Gunnar's Happy Winter Wonderland...

Our Holiday season started out with the decorations this year... I didn't get a chance to take photos of the first tree we had before we had to dispose of it b/c of the dead needles all over the living room. It was a major fire hazard, so we tossed it 1.5 week before Christmas. (Actually, I got tired of sweeping the needles 4 times a day, so I disassembled and took it out before Justin even got up that day). So while I was at work the next week, Daddy and Gunnar went to the U-cut tree farm and picked out the biggest tree they could get for $20. It turned out to be a 12' tree, which would have been great, except we have 10' ceilings. So Daddy cut a couple feet off the top, and I trimmed the bottom branches, and it only took 6 strands of lights to cover it. The bottom of course looked a little bare, since Gunnar couldn't help but try to re-arrange the ornaments, so I had to leave everything above the 4' level. But we had a beautiful, giant tree, and we'll always be able to tell Gunnar the great story about how Daddy was so excited for Gunnar to have a great Christmas, that he went out and bought the biggest tree he could find! Gunnar enjoyed having lights in the evenings, and even though I thought the neighbor's house looked like a tacky version of the Griswolds, Gunnar loved looking at all the lights and blow-up lawn ornaments they had.

A couple days before Christmas, Gunnar and I were hanging out watching some Little Einsteins, and I caught him laying on his stomach, kicking his legs while he watched. It was too cute, and I had to have a photo. He's becoming more and more of a little boy instead of a baby every day. He also assumes this position in the bathtub now, but the kicking is more vigorous (enough so he can splash some water on me).


After cartoons, Ali and Jeromy stopped by to share the news of their new puppy, who Gunnar absolutely loved! The two of them ran around and wrestled on the floor for a long time. Gunnar is starting to show his sensitivity though, because as the puppy did something he wasn't supposed to, Jeromy told him very sternly "no" - Gunnar thought he was talking to him, and he stuck out his lower lip, bent down, and put his face into the floor as he started to cry. Jeromy felt bad, and picked him up to let him know he wasn't mad at him, and Gunnar got over it. I think it was pretty much way past nap time for Gunnar though, because Gunnar kept crying for no reason, and Ali and Jeromy had to keep comforting him. I think he took a 3 hour nap after the puppy left... all the excitement left him spent.



I couldn't resist this photo of Gunnar. It shows how happy he usually is, and how without looking at the rest of his face, you can tell by his eyes that he is laughing.


Christmas Eve we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's in L.O. Gunnar had a lot of fun climbing the stairs and rearranging Grandma's Christmas Tree! Uncle Michael let him open a couple gifts early - a football and a OSU Beaver toy. Gunnar has always been a fan of playing ball, but I could see the delight in his eyes when he discovered the unpredictable bounce of a football. He laughed and laughed when he dropped it. Even now at home, he throws the football, and I can see in his eyes the excitement to see where it will bounce. Grandma and Grandpa got a tricycle for Gunnar, which he loves climbing on, and will be able to ride by spring-time. He also got a Baby Tad doll, who sings songs and will help teach Gunnar body parts and counting. Gunnar was exhausted by the end of the night, so we decided to save all of our gifts at home for Gunnar to open Christmas Day. He was long gone (asleep) by the time we got home Christmas Eve, and went to bed a very content, sleepy boy.

Christmas morning was fairly easy this year, since Gunnar still didn't realize there was going to be more excitement the day after Christmas Eve. Since Daddy works nights, and usually sleeps later than Gunnar and I, we waited for him to get up before we opened our gifts from each other and from Nana and Papa. So Gunnar got a big breakfast, played with some of the toys from the night before, and then took a long nap before lunch. When he got up again, Daddy was awake, and we started opening the rest of our gifts. Gunnar really got into the ripping of the paper, and mostly wanted to walk around with an arm-full of paper to rip. Once we showed him how cool the stuff inside was though, he wanted nothing to do with the paper. He got all kinds of great stuff from Nana and Papa, his favorite being the kitty keyboard. By now, he actually knows where the On switch is, and can turn the volume up and down. What a smarty-pants! He also got a fire truck that talks to him, which he loves, and a police car that revs and talks. Overall, I think Gunnar is a very lucky little boy, and the best part of our holiday was spending it with him. His excitement and joy makes the world so much better, and I have high hopes that 2008 will be another wonderful year for Gunnar. Keep growing and learning Buppy...