This year for Christmas we went to the Hill's. Mona came down from Montreal too. It was pretty fun for Jayna to spend her First Christmas with her cousins, Samantha, Brett and Jesse. They are so baby crazy, especially Brett and Jesse, and they just love Jayna. As soon as we get there they give her so much attention and they want to hold, and hug and kiss her, it's really sweet. It was so great to be with family for Christmas, and of course wherever Cassandra is, there is sure to be some delicious food to eat. We have loved living so close to them and getting to spend so much time together.

Cousin Samantha

Jayna with all her presents from Santa, how did he know she wanted Diaper Genie refills?

Jayna gave us the best present ever this Christmas. We had been rocking her to sleep and sometimes it took forever. Finally on Christmas Eve we tried just laying her down in the cradle and she went right to sleep after only fussing for maybe a minute!!

All worn out from opening so many presents

Jayna getting lots of attention from Cousins Brett and Jesse

Our First Christmas with Jayna

This year Gibb had 3 weeks off for Christmas Break. So what else could I do except convince him that we needed to go on a trip, of course. I've been dying to go to New York City, and of course it was the perfect chance, and I found the best deal on tickets...

Also, one of my best friends from High School, Cindy, happened to be living there and very generously offered for us to stay at her apartment, how perfect could it get! So we took Jayna on her first plane ride (which she did amazing on) to New York, New York!!!

Christmas time was the BEST time to go to NYC! Everything was all lit up and decorated, even more than usual. But we were so lucky to have amazing weather while we were there, no snow at all, and pretty warm for December. In the 4 days we were there we managed to see:

• Times Square
• A Broadway Show (Rent)
• Ground Zero
• Financial District
• Wall Street/Exchange Place
  
• Lombardi's Pizza (claims to be the 1st pizza place in NYC and we believed it because they had awesome pizza!)
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Statue of Liberty
  
• Ellis Island
• Rockefeller Center
• Macy's
• 5th Avenue
• Central Park
• Manhattan Temple
  
• Natural History Museum

We also went to some amazing restaurants, two of our favourites were a Brazilian Churascurria, and the Thai place that Cindy and John took us to. Probably some of the best food we ever ate. And of course au bon pain was our staple while we were there.

I absolutely fell in love with New York City, I just loved the energy and excitement there, especially around the Holidays. That's definitely a place I could go back to again and again. And we found out that people are a lot nicer to you when you have a cute little baby with you at all times. Jayna melted tough New York's heart! Our one mistake was bringing our big huge stroller and trying to push it down the tiny and very crowded sidewalks, what we were thinking?

Jayna loved all the lights, when she wasn't covered with a blanket.

Ground Zero was one of my favourite sights. I really didn't understand the tragedy that occurred here until we came to see this, I was very touched.

Gibb's mission, New Jersey!

Wall Street

On the Ferry to the Islands

Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island, one of my other favourite sights

Times Square!!

The Charmin Bathrooms, such a funny place. Right in the middle of times square, they have about 10-15 nice clean bathroom stalls that you can use for free. As long as you don't mind 10 loud people, and a long line up of tourists cheering for you when you go in and out of the stall and then someone going into the stall right after you to clean it for the next person in line. WHOO, do NOT go in there...

Rockefeller Center

Central Park

Natural History Museum

Jayna turned 3 months old and is such a strong girl. She holds her head up so well and is very alert, she doesn't miss a thing, except when she's sleeping.

Poor Little Sweetie

Snoozing with Daddy

Cute sweater from Aunt Mona

All bundled up and ready to go meet the neighbours and say Merry Christmas!
One of our neighbours said she didn't even know we were pregnant and then we came home with a baby...I guess we weren't very friendly before.

Christmas baking for friends and neighbours. This was my first year actually doing "Christmas Baking". I guess you could say I went a little overboard.

Jayna turned 2 months old and she now weighs 10 lbs. and is 22.5 inches long!!!!

We had a busy month with LOTS of visitors. Chris and Pat came to visit from Edmonton and meet Jayna for the first time. While they were here we went to Palmyra, NY and Niagara Falls.

Scott, Erin, Cameron and Evan also came for Thanksgiving from St. Louis.

Scott, Cassandra, Samantha, Brett, Jesse, (and Nathan) came down for the week-end for Jayna's baby blessing. We had beautiful weather, lots of fun and a FULL house!! Jayna's so lucky to have so many great cousins.

Jayna is starting to make such funny faces!

Thanks Grandma Kathy for all the cute outfits!

Jayna and her best friend, Dean, they're one month apart.

First smile we could catch on camera!

Snuggling with Grandpa

Grandpa and his crazy tricks, kind of scary

Cold and wet in Niagara Falls

Best weather for Thanksgiving in November

Jayna's blessing day

It was so fun to have everyone here for our special day!

Jayna turned 1 month old this month! She is already getting so much bigger (she's gained almost 2 pounds). We took a road trip with my mom to London for Canadian Thanksgiving, and then Mona and my mom came back with us to Cleveland. Gibb was so sad that we left him home alone for a few days. I was so sad when my mom left after 5 weeks, I don't know what we're going to do without her. Some highlights of October:

• Jayna weighs 7 lbs. 14 oz, and is 20.5 inches long
• Gibb gave Jayna her first bottle
• Jayna's first real smile!!!
• Jayna slept in her crib in her room for the first time
• Jayna recognized my face/voice
• First Halloween
  

Fall in Cleveland is so pretty!

Apple picking with the Hills in London

Thanksgiving at the Hills

Cousins Brett and Jesse

Cousin Samantha

My Birthday!

Silly little monkey

First Halloween!