Chloe Update

We spent Christmas in Hunting Beach with Nate's fam this year. We were very thankful that Nate was able to get Christmas off (he normally works sundays but was able to get the day off). My parents happened to also be in Southern Cali around the same time for a couple of days and so we were able to have breakfast at the Traxler house together one morning (see photos below). Chloe had a great 1st Christmas. We are very blessed with a wonderful family that just spoils our little girl!! Nate and I were able to appreciate Christmas in a whole new way this year as we watched our daughter enjoy her first Christmas and really reflect upon the fact of the miracle of the birth of Christ. We are so thankful.

Chloe is 8 months old today and her progress has been fun to watch. She is a great roller and keeps me quite busy (I thought we had a small house but she makes it seem really big...especially when we play a game of "hide my toys and mommy find them"!!:) ) Another couple of Chloe's favorite games: namely fur, tile & curtains. She puts her hand under one of the couches and pulls the fur off of the underside of this couch (our other couch does not have this thank goodness) and then talks to the fur and puts the fur in her mouth. She also likes to roll into our entry way and talk to the tile flooring and also likes to pull, talk and bat on and at our floor length curtains in the family room (I think we are going to be changing that around soon). It is pretty funny to watch her do these things but she shouldn't be doing them so I do my best to encourage her to play with her toys or roll other directions.

Chloe not only rolls all over, but she has been sitting usassisted for about two months. And then yesterday a couple of new things happened...I saw her put her legs under her (which she has been doing on and off for a little while now) and roll to the sitting up position for the 1st time all by herself. We both laughed about it (I am not really sure why it was funny other than her face was one of total shock, or as we call it the "O" face, and it cracks us up everytime she makes this face). Then I noticed that she is cutting her 1st tooth, as well. And, as of yesterday, she weighed a little over 19 lbs. What a day we had!! She can also wave & shake her head no. Sometimes she confuses the waving to mean no; it is so cute!! We are in the process of teaching her to clap and blow kisses. She even tries to pull herself up on furniture. She loves her oatmeal, fruit and vegies and will be starting meats very soon. She enjoys watching baby einstein and listening to her vegie tales. She enjoys her time in the nursery at church and does really well while mommy and daddy are in the worship service (we are so greatful that our church has a need for a service on saturday evenings because Nate works on sundays and so we are still able to all attend our church together). We are busy with bible study and playgroups with friends and family. I never thought I would be having this much fun!!