August's First Christmas

We were so excited to celebrate August's first Christmas this year!  Surely, this will be the first of many pictures in front of the tree, though hopefully it's one of the only years the tree will have to be barricaded from a curious baby.

August was very eager to explore his stocking and test the new shaker Daddy found for him.

Though he was none too pleased to be woken up so early.  I'll never tire of this classic August expression.

Grandma and Grandpa got August a toy that lights up and plays all sorts of great sounds, as well as stacking toys that crash to the ground.  He loves all of it!  He loves the Tigger from Nana and Poppop, too--especially when it plays music and bounces up and down.  Mommy and Daddy wonder if perhaps they're getting paid back somehow this Christmas, what with all the loud toys. :)

Mommy and Daddy got August something to keep both hands very busy.  He mostly loves to push it across the floor.

Both Aunt Heidi and Aunt Cara saw that Auggie's head will stay nice and warm this winter, even if he's not a huge fan of the outdoors just yet.

Merry First Christmas, August!  Thank you for giving us the gift of our beautiful new family this year.  We love you!

August - Eleven Months

What a month it's been for our big 11-month-old boy!  Happy birthday, August!

After months of waiting, August finally cut his first tooth this month on his Aunt Cara's birthday--December 3rd.  Actually, he cut two, both of the front bottom.  He has the cutest little toothy smile either of us has ever seen.  August's new teeth means that he's able to explore new foods, too.  He loves to munch on cucumbers and raisins, the former usually covered in hummus.

August is getting increasingly adept at his unique crawl, but he's also started cruising a lot more.  His Nana came to visit us this month, and he loved showing off for her.  He makes lap after lap around our living room coffee table, and cruises along every wall in the house.  Walking on his own is surely just around the corner.
Edit: Walking isn't just around the corner anymore!  August took his first solo steps today.  He took two wobbly steps in the kitchen.  Way to go, buddy!

We're also excited to see how social August is becoming.  He loves to wave at strangers in the grocery store, at shopping malls, the aisles at Target...pretty much anywhere.  Naturally people love to wave back to him.  It helps that he's the cutest baby ever--no bias of course.  He's also getting much braver with other new experiences, like playing on the swings.

We've spent the last month getting August ready for his first Christmas, though it obviously means more to us this year than it does to him.  Still, I think he senses the excitement and spirit of the Christmas season.