Berry Family: Week 25: Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas is quickly coming and we are so excited to celebrate it with Lauren! I know that she will have NO idea what is going on, but for Eric and I we are eager to watch her experience it. Lauren turns 6 months old at the end of this week and she had her 6 month well baby check up on 12/23/09. She weighed 15.1 pounds (a little less than 50%) and was 25.5 inches long (50%). She received 5 shots, two of which were seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccine, and one oral vaccine. It is alway pitiful to watch her get shots because she is usually in a good mood with her clothes off and then, wham! Pitiful, sad, holding her breath then letting it all out screaming. Good thing that the next two visits will include only 2 injections each time. She does really well post-vaccination though. Scheduled Tylenol (despite the recent research of decreased immunity if Tylenol is given, I have chosen to continue with scheduling it since history speaks for itself AND this was only one study...anyway...) and pretending like there is nothing different about our day seems to help. This time, though, she did sleep a bit more than usual.
As for milestones, she can hold a block with both hands and transfer it back and forth; she is sitting up better and better as the days go by even though she tips over fairly easily. we've been propping pillows up around her just in case she takes a big tumble; she is babbling more and more and louder and louder, especially when she is excited and then sometimes, she will lower her babble to a sweet little coos which, of course, makes me melt. She is continuing to eat baby food very well and gets milk 4-6 times a day, dependent on the day's routine. We are starting to see some swelling on her lower left canine and she is definitely teething as she is constantly chewing on EVERYTHING, mostly her trusty little toothbrush.

On Thursday night, Aunt Kay came down to visit with Lauren while Eric and I went to a Cocktail Christmas Party at the Moore's. Lauren enjoyed all the attention and time playing Aunt Kay gave her and was in bed by the time we got home. Thank you, Aunt Kay for driving down to keep LEB.

Playing with all the fun toys with Aunt Kay...

Sitting in her window seat relaxing...

Shopping for Christmas gifts has been the theme for this week, so Lauren has been tagging along to share in the fun. Here she is taking a break in a chair at The Mole Hole with her toothbrush.

On Friday night, we all 3 stayed in and had a wine and cheese dinner and watched movies on TV.

Our mantle is all ready for Santa

On Saturday, Lauren and her daddy spent the day together while I went to Destin to do some "fast shopping", ie. without LEB. :-)

Later that night, Emily came over and watched Lauren so that we could go out to a Toys For Tots Christmas Ball. Emily did an excellent job giving her a bath, giving milk and putting Lauren to bed. Well done, Emily! Thank you for helping us in such short notice! Here we are all dressed up and ready for a fun night out!

Lauren playing with Emily...

Lauren in front of her Christmas tree, made by Aunt Val.

She loves playing and pulling on the ornaments.

A little Thank You to Dr. DeVane for our little Christmas present...

On Sunday, we were able to go to the Annual Godfrey Christmas Brunch at the Yacht Club here in Panama City. Eric and I haven't been able to attend in MANY years since we have been in either Gainesville or Orlando, so this year, it was nice to be able to go and enjoy being with family.

"Hi, Jackson! I've missed you!! Come here and give me a hug!" says Lauren.

Generation I (Nan, Dick, and Madalene; sans Granddaddy, Ganny, Walt and Nancy)

Generation II (Kenny, Gail, Mel, Valerie, James, Tim; sans Kellie)

Generation III and IV (Jackson, Christopher, Holly, Lauren, Tricia, Eric, Marley, Kaitlin, Dustin, Emily, and Tyler; sans Hunter who was snow skiing)

"Jackson, let me tell ya somethin' "

"I love family get-togethers!"

Grandma has a new highchair to go with her new house!

I have been trying to read to Lauren more and more; sometimes with force, but we're trying.

Practicing sitting up; I love this picture because it looks like she is trying to brush the bear's teeth!

Sunday night, we were able to attend the Berry Kids Christmas Party at Aunt Beachie's! To me, it was an exciting thing to do: attend the kids party with our very own kid! Corny, I know. Grandma and Aunt Beachie did such a good job planning it with the kids decorating cookies and roasting marshmellows outside. Even though Lauren was either crying or sleeping, we had a good time.