Crawling

Lily started scooting around right around Christmas.  It didn't take her long from then to figure out how to crawl.  She's officially into everything, with cords and paper being her favorite things to get into. 

She's carrying around a lot of weight, so she doesn't really get her body off the floor, but rather army crawls to where she wants to go.  She has started getting her belly off the floor a lot more and getting faster, though.  I forgot how easy babies are before they start moving around!

Of course, she's whining the whole time, but here's a video of her getting around.  She's doing a lot better now.  It's amazing how much difference a few days can make!

"Mamamamama" is also something we're starting to hear quite a bit of.  She's definitely Mama's girl right now and if she even gets a glimpse of me she whines because she wants me.  I've become a pro at sneaking out and into a room.  I haven't got the "mamama" on video, but here's some of her jabbering.

Lily has also discovered Little Einsteins.  I still don't understand what is so fascinating about that show, but both girls love it.  If it comes on, nothing else in the room matters.

Little Einsteins is on!

Lily's also found a doll that I had bought for Ainsley in hopes she would play with the hair on the doll instead of mine when falling asleep.  It didn't work on Ainsley and she wanted nothing to do with the doll, but Lily loves it! 

Bike ride

Last Saturday afternoon it got up to almost 60, and Joel and Ainsley took advantage of it!  Ainsley was able to take her new bike for a ride.  Joel let her "ride" her bike up our street, but she refused to let him help her pedal.  Instead, she walked her bike all the way up the street and back home.  She told us she was riding it though! 

  

Joel must have been feeling brave because he then took Ainsley to the park for a little bit.  He let her walk to the park.  Granted, it's really not THAT far, but it's a long walk for an almost-3-year-old.  She was wore out by the time they got home!

It was so nice a little over a week ago, and yesterday our high was supposed to be a high of -7.  Yep, that's a negative!  Wind chill values were predicted to be -30 to -35.  You gotta love the crazy Illinois weather!

Freeman Christmas

We headed to Jim and Rita's Christmas afternoon for the rest of the day.  It was nice to sit around and relax for the afternoon, especially since I started feeling terrible that morning.  I even got a quick nap that afternoon.  A nap was the best Christmas present I got, especially since Santa didn't bring Mommy anything!

When Drake's around, there's sure to be trouble.  Lani didn't feel good, so she wasn't her normal self running around making all kinds of noise with Drake.  Instead, my daughter stepped up to the plate to be Drake's sidekick.  I found the two of them trying to get Rita's carolers to sing by clapping their hands.  Well, one of them got a little excited and took out one of the carolers while trying to get them to sing.  (I'll just say it wasn't my kid!)  We stood the caroler back up and got it working again.  Ainsley thought they were pretty cool!

I don't think any of Jeremy's family felt good, and I know I didn't that afternoon.  Halfway through the afternoon, I could tell Ainsley wasn't feeling the greatest either.  Her poor little cheeks were bright red and she just looked terrible.  She wasn't even excited to open presents, and kept asking when we were going home.  

I'm just going to eat this shoe, Mom....until I can get some of that wrapping paper in my mouth!

Yum!  Finally...some of that wrapping paper!

 

Drake got a new guitar!

We didn't stay long at all after we opened presents.  We went home, got the girls in the bathtub and then pajamas and they were even able to play with their new toys for a little bit before bed that night.  I woke up the next morning feeling absolutely terrible and finally went to Prompt Care that Saturday morning.  I had influenza, and they gave me some Theraflu.  It took me almost an entire week to start to feel normal again.  We had to miss going to Grandma and Grandpa Bowman's the evening after Christmas because I felt so bad.  I hate getting sick around the holidays, but am happy to say that currently everyone in the Freeman household is healthy again!

Even with everyone getting sick, we still had a great Christmas.  Ainsley made it so much fun this year with her excitement.  I'm already looking forward to next year when Lily understands it better and we have two excited little girls!

Santa came!

Santa stopped by our house while the girls were sleeping and brought some pretty cool presents.

Ainsley woke up Christmas morning and when I told her Santa came, her eyes got big and she was excited.  She couldn't wait to go down to the basement and see what Santa brought.

She walked down the stairs and ran over to the play house.  She walked in it and asked if Santa brought it.  I told her that Santa did bring it, and Ainsley looked around the little house in amazement and excitedly said:  "THANK YOU, SANTA!"  It was so cute!

The main thing she asked for leading up to Christmas was a "Mickey bike", which is actually a tricycle.  Santa searched high and low for the tricycle she wanted, but they don't sell it anymore.  Instead, she got a Minnie tricycle.  It took her awhile to see her new tricycle, but since it wasn't the Mickey bike she wasn't very excited. 

She kept asking if Santa brought all of her presents as she opened them.  After she opened the Bubble Guppies water color paint book, she was pretty much done with everything else.  She didn't even want to open the rest of her presents.  She wanted to go upstairs and paint! 

Lily loved opening the presents and actually opened a few of them by herself.  Of course, I think it was just so she could have some paper to put in her mouth, but it was fun to watch her get excited!

Ainsley had to unwrap a few gifts inside her house.

Santa brought Lily an activity cube, and both girls loved it.  I think Ainsley may like it more than Lily!

Getting both girls to sit and look at the camera is impossible.  I really don't know why I even try.  Maybe one of these days I'll get them both looking AND smiling for the camera.

Dad came up Christmas morning to watch the girls open presents, so I had him snap a quick family picture of us.  The girls did sit somewhat still for a minute while Dad tried to figure out the camera.

I think Lily could have played with all the new toys in the basement for awhile that morning, but Ainsley was itching to get upstairs and paint!

Papa Bill and Lily playing in their new house

We ate some breakfast and then the girls played with some of their new toys.  It was so nice to not have to rush around and have multiple places to go.  We went to Jim and Rita's for the afternoon, but didn't have to be there until early afternoon.  Ainsley realized it was Christmas Day, which meant she could finally put the STAR on the advent calendar.