Saturday, January 28, 2012

All charged up!

The Eicholtz Family Blog Update Computer (that's it's full official name) has been out of commission since I burnt out the charger, but no fear! We're back and we have an obscene amount of pictures to make up for the lost January blog time. We started the Christmas wind-down with our friend, and frequent visitor, the double-ear infection. We were bummed that it put the brakes on our plans to visit the Montys in Princeton, but we spent some quality healing time together and after another round of antibiotics, we're in the clear...for now. Fortunately, our little patient bounces back quickly as evidenced below.

It's only been a few weeks, but I feel like it may be time for a full-blown Allie update. So much changes so quickly at this point, so here goes! This pre-year mark has been pretty cool to watch as Allie is 'getting' more and more. These days we have longer times of 'reading' books before biting them and she'll let you know which ones she wants you to read...and then stop reading...and then start again. She's deciding to let us know when she's really not hungry and Abby is reaping the rewards of her generosity. At daycare, I saw her offering her toys to a younger baby. Of course, that same week, I also saw Allie catch one of her friends playing with her shoe and make a beeline to her from across the room so she could grab it out of her hand. The look of shear determination and focus on her face was only a little scary. Her teachers showed me that she's using signs for 'more' and 'finished' when she eats and then just today I was pressing the paw of a dog that talks and flops its ears and when it stopped, she looked at me and made the sign for 'more.'  You bet I pressed it again!

We had our first official word when I went to pick her up and there was a little baby (important distinction since clearly Al's such a big girl) being picked up by her mom at the same time. The mom and I were holding the girls and talking and Allie pointed to her and said 'baby.' I did a double-take and tried not to tear-up (yes, apparently I'm that mom). We're pretty sure she's had 'Hi' in her wheelhouse for a bit, but this was by far the most deliberate and definite word yet. Since then, we've heard 'ball' and some definite 'Daddy's.' She's certainly got a lot to say these days, we're just not always sure what it is that she thinks she's saying.

But quite possibly one of my favorite new developments is that she is becoming quite the expert hugger. I'm talking happy walk with flopping arms into the lap, head on the chest, hugging. Can't beat it.



Double-ear infection? Not again...

Hey! That means I get more happy drugs...YEEEESSSS!

Nothing a little spending spree courtesy of Daddy's wallet can't help...I'm off!

And, on the menu tonight...HAM!

I'd like to thank my fans. That's right, you guys are the best!

You'd better hope you've got that thing on 'ACTION' setting, lady.

Capital 'T'

This is how we bathe these days. Standing room only.

Abs receiving one of Allie's newly perfected 'hugs.'
 I've been waiting until Allie was big enough to try on the sweater-set that my mom knit her before she was born. The time has come and I think it's best to show these pictures in sequence to get the full effect. Until next time, we'll be savoring our last weeks of counting our girl's age in months only...
We began with everything (everything and the camera lens cap, that is).

Still looking good.

Then goes the hat...

And, she's off.

And so are the hat and booties. (Nice even stitches, Grandmom!)

O.M.G. Who traded in my little girl for a 4 year old?!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Ready or not...

The tree is put away and the decorations are down, so to help keep the holiday cheer, we snuck in a few more friend sightings before deciding we should probably get back to work. Only one more week until our next day off...but who's counting? (Suz, that's who.)

We snagged a Monty/Unger visit while Brendan brought his mom in town from NJ for the break.

Brendan's showing off his studly hairline for the ladies (a.k.a. trying to get more than one baby to look at the camera is nearly impossible).
Brady brought his mom Gayle over for a bit of post-holiday cheer. Allie had just finished giving Brendan MULTIPLE kisses when she moved right on to grabbing a quick hand-hold from Brady...and speaking of hands, ours may be full in the teen years at this rate.
Brady's not quite sure what to do with such forward behavior from a little lady.
 Other than visits, we've enjoyed hanging out at home, taking walks with the wagon outside (the ones that end in frozen yogurt are my personal favorites) and watching as Allie gets into...well...just about everything. At home she's walking more or less full-time now, and right now it involves a lot of bow-legged cuteness and 'kabooms' when she gets tired or forgets to pick up her feet. It's awesome.
Oh, and speaking of being 'ready or not,' I've officially signed up for my first 'post-baby' half-marathon. I'll be running 13.1 miles on St. Patrick's Day in DC. Let's hope the road doesn't rise up to meet me TOO much, if you know what I mean.
That tongue can only mean one thing...complete...and utter...determination.

Busted.

Saturdays are best spent in PJs.

Clearly someone is a bit confused about the office dresscode.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Merriest of Merry Christmases

We have been blessed with a very happy daughter. We could add a disclaimer, say she'll probably get us back during her teen years, etc., but for now, we're just going to count our blessings and  bask in the smiles and giggles that greet us daily. She's ear-infection-free (finally), and just when we thought she couldn't get any happier...Christmas came. To our delight, she is as enamored with the season as her mom is and the joy of watching her excitement and cheer made this Christmas our merriest yet. The many pictures to follow may provide a nice mental break from your resolution writing (unless of course one of your resolutions was to stop procrastinating...in which case, you should probably check them out when you're all finished).

We kicked off the weekend before Christmas with a visit from The Bowers Family (Dan and Jill, good friends from Tech) and had our first chance to meet sweet Lily, destined to be a close gal pal of Al...
We've designated Allie as our official Eicholtz Family Greeter.

Lily, it's not too late to put one of these on your Christmas list, you know. Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for you with the big guy.


No hands! No hands! Here I come!


Raise the roof, Christmas friends!

Grandmom and Grandpa are here! Let the Christmas festivities begin! But first a game of catch...

Santa called in the reinforcements. Something tells us this won't be the last time that Daddy is hard at work Christmas Eve.

Frosty! Look at you go!

'Doodle-doodle, Grammy!' (Translation: 'Jingle-jingle, Grammy!')
Our best Christmas gift yet.
What do you mean this isn't a candy cane?

The first of many tea parties with Daddy.

Merry Christmas good buddy.

She's got the whole 'wonder of the season' thing down.

Merry Christmas, Grandpa! Thanks for getting up to keep us company so early in the morning.

Merry Christmas, Grandmom! Look, the tree's still there!

Daddy got up really early too so I could see my new kitchen digs. Alright, guys, breakfast's on me!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! I love you too, dolly!

We love our Al, but this relaxed Christmas crew picture was taken while someone was settled down for her morning Christmas nap.

I'm back! And ready to ride!

I needed a passenger for the HOV lanes in the neighborhood.

Abs: Well this is cozy. You guy are welcome on my couch anytime.

Love my pup.

...a lot.

Catching up with my ladies. Merry Christmas Memom, Aunt Sue, Lori and Mumsy!

It's Daddy's cousins, Jason and Daniel! I knew you guy were real!

Hey Pop and Mumsy, let's take a picture! Right here in front of the Christmas tree, that's it, smile for the...hey, nice earring.
Our good friends the Buehlers (Celeste /'Neighbor' and Shawn) received a precious early Christmas gift on December 21st. Welcome to the world, Sarah Elizabeth Buehler! We love you already.
Christmas blessings.
 We topped off our Christmas celebrations with a visit from Allie's cousins Tim and Alice and Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jonathan. She showed them her new kitchen-within-a-kitchen set-up and we dined on a Christmas pizza. It's been a very good Christmas.
You sure you don't want me to whip up a souffle?

Christmas cousins.