it's beginning to look a lot like...winter!

We've seen quite the turn in weather here in MN over the last couple of weeks.  It wasn't "warm" on Thanksgiving day here, but it definitely wasn't undeniable that winter is here - unlike now.  All that means to us is it's time to start hibernating - which means a couple of things: staying indoors as much as possible & spending time with friends and family.  I know it sounds kind of odd, but there's something about cold weather, snow on the ground and Christmas lights that makes me feel like it's time to reach out to all of our friends - old and new and catch up after a busy summer, spring & fall. 
Adilyn is getting ready for her 2nd official MN winter...

 Dan and I have been loving the quality time we've been able to steal away with Adilyn lately.  Here's the latest:

• Dancing! She loves to move around when she hears a good song - pretty funny since her style is to hold onto a surface with one hand and raise the other in the air while smiling/shrieking.
• Cruising - around furniture, walls, appliances, anything she can place her hands on and she is getting FAST (and getting into some trouble as you can see below...)

• Playing peek-a-boo - behind walls, blankets, towels or anything we toss over her eyes.
• Dan has also been 'testing' Adilyn for her "IQ Test" with the UofM Children's Hospital when she turns 1 - he will show her an object and hide it under one of two towels - last time, she pulled the right one 3 out of 4 times! 
• Adi has also started to do what we consider blowing kisses - she started one morning and chose to direct her first ones at the ceiling light in her room...it was pretty precious anyway!                

               

• We also had another first - Adi got her first case of pink eye this past weekend.  As far as we know - no one else got it from her and she was able to get drops and go back to daycare after a day at home with Mom.
• Something else I've noticed is that when Adilyn gets sleepy and is ready to hunker down and cuddle with us, she still keeps her foot/feet moving - it's pretty adorable, because her Daddy happens to do the exact same thing before he falls asleep at night.  :)
• BREAKING NEWS: Tonight, Adi was being a bit fussy - and clamped down on one of my fingers.  After feeling around a bit, I definitely identified a bump on her top right gum - and was able to sneak a peek at something pushing its way to the surface!  We'll see how long it takes for that thing to bust through - hopefully it will go quickly!
• The chatting (da-da, ma-ma + random noises), constant motion, waves, smiles and laughs continue! 

 Adilyn Rose - you are such a joy to us!  It's VERY hard for me to believe that you are 3 days from being 11 months old!  It seems like just yesterday we were just dreaming about you - wondering what you'd look like, be like.  We are still praying and dreaming for your future - but you should know, we are loving every minute WITH you now! We love you baby girl!

We also spent some time putting up the Christmas tree - though we had to go in stages while Adi was napping to get the tree up and lights on without someone getting tangled up!

And some fun just playing with the lights!

(side note: she does almost everything with her tongue peeking out these days - reminds me of my dear friend KMT) :)

Hope you're all enjoying these cozy, winter days!