Look Ma, No Hands!!

Ok, so it's still a work in progress but Dakota is beginning to sit up on her own. We can get between 5 and 10 seconds before she starts to wobble and fall like a bowling pin. We had a VERY Merry Christmas and I'll post on that later but wanted to share her new "trick" with you all.

Ready for Christmas!!

Dakota is all ready for Christmas! She picked out a tree, decorated it, did some shopping and even got a taste of the present opening last night. Things have been going wonderful over the past month. As much as I did not want to go back to work, it really has been going well and Dakota and I are both adjusting nicely. We are home by 2:45 everyday which still leaves enough time to run the occasional errand, play, cook dinner and relax before daddy comes home. She really likes her teachers at “school” and they talk about what a sweet and happy baby she is.

Today we leave for Greenville for a week so Jacob, Dakota and I celebrated “our” Christmas last night. I cooked little chickens, green beans, ambrosia salad, potatoes and a pecan pie. We opened all of our gifts from one another and had such a great time. Dakota got some clothes and toys. I got hiking poles, a new headlamp, Timex watch, curtains and a curtain rod for our bedroom, candy, gloves, Life is Good shirt, DVDs and my favorite gift…enlarged framed pictures of Dakota. They turned out great. Jacob got some dress shoes, slippers, ramps for under the car when changing the oil, cologne, underwear and a license plate for his car. I know that isn’t everything but just some of the highlights.

Deep thought from Trish…yesterday when I was picking Dakota up at school she just kept beaming at me and smiling and giggling…it melted my heart because I love her so much. I love watching her grow and her excitement with everything in life. It made me think of baby Jesus and Mary and how he giggled and beamed at her just like Dakota does to me. I bet it really melted her heart, knowing that He would one day save the world…but I bet it broke her heart too. I’m sure in those moments she wished she could just hold on to those little giggles forever. With all of the gifts and presents and prep this year for “Dakota’s First”…I’m ashamed to say that maybe I haven’t thought enough about what Christmas is really about. Anyway, just wanted to share that. See you all soon!

I needed a place to put Dakota while I put the laundry in the wash. She liked being in the basket.
Daddy and Dakota resting after a long day of shopping.
Christmas Tree shopping with Daddy!
Decorating the Tree with Daddy.
Dakota has become buddies with big brother.
Dakota and Daddy peeking through the mound of presents.
Dakota and Daddy reading her new book, Tails.
My Favorite Gift!
Sporting new hiking poles.
Mmm...


As you can tell...Dakota and her daddy are such good buddies!