Playing with Mimi

Cambrie is really attached to me and she is shy when in a new surrounding. This causes some sadness when other family members try to hold her and she squirms away reaching back for me.

In an attempt to help with this anxiety, we make regular dates with family so that she gets used to them, their homes, etc. Plus, as much as I enjoy spending time with her, I also enjoy my alone time and other family members enjoy spending individual time with her. During the past month, she has had weekly time with my grandparents. The first time when I left there were a ton of sad big tears and this past week she just leapt out of my arms and starting playing with the toys. We were all so excited about the progress!

And, she is always, oh so excited to see me upon my return.

Hot Fun Party

It has been a few years (actually since 2007) since I attended a Hot Fun in the Winter Time party that Howli, Lisa and their high school friends put on. This year I got to bring my little one along as well. I was happy to drive down to Fremont on Christmas Eve Eve since we purchased a new car the night before, so it was super fun to take a quick road trip. Cambrie did great, she slept in the car ride down and I was able to change her in the tailgate of my new car, which is something I have been waiting for for a long while now. We first headed over to Howli's parents house to pick her up, then headed to the party. Even though I wasn't able to finish many of my conversations since I was chasing little miss around, I had a great time. And so did Cambrie...

Love this picture of these girls!

We are having a Chico reunion in April in Austin Texas, I am very excited to have the opportunity to relax, explore and catch up with each of my old roommates (without needing to chase my daughter around!)

Damon, Cambrie and I visited the Weaver Wonderland light display in Rohnert Park twice the week before Christmas. Cambrie loved it - but, what is not to love?

It is truly an amazing house that the Weaver family create every year out of the kindness of their hearts for the community.

Per usual, Cambrie was pretty serious while taking it all in.

I got overwhelmed with emotion while walking around with my little girl. We have visited this house several times before, but being able to experience this with my own family made me shed a few happy tears. It is just so amazing to see things through a child's eyes.

We returned to the house later in the week, this time with the Straub family and my parents. It was super chilly, so we didn't stay too long.

And, here are a few videos to enjoy as well...

Third Meeting with Santa

I loved this Santa the best....but Cambrie still wasn't too sure of him.

And Avery definitely wasn't sure of him!

Heehee...both girls together is just even funnier!

Prior to meeting Santa in downtown Windsor I took a few pictures of the Hildebrandt family for their holiday card. Avery reminds me of Snow White in this picture, who is one of her favorite 'princesses.'

After the traumatizing event of meeting Santa, we headed to Mary's Pizza for dinner. Cambrie was completely enthralled with the pizza making station. She loved watching the employees work :)

and eating their yummy breadsticks!

The girls were so well behaved during dinner, which turned into a long dinner since they were busy and the servers were a little slow. Both girls ate about a cup of cheese and a full breadstick a piece. We have some good eaters in our family :) I have many family and friend memories at the Windsor Mary's location (including the night before my wedding) and I was just so happy to enjoy a lovely meal with my lovely extended family there.

The Christmas Tree Through Cambrie's Eyes

A memorable series of photos of Cambrie admiring the Christmas tree...

Love it. Love her.

Cotati Tree Lighting Ceremony

There are many activities that I would see advertised before Cambrie came along that looked like fun for a family. I would daydream about taking my own family in the future. Thankfully, I have been able to make many of these daydreams a reality this past year. One of which was the annual City of Cotati tree lighting ceremony.

Krystina, who I job share with, and her adorable boy James came along to join us for the 15 minutes of fun in the freezing weather.

They had singing and Santa, but it was a little chaotic and hard to hear and see the festivities. But, the kiddos still liked to see one another and the pretty tree lights.

Afterwards we headed to Mexican food with my parents where Cambrie was enamored with her beloved fans :)

What a great way to kick off the holiday season, even if it was back at the beginning of the month!

Second Meeting with Santa

The second meeting with Santa didn't go over quite as well as the first, which is to be expected.

Here the 2011 babies meet Santa together (Cambrie, 11 months, Noah, 8 months, Payon, 3 months).

Love her completely upside down smile and how she is clutching her little hands together. Poor thing was a little traumatized, but everyone needs a photo like this in their baby book.

Cambrie Loves Her Fan

My little girl just loves showing us how the fan goes round and round and round...and I was super happy to finally catch it on video!

Welcome Home Damon

I survived nine days without Damon at home while he was hunting in Nevada. We have known about this trip for almost a year now, and although it was difficult doing everything by myself for that long, it wasn't unbearable and I actually enjoyed it. He usually goes away for 1 - 2 weeks at a time during the winter, in addition to his multiple weekends away. But, of course, this year was different since our little girl is here.

Cambrie and I had a great time together, we still kept most of our commitments and I was only late for work one day. The house stayed cleaned, I enjoyed the smaller loads of laundry without Damon's clothes and we were able to skype with him twice. Plus, he come home one day early and we surprised him up at the ranch to pick him up. I got their 'reunion' on video, it is super funny and cute. Cambrie took a little while to warm back up to him, but then she was all smiles and excited to have her family back together.

(Love how she is clutching on to his sweatshirt for dear life!)

And, obviously, Shasta was very excited too!