Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful first Christmas with Kate! She is really starting to notice her surroundings, and it was fun to watch her taking it all in. We had a great time visiting friends and family, and most of all enjoying our favorite gift, Kate. Robby and I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! A few pictures from our Christmas celebration are below:

Kate helping her dad with a present...the wrapping paper is definitely more exciting than new work socks daddy is opening!

Gigi and her favorite little girl... Kate has definitely usurped my place as her favorite! :)

Kate and cousin, Adelyn, in their matching Christmas outfits

Check out those cheeks!!

Uncle Skip and his babies

Kate loves her Auntie Ashley!

All the kids except for Adelyn (who was sleeping like a good girl!)

Lisee and Poppy got the girls matching UVa dresses, so Emily and I decided to model them (bows and all! ).

Poppy and Kate

Celebrating Christmas in Cary, NC. My dad and Kate were a little tired of my incessant picture taking!

Kate was so happy to be held by her Aunts Merideth and Caroline!

Winter Wonderland

Robby and I went to my Dad's house in Cary, NC to celebrate Christmas last weekend. We could not believe our eyes when we arrived back in Charlottesville--over two feet of snow! They did not even have a dusting in Cary! The roads were terrible, and we could barely get home. Thankfully we made it, and even had time for some fun in the snow.

Bye Bye Belle

As many of you know, we had to give our Golden Retriever, Belle, away this weekend. A few weeks ago, Belle attacked our Cocker Spaniel, Ivy. This was not the first time that Belle has attacked another dog, but it was certainly the worst. Ivy had a puncture wound on her face, and it bled a lot. After the attack, Robby and I decided that we could not risk keeping both Belle and Ivy, for fear that Ivy or even Kate might get hurt in one of their scuffles. While Belle is a wonderful, sweet girl to all people, she does not like very many other dogs. We knew she needed to go to a home where she would be the only dog.

We called Belle's breeder in North Carolina, and she posted Belle on her website. We have been receiving several calls a day from families wanting to adopt Belle. Luckily, a wonderful family in Cary, NC called. They sounded like a perfect fit for Belle on the phone, and they drove up to Virginia to meet Belle last week. We really liked them, and they really liked Belle. So, this weekend when we went to visit my dad in Cary, NC, we took Belle along so that she could stay with them for the weekend. Their trial weekend went really well, and they decided that they wanted to keep her.

The family has a nine year old son and a 16 year old son. While the whole family really likes her, the nine year old was absolutely beside himself with excitement. You should have seen Belle following him around. I know they are going to be great playmates!

For those of you who know Belle, you know she loves water of any form. Her new family owns a lake house, so we know Belle is going to love going there for the weekends. They promised to keep us posted with pictures, etc!

It was really hard to say goodbye to our sweet girl--even though we know she will be happy with her new family. She is like a family member to us, and we sure will miss her! Our house is definitely not the same without her!

Belle and Ivy with their best friend, Emma (Todd and Katherine McNerney's dog), waiting to go on walk. Our walks will not be the same without Belle!

We sure will miss you, sweet girl!

Kate's Christening

Kate was christened at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 13. It was a very special day for us with lots of friends and family there to help us celebrate. Kate did so well during the service. I wasn't sure how she was going to like the water being poured over her head, but thankfully she didn't seem to mind it at all. We can't thank everyone enough for all of your love and support! A few pictures from the day are below.

The three of us just before the service began.

The whole Wood clan...Kate was sound asleep!

My dad came down for Kate's special day.

Uncle Skip came too--even though it was right in the middle of exams! Thanks, Skip!

Gigi and her favorite grandbaby

Auntie Emily and Auntie Ashley helping with the desserts at brunch after the service. Yum!

Lisee and Poppy with Kate and Cousin Adelyn. Look at those smiles!

What a happy girl!

Three Months Old and Three Exciting "Firsts"

This week Kate turned three months old! We have had a busy week with three important "firsts."

Kate rolled over for the first time! It was very exciting for me (I have to admit that I have been hovering over her during her "tummy time" for the last several weeks hoping that she would roll!). Kate, on the other hand, did not seem to like it all that much. I think it startled her, and she started crying. I was so excited that I was jumping around the room! I never imagined that I would get so excited about a baby rolling!!

It snowed on Saturday--Kate's first snow! Robby and I bundled her up and took her out for a picture. There is nothing prettier than waking up to a blanket of snow on the ground! I can't wait to take Kate out to play in it in the years to come!

Most importantly, Kate got to meet her Aunt Ashley for the first time. As many of you know, Ashley has been doing missions work in Africa for the last two years. She got to come home for Christmas, and we are all so excited to see her!

I am including a few pictures from the week below.

First time meeting Ashley!

First snow

NOTE: This month's photo shoot was made a little more challenging, since Kate discovered how to put her dress in her mouth. By the time I took it out and stood back to take the picture, it was in her mouth again!!

Finally, we got one without her dress in her mouth! :)

Frosty the Snow Kate and Turner too!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our house, and we are all getting into the spirit of the season. My mom bought Kate a Frosty the Snowman outfit. We put Kate into it, and (much to my surprise) she liked it!! Turner and Katherine came over to play today, and he actually seemed to like it too.

Enjoy these funny pictures!

This scarf certainly looks yummy. Kate spent the majority of the time trying to figure out a way to eat it.

Turner looked too cute!

Everyone thinks this outfit is funny...including Kate!

12 Weeks Old!!!

Kate is getting so tall that she has almost outgrown the bassinet in our room. We started transitioning her to sleep in her crib for naps two weeks ago. Last night, she slept in the crib for the first time through the night. I honestly think that it has been a harder transition for me than it has been for Kate! :) I missed looking over at her in the middle of the night. Although I have to admit that the sleep is a lot better! She is a noisy little sleeper, and you don't get the full affect on the monitor.

A few pictures from this week are below:

Kate has been "talking" to us a lot more this week. It is so fun to hear her voice. I like this action shot. I think she is saying, "Mom, STOP taking my picture!"

Cousin Adelyn came over for a visit. She and Robby are having a heart to heart about Virginia football. NO more Al Groh!!

This little bunny is bundled and ready to go on a walk!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we went to Cary, North Carolina to visit my dad, stepmother and sisters for Thanksgiving. Kate loved spending time with her aunts, Merideth and Caroline! This was our first road trip with Kate, and I don't think that I have ever packed so much gear in all my life. I think we had four bags for Kate, and the car was completely packed. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner (thanks to my stepmother, Amy), and have had a wonderful time visiting everyone.

Birthday Fun!

Yesterday, I celebrated my 28th birthday. Christmas is my very favorite holiday, so I asked Robby if we could decorate a little early. We (well at least I!) had the best time pulling out all of the holiday decorations, and Kate was in awe of all of the lights and shiny bows!

I asked Robby what Kate bought me for my birthday and he put a bow on her head. She loved it and couldn't stop smiling! Check out that grin!

Rub-a-dub-dub

One of Kate's favorite things to do is to take a bath. She absolutely loves to be in the water, and she especially likes to have her hair washed (a girl after my own heart)!

The only problem is that she cries when you take her out! Look at how happy she is when Robby is bathing her, and how angry she is when I am drying her off... What a mean mommy!

Look at this angry face! How dare you take me out of the bath, Mom!