The Long Anticipated Jumperoo Footage

Geagen with Woolamina at 6 months

Geagen has her mouth open ready to eat her fingers- so not surprising

Geagen likes her ball from Great Aunt Barbara and Great Uncle Paul

Geagen is clearly deep in thought

I'm not entirely sure why this is sideways but it took 10 minutes to upload so it's staying.

I have finally taken some new pictures of Miss Geagen Grace and am amazed at how much she has grown and changed in the last 6 months. I took her for her 6 month check-up today and she weighs 18 lbs. 6 ounces and is 27 1/4" long. She's in the 90% for height and weight. She's a healthy girl with an even healthier appetite. Her favorite food of the moment is pureed pears but could be replaced at any time by another fruit or vegetable.

She is just starting to sit up by herself and is even playing with toys while sitting. This a very good thing. Maybe I can leave the room for a minute or two to do laundry or dishes and not have her scream. I figure as long as she's looking at the floor I can't some stuff done around the house. She also really likes her jumperoo and does a funny little dance when she jumps- it's really quite cute- even if it is sideways.

We're Still Here

I just realized it has been 11 days since my last post and some of my gentle readers (you know who you are) are getting a little antsy. The new year has been interesting so far. Okay- not really but it sounds better than what's really been going on around here. Jon was home for Christmas break for 2 1/2 weeks and it just seems like we didn't get a whole lot done- which is not necessarily a bad thing it just makes things complicated when it's time to go back into a normal routine. In addition to to settling back into our old schedule I have been busily trying to implement our New Year's Resolutions as a family as well as my own personal resolutions. So far things have been going really with the possible exception of starting my housecleaning schedule to make my life run more smoothly. Stuff just comes up- today the van battery was giving me fits by not starting so I was waiting around for a tow truck and consequently unable to take Geagen to her 6 month check-up (For the record she was devastated. I will be taking her sometime this week so there is still time to guess her weight.). And for some odd reason if things aren't done that would in theory violate my new housecleaning schedule (for example: the basket of ironing that seems to be mocking me as I type) they seem to make it impossible to begin the new routine because I would be ironing on Tuesday instead of Friday which is the appointed day to slave over a hot ironing board. Don't even bother asking- it's just one of the joys of OCD. I've embraced it.

So long story short- I haven't taken any pictures of Geagen for the past 2 weeks or so. I'll get around to it on Picture Day once I assign a day of the week for that and the stars align. I haven't forgotten about the blog or anything like that so please don't despair. I promise to document Geagen's new achievement of sitting up all by herself. It's really quite cute. And if I can figure out how to download video I will post video of Geagen in her jumperoo and the little jumping dance she does. It's really cute.

Happy New Year!

The happy in Alturas at Thanksgiving- note the goats in the background- it just fits somehow

This is as close as we got a family picture since Geagen's blessing 5 months ago

A new year has dawned and we are still exhausted from the hustle and bustle of 2008. It's hard to believe Miss Geagen Grace is almost 6 months old. December was especially busy with Jon's knee surgery in addition to all of the holiday festivities. We didn't get around to Christmas cards this year- not only did we not have any spare time but we just couldn't fit in it this year's Christmas budget. We knew what Dave would say and we knew that it was good advice to save the money. Besides, we have the blog this year. Next year we hope to not only have a Christmas card with a photo in it but a newsletter so we can torture you all with the minutiae of our thrilling life under a rock in East Podunk.

Geagen's First Christmas

Geagen talks to her Auntie Lori

Geagen models her new John Deere outfit with Auntie Robin's assistance

Auntie Robin fixes Geagen's outfit on the fly

Geagen doing two of her favorite things: sucking her fingers and jumping in the jumper

Geagen really likes the jumper she got from Santa

It has been a big year of firsts for us- especially Miss Geagen Grace. Today we celebrated a relatively quiet Christmas with our family. Jon, Geagen and I opened our stockings and presents together before Grandma Jeanne, Auntie Robin and Uncle Scott came over for presents and breakfast. Later on Jon's sister Lori and her family came over for presents and visiting. Jon's brother Mike and his wife Kim came over later too.

Geagen got lots of presents: she got her jumper, some books and toys as well as her very own John Deere ensemble. She wasn't really sure what to do with it all but she seemed to take it in stride. Hopefully in the coming weeks she will start to play with her presents. Now Jon and I have to figure out what to do with all the toys that seem to be multiplying at an alarming rate. Jon may be out in the wood shop making a toy box soon. If so- there will be pictures.

Snow Day!

Geagen asleep in her carseat- her eyes covered by her beanie

Geagen is like Randy from "A Christmas Story"

It has been bitterly cold here in Nyssa for the past few days- today the high temperature was a whopping 18F. Geagen and I had to go and get our visiting teaching done despite the cols so she got bundled up in her hat, mittens and snowsuit. The best part about the snowsuit is that I got for $1.59! Thank heavens for the clothing stash in the basement. It will be a tragic day when she grows out of this snowsuit. I have the feeling she won't be in it much longer. She has already grown taller since Thanksgiving.

Food Glorious Food!

Geagen tries green beans for the first time

Geagen makes a face

Geagen had her very first taste of vegetables on Sunday. We started with green beans and will soon be moving on to other vegetables. She wasn't sure about the green beans at first by only taking a few bites but now she eats a whole jar of baby food now. Tomorrow we move on to peas. Life is exciting in the Wood household. Yes indeed it is.

Santa!!

Geagen is fascinated by Santa

I took Geagen to go see Santa on Saturday. She wore her new Hannah Andersson sweater outfit so she wold not clash with Santa and looked positively adorable. She wasn't quite sure what to make of him but she wasn't afraid. I didn't realize that when I took her to go and see Santa at Wal-Mart (I wasn't gong to drive to Boise just to see Santa- I had to draw the line somewhere.) that it was a little on the ghetto side: Santa was in a chair draped with red tablecloth in the middle of the garden department with customers weaving in and out. Oh well- she won't remember it and my conscience will be clear knowing that she didn't miss out on seeing Santa at the tender age of 5 months.

P.S.- Just wanted to let everyone know that Geagen can now roll over from her tummy to her back. She first did this last Saturday and since perfected this maneuver. If I can catch it on video I will be sure and post it.