the BEST Christmas present ever!

Adah Joy Frey

born Christmas Day 2011
7 lb 2 oz, at 7:05 PM

Congratulations to Rachel & Craig and Asher! And yes, those definitely look like her momma's eyebrows! We sure hope we can see little Adah Joy sometime this spring.

Getting ready for Christmas

We are SO excited to spend Christmas week in Wheaton with our Gieser family. (even though there is no snow in the forecast) Gemma has been practicing her names and face identification. It will be very fun to see the four girl cousins interacting and exploring together, playing with Nonna's teddy bears and watching Granddad's miniature train.

...Gemma has also been working on her acrobatic skills, so she can keep up with Avery and Bella.

Ready for cold & snow? Not really...but Yes

We are not really ready - mentally - for the cold & snow that is coming this winter (we just turned the heat on yesterday!). But we have gotten out our cold weather gear and tested it out on a walk or two on a few of the colder days. (Who are those crazy parents taking their child out in this weather?! No, truly, I don't think too many people take the time to think that if they see us out and about.)

Last week we even had a first snowfall, though brief, so Gemma got to try out her fleece outfit. And since then, the daily temps have been consistently in the 30s, so I think winter really IS here.

And oh the joys of a little girl who now carefully pronounces, "Dad-DY!"

And finally - T-Day

What?! Thanksgiving Dinner outside? Yes, it was such a lovely day. Such a lovely day as that. And with all hands pitching in, we had quite a spread - including some "firsts" for our group of chefs with Rebecca's roasted veggies and Rita's sweet potato pie, plus Rachel & Marianthy's beautiful table and place cards; also most of the classics and a huge dessert table. [The blueberry coffeecake was supposed to be for the next day's breakfast, but Rachel spotted it and stuck it on the table and it got gobbled down. Whatever it takes to keep a pregnant woman happy!]

We even managed a walk around the neighborhood and down to Westover Park in the late afternoon. (Oh and both Asher and Gemma still got in their afternoon naps!) Alex thrilled us with his acrobatics on the swings and Asher showed off his laughs and new teeth.

I am thankful for my family, in all its variety, spending the day joyfully in each other's company...Grandpa, Jaja, Gram, Pete, Rita, Liliana, Marianthy, Rebecca, Alex, Craig, Rachel, Asher, baby-girl-on-the-way, Jim, and Gemma!

More fun ones from Durham

It's not a good day at 1406 Oakland unless we go to Oval Park - and we did that every day! Gemma has gotten very good at climbing the steps and going down the slide by herself.

And on Thanksgiving Day, the Posadas drove down from Virginia to join us for two days of celebrating. On Thursday we had a hike at Eno River and then an afternoon of munchies (how is it possible to feel just as full from munchie bites as from a full Thanksgiving meal?) and hanging around at the Freys, napping, drawing, chatting, playing Take Two, and watching Asher & Gemma play.

So it was on Friday that we had the full Thanksgiving meal, now with Pete & Rita too, and Gram. It was another lovely day to be outside, and of course go to the park - see the pics of Alex patiently pushing the kids around a tractor. Awesome! Jim even snapped some portrait pics of Mom & Dad - doubly awesome.