It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Well, I guess November got by me! Oh well - on to my favorite time of the year...Christmas lights, Christmas trees, cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, etc.  You can't help but be in a good mood during this month. We got our tree up Thanksgiving weekend, and Maecy was mesmerized - she "checks in" a few times a day and likes to grab candy canes off the tree. I knew it would be impossible to enforce a "no touch" rule, so we are just trying to leave the "pretties" on the tree. So far, it is going pretty well!

 Checking out the Christmas lights!

I am also excited to see how much more she will enjoy Christmas this year with our family. My Grandma still has "Santa Claus" come to her house. The great grand kids get the biggest kick out of it. They sing songs and say their prayers before Santa hands out presents. I am anxious to see how Maecy does with this "stranger" because last year she was pretty much unaware of what was going on or who was even holding her...

Wow, she has changed A LOT in a year!

It has been hard to buy gifts for her this year...a couple outfits, a couple pairs of shoes, a few books...I think she is at a tough age where she isn't really into "baby toys" anymore, but she isn't quite ready for all that fun toddler stuff either.  Oh well, her toys of choice at the moment are a measuring cup and spoon. She just carries them as she does laps around our house. I swear the girl NEVER sits down! 

 

Measuring cup and spoon - all you need for fun!

 

 Under the table playing "peekaboo"

Playing with the pumpkins!

Usually Friday night rolls around and Steve and I are exhausted...meaning take out food and vegging out on the couch after Maecy is in bed.  This Friday night was different, and so much more fun! We decided to try carving a pumpkin with Maecy's help.  I wasn't sure how she would respond to all the slimy grossness that makes up the inside of a pumpkin, but she was just like any other curious toddler...in it up to her elbows! :)

 Ignore the polka-dots...we had high hopes of being creative...maybe next year!

 Had to have a little taste!

Fun with Aiden

Maecy got to play with her cousin Aiden this weekend, and they had a blast! We got them dressed up in their Halloween costumes and took some pictures.  They were too cute! Maecy is going to be a bumblebee and is OBSESSED with her costume.  Aiden is going to be a dragon, and he is adorable!

We also took a few other pictures of them together and these are the sneak previews that I got from Chris! Thought I would share.

Maecy loved being outside and wandering around the farm. By Sunday she was reaching in to pet the horses and chasing the dogs around the yard. She is going to be quite the little go-getter!

One year pictures

 

One year!

I have been very neglectful of my blog! I am a bad blogging mommy, but I do take a ton of pictures to make up for it! We have hit some major milestones since I last posted back in June. Maecy is a little busybody - she has been walking since about 10 1/ 2 months but hasn't quite mastered the hilly backyard. She loves to be outside playing with the dog, in her sandbox, or on the swing.  She has a little chair in the backyard and she has been practicing getting in and out of it on he own. Little Miss Independent!

We had quite the birthday party for her the weekend of the 17th. She did awesome considering the number of people (and the very short nap in the morning). We had friends and family over for lunch and then opened presents and ate some cake.  I am pretty sure Maecy's favorite part was the wagon rides with her friend Cade and cousin Aiden. I think it was safe to say that fun was had by all, and Maecy was wiped out after it was all over!

 BIRTHDAY GIRL!

 She loved all the balloons!

Look Whoo's One! 

 Enjoying a cupcake! She ate every last bit!

Proud Mommy and Daddy

Thanks to everyone who made Maecy's day so special!

Grandmas and Grandpas

Well, I didn't get my "Six Minute Saturday" blog done, and now it is Monday, so I guess I will just skip it this week! Maecy spent the weekend at Grandma Patti's with Daddy while Mommy had a Girl's Night with her friends from college. She loved the dogs and sitting outside with Grandma, and she even rode her first horse!

Sitting outside with Grandma...

who wouldn't want to be greeted at the front door by this little cutie!

Maecy also got to visit her Great Grandma and Grandpa Hemesath. Grandpa Tod came down for a visit too! Maecy liked playing on the floor with Grandpa...

But she really loved trying a piece of candy for the first time (despite protests from mom!) 

YUMMY!

I guess that's what Grandmas and Grandpas are for!

Six Minute Saturday (or Sunday)!

I hijacked this idea and modified it a bit, but I have to give credit to Bean! I am going to try this for the month of June and see how I do. The idea is that I spend six minutes on Saturday (or Sunday) blogging about whatever has gone on during the week.

We had a busy week - I finished up my last week of work and Maecy finished up her last full week at daycare for the summer. She is still going to go one morning a week so that she can play and stay familiar with Kendra and the boys. She had such a great year there, and hopefully we can get together for a few play dates over the summer. We definitely got lucky finding such a fantastic daycare provider!

I went to some city wide garage sales in Solon with my friend Kassie - she is so lucky. She always seems to find what she is looking for. Me - not at all, although I got an adorable pair of Keen shoes for Maecy. I am on the hunt for a wagon, especially since she enjoyed the one that Gpa Jim refinished for her. She loves to go for walks and I think by the end of the summer she would be totally ready for some wagon rides.

Saturday we went to the Cedar Rapids Farmer's Market! Talk about CRAZY!!! It was so fun though. We went with my friend Kelli and her daughter Olivia and even though we got rained on a bit, and there were thousands of people in the way, it was so much fun!

Well, six minutes are up - I have to include a picture of Maecy enjoying the Farmer's Market! She definitely knows how to relax! :)

Little Red Wagon!

Maecy's grandpa has been working on a little project for her. He refinished a little red wagon for her. It looks amazing and Maecy loved it as well! She got to go for a ride on Monday when we were out at their house.  It's hard to believe she is old enough to be able ride in a wagon.

Checking it all out!

Here we go! Nice and slow Gpa!

Maecy is saying "Thank you" I'm sure

Little Miss Dare Devil - trying to stand up in the wagon

On the Move!

It has happened. This week we put up the baby gate because I was sure that Maecy would be crawling any day...today was that day! Finley's bone was laying on the floor about 5 feet away from her. I guess she wanted it bad enough because the next thing we know, she was inching her way toward it on her knees! We did catch it on video, but I have yet to find a good way to post videos...it takes FOREVER to upload them, so you will just have to take my word for it.

And then there were two!

Maecy sprouted her first tooth the beginning of May, and about four days ago, another one appeared.  Today we attempted to capture a shot of the chompers...it was a success! Check out these pearly whites!

EASTER!

Maecy and I headed up to Postville for the weekend, and we had a great time. We got to see all of Maecy's aunts and uncles on my side, including Reg, who was back from Japan, and Jen, home for the weekend from South Carolina.

 

Maecy got to play with her cousin Aiden on Saturday. Aiden was nice enough to share his train! Hopefully this means many years of happy sharing ahead!! :)

Maecy got to do her first Easter egg hunt on Sunday. She "found" a few eggs, and tried her hardest to get them into her mouth!



Playing in the Park!

Maecy tried out the swings at the park in our neighborhood this week...I think she enjoyed it. I wish I had gotten pictures once she relaxed in the swing though...she looked like she was lounging in a recliner. Too funny! :) Such a happy girl!!

New funny faces!

Maecy has found a new face for pictures...

....notice any similarities!?!?