Promise...

Just checking in from the home front. I promise we're still alive. You probably won't believe me, but I honestly am still having issues downloading pictures on Picasa...and that is why I haven't posted any blog updates or new pics of Chloe. I am going to have my Chief I.T. person look into it this weekend. Hmmm....I bet you can't guess who that is!!!!! Ha! The most exciting update is Chloe started saying da-da! As you can imagine, it completely melted Tom's heart. Smart girl...perfect timing for Christmas too, eh? Mom is teaching her right. Now, I can't wait until she says mama. She also started giving her version of kisses a week ago. It is pretty adorable. When we go to give her a kiss she opens her sweet little mouth. She is now waving on occasion. As far as peek-a-boo...well, she's a pro! She has been perfecting her peek-a-boo technique since 6 months or so...but now it is cool because she raises the blanket herself when she decides she wants to hind again. It is so much fun seeing her little personality blossom and watch how playful she has become. She definitely had a growth spurt in length a few weeks back...and I think the past few days she has had a growth spurt in the weight department! (She is such a girl...you know how easy it is to put on a few extra pounds during the holidays!) I'm anxious for her 9 month appointment (in just 2 weeks) to see how much she has grown. Strangely enough, she still loves to be in her Baby Bjorn, especially when we go shopping. She is becoming quite heavy though! I carried her in it for almost 5 hours yesterday and my back was aching so bad in the middle of the night, I had to get up to take an Excedrin Back & Body! I guess not only was I carrying her in it...but I also had her in it while I was trying on clothes. Crazy, I know!!! But what can I say...she was happy! Like most of you, Tom and I have been busy getting everything ready for the holidays. Our family is coming to visit and we're so excited for Chloe to spend visit with all of her grandparents. I've been planning the menu for when they visit, shopping, wrapping gifts, planning what cookies and breads I'm going to bake this year...and starting all the traditions I promised myself I would start once we started a family! It has been kind of overwhelming and the anxiety is definitely getting the best of me. It is all self-induced and ridiculous...which I am 100% completely aware of. I'm such a planner, but this year it is just hard to get things done as quickly as I did before since I now have a little one in tow. I'm loving every minute of it though...and just want to get as much done now so I can relax a little bit too when our family is here! We wish you much merriment this holiday season...with fun festivities, plenty of cookies, and a big cup of cheer too! May you surround yourselves with friends, family, and all that you hold dear!