new shoes

Mommy bought Mia her first pair of Pedipeds! Mia loved them so much that she actually would not let go of them before bedtime tonight. She stayed up a bit late to wait for daddy to come home so she was very overtired when she went to bed. As I was putting her down in her crib, she would NOT let go of those shoes! So she went to bed with them in both hands clinging to them tightly. When I went to check on her a little later, she had let go of one...and I snuck them both out of her crib. hehe What a silly girl.

Here are her leopard Pedipeds! She also has a polka dot pair for when she is a bit older. We were trying them on tonight so they totally don't match her outfit...but from what I hear when she is older she will probably dress herself like this!

visiting Ella

This weekend we drove out to Ohio see baby Ella (uncle Dave and aunt Brenda, too). Mia and Ella seemed to remember each other. They both have grown so much since the last time they saw each other in October. Ella is sitting up, smiling, laughing, talking and so adorable. We had so much fun spending time playing with her, especially Mia. Mia loved playing in Ella's playroom and taking off ALL the books from her bookshelf. We arrived late afternoon so we hung out then had a nice dinner out. The girls both did amazing and were so well behaved in the restaurant. We were saying how at this stage the 3 months difference in their age is huge...but in a few months it will seem like they aren't even 3 months apart. We are so blessed to have such beautiful, photographic girls!

photos: before we left, Mia wanted to take the dogs for a walk; Mia sleeping on the way out; Aunt Brenda, Ella, Mia and mom; the girls playing; the girls hugging good-bye; Mia 'hanging-out' after her long car ride home! Notice her pants are off - hehe

11 months

It's amazing how time truly flies when you have a baby. It seems like just yesterday I was 8 months pregnant, with swollen ankles and a huge appetite! We were anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mia, hoping we'd get all 4 showers in before I delivered. Fast forward 11 months and here is our little Mia, growing strong, growing beautiful, growing, growing, growing, before our eyes.

Here are some photos of the most precious thing in the world to us. We love you Mia and can't wait to celebrate your 1 year old birthday with you next month!
photos: Mia with her horsey hat and mittens; Mia at 11 months; Mia crawling through her tunnel; Mia dancing to her music

cabin fever!!!

Mia and mom have been stuck in the house for the past two days. We have been enjoying ourselves but wish it was a bit warmer so we could go out! Chicago has been hit with a deep freeze - temps were -17 today! Mommy's school was closed yesterday and today. Daddy still had to go to work but he was very happy he just had to ride the train downtown.

Here are some photos of our little Mia. Her hair is growing crazy long! How fun Mia got to wear her pj's all day long for two days :) Here is Bosco and Charlie too - I had to include them because they were so darn cute tonight all cuddled together. Their visits outside have only lasted a few minutes because their paws get frozen fast!

Check out this video too, I hope it isn't too dark. Mia is taking more steps and getting better with her balance.

reading

It is so neat to see Mia actually listening to stories we read her now. She has always been good at 'turning pages' but now you can really tell she is listening and looking at the illustrations. She loves the book "Open the Barn Door". On each page there is a flap to open to show what animal makes a certain noise...she is so good at opening each flap on each page. She really likes her peek-a-boo books that she received for Christmas, any flap book she just loves to open and shut them. We try to read "Mommy Hugs" and "Daddy Kisses" each night to her...it's a nice break from Goodnite Moon, Goodnite Gorilla and Rock-a-bye Farm (I think Corey can read those books each by heart). I hope Mia loves reading as much as Corey and I do!

noooooo

Before Mia was born, I tried my best to read several baby books. I still do, as references when my latest 'worry' is made worse by goggling things. Anyway, one thing that caught my eye was about how discipline starts at 9 months. HA I thought when Mia was a little baby, sleeping in my arms. Now that she is 10 months, I realize that this is so true. Mia knows what 'no' means and she will test her limits with us. Of course the only reason we tell her no is when she is about to touch the cord on the blind or (her favorite) touch the outlet. When dad or I tell her "Mia, nooo" she looks at us with a HUGE GRIN, and then looks back at what she is not suppose to touch and continues to touch and then looks back and grins at us. It's so hard to keep our composure and not laugh at her.

Our winter holiday is nearing it's end and it's back to school and work tomorrow. We have had the BEST two weeks playing, laughing and cuddling Mia. She has grown over these past few weeks right before our eyes. We have been feeling a little cabin fever with the weather being so cold. We spent the past few days at the library and Mia has loved it! She even made some friends.

Mommy has renamed two of her favorite slow cooker recipes (and tweaked the recipes a bit) Mia's chili and Mia's minestrone (she LOVES them). It's so fun that she is such a good eater. Although some days she likes her fruits a little better than others.

Happy 2009!

I can't believe we can't say Mia was born this year! Now we have to say 'last year'. We had a nice NYE at home, Mia of course was snoozing by the time midnight hit, actually everyone in our house was! Mommy did stay up with AC to ring in east coast's new year, but I was soon asleep too.

Mia is still taking her steps and something new - she is really good at emptying boxes, containers...but now she is starting to put things in the containers now! Daddy and her play a game call "empty the trunk" but now Mia is starting to put the items back into the trunk. And also, she rec'd a a Christmas gift, it's a Giraffe that you put balls on the top and it makes a noise and comes out of the bottom. Well just today Mia started to put the balls in the top of the giraffe and shouted with joy when the balls came out! She also totally knows what the phone is for, whenever someone calls we make that person say Hi and she will listen and smile, on her play phone she is starting to put the phone up to her ear and babble....so cute!

I hope everyone has a HEALTHY and happy 2009!

photo: Mia putting her ball in the giraffe; Mia 'walking'