Holly Days

We've had a wonderful holiday season and it's not even over yet! As a throwback to the last blog regarding firsts, it's been a season of firsts for this entire multicultural family...

The thing about having a near five month old is she has the curiosity of a toddler with the mobility of an infant, so we need to explore the world with and for her. It's equal parts amazing and exhausting. Thank Santa for Jonathan, the energizer bunny. Speaking of the big guy...look who met mall Santa with ZERO TEARS! She is fearless! To be fair, this chap does look like the real McCoy. Josie's first Santa encounter - check!

A few days later, we lit the menorah, which was pretty funny. You see, I am what I call a "holiday Jew" and I may have overestimated my knowledge of Hebrew prayers we had a colorful introduction to the Young family Chanukah experience, literally and figuratively. First, the literal color - little Jo loved the lights and we spoke of the general theme of perseverance, which I feel captures the spirit of the occasion. Josie's and Jonathan's first menorah lighting and Chanukah celebration - check!

Now onto the figurative color. You may become ill from the various angles of this ridiculous clip. Sorry about that, but it might be worth it. Remember that time we sang happy birthday to the menorah and a Chanukah prayer became a Whitney Houston song? In the Young household, anything is possible.

For the next series of firsts, let's move on to the purchase (and decoration) of a Christmas tree. Jonathan warned that I would disapprove of his tree selection because I would think it would be enormous and he was right! I stand corrected, though. That tree was perfect. I might be allergic to it, but it's perfect. We loved decorating it, and Josie loved her first ornament from her Auntie Ashie.  Josie's and Jaimie's first Christmas tree - check!

Onto Christmas day! Josie opening her first present ever - check! Never mind she would have preferred to eat the wrapping paper...

While I made a collage, this picture is the CUTEST thing I have ever seen so it merits it's own place of honor:

This holiday season, we've been so lucky to have family come to US. My parents came for Thanksgiving and Jonathan's were here for Christmas. A four and a half month old is a good excuse to avoid holiday travel, so maybe she'll keep working for us when she's one year and four and a half months, and two years and four and a half months...! 

We had a great time and they were so helpful. Check out the adorable moments below:

Finally, I discovered my inner arts and crafts goddess. I had A BLAST making all kinds of things that did not involve cooking (although I did bake once!).

Special thanks to one of Josie's besties and her sweet family for our a&c sesh. Check out their mistletoes!

See ya next year, everyone! 
Xoxo, the tiniest Santa

Josie's Firsts at Four Months Old

I can't believe my babe is four months old! This is the only photo I got where she wasn't trying to eat the stocking. Four months has brought an array of firsts, such as first stocking snack. Read on for more firsts:

Where did that newborn Pup go? Here's Josie at 4 months, 2 months, and one week.

Josie's stats

• Is wearing size 3 diapers. Is wearing 6-9 month clothing. Weighs 18.9 pounds. Earn her first A+ in size: is in the 99%tile in height, weight, and head circumference. 
• Said her first word: "Bill". This did not actually happen, but Jonathan swears it so. We've never said "bill" in front of her. She probably said "buh" followed by "illlllllll", and Jonathan beamed so now all stuffed animals are named Bill. 
• Uttered her first shriek! Jonathan was warming up his voice for an audition and thinks she attempted to copy him. Check out Josie the Pterodactyl:                                      
• Made her first onomatopoeia. She buzzes when she wants to voice a complaint, so she's basically always buzzing. She is easily the tiniest dictator. Here are a sample of her complaints:
• I am bored.
• I want you to stand up with me, not sit down.
• I want you to have both hands and eyes and all of your attention on me. Do not touch anything else. Do not look at anything else. Do not do anything else.
• I am done with the office and my reports.
• I am done with the jungle gym.
• I am done with this carseat.
• I want you to lift me out of my crib.
• I don't want to wear those socks.
• I want to touch my feet.
• I don't like this headband.
• I like that you are holding me, but I need more bouncing.
• I am done with this bath.
• I have a soiled diaper, but I don't want to lay down as it is removed.
• I want to eat my washcloth. Why are you taking it away from me?
• I'm tired but I don't want to go to bed.
• Found her feet (and thumb) for the first time. Check out her First Foot Discovery:                                                                                                                                
• Continued to wake up 6 times a night, and thus prompted a family first motion to "consult the experts" by buying an audio book. Let's be real: sleep training is really for the adults, and not Josie. I admit it. I am an enabler but I if I wake up from a bad dream, I want to be comforted. And, I refuse the cry it out method, though I'm okay with "Buzz it Out". We had a family huddle and decided we needed to act so we listened to a book on tape Twelve Hours Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old on a recent road trip. Although half of the recording was spent on reviewing the author's credentials, we did glean a few nuggets of wisdom. I am happy to report Josie slept from 8:45 pm - 5:15 am so I'm a believer!
• Landed her first desk job, and hates when she runs out of TPS reports on her desk.

  

  Josie at her office with her TPS reports, which includes Bill, the Bee.

• Held her first bottle. I can tell we are going to have a very independent little Pup who wants to do everything herself. She may look like Jonathan but it's clear in this case the Josie apple does not fall far from the Jaimie tree.
• Performed her first magic trick although Josie has since forgotten this skill. We discovered it as we were packing for Boston. Jonathan left her on her tummy on one of her favorite blankets, and told me about a minute later to check on her as we were in the bedroom. I came out and found her on her back! I tested the theory, putting her back on her tummy and she rolled over again. I tried it once more with the camera out and caught it. She only performed it in that moment, though. She won't replicate the skill for any amount of bribery. Maybe she'll remember next month.

First Roll

• Finally, we had our First Visit From Grandma! Josie's west coast grandma visited about a month ago and was soooo helpful! Check out this adorable clip of their time together.

Three Generations of Youngs!