Smiling girl

As you can see from the shiny chin, there is ton of drool happening at our house! If this is an indicator of teeth coming in... I sure hope it happens before we get on the airplane in a few weeks.

Winter Walk

The news this morning said that this is the most depressing day of the year. Well, if the weather is any indication, I would say that they are right. Rainy and cold. At least we have Maggie to cheer us up! Here she is ready for our morning walk... all bundled up. She loves her new hot pink hat from MaryLou!

Little Cutie

Getting her ear scratched. She looks so happy!

Castle Acre

Out and about in Norfolk. We took a Sunday drive in the countryside and stopped at a cute little village. After tea and scones we headed out for a walk to see the castle and the priory.

New favorite activity

...pulling Mom's hair. She looks so determined!!

Time to start eating!

Maggie has started playing around with some rice cereal. So far, no issues here! She loves it!

4 months old

Maggie had her 4 month Dr. appt last week. She was 16 pounds 2 ounces and 68 inches long. Yes, I said inches. I think that the nurse meant cm... but she plotted her as 68 inches and did not notice any problem. Just thought that Maggie was long and lean!! Maggie is now taller than her mom!

She reached some milestones this week. The biggest one is now rolling back to front. She is also moving around like crazy. She will be on her playmat, I will leave the room and when I come back, I swear she is facing the other direction! I am not ready for her to move yet!

Dance time

John dances with Maggie every night before bath time. Her current favorite song is 'Somewhere beyond the sea' to get her ready for the Capitola house, and Daddy's favorite 'Don't fence me in'. Here are a few of her action shots.

Cake

Look at their expressions!

Happy Birthday John!

John & Maggie opening presents

Tummy Time

Bugs bugs everywhere!

To all you new moms out there... Maggie got the best toy for Christmas. They are bugs attached to socks! Sounds silly, but they really entertain her. They are made by Lamaze just in case you are interested. They also have velcro bracelets that have bugs on them. Perfect for the car... she can not throw them out of her car seat. Thank you Baba!

Happy New Year 2008!

Happy New Year to you! We had a really quiet night. We put Maggie to bed at 7, as usual. Then mommy took a nap (yes, on NYE!) and woke up just in time to watch the clock strike midnight at Big Ben. The typical night you might expect when you have a 4 month old. Babysitters are hard to come by on New Years Eve!

We could not have asked for a better 2007. We had a wonderful year with lots of great trips, visits with family, and the newest addition to our lives. As I sit here typing this, little Maggie is laughing and smiling at her silly Daddy. So cute!

Heres to a wonderful 2008!

Christmas Day

To identify my place setting at dinner from the other 'Mary'... the brits don't say 'street'!!
John & the girls
John & Maggie on Christmas Day

Finally, I have added pictures from Christmas Day! Our great neighbors across the street had us over for a traditional English Christmas dinner. Something new we tried was bread sauce.... yum! Of course, the christmas pudding with brandy butter was delicious!

The Guitar...

Thank you Uncle Johnny for the BEST Christmas present: A guitar!! Needless to say John has been playing it every day... Just look at the concentration on his face. Is that a tongue sticking out?!?! (John not Maggie) So far he can play the first three chords of Wild Thing...

Christmas Eve

Maggie's First Christmas was spent at the Old Rectory in Barton Bendish. We had a great dinner at home for Christmas Eve. After dinner we headed over to the pub where they opened the doors for drinks and goodies. Maggie was already dancing on the tables!

Playing with Auntie Sussus

More Germany Pics

Germany pics

John & Maggie waiting for our carriage
Out for our morning walk
Castle in Bavaria
View from the hotel

December 2007: Germany with the Smiths!

We just got back from a 16 hour drive from Germany. Needless to say, we are tired. Actually, John is tired because he drove all night, I am tired from sitting in the backseat :). Maggie is now a world traveler... France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and Germany are now on her list. I am not sure if seeing most of it through the window of the car counts!

It was the first time meeting her Smith family: Grandma Stephanie, Auntie Susan, Uncle Dave, Tawnia, & Hannah all came to visit. We have found yet another place in Europe that we could call home... Garmisch Germany. The Alps are amazing, the food was to die for (potato soup, crepes, mulled wine, brats, roasted chesnuts, candied almonds... and don't even get me started on the pastries!!), the Christmas Markets were beautiful, and of course the snow.

Enjoy the pictures!

Cookie Time...

This year we made over 1000 cookies for all of the guys at 31... busy baking!

Pacifier...

Going to see Santa Claus

Maggie was not really interested in our day out to see Santa Claus and to pick our tree. As you can see she slept through the entire thing!

Christmas in Norwich

We spent the weekend Christmas shopping in Norwich. It was the perfect winter weekend with a chill in the air and the Salvation Army band playing in the square.

Baba is here!!

We are lucky to have such a wonderful Baba!! Here she is spoiling little Maggie.

Mommy& Maggie

Sunrise at Barton Bendish