Ali's First Christmas

Above is Christmas Eve at it's finest, exactly how I remember it back in the day at Grandma Dambro's when it was magical. I wish I could say that it's been equally as amazing every year, but when you are all of a sudden a grownup (and it really does somehow happen all of a sudden) you stop enjoying it as much as you used to, in that Santa's-coming-over-later-tonight type of a way. I am the oldest grandbaby on Grandma D's side, and the youngest is a junior in high school, so for awhile it was just some good old fashioned family fun without the charade for the little kids that always makes it that much more enjoyable. This year with Ali and Marley though, the fun has been resurrected!!

All I have to say is that next year when she is old enough to sit on Santa's knee, she better not be one of those kids that screams in terror, as that dude was pretty darn good to her this year. Outfits, toys, money, and jewelry galore! We are definitely thankful for all of the beautiful things given to her.

We were a little nervous about getting to Saginaw for Ali's first plane trip, but both on the way there and back we received a few compliments on how well she did from some fellow [and probably very grateful] passengers. She did awesome! Not one peep came from her during the ride. She fell asleep right on cue. Hooray for my little traveler! She also did very well around all the numerous and new people that were passing her around. She is just the little social butterfly!

As always, Saginaw was a bit of a struggle since there are so many things to squeeze into so little time, and it was even more difficult since Cardo and I typically go our separate ways to spend time with our respective families, so this time we had to "share custody" of our little trooper. It worked out though and our families were very good about understanding. Needless to say, however, we were very happy to get back home to Minneapolis and do...NOTHING!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas:

Alessandra meeting Great-Grandma Dambro, Uncle Mac, Aunt Alison and cousin Marley for the first time:





Mac, Alison and Marley expressing appreciation for Grandma's booze collection:



Part of the Christmas Crew:



Uncle Mac Spending Time with his Goddaughter:



Grandma and Grandpa Torres Loving Up Their Youngest Granddaughter:



Grandma Jo and Ali are festive together!:



My pretty little elf:



Christmas Day at Mac and Alison's...Is my mom reading everyone a story???:



Gianna sure loved holding her baby cousin!:



We had a great time and miss our family ever so much. We love you all and couldn't think of a better way to spend Christmas!

For the first time in history, Ricardo and I stayed in on New Year's Eve now that we have bigger and better priorities. We rang in 2009 with a quick smooch and then back to the movie on our couch. The joys of parenting! Do we miss the all night, drunk-fest parties? Maybe a little, but I sure didn't miss the hangover the next day!!

I also regret to report that tomorrow I will be exiting the second decade of my life and entering my third. As young as I still am, I have never been excited about another birthday, and especially to say that I am in my 30s sounds so much older than being in my 20s, even if it's not. All the same, I will take this decade and be the most graceful 30-year-old that I can be. :)

In Alessandra development news, she is now entering the "fun" stage, I think. She is no longer the infant that just lays there wriggling her arms and legs just because she exists. Her actions are now the direct result of cause and effect. She purposefully reaches for objects and turns them around and around in her hands as she studies them. Then she brings them to her mouth to chew on. She smiles and laughs and converses in those adorable sounds that she makes. She is interested in all the world around her which makes her that much more interesting to us! Her little budding personality is much much more than a few months ago when she was just an eating, pooping, sleeping machine. Now I understand when people say that you love your kid more and more each day, and there is nothing in the world you could ever compare it to. She is my life!

Monday Alessandra starts day care and I am none too thrilled for that. I am so sad! The good news is that I will still take her into work with me two days out of the week, so I can wean myself from her! She also goes in for her 4-month checkup on Wednesday, so we will see if she is still a big girl like she was at her 2-month. All visual reports from perfect strangers would confirm that she is still our 90-something percentile girl! Most folks guess that she is around 6 months as opposed to 4. Let's just hope that at 6 months she has a little more hair than she does now! :)

Another long update to cover for the long writing break I've taken. Hopefully this 2009 I can get a bit better about posting my weekly updates!

Happy New Year to you and yours. The Torres family loves and appreciates you!

Hugs,

Danielle, Ricardo and Alessandra

New photos are being posted up weekly as well:

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