Keeping Up With the Vandegrifts: Happy Holidays!

Wow, what a whirlwind month this has been. I had starting feeling sick before my last post and it just got worse. I was down for a week and a half and even went to urgent care I had felt so bad. It started with a sore throat and each day a new symptom came and I felt horrible.I had a bad upper respiratory infection that turned into a sinus infection. Thank goodness for my amazing husband, he took such good care of me and Addy and I don't know what I would have done without him. I was worried about Addy getting sick but she did awesome and I am just hoping she continues to stay well. Jared ended up getting a cold but was able to shake it off pretty quickly. We got Addy's Christmas pictures taken and a few 5 month pics too. She was so funny. We did the Christmas ones first and she wasn't crying but had few smiles, I fed her before the 5 month ones and she was a happy girl, smiling and interacting with the girls taking the pictures. I love seeing her expressions and watching those beautiful big blue eyes as she takes in EVERYTHING around her and you can just see the wonder and amazement in her eyes. She makes the holiday season so much more fun and is the best gift EVER!! Since the last post she has started doing a few new things, one is flapping her arms to her sides when she gets excited, and looks like a penguin, she can hold and put in her pacifier (which she only takes when she is tired) and takes it out. She has started spitting when she blows bubbles. She pulls herself up to the little bar on the front of her highchair when she is sitting in it and wants to reach something, she also sits up really well with her boppy and on our laps. When we try to let her sit by herself, she is top heavy and just leans forward most of the time. She reaches for her toys, the remote, and has held her arms out once for me. She also started panting this week when she gets excited and smiles and even starts to laugh a little when you do it back. We got our first real laugh from her Wednesday night and we tried to get her to do it again so we could video her and of course she wouldn't. She is changing so fast and getting so big. Everyone that sees her says she is still so little and petite. She seems big to us and looking back at some of her pictures the past few months, it is hard to believe she was so little. I went through her clothes and packed away the ones that were too small and started washing up her 3-6 month and 6 month sizes. The 3-6 month stuff is too big around her little waist so she still wears a lot of 0-3 and 3 month sized but is quickly getting too long for them. She eats cereal in the morning and evening. She started on oatmeal cereal in the mornings this week and is not too sure of it, but loves her rice cereal. She has been sleeping really well for a few weeks now at night, usually going to bed between 9:30 and 10:30 and sleeping til 6 or so. Her naps are shorter during the day unless we are out and about, she sleeps really well when shopping and in the car!
I finally got my Christmas shopping done last week and finished wrapping stuff today. What fun it is to shop for my own little girl! I just kept buying and buying for her, it was addicting!! I know she won't understand it all, but who cares, it is making this holiday season the best yet!!
We hosted our Stoneking Christmas last weekend, Jason came out and helped with Addy while we watched the Pitt State Championship Football game, which they won! Jared and I made enchiladas and had mexican food and barbacue. It was great to see my dad's side of the family and we had a great time! Of course, Addyson was spoiled and got a doll, kermit the frog, a cute winter hat, baby with stroller, puzzle, her first teapot, shape blocks, and a jungle exersaucer that lights up and makes now and is really neat! She loves all her new toys and I think she was ready for some new ones.
My brother came home for his winter break last week and has helped us out by watching Addy a couple mornings when Jared leaves for work until I get home so that way Jared doesn't have to get her up and take her out in the cold. It has been really nice seeing him more and Addy is mesmerized by him, (probably the camo hoodie he always wears!) He is really good with her and she loves her uncle J. We have a busy weekend ahead, as I am sure most everyone does. We hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and we will blog about ours next week. Here are some pictures, the Christmas and 5 month ones are on Facebook and I will put up others from last weekend on there as well: