First Christmas

Christmas time was very busy. A week before Christmas Aryana was invited to her first children's Christmas party where Santa made an appearance. She was very questionable about this person in a big red suit but liked the idea that she got a present from him.

Absolutely thrilled to meet Santa?

She received her first bath book. She loved it. She chewed, chewed, and chewed on it. (She is in the "everything goes into my mouth stage") Thanks Santa!!

At the HMA X-mas party with Aryana checking out her gift from Santa

We first traveled to Charleston, WV to spend time with Lola and Lolo and her aunties and uncles. We played a lot of Rock Band, and Lee got to cruise in Lanie's and Sar's new BMW. (Sara was home with the baby.)

Auntie Leilanie entertaining Aryana

Uncle Sar teaching Aryana how to rock out on the drums

Aryana got to see more Aunties and Uncles at the Pacis' Christmas party. Lee and I brought our gifts from Kentucky to Charleston to open up on Christmas Day. Aryana received lots of presents from her Auntie's and Uncle's, and she loved the taste of everyone of them too. She received lots of books, clothes, and toys. She really loves books, which is a good thing. Her big gift was her new toy piano from Santa, which she loves to play with.

Uncle Mark and Aryana

Lola, Lee, and Aryana relaxing on the couch

Christmas cake from Auntie Tina

Lolo Nar with Aryana

On Christmas day, Aryana took her first airplane ride to Washington, D.C., and then we drove to Delaware to spend Christmas with my family. Delaware is the only state without a commerical airport. We got there in time for Christmas dinner, and we spent the evening with my family. We opened gifts the next morning, and Aryana was spoiled yet again. She received more books, dresses, toys, and safety proofing gadgets for the house. Over the next couple of days, we spent time relaxing in Delaware.

Having a Merry Christmas in Delaware

With Auntie Jackie

Delaware sure is a nice place to relax

Learning how to befriend doggies

Aryana got to see the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, and Lee was able to enjoy Thrasher's fries on the boardwalk. We took advantage of Delaware's tax-free shopping and new year's deals and went to the outlets to shop. Lee was able to buy two Puma shoes for 60 dollars.

First time seeing the ocean! (Too bad it's so cold)

Family photo at the beach (with Thasher's fries in hand- delicious!)

On the way back to DC, we stopped by Sarah's and James' place for dinner, and it was so nice seeing them. Their daughter Vanessa has gotten so big, and we really miss being with them on a regular basis.

Professional Christmas Photos of Aryana


Photo on our 2007 Christmas Card

First Professional Family Photo (We finally have one up in our living room!)

Thanksgiving

Aryana celebrated her first Thanksgiving with the family. Daddy was on-call, so we stayed here for Thanksgiving. Mommy made her first Thanksgiving meal with cornish hens, stuffing, and broccoli casserole, while Aryana had mushed peas.

Enjoying the fall weather in our backyard

Playing in a pile of leaves

Halloween

Aryana celebrated her first Halloween in a Pittsburgh Steelers football uniform. She looked really adorable, but unfortunately, a lot of people mistaked her for a boy. All well, this will be the only time that we get to choose her costume. She was invited to her first kids costume party with the House Medical Alliance. She will definitely enjoy herself more next year when she can run around with the other kids and jump in the inflatable castle.

Passed out after too much Halloween partying

On Halloween, she helped me pass out candy to the kids in the neigborhood, and questioned the medical skeleton sitting at the door. (Daddy's attempt to decorate at the last minute.)

Aryana's got her game face on

Pittsburgh

During my fall break in October, Lee took the week off from work, and we headed to Pittsburgh, so Aryana could meet the extended family. She got to meet both great-grandmas, and many great- aunts and second cousins.

Great Grandma Wolak with Aryana

Playing with Great Grandma Fetherolf

Great Aunt Ann, and second-cousins Mitchell and Morgan

Great Aunt Ann and Uncle Dean

With our good friend, Sudhir from medical school

We took her to the zoo, which she got close and personal with the free-wandering peacock. Also, the male silver-backed gorilla came right up to the window, and Aryana's eyes widen. We also went to the Chihuly glass art exhibit at the Conservatory, and it was really amazing.

Getting ready to enter the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh

Enjoying the Chihuly Glass Art Exhibit

Nona, Papa, and Mark met us in Pittsburgh at the end of the week to relax and see Aryana.

Four Generations!

While we were in Pittsburgh, Aryana ventured into the world of solid foods with rice cereal. Her first spoonful didn't go really well because she was crying at the top of her lungs, which we quickly learned that she is not interested in eating solids while she is crying. We eventually were able to calm her down, and she was able to enjoy solids for the first time. It was really cute when Nona fed her using the airplane impressions. (Don't worry, I have that on video camera- coming soon.)

Practicing eating rice cereal with a spoon at Great Grandma Wolak's

Visit to the Arboretum

The University of Kentucky has a beautiful arboretum just down the street from our house. We decided to take Aryana to the arboretum this weekend to take pictures of her with the flowers before Fall arrives. Unfortunately, Aryana was hungry just before we left for the Arboretum and we had to feed her before heading over. So by the time we got there she was pretty much passed out. We were able to find a quiet little spot with a nice palette of colorful flowers. Luckily we were able to take some nice pictures, but she was still too sleepy to smile for us.




Of course, by the time we made it home she decided to smile for no reason at all, and we quickly snapped a few 5 month old Aryana pictures on our porch.



Needed one with the hat on

5 months already!!

Aryana just turned 5 months this past week. I can't believe it. Time is going so fast. She smiles all the time now, and she laughs on occasion.

What Aryana looks like when we're trying to get her to sleep at night. A.K.A. "I'm ready to play" face


She must really like her new blue chair



Video of Sara making funny noises to entertain Aryana

Her head control is amazing, and Lee and I don't have to hold her head anymore.

"Who's that baby in the mirror?"


She sure does enjoy her walks during the evening

In addition, she is finally lifting her head really well when she lies on her stomach, but she objects tummy time all of the time. I am sure when she starts crawling she will be happy that she did tummy time. Aryana is still working on rolling over. She can get her butt up in the air, but she hasn't learned to tuck in her arm in order to roll. She likes to babble to you as well. Lee and I took her to church, and she talked all through the readings and homily. At least, everyone around her thought it was cute. She started the everything goes into my mouth phase.

Aryana trying to eat her hand... again

She is grabbing her toys in her gym and pulling them into her mouth, which means that her arm strength is getting better.

Action shot of Aryana playing in her gym


Trying to learn to sit up on her own (plus some help from Ocho)

Instead of spitting up all of the time, she is starting to drool a lot more too, so I think Lee and I might see teeth popping up in the next month or so. The pediatrician gave us the go ahead to start cereal soon at her 4 month check up. We haven't done it yet because Lee and I are planning on getting a camcorder to document the moment.

Aunt Jack Attack

Aunt Jackie, Uncle Dean, and Pap pap came to visit Aryana during Labor Day weekend. Aunt Jackie and Uncle Dean quickly fell in love with Aryana.

Auntie Jackie and her niece

Dean, Jackie, and Aryana relaxing on the porch


The sisters smile for the camera while Dean plays with Aryana

We took a trip to Louisville where we saw and took a tour of Churchill Downs.

A view of Churchill Downs

Dean and Jackie enjoy the scenery during our tour of Churchill Downs


Aryana was bummed there weren't any races to bet on, but we had a great time anyway

Then we walked around downtown. We stopped by the Louisville Slugger Museum, and Jackie, Dean, and I tried our batting skills. (I haven't swung a bat in years, so I was pretty bad.) We went to Sam's Club and bought a bunch of steaks to grill on Sunday. It was a really great weekend full of laughs, pictures, and relaxation.

A cute photo in front of our house