Mall walking with Auntie

After several months of not being interested in holding on to our hands to practice walking (presumably since crawling got him where he wanted to go faster and more independently), Leif suddenly decided that he **really likes it** a week or two ago. And what do you know, since he has been getting so much practice pulling up and standing in the meantime, he is now really good at this assisted walking business! Auntie Sarah joined me and Leif for some enjoyable mall walking at Calhoun Square this week.


Pounding on the table in the comfy public sitting area was also a popular activity when Leif needed a change of pace!

Christmas Day

Granny and Grandpaw G. and Auntie Sarah joined us at our house for food and festivities on the afternoon and evening of the 25th. Leif had a grand old time, although he did not get nearly as excited about ripping wrapping paper as I had expected (we ended up pretty much opening a number of his gifts for him). Some of his new toys were an instant hit, including the egg-shaped shaker from Granny and Grandpaw (just like the ones at ECFE class, and JUST the right size to fit in his mouth!) and the car from Auntie Sarah that says, "Ready...GO!" when he presses a button. Others, like the xylophone, I'm sure he will grow into. I am happy to play it for him in the meantime :-) .

Of course, the best gift of all was the fun time we spent together!

Yakking it up with Auntie Sarah


Boxing up Auntie Sarah


Stacking blocks with Grandpaw


Auntie Sarah showing Leif a picture of himself in the Leif & Rachel 2011 calendar


Opening a present...with a little help from Dad


And once Christmas dinner and presents were done, the party was just getting started -- it was time to celebrate Granny G.'s birthday!


Leif showing off his new "Ho! Ho! Ho!" PJs from Great-Aunt Mirja before it was time to say goodnight...


...and again the next morning! Thanks to Auntie Sarah, he now has his first set of chunky "training" legos (although I suspect Daddy may have helped out a bit with this particular creation).

Christmas Eve

Per tradition, we spent Christmas Eve with my side of the family and Christmas Day (which is also Granny G.'s birthday) with Aaron's family. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge my camera battery before heading over to the House of Brynolf for the Christmas Eve smorgasbord, so I do not have a lot of pictures from that night to share here yet. I may add some photos taken by others at a later date!

Leif all decked out in green overalls, red socks, and a festive bib for the occasion (and check out those CHOMPERS! I think this was the first time his teeth were actually visible in a photo)


Leif got to meet his Great-Uncle Timo for the first time on Christmas Eve


Enjoying some lap time with Great-Grandma B.

Christmas cards

Leif peruses this year's crop of Christmas cards.


YUM -- I like Christmas!