Christmas 2012

To start the holiday season off, I always put the tree up early!!  Because we aren't home for the holidays, I put it up before just before Thanksgiving so that way we get to enjoy it for a couple weekends!!  Maree liked the Christmas tree... but she was really good at listening and NOT touching the tree!  We also tried to do a few festive things before flying home for Christmas... this included going to look at lights (she wasn't that impressed) and we went to Kierland for the lighting of the tree and to see "snow" and Santa!  Again, she was not that impressed haha.... hopefully next year she will understand things better!!

At Kierland

The Gallinger Christmas this year was a little unusual - mainly because my friend got married in Omaha December 1, so we decided to use that trip as the Gallinger Christmas too. SO, it felt weird come Christmas day that I didn't get to see my side of the family... we sure thought of them though!!  Maree LOVES playing with her cousins and this year, they gave her an American Girl Bitty Baby!! (I am still a little jealous she already has one.. I wanted an American Girl doll SO bad when I was little). She likes the doll, and I'm trying to teach her to "give it love" (hug it, kiss it etc)... but for now, she primarily likes to stab at her blinking eyes.  Bitty Baby is still unnamed... I feel like she should be able to name her, and she doesn't have enough words for that.. unless we named her Baby Uh, Oh!  Grandma & Grandpa got her the American Girl doll bed... and surprisingly, she understands how to "play baby" better... with this bed!  She'll lay her down & say "nigh, nigh"

Cousin love

The 3 girls & their babies!!

The Poortinga Christmas was also different this year because Marc's sister & her family didn't make it in from Denver.. so things were a lot more quiet, and Maree was the center of attention!!  Unfortunately litttle miss was sick for our entire trip :(  She screamed the whole flight to Iowa and after a few days of her cough/runny nose getting worse, we took her to the doctor to learn that she had an ear infection and RSV (A respiratory infection that requires breathing treatments)... so she wasn't herself and we are actually still battling this!  BUT even though she was sick, she was still a trooper & managed to look quite cute :) Her friend Toby was also a help in lifting her spirits... she LOVES dogs.  She did get presents from Nana & Grumpa, but again, she wasn't too interested in opening them!  She got a climbing tower/slide that she loves to go down head first.. and climb up backwards.  She also got more toys and adorable clothes!! Overall, Christmas was very fun... but I secretly can't wait until she's at the age where she understands things more & is excited to see what she is opening!!

Maree kissing Toby

Although it doesn't show it in the picture, she's dancing to the tune this bear/dog plays!

Loves her new toy from the Bogaards family!

Beautiful Christmas dress from Nana... notice she's holding her poor ear

Opening presents with daddy

Our family of 3.. soon to be 4!

Maree with Grumpa... even though she has a cold, he held her for a bit

Maree loves her Nana & Grumpa!