Pudgy Wudgy!

Thought I'd post this one just so you all can see how Iris is filling out. Here she is entertaining herself while I make her dinner. I often feed her in the buff because it's just easier and less messy. She is actually wearing a diaper----you just can't see it because of all her little rolls!

Tag, you're it!

It never fails, you put a child in a $100.00+ toy (ie. the Exersaucer) loaded with all the bells and whistles anyone could imagine and they go for the tag everytime! You can not even walk by this thing without it making some kind of noise and lighting up and Iris is just fascinated by that darn tag!

Just a Swinging!

Tuesday was a BEAUTIFUL day. Iris and I were at my parents house and Avery wanted to swing so we decided we would put Iris in Avery's old swing to see if she fit. She just barely fit. We had to stuff a towel behind her for support. I wasn't sure she would like it because she NEVER liked the swing we had in the house. However, she LOVED it. She was just smiling and laughing the whole time. Brad and I will definately be putting one of these up in the backyard this summer.

5 Months!

YEAH!!!! Iris is 5 months old! This 5th month has been a very busy month for Iris. It started out with her first airplane ride to Indiana. Then she found her feet, cut 3 teeth (two on the bottom and one on the top is now peeking through as well). Ate solid food for the first time. So far she has had, rice ceral, oatmeal, peas, sweet potatoes, pears and green beans. She slept through the night for the first time on Dec. 8th. Flew to Washignton D.C and toured the Capital and a number of museums plus visited the Zoo. She is getting so big and sitting up better and better each day. She is also babbling a lot more. Most importantly---she nows sleeps upstairs in her crib in her very own bedroom!!!

Iris: (And an Honorable Mention goes to mommy and daddy who were brave enough to move back downstairs)The two onesies in front of Iris were sent to her from Brad's cousin Sean. He is very artistic and made these for her. The one on the right has an iris on it---they are very cute!

Christmas Day at my Parents

Ok, I'm terrible, I know it! My news years resolution was to keep my blog updated better. Considering that it is January 13th and I'm now just updating it I would say I'm doing poorly. SORRY!!! I will TRY TRY TRY to do a better job! Here are a few more Christmas pictures that I'm just going to post quickly without saying much just to get them on and get things going again. Santa put a pair of sunglasses in Iris' stocking so we tried them on her before we left to go to my parents house. They were adorable. I'm sure you'll be seeing many more pictures with Iris wearing these once we get back from Costa Rica the week after next. Stocking stuffer time!!!

Iris going through her stocking stuffers. The Dora chair is not hers. It's Avery's but it works nice to prop her up.

Everyone opened their presents, it was mass confusion as normal but lots of fun. Afterwards Brad and I ended up reading instruction booklets, assembling toys and installing batteries. It was a bit too much for some.....

so those that couldn't handle it took a nice long nap.

Christmas morning

On Christmas morning we woke up and spent the morning by ourselves opening presents and eating breakfast. Iris was much more interested in the tree than her presents.

Christmas Eve

Iris in her Christmas dress. We went to Summerville to the childrens mass with my family.

Our Little Reindeer (and Elf)

My mom bought each child in the family a silly headband or hat. Here's Iris trying on a couple...

The Rocking Horse

Brad's parents sent Iris this rocking horse for Christmas. She sits in it every day and loves it. I usually put it in the kitchen and she sits in it while I cook dinner. It's the cutest thing!

Iris: Whoa Horsey!

Washington D.C.

On Saturday we visited the U.S. Capital, the Air & Space Museum, the American Indian Museum, and the Museum of American History. We also saw the Washington Monument and the White house. Below are pictures of us at the Air and Space Museum....

A "Self Family Portrait" standing in front of the Washington Monument.....

As you can imagjne it was VERY cold. We were in and out of museums for over 8 hours. As the day went on it got colder and colder. Iris started out all bundled up and by the end of the day every few minutes when we would look in the stroller Iris had pulled the blanket up more and more. By the time we were trying to catch a cab back to the hotel, Iris had pulled the blanket up so high you could barely see her. I was very cute...

On Sunday we went to the National Zoo. Iris slept through almost the whole visit. There was one Orangutan named "Iris" so of course we had to get a picture of her.... ("Iris" the Orangutan. Named Iris b/c she was born on tax day, April 15th (IRS))

Puttin on the Ritz

We went to Washington D.C. December 11th-14th. Brad had a meeting that was being held at the Ritz Carlton so that is where we stayed. It was Iris' first stay at a hotel. Here's a few pictures of her just hanging out. It was so cold outside we just hung out in the room most of Friday while Brad was at the meeting..

Brad and Iris hanging out in the bar at the hotel. The bar area had couches and served dinner. Brad and I had a very nice dinner the next night while Iris slept on the couch in her PJ's!---it was VERY convenient!

Christmas Card Picture

Just so you all know, I really tried my best to get a big smile out of Iris for our Christmas card but here's a little bit of what I was dealing with.....

eating our dress.....

crying......followed by more eating of the dress along with the decorative ornament which was given to stop the crying. I have about 30 more of these pictures but these three pretty much sum it up.

First Food

Iris had her first bite of real food today. We started with rice cereal. She really seemed to like it. Of course it was a mess and more ended up ON her than IN her but all in all I think it went well. We think she'll be a good eater.

Sleeping Beauty

My mom calls Iris her little "Bradelina" because she looks so much like Brad. She's certainly got his complexion, long eyelashes, button nose and bottom lip. I know I'm in there somewhere because I remember carrying her for 9 months!

Look who found her toes!!

Iris was sitting on Brad's lap the other evening and grabbed one of her feet and started pulling on it. Then she grabbed the other and kept tugging on them. You could tell she was just mesmerized by them...very cute!

The Exersaucer

So the second contraption I've put together lately in an attempt to entertain Iris longer than 5 minutes is the Exersaucer. It took two days to put together but is well worth it! She has entertained herself in this several times for over 20 minutes!!! The seat spins around so she can play with all of the toys. She hasn't figured that part out yet but when she gets bored and cranky Brad and I just spin her around to the other side and it's like a whole new toy! I know that sounds cruel but if you just sat down with your dinner plate you'd do it too! I know these pictures are basically the same but I couldn't decide...

(notice the drool)

Iris: Thank you Aunt Sally and Uncle Brent for my Exersaucer, I love it!

Santa's Hat

Just getting in the Christmas spirit...

Thanksgiving!

We flew to Indiana for Thanksgiving. It was Iris' first plane trip and she did great! I fed her during the take-offs and then she would fall asleep until we landed again. She was very good. It took some team work for Brad and I to get the car seat and stroller folded and unfolded before and after each flight but by the end of the trip we were experts. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Brad's parents house with all of his family including his cousins who all have small children. Thanksgiving dinner was a little loud with all of the children but it was very nice to see everyone and see all of Iris' cousins who are growing so fast. Iris was being passed around like a little hot potato visititng with everyone but she handled it very well. I was slightly distracted trying to keep up with her plus visit with everyone so I completely forgot to take pictures on Thanksgiving Day. I'll see if someone else in the family has any and upload them to the blog later.

Friday night Brad and I left Iris with Brad's parents and went to West Baden Springs resort for the night. It was VERY nice. We worked out (which I haven't done in forever), went swimming in their pool, got in the hot tub, went to the spa for massages and then had a very nice dinner. It was great to get away for a bit and just relax. Of course, we missed Iris the whole time! Saturday we drove back to Bedford and met Iris and the family at Kaitlyn's basketball game. Then we visited with Nana and that night we had dinner at Barbara's house. Fortunately I remembered to take pictures!