Baby's First Christmas...

For your first Christmas, we spent two weeks with all of our Beauchamp family in California. They were excited to see how much you'd grown since the summer! We flew into LAX airport after midnight our time, and finally got back to Grandpa & Grandma's house around 4:00 our time...whew, that was exhausting! You were a trooper and a great little "lap child" on the flight (albeit an extremely wiggly one).

When we arrived, it was raining and it didn't stop for a week. Many areas of the city were flooded, so we stayed close to home.

We had a fun time hanging out with Grandpa & Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Uncle Mark & Aunt Kelly, and your cousins Gavin, Abby & Austin! Gavin loved his little cousin...he was always holding you or hugging you, and telling you how cute you are! Abby wanted to help you do everything, and Austin liked playing cars with you, until you would crawl off and leave him!

On Monday, you and I got to join the rest of ladies for Aunt Ruby's birthday luncheon. You showed them how much you love to eat! The night before Christmas Eve, Grandma made cookies and we all sat around the dinner table and decorated them. So fun!

On Christmas Eve, all of Grandpa's family came over to celebrate. Everyone thought you were adorable and you loved the attention! Later that night, we opened our Christmas Eve pajamas from Grandpa & Grandma, and you also got a neat Glowworm.

Christmas Eve Pajamas!

The next morning, we all opened stockings and presents in the living room - there were gifts everywhere! From Mommy and Daddy, you got an animal puzzle, pink and purple toy cars, a toy cell phone, and a Gordon train. And lots of stocking stuffers, like new pacifiers, new spoons, pajamas, stuffed Santa, whale bath sponge, and more.

Uncle Mark, Aunt Kelly and the cousins got you pajamas and Dodgers booties! Grandpa & Grandma gave you your very own suitcase, a talking puppy, a book read by Grandma (so neat!), and several cute outfits. You had so much stuff we couldn't even fit it in our bags for the trip home!

Surrounded by gifts!

We had a delicious Christmas Dinner, prepared mostly by Grandma. Uncle Larry and Aunt Donna joined us, and we all ate around the pool table. :)

Helping Grandpa with the fire

Waiting on bath time

The outfit you wore at church (Gavin's old clothes!) after you had the worst diaper disaster of your life.

Girl cousins :)

Your first New Year's Eve! You woke up at 11:55 pm, so I brought you into the living room so you could join us for the countdown. I tried to give you a sip of sparkling apple juice, and you knocked the cup out of my hand and we were both covered in juice. Oh well, Happy New Year!

Ten Months Old!

Disclaimer: After you tried to take a swan dive out of this bathtub (and Mama barely caught you because you were so slippery), we put an end to bath time on the table top. Your ten-month birthday finds you as mischievous and curious as ever! You are so observant...strangers will often comment on how you look them over and study them. They say, "She doesn't miss a thing!"

You scrunch up your nose and eyes when you smile, and you are very loud when you're excited (and tired). Your nursery class teachers always comment on how enthusiastic you are. You love to go to class and never cry over being left.

You love to help Mama with various chores - especially laundry. You take everything out of my baskets...and you usually let me put it all back. Sometimes you even sort the laundry - socks over here in this pile, shirts over there. You will hand me an item, and I will say, "Thank you, Avery!" You are so pleased that you will find something else to hand me...and this continues for awhile.

We went to Daddy's class on his 30th birthday to have lunch with him. We even surprised him with a big birthday cake, so all of his students joined us in the celebration.

(at one time, this cake read, "Mr. Beauchamp is 30!")

Critiquing Dad's latest publication...

First time on Santa's lap! After about a minute, you became concerned.

Baby's First Thanksgiving...

For your first Thanksgiving, we joined the rest of the Johnson family in Destin, Florida for some fun in the sun. Grandpa and Grandma booked each family a suite at the Beach Street Cottages for a week and we got to relax and enjoy each other's company. We have so, so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Most of all, for our sweet, precious, giggly little Avery.

We arrived late on Friday night, and the next morning we hit the beach! Your first time to see the Gulf of Mexico...

(Grandma always tries to keep her grandbabies warm!)

We opened our Christmas presents...you had some help from Mommy, Daddy and your cousins. You received a lot of neat gifts! Silas gave you a fish puzzle, Daphne gave you a toy guitar, and your baby cousin Abel gave you a cute green and brown outfit. What sweet cousins! Grandpa and Grandma gave you the cutest Christmas outfit - a reindeer shirt, jeans with a red ribbon bow, a red snowflake sweater and socks to match! They also got you a pink Nike jersey and pant set with a matching pink cap. And two other adorable winter hats. Plus lots of fun stuff in your stocking - like Yogurt Melt snacks that you love!

We had a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings. You enjoyed your Gerber Turkey Dinner in a jar!

The rest of the week, we went shopping, went out to eat for seafood, played some Trivial Pursuit (the women almost won!), celebrated Aunt Emily's birthday and played on the beach. Aunt Emily took some great pictures of the family on the beach. A wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving with our loved ones!