Your first Holidays- Happy 4 & 5 Months!

Happy Holidays Booger-Butt

November 2015 swiftly approached and the holidays crept up on all of us way too soon! You and I made it back from the USA (after a long and hectic traveling week) around the 5th of November, and before we could barely get back into our routine, Thanksgiving was upon us. Your dad's cousin (Taylor) and her friend came to visit us for a week during their travels across Europe, and your cousin Kristy and Great Aunt Chris also flew in a few days before Thanksgiving. It is always awesome to have family visit us while stationed here in Germany!! Some of the best moments during the Holiday Season are the German Christmas Markets! They start around mid-November and go through mid-December (or some all of the way to Christmas). They are magical :) You went to about five from November to December (Stuttgart, Esslingen, Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Heidleberg, Tubingen, and Stuttgart again). November 18 you turned 4 months old!

Tübingen Chocolate Festival w/ Casey, Brittany, Landyn & Renee

@ Esslingen Christmas & Medieval Market

Traditional Gluwhein

Stuttgart Christmas Market

For Thanksgiving, we had a few of Charlie's work-mates over who did not have family over here to celebrate with. We also, of course, had our visiting family with us too. It was my first time really doing ALL of the Thanksgiving food in my lifetime, and the first time I cooked a turkey in the oven instead of the deep fryer. Everything turned out pretty well, and you enjoyed all of the company and attention.

Nov 18

Some of the Thanksgiving crew playing ga game!

Firs time making Christmas Cookies w/Mom

Some highlights from your 4th month are that you really laughed hard for the first time! I was changing you after a bath and making funny noises with my mouth and all of the sudden you started cackling and giggling. It was great that your Great Aunt Chris, Kristy, Taylor and her friend Katie all got to witness it. Your dad missed that first one but I took a video to be able to show him! There were plenty more to come after that one that he saw though. Also, you rolled over for the first time by yourself- woohoo! That was a big moment. Although, your dad and I missed the first 4-5 times you did it, but others saw it. You liked to roll from your back-to-front for awhile, but by the time you turned 5 months old you were rolling from back-to-front and then front-to-back. I know that sounds minute, but it was huge for us and we knew it wouldn't be long until you were really moving and grooving. You also began to love facing outwards in your Ergo Carrier by the time you were 5 months old! :)  We took your Christmas photo and went and chopped down a Christmas Tree when you were about 4.5 months old, and that was also really fun!

December 18

Your first Christmas was super exciting---well at least for me and your dad! You don't remember any of it, and we knew you wouldn't, but I was just really thrilled to have Santa visit you for the first time and to watch you try to open gifts. Your Oma and Papa sent the best gift - your Jumperoo. You LOVED jumping in that thing. Your Uncle Woo and Aunt Caitlin sent you the neatest personalized book "The Girl Who Lost Her Name", your Aunt Kelsey sent an amazing canvas photo of you, and we got you some toys and clothes. There were many other gifts that I cannot remember, but you must have been a good girl in 2015 because you got many fun things! On Christmas morning we had a few friends over who did have family to celebrate with, and we had brunch. Later that evening we went to a friends house in town who had people over for Christmas dinner. You, of course, loved all of that attention too.

On New Years (our first as parents) we all went to bed pretty early :) When the Fireworks all over Stuttgart going off, your Dad and I woke up and watched from the windows. You didn't even budge in your crib. It was a low-key holiday, but one I will never forget as it was our first with you!

The best part of holidays as you grow older is the time you get to spend with family and friends, and not the gifts you give or receive. I hope this is something that you have learned already by the time you are reading this. I definitely look forward to many more holidays with you, and hope that your da and I do a good job at teaching you what the Holiday season is really about. I can't believe that is 2016 already and you are 5 months old! Soon we will be introducing foods and I bet that you will soon be scooting around. Every day is exciting with you!