More pictures

Here are more Christmas pictures...

Maggie's First Christmas

Sorry for the delay in a new post but we have been traveling a lot during the holidays and this is the first chance I have had to post.

Anyway, Maggie's first Christmas was an extraordinary one for her. She got a lot of very nice presents from everyone. She definitely has a lot of new clothes to wear and new toys to try out. We started out the trip at Meme and Pap's where Maggie played hard with her cousin Anna. On Christmas day Maggie made the trip down the Natchez Trace to see Gran and then to see Gigi and Papa.

Andy and I came out to Las Vegas on Wednesday and Maggie is staying with Papa and Gigi until I return on Sunday. She is having a blast from what she has told me.

And of course, here is the important stuff...the pictures.

-Katie

What a Weekend

What a weekend for Maggie and me. Well, more me but she is with me every step of the way. I spend 99.9% of my weekend baking for the holidays. I started Friday night, continued all day Saturday and finished with a pot of chili at lunch today. I made peanut butter cookies dipped half way in chocolate sprinkled with chopped peanuts, cracker candy and chocolate dipped pretzels. I also made a chocolate cheesecake to take to a Christmas party tonight. So, needless to say I am worn out.

Maggie is also tuckered out tonight. She wasn't the best napper today and we left the house at 5 to go to the party. I assumed she would take a nap in the car since it was a 45 minute ride, nope. She preferred a mix of talking and fussing. She did, however, fall asleep on the way home at 8 pm and is sound asleep now.

Maggie is ready to get to see all of her family this week!!

-Katie

Weatherpeople

Here were the headlines from the news last night and then again this morning:

Last night- Winter Watch 2005

This morning- Ice Storm 2005

Now what happens if there is winter weather in the next 16 days? What will it be called? Ice Storm 2005 Returns, Ice Storm 2005- The Revenge of the Freezing Rain?

Anyway, when I woke up this morning there was a nice coating of ice on the power lines and trees but, of course, I still had to work. This is what I heard when I called the Emory University Inclement Weather line: "Emory University is operating on its normal business hours. Thank you." No, thank you Emory University. That's just what I want to do on a rainy, sub-freezing Thursday morning. Bundle up my 8 month old and attempt to not fall flat on my face trying to get to my car just so I can go to work the week before Christmas. It just took me a nervous 15 minutes to navigate across the deck and down the 2 stairs to get to the driveway.

I also got my parking bill for the 2006 year and Merry Christmas to me, it will now cost me almost $300 to park my car on campus. Oh, wait, no it won't. I'm moving to a city where it's actually free to park most places.

Needless to say it was freezing cold and rainy for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful but I head the weatherpeople on the news tonight saying something about more winter weather this weekend.

Well, that's about all for tonight. I have a date with Resolve floor cleaner and the carpet to try and clean the mud that a prospective buyer tracked all over my carpet today. I'm trying to contain my excitement about doing this. Jack will be sulking in one corner thinking I'm cleaning up something he did. I guess we can call this The Mud Investigation 2005.

Disclaimer- I'm really not in a bad mood, just a dry-sense-of-humor-sarcastic one. Also, these pictures are about a week old so that cut on her face is healing nicely and almost invisible. I don't want to freak the grandparents out.

-Katie

And here is the real reason for my joy...

HO, HO, HO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I Met Santa by Maggie Anne Kennedy

I put on my green dress,
I did not look a mess.

Who was this I was about to meet?
Santa, with rosy cheeks.

I waited in line
for what seemed like a long time.

But then, who is that I see?
It's Santa, and I am sitting on his knee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, Maggie was introduced to Santa yesterday. Even though we made an appointment we still had to wait in line for almost one hour for Maggie's turn. She was a champ. We were a little afraid that she would get upset when we put her in the lap of a strange man with a white beard. But, she didn't get upset, but she didn't really smile either. All in all it was a successful visit.

On the developmental front, Maggie is just about there with crawling. She can get up in the crawling position and she will rock back and forth but she hasn't figured out how to get one hand in front of the other. She is also now eating Cherrios successfully and drinking out of a sippy cup.

The biggest part of the weekend was that Andy was home. He flew back in town on Friday night and we have been able to spend a lot of time together. We are sad that he has to go back to Las Vegas tomorrow morning, but it's only for 9 days this time.

We had an open house at our house today and several people came by so keep those fingers crossed that we will get an offer!!!

Have a good week.

-Katie

It's Official

It's official. Maggie definitely knows who Jack is and what a camera means. She finished her dinner bottle and obviously wanted more so when I took the bottle out of her mouth, her brow scrunched up, the bottom lip poked out, but then... What was that she heard, Jack scratching his collar and then the smile appeared and the legs kicking. Maggie absolutely loves Jack. I'm not so sure how he feels about his hair being pulled out but he doesn't seem to mind too much.

And, boy was she smiling for the camera tonight. The pictures are all below. Today is her 8 month birthday- wow!!! Only 4 more to go until it's cake-all-over-the-place time.

Happy 8 months Maggie! Mommy and Daddy have loved every minute of it.

-Katie

Dear Daddy,

Dear Daddy,

I miss you very, very much. Mommy showed me the picture of our new house in Las Vegas and it looks very fun. I can't wait to play on the playground. Mommy also said that you are coming home on Friday. I can't wait to see you. I'm about to get this crawling thing figured out but Mommy asked that I not crawl until you were home. I'm trying to wait Daddy but I'm just not sure how long I can hold out. Jack's bed looks really comfortable and there are so many things that I haven't seen yet.

Also, Mommy's cool to play with but I miss you playing the piano for me and letting me play on it to. When you get home can we have story time and piano time? If I promise that I won't crawl can we??? Jack also misses you but I'm trying to play with him but Mommy keeps telling him to stop playing with me- I don't understand.

That's all I have for now, it's about time for a nap and I think Mommy needs to wrap some Christmas presents.

I love you and can't wait to see you at the airport.

Love you,
Maggie

The past 24 hours

It has been a crazy 24 hours around the house. Yesterday, I woke up not feeling so good but went on about my day. Well, by about 4 o'clock yesterday I knew something was wrong. Fever, aches, headache, chills, sore throat, etc... . So, I assumed I was coming down with the flu. I made the decision to ask for help because I knew if I did have the flu, I couldn't be around Maggie. So, Tara was able to drop everything and come take care of Maggie. Thankfully, when I woke up this morning I did not have a fever or aches but I had lost my voice. The voice has been in and out today but I can deal with that. Maggie and I are very thankful that Gigi could come help.

On a side note:

COUNTDOWN UNTIL DADDY COMES HOME- 8

Here are some pictures.

Katie