Christmas 2010

Although Tori caught a cold right before we left for Hickory for the Christmas holidays, she was a trooper and we still had a great holiday. Hickory had the first white Christmas in 30 years (I think) and Tori got to experience her first snow. We also took her to her first movie, Harry Potter, and luckily she slept through most of it ;) Since she had a cold already, we decided not to take her to see Santa and Gramps dressed up instead. Christmas definitely had a new life to it with a baby around. Even though she did not really get the whole Christmas thing this year, she had so much fun opening her presents and just playing on the boxes. I can't imagine how exciting her 2nd Christmas will be ;)
Tori counting down the days until Christmas ;)

Tori decided she wanted to play Scrabble with Jui Jui Kyle as well.

Tori loved climbing on all the boxes.

Gram exploring the tree with Tori.

She got the ornament she wanted to look at :)

Our 1st big Turkey feast before Christmas.

Gramps makes a very nice Santa :)

Sam wanted to be part of the fun :)

Our annual reading of the Grinch who Stole Christmas on Christmas Eve. Tori joined me on Gramps lap on the rocking chair.

The family Christmas shot!

Aww...Tori and Jui Jui (Uncle) Kyle.

Christmas Morning!!!

Daddy helping Tori get her stocking :)

Tori loved climbing on all the boxes! If you started the paper for her, she was an excellent shredder :).

Opening presents is hard work :) An exhausted Tori!

After a short rest, she was ready to play with all her new toys. Her bubble blowing truck was her favorite.

Mommy getting Tori ready for the snow. Tori is not a fan of the snow suit...too confining.

A little sledding squeezed in right before a nap :)

For Christmas dinner, we went to David and Swanee's house for another turkey and thai feast. During dinner Tori managed to pull down a big plant from her booster seat on the floor. Luckily nothing was damaged (Tori or the plant :) )

Swanee meeting Tori!

The forever teething Tori!

David, Swanee, and a very happy Tori.

The day after Christmas Tori is already bored of her new toys and finding new ones--the vacumb cleaner's cord :(

2nd Christmas in Charlotte with Grandma, Poppie, and Auntie Leah :) She got all sorts of fun new toys and clothes. Her favorite (and Mommy's) is a musical table activity center that captures her attention for at least a few minutes :).

Grandma helping Tori open presents.

Tori attacking Daddy :)

7-8th Month Update :)

The 7th month was filled with visitors, travel, and holiday preparations. Busy, busy, busy, but lots of fun :) During the 7th month, Tori's top molars broke through. We noticed she was acting like she was teething again, but with 6 teeth coming through the previous month I was in denial...until I felt them. By the end of this month, Tori was pulling up on everything and babbling nonstop. Her favorite is all sorts of variations of ba, ba, ba and my favorite blah, blah, blah. She says ma -ma and da-da, but not as frequently. Unfortunately, right before the holidays, she got her second cold :(

Here are some 7th month pictures:

Rob, Matt's friend from MBA school, came to visit. Julie came to visit and meet Tori. We stayed a day here and then went to Hickory for the rest of her visit. Julie is pushing Tori on a Christmas toy (Gram was doing a test to see if it would be a good gift for Christmas...it was a big hit).

Tori cheesing for the photo. She loves to get her picture taken ;)

Tori under our Christmas tree. She was actually suprisingly good about not attacking the tree. I only had to move her away from the tree a couple times a day :)

Erin and Tori....awww.

Amanda and Tori. I promise I put her in other outfits occasionally :).

Daddy and Tori reading a story.

Soco looks enormous :)

Baptism

We had Tori baptized in Calabash at her Grandma and Poppi's church so that Grandma could participate in the service. Tori put on quite a show for us and made her baptism a very special, wonderful memory. Matt and I had a hard time keeping her from happily squealing throughout the service. She smiled and laughed for the congregation as she was baptized.

Daddy, Poppi, and Great Pappa all ready for the baptism.

Tori and the pastor.

Tori playing on her baptismal blanket.

Tori in her baptismal bonnet.

We took so many pictures in different people arrangements... it was like a wedding.