A TEXAS Christmas

This will be a Texas-sized (obnoxiously big) post about Sadie's first Christmas. We went down to Austin to spend 6 whole days with the Nielsons.

Sadie was just as nervous about her first plane ride as we were.

Sadie traveled in optimum comfort & style- a Nike velour tracksuit
There was no need for worrying. Sadie slept for all of both flights.

I'm not sure, but I think some people were happy to see her.


The only time Sadie went without someone's undivided attention was during naps.

Daniel and I went out without Sadie for the first time since our anniversary (4 months ago).
We had a fun-packed night with my cousin Madelyn and her husband Cody who only live about 10 minutes from the Nielsons. We ate an amazing meatball and mushroom pizza at Homeslice, did some Christmas-present shopping on South Congress, checked out Highball (awesome), saw the lights on 37th St, ate some good old Mexican vanilla ice cream from Amy's, and got acquainted with their dogs and floor-reconstruction project.

The lights on 37th St were nowhere near as good as they were 4 years ago, but we enjoyed the emblazoned lawnmower and flamingo nativity.

Sadie got to meet Papa, her great-grandfather.

I think he may be the source of her eye color.

Sadie stood on the table, showing off- smiling and squealing for Papa.


As per Nielson tradition, we spent Christmas Eve at the Christensens, gorging ourselves and doing a yankee swap/white elephant. I accidentally left the creepy clown I received there. I'm not sure what happened to the grill (as in gold teeth) Daniel got. Too bad so sad.

We attempted to take a family picture. This is the best one I got.
Sadie wore the best Christmas eve pjs ever. Santa Claus and ducks. See the connection?

Eh, neither do I. I just wanted her to wear her Santa shirt to bed.

On Christmas morning Sadie could not wait to get her hands on the presents.

Looking down on the presents

Sadie dove right in!
My mismatched choice of pajamas for Sadie ended up being perfect on Christmas.
Sadie got rubber duckies along with this-.
She loves the seahorse.


Daniel's parents got us this...Flip video camera!
Expect to see a whole lot more HD video on this blog from now on.

We had a really good time hanging out, sleeping (the most ever since Sadie was born), eating, and laughing at Sadie. I didn't give Sadie any presents or even put a stocking together for her, so a big thanks to the Nielsons for spoiling Sadie much more than we are willing to!

*I splurged big time and paid $35, which recovered about 55 of my pictures. A few of my favorites were not "recoverable" but it was worth it to try. Hey Nielsons- will one of you please send me a copy of the 4 generations picture with Papa?

In case you missed it...

Hope everyone has a wild New Years Eve!
I know we will. Daniel will be traveling back home and Sadie and I will live it up by sleeping!

Question

Is it worth it to pay $30 to get pictures (including those we took of our Christmas trip to Texas) off our camera? Our camera card malfunctioned and now the card thinks it needs to be reformatted. There are probably about 60 good pictures.

T.W.J.

We became an aunt/uncle/cousin on December 17th! Thomas William John (Will) weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds 13 ounces! And what a cute, cute kid. Look at that face! We love him so much already. We can't wait to get to Kansas City to meet him (although we will have to wait until after basketball season).

He looks more like Carrie to us, but there are some elements of Anthony.
We are so happy he is here!

Nice Gams

Should We Be Worried...

when no matter what position we lay Sadie down in, she ends up with blankets over her face? This particular picture was more just funny because she is nuts, but most nights when we go check on her she has at least one blanket covering her entire face.

Christmas Activities

Sadie and I attended the ward Christmas activity where Sadie debuted one of the cutest holiday outfits ever (courtesy of her grandmother Carolyn).

Too bad Sadie fussed and pouted for half the party

We also attended a ward activity where we made the most delicious nativity ever from Rice Krispie treats.

I made the star and Jesus in his manger. (Then I ate them)

Sadie supervised the nativity making while showing off another cute holiday outfit from her grandmother. Carolyn, the pants were almost as long as her entire body. Maybe next Christmas.

Doesn't she look so old in this picture??

The Best Tantrum Ever

New Tricks

A few of Sadie's new tricks.

I mentioned she likes to sit up. This how she prefers to sit in her bouncer now.

The back view

Holding her own toys.
We are still working on not hitting herself in the face with toys. That and letting go of a toy once she doesn't want it anymore. She can't quite figure that one out.


Anyone see what this trick is without me having to tell you?
Spit up of course! Sadie barfed perfectly in the tray of her exersaucer. She didn't get any on her clothes. She put it all nicely in a little pool for me to clean.

Cute Pictures

Just your run of the mill, cute pictures of my little square-faced Sader bader.




As mentioned above, Sadie is developing the signature Nielson square face. Look at that face. It is a square. Those cheeks go straight out. I love them.

Awesome

Sadie's uncle Boom and aunt Carrie made her some awesome onesies a few months ago. She fits in them now and she gets compliments all the time. Recognize the logo on that green one?
Anthony loves to call her Slim Sadie; although the nickname is getting less and less accurate as Sadie chunks up more. Needless to say, Sadie loves them.

Thanks Uncle Boom and Aunt Carrie!

Now tell that boy of yours he needs to come out! He will be here whether he likes it or not within the next week. We cannot wait for it!

Crazy

Read this. Craziest story I've read in a while.

Big Events

We've had some important events this week.

First, and most importantly, we went and visited baby Henry and Julia in the hospital.

He was adorable, alert (for a few minutes, anyway), and he killed Sadie in the in utero hairgrowing contest. I love him already. Way to go Mosses!
P.S. Doesn't Sadie look so thrilled with herself? I think she was happy to meet a baby smaller than her.

Second, and my least favorite event, is the first big snowstorm.
Sadie was not thrilled to be bumboing on our balcony. We really don't like snow.

Third, Sadie sat up for a few seconds on her own. She always strains her neck and tries to sit up while she is laying down so I have been practicing with her.
This is the only way she can balance- leaning straight forward. But she can balance for probably 5 seconds like this and then she crashes to the side. See below.
By the way, it is really difficult to get pictures of this when I am both taking the pictures and catching her when she falls over.

Fourth, we gave Sadie her Christmas present early- an exersaucer! How exciting.
She gets a little overwhelmed with all the possibilities. She also gets mad when she can't pull the toys off.

Fifth, I bought Sadie's first ornament. I have laughed hysterically at this picture 3 times now.
What a weirdo! Oh, how I love her.