Mia's cousins

Mia has enjoyed socializing with her family this week. She spent the day at grammy's house while our family came over for a visit. Then today we all went to great grandpa's house for a visit. She loves her family! She loves to touch them, smiles at them, laughs. She also is getting really good at waving HI and we think she says it too.

Here Mia is with cousin Kathryn (doesn't she look like mommy) and cousin David. We are sad they have to go back to Connecticut on Thursday but it was so fun to see them. Mia took some more steps today, she is so proud of her new skill. It's amazing how much she has grown in just this past week!

off she goes

Today, we are in the living room...Dad is on the laptop working on our family budget, mom and Mia are playing on the carpet, pulling up and cruising on the couch and ottaman. All of a sudden, Mia turns around, and just starts to walk! Dad screams "oh my God she's walking" and my heart literally just stopped! Mia was so proud of herself, this turned into a game for the next hour until she just wiped herself out! We did manage to catch a few walks/wobbles on film. This is so exciting....there is not stopping her now!

grandpa angel's family

Our Christmas celebrations continued yesterday. We spent the day with the Schmidt side of our family. She finally met her great aunt Anna and second cousins David and Kathryn from Connecticut (they are very special to mommy, and very close to her). We also visited with Great Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Eric, cousins Tim and Elisabeth, Great GREAT Aunt Mary, and Great Grandpa George, Uncle Brian and Grammy and Papo. Mia just stared at everyone at first, then warmed up and had fun with her family. She received a gorgeous Christmas dress for next year from Aunt Mary. Even though she never got to meet her grandpa Schmidt, my dad, she will know him by our memories and by knowing her grandpa angel's side of the family.

Here are some photos of our fun filled day: Mia with her family; uncle brian and Mia; David, Mom and Mia; David and Mia; Great grandpa and Mia; Mia with cousins Elisabeth, Kathryn, David, Tim, great Aunt Anna and mom

First Christmas

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Mia had a great first Christmas. On Eve, we had a quiet, family day at our house. We had a yummy Christmas dinner, and got ready for Santa coming. Daddy started the tradition of reading "The Night Before Christmas" to Mia before bed. After she was asleep, Santa's elves came and set up all of Mia's new toys! Then on Christmas Morning, Mia woke up to some presents under the tree, a stocking full of goodies then her big present in her playroom (her new house). Santa left her a special letter too, after he took a bite out of the cookies we left. Then mommy made brunch and grammy and papo came over for Christmas Brunch. They also brought a ton of things for Mia to open, gifts from Mia's great aunts and uncles too. We spent the day playing with her new toys and just had a great Christmas Day together. Grammy read Mia "The Night Before Christmas" too for Mia's bedtime story. Today Grandpa Cap is coming for a visit and we are all going to visit Grandpa Angel's family. For the first time, Mia will meet her cousins and great aunt from Connecticut! Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas has a whole new meaning with our little
one.

photos: dad and Mia playing piano; mom and Mia Christmas morning: Dad and Mia Christmas morning:grammy, mommy and Mia; mom and Mia; Mia and her new house with Papo; Mia and her Mia doll; Christmas morning brunch

10 months and update

We are finally back online so I am finally able to update Mia's blog. She turned 10 months old last Sunday. Crazy how fast time is flying. Saturday we went to her Christmas Party at Diane's house. Despite the very bad weather and roads, we had a great time. Here are a bunch of photos to show you what Mia has been up to. She actually has taken a few steps! She stands, will take a step then plops on her bottom.

broken

We finally bought a new camera but now our computer is broken! Always something :) Mommy was sick this weekend so we didn't do much. Grammy and Greg came to visit on Sunday while we went out to finish up Christmas shopping. Monday I was home with Mia and we went to get her photos taken. Not really what I wanted, next time we are going to hire an independent photographer or just do our own! But Mia did look pretty cute. We have a busy week ahead of us. Mia has been doing great, talking lots and growing more each day!

Da-Da

Mia has been saying DaDa for the past week and we are super excited to hear her first word! We have also heard 'doggie' a few times :) But Da-Da or a-dad has been so sweet to hear! I heard mama a few times too, especially when I am putting on her winter coat in the morning and she does NOT like it! Mia is growing so fast...these pasts few weeks have been leaps and bounds! Yesterday she truly was standing for a long time on her own, balancing very well and then slowly kneeling to the floor with control! I am in no hurry for those first steps but I have a feeling they are not far away.

She has become a very picky eater....refuses her fruits and veggies but LOVES her turkey meatballs, pancakes, crackers, cottage cheese, yo baby, etc. and of course CHEERIOS are her absolute favorite thing on this planet.

She is able to stay up a bit later at night, which is great so that daddy gets to see her and read to her before bed. She is so smart, when we are playing after school around 5pm I will say to hear "Mia do you want your bottle?" and she will crawl up on my lap and start fussing, I know she is communicating to me that YES mommy I am HUNGRY! It's so neat to see her trying to communicate her feelings more and more, I can't wait until she can talk and tell us how she feels all the time :)

14 days until Christmas! Mia's cousins from Connecticut are coming and we can't wait to see them!!!!

Pictures: Daddy and Mia at the brewery for Winterfest, Mia standing and Mia playing with some photo Christmas cards in front of her tree :)