Caroline Meets Santa For The First Time...Second Time...

AND SHE LOVED HIM!!


Even though this is officially Caroline's 2nd Christmas with us, she is experiencing sitting on Santa's lap for the first time. We had decided that we didn't want Caroline exposed to all of the many germs that adorned the Santa suit since she was so little last year (only 6 weeks old at Christmas).


SO, this year was it. The meeting of the big fat man in the red suit! We didn't know what to expect. I'm not sure about Brian, but my mom had said that when I was young, I never liked Santa. So I didn't know if this would be something that would rub off on Caroline. BUT she LOVED him!


She loved him so much, we have actually seen two different Santa's now. I guess that's to make up for not taking her last year! ;~)


You can see in the first pictures with Santa that she may have been a little unsure (trying not to look at who was holding her). The other Santa and especially Nellie the Elf was a big hit with Caroline. I think she may have thought that they were stuffed animals. She LOVED both of them! She kept walking back towards them, as if to say, let's play some more! It was hard for her to say goodbye, but she did manage to give them a wave as we were walking away. We may have to visit Santa again before the holiday. I think Caroline still has some things that she would like to say to Santa before Christmas Day!


All in all a good first Santa experience to remember! Just wait till next year....2 years old...we will see what happens then! ;~)


Merry Christmas!

Caroline with the first Santa...maybe if I don't look at him, I won't know that he's holding me!

Caroline with a 'lil smile!

Caroline still trying not to look at Santa!


SANTA TAKE TWO...

Caroline with Santa & Nellie the Elf...she LOVED them!

Caroline with her new found friends!

Our Family with Santa & Nellie the Elf.

It looks like Caroline is trying to wrap Santa and the Elf around her finger with that sweet smile!

13 Months Old Today AND...

WALKING!! Yes, Caroline is officially walking. It was actually a more gradual approach that began around 12 1/2 months. I could see her getting more and more confident each day. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Caroline had everyone to take her hand at one point or another to assist her in her new talent...walking. At that point she saw walking as an alternate transportation and preferred taking the crawling route in order to get to what she wanted faster.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect AND all of this practice has paid off!


Now, she has changed her mind and is liking the walking thing...she's doing more walking and less crawling everyday. Let's just say...Mommy is TIRED at the end of the day! BUT, believe me, I am loving every minute of my day, well maybe some moments are better than others, :~) but it is AMAZING seeing our once infant who slept most of the day develop into this toddler that is walking, talking, babbling, playing, waving, hugging, kissing, smiling, you name it from the time she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed at night! She has even been under the weather (sinusitis & double ear infection) BUT she still manages to get her play time in with a smile on her face most all day.




Who is the sweetest girl in town....Caroline Elizabeth!!



We've posted a video of Caroline's new found talent...ENJOY!!


What a big girl she is!

We're SO PROUD of our little girl!!


CAROLINE WALKS!

Thanksgiving with The Wilders 2008

YES, It's Turkey Lurky time again!! The beginning of the holiday season. A time to be with family and friends. A time to be thankful for the many blessings that God has given us, especially our little Caroline. A time to eat like it was the last meal for the year...even though we definitely do not need to be eating this much food...just more to work off beginning in January, right?! ;~) EATING, DRINKING, and STUFFING ourselves in the company of our family.

This year was the Wilder's year. Each year we alternate between my family and Brian's family. We spent this Thanksgiving with my family and next year we will be dining with the Battens.

This year was a little different for the Wilder family. We have been spending Thanksgiving with my family every other year now since 2002 at the Outer Banks. My parents rent an oceanfront home for the week for us all to enjoy. We've had lots of good memories....well, except for the "The Storm" we rode out in 2006, but all in all good times! This year we were unable to coordinate the beach trip, so we decided since we were going to be in Richmond, we would at least do something different.

SO, we decided to have our Thanksgiving dinner at The Richmond Country Club. No one had to cook OR clean...which was really nice! The food was fantastic and atmosphere was beautiful as always. We spent the rest of the day, like most other families, watching football and sleeping off the turkey that we had consumed. That night we spent time around the fire outside roasting marshmallows and making s'mores...mmm...one of my favorites!!
Even though we didn't make it to the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving this year, it turned out to be a special year spent in Richmond...making new traditions! Some us of even managed to get an early start on Christmas shopping...shopping at 4am is definitely something that everyone should experience at one time or another....it's another world...only the brave can endure!!
It was fun BUT I think I will be sleeping in a little longer next year. ;~)

I hope everyone had a wonderful turkey day and enjoy the pics below.

Oh, by the way, sorry this post is a little late...I've had a sick 'lil pumpkin...just a cold, but I think she is on the mend. She must have eaten TOO MUCH turkey!! When looking at some of these pics of Caroline, I can't believe how much she has changed in the past year. This year Caroline was able to really enjoy her Thanksgiving meal (well at least what didn't end up on the floor). Last year I think she slept right through the meal. She was weighing in last year as a small turkey breast....now she is a full fledged turkey lurky!! ;~) ENJOY!!

The Wilder Family @ The Richmond Country Club

Grandma and Grandad with all of the Grandchildren

Posing by the Fire

More Posing by the Fire

Brian and I enjoying our fireside chat...and of course our S'more