan shot today.

Still no teeth, but her tonsils look good.

We still crack up every time she buzzes.

Here are a few shots of Gretchen in her new winter outfit. I thought the teddy bear ears were too cute.

Highlights for Jen

I got some reddish brown highlights today. I am pretty happy with how they turned out. I wanted them to look natural and I think they do. If I do it again I am probably going to get more highlights or maybe go for a deeper shade of red.

I love to play with toys

Although I love her strawberry hat, it is just not thick enough for Chicago winters. So here she is in her new winter hat.

Gretchen loves the new musical table Aunt Sara got her.

Here are a few more shots of our little happy camper as she plays. Although it is hard to see in pictures her hair is really staring to come in.

Waste a little time and find out your brain age

The site instructions are in Japanese, so read below!

1. Touch 'start'
2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from
the smallest to the biggest number.
4. At the end of game, computer will tell you the age of your brain.

My brain age is 24

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

A Day with Friends

We went to our friends Jim and Sandy's for lunch. We had a great time and Gretchen was fascinated with their puppy Mac.

Gretchen had such a great time at lunch she had to take a nap and she could not wait until we got home.

That same evening we had our friends Julie and Dennis over for dinner. Gretchen again entertained the group with her antics.

Baskets

Now that Gretchen is sitting up more, one of her favorite things to do is take all of her toys out of her baskets. What do you do once the baskets are empty you ask...

Put it on your head.

Jury Duty

So I just got out of jury duty. I am relieved for two major reasons. The first is that I do not have to leave Gretchen all day. My mom offered to babysit and I know she knows what she is doing. But nobody is mom except for mom. I know Gretchen would cry when I left for a few minutes, but then she would settle down and enjoy playing with my mom. However since I leave when she is crying, I would be imaging Gretchen hysterical the entire time. Again I know I am being over dramatic. We have gone out for the evening before and she has always been sound asleep when we return.

The second reason I am relieved is because I would hate to make a mistake. If I got called to serve on a jury and a persons life is in my hands, I would hate to make a mistake. Let’s say I was serving on a murder trial, if a person is capable of murder I am sure they are capable of lying about it. Would I be able to tell if the person was lying or telling the truth? I watch that show The First 48. It follows police investigators in the first stages of a murder investigation. Many of the people who they later prove guilty are questioned and very convincingly lie about their innocence. To be honest I do not know where I stand on capital punishment either, I see both sides of the argument. Part of me does not think as a Christian I could sentence anyone to death. Another side of me however does believe in an eye for an eye. They probably would not even pick me for a murder trail because I watch too many crime shows.

Waving Hello

Please forgive the camera work, it is a little shaky. I almost got Gretchen to babble for the camera. However her waving is top notch.

St. Louis Visit

I love how Gretchen and Grandpa have the same expression in both of these photos.

Here is Gretchen with her baby cousin Zachary.

Zack, Melissa, Jen and Gretchen

We actually took this shot before we left for St. Louis. Gretchen is showing of two of her newest tricks sitting up and waving hello.

Gretchen and Grandma

Gretchen and Great Grandma

Gretchen, Nathan and Great Grandpa

Grandpa and Gretchen had lots of pictures together this past weekend.

Sunday Best & Halloween

One of my favorite things about having a little girl is getting to dress her up in cute dresses for Church on Sunday. She was a little chatty today during mass, but they were all happy sounds and no one seemed to mind.

I have cute matching bows for her hair, but they will not say in. Luckily this dress is actually a shirt for an 18 month old. We are hoping by the time she wears it as a shirt she will have enough hair to hold the bows.

We went to my school and walked around in costume for a little while on Halloween. After Nathan was done with work, we sat on our porch and handed out candy to all the kids. Gretchen loved being our little door greeter. Although I must admit I was bothered by a hand full of kids that were way to old to be trick-or-treating (and not wearing costumes) who stopped by. I think I am going to make a sign next year that says "no costume and/or in high school: no candy."