My First Christmas Morning

This is the story of Emma's first Christmas morning, as dictated by Emma to Mommy.

On Christmas Eve, before we went to bed, we put out cookies and milk for Santa.  I'm not sure why he likes cookies so much, but Mommy said that's what we do.

Then we hung up our stockings by the fireplace.  Mommy said it was so that Santa could fill them up with presents, but only if I'd been a good girl this year.

When I woke up on Christmas morning, I found my stocking filled with toys in my crib.  Turns out, it wasn't that hard to be good, this was a short year for me. :-) 

Mommy said we couldn't start opening presents until everyone was up, so I went down to wake up Aunt Kate. 

When I went out to the living room, there was pile of presents from Santa waiting on the couch for me.

We started opening the presents in my stocking first.  (Mommy helped a little...)

Ooooh, this one feels squishy!

 It's a Christmas bib.

 Santa even brought one for Daddy and me to share.

Daddy said it's his favorite bedtime story and he even read some of it to me.

Look what I got Mommy for her present!

Here's Grandpa opening my present.  I was starting to get tired from opening so many presents by then.

So I decided to take a nap and let everyone else keep opening presents.  That's my pile there by the swing.

While I slept, Mommy and Daddy and everybody else had breakfast.

Mommy said sticky buns are really yummy, but I'll have to wait at least one more year before I can have them for breakfast on Christmas morning.

 After the grown-ups had breakfast, I woke up to open some more presents.

Daddy gave me some more books he likes.  (Mommy was happy because she thinks he'll read to me more now.)

Mommy and Daddy had to help me open some of my presents.

This one is from Aunt Mimi and Aunt Anma.

Daddy got me some balls to play with.

Mommy got me stack 'em up rings.

Aunt Kate got me a hippopotamus for Christmas.  (Does anyone want to sing the song with me?)

 It's a good thing I look good in hot pink!  (Mommy's Note:  Emma is not actually sucking her thumb in this picture.  Lately she tucks her thumb inside her fist and mouths it.)

Thanks Nana!  Next year we can count down the days to Christmas in style.

Grandpa got me some of those fancy books that record his voice so he can read to me, even when he's not here. This one has nursery rhymes.

Nana made me an ABC book.  It's made out of cloth so I can play with it now, while I'm still little.

Here's a special book from my Great Grandma and Great Granddad Hastings.

 

Mommy said I was a very lucky little girl to get so many presents on Christmas.  Can you spot me in this picture with all my gifts?  Daddy said it's just like "Where's Waldo?"

 I hope you had a Merry Christmas too!  Bye Bye!

 

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas

Emma has been preparing for Christmas and is getting excited about a visit from Nana, Grandpa, and Aunt Kate.  It's hard to say who's getting more excited, Nana and Grandpa or Emma.  To help make it easier for them make it through the next few days, here are some pictures of her getting ready.

 Here she is, placing some last-minute online orders with some help from Daddy.

 

Emma helped to wrap all the presents to go under the tree.

Helping Mommy decorate the tree...

Here it is, all decorated...

Look at all those presents!

Telling Santa what she wants for Christmas... (hey, the mall Santa charges $40!)

Counting down the days 'till Christmas, see you soon Nana and Grandpa!

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This last picture is for Casey.  In case you couldn't see it in the larger picture, here's our little trooper, hanging in there for one more year, front and center on the tree.

Whose Baby Is It Anyways?

We are conducting a poll here at the Goldstein Gazette and are seeking reader participation.  Your job is to look over the photos below, comparing Emma's photos to her parents' baby photos, then register your vote as to who Emma most resembles, Jenny or Dave.  We are hoping for 100% participation, so even if you've never left a comment before, don't let that stop you now!  (There are directions at the end telling how to leave a comment to share your vote.)

On to the pictures!

 Newborn Emma

 Newborn Jenny

 

Newborn Emma 

 

Newborn Dave

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Baby Emma

 

 Baby Dave

Baby Emma

 

Baby Jenny

Now tell us what you think, who does she look like, Jenny or Dave, or do you think she looks like someone else entirely?  Scroll down a tiny bit further to find where it says "comments" and leave yours!

To vote:

1. Go to the bottom of this post and click on the word "comments" (the number of comments already posted will appear before the word).  
2. A new window will appear.
3. Use the comment box to tell us what you think. 
4. Confirm you're not a spammer or other bad guy by completing the word verification.
5. Where it say  "Choose an Identity", select "Name/URL" to leave your name with your comment. (You can choose to leave your name only, without a web address.)
6. Click the orange button that says "Publish your comment".

The Many Faces of Emma

Emma is two months old today.  She is so adorably cute and makes the funniest faces, as anyone who has seen her can attest to.  Here are some of her many expressions.

 

Smiling.

You're so funny! 

Pouting... stick that lip out a any further and little bird might come perch on it...

Crabby.

 

Big Yawn.

 

Sleeping.

 Pleased with herself.

 Milk drunk.

Oh, you thought I was done eating?... Silly Mommy!

 Whoa, did anybody else just see that?

 Dawning comprehension.

 Sorry, I stopped paying attention for a second, what were you saying?

 Ooooooh! 

(Mommy's favorite face.)

 Are we done yet?

 I think I'm going to sneeze...ah...Ah...AH...

Can I be more obvious, when a little baby sticks out her tongue, it means she's hungry!  FEED ME!

In motion.

But most of all, she's a happy baby!