More Visitors and 11 months old

Usually in the month of January, the winter blues really start to set in around the Freij household. Thank goodness the good Lord knows how to remedy the situation and has sent us many visitors...both family and friends. It has been a month since my parents visited, and they were more than happy to spend a long weekend with Helaina.
Helaina is definitely a people person. She never really had much separation anxiety and hasn't been upset with anyone we've left her with...which we are thankful for! However, it's amusing that she does have "preferences". If there is a room full of people, Randy and me included, she would probably ask to be with Randy's dad or my mom. At this age, it's amazing to us that she doesn't see my parents for weeks at time and seems to remember them immediately!
One reason I know she loves Grandma Cathy, she brings LOTS of presents...this was an early Valentine's Day gift The newlyweds, Kelly and Tony, were in Michigan visiting a childhood friend of Tony's. They were able to spend most of Saturday with us. Kelly and I have been friends for almost 20 years and our dads coached softball together for well over 10 years. I know my parents enjoyed the visit with them just as much as us!

We think, very soon, that Helaina will be taking steps on her own. She's now strolling around the living room, walking from furniture to furniture but still holding on with one hand. Maybe she'll be a "walker" by her first birthday!

She's also turning 11 months old this week! Here is a list of some new things she's doing.

*growing into her 24 month/2T clothing

*can tell you when asked (in Arabic and English) where her hair, eyes, nose, teeth, stomach, hands, toes are)

*waves bye bye and blows kisses when asked

*when mom tells her to "splash" in the bathtub, she soaks Daddy with the water :)

*dances EVERY TIME she hears a song

*says the words baby, bye bye, momma, dadda, go-go

*signs the words bottle, please, more, and all done

*gives hugs and kisses

*loves to read books, she'll get the book she wants and hand it over to us to read (sadly, it's the ONLY time our little girl will snuggle with us, so we do lots of reading in our house)

Jeff's 30th Surprise Birthday Party

Friday evening, Randy and I attended Jeff's (Randy's dental practice partner) 30th surprise birthday party. His sisters, Katie and Kelle, planned a country themed ho-down which included a live country music band and food catered from Dave's Famous Barbecue. It was weeks in the planning...freeing up Jeff's schedule, making fake invitations for a couple's bridal shower that Jeff thought he was attending, and secretly inviting old classmates and friends...it was a success! My parents were in town to watch Helaina, so Randy and I enjoyed an evening together celebrating with many good friends!

THE SURPRISE! Jeff in his younger years

The staff at Superior Family Dental

Nothing completes a 30th birthday attire more than an airbrushed cowboy hat :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF! HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT EVENING!

Another Weekend Sleepover

Thank goodness for great friends! The fun continued this past weekend as our close friends, the Cobb family, traveled from Indianapolis to visit us at our home in Michigan. Since Aiden's visit two weeks ago, Helaina has been saying "baaybaay" (aka baby). So we were really looking forward to Helaina spending time with another baby. Erin and Travis' son, Nolan, is 3 1/2 months old. What a sweet boy! Randy and I were in heaven...unlike Helaina, Nolan is a super cuddle bug. We spent as much time as possible snuggling with the little man.
Nolan and Helaina hanging out Saturday morning
Helaina attacking Nolan after only a few seconds of sitting near each other

Helaina trying to wear Uncle Travis' hat

"Hey mom, quit taking my picture! Can't you see I'm trying to play!"

Nolan and Helaina cheering for the #1 football team...GO COLTS!!!

Helaina attacking Nolan (again) after only a few seconds of sitting near each other. This time Nolan thinks Helaina is flirting and tries to chew her hand.

Erin and Travis had never been to an NHL game. Randy's parents generously offered to watch the babies so we could go on a double date to the Red Wings' game. Even though they lost, a night out together was priceless!

Our friends, our family...thank you so much Cobb family for visiting us this past weekend! We love you and miss you already!

Helaina's First Slumber Party

This weekend the Archer family traveled from Indianapolis to visit our family in Michigan. After a long day at work and then a rather long drive, Ryan, Katie and Aiden finally arrived around midnight Friday evening. This was the first time Ryan and Katie had visited us since Aiden was born. This was also the first time that Helaina had an extended overnight play date. Aiden is now 4 1/2 months old, and he is such a SWEET baby! Helaina is a busy body these days, but she managed to spend some quality time with her buddy Aiden. Since the births of our kiddos, life has become increasing more busy for both of our families. So Randy and I couldn't be more thankful for the time Ryan and Katie were willing to spend with us. We have a weekend of wonderful memories, and some really special ones for little Aiden! He managed to reach some important milestones while visiting us!
The oh so handsome boy...Aiden James Aiden in the jumper, Helaina trying to play with his toys on the jumper

Helaina watching over Aiden as he plays on the activity mat

Gazing into each others' eyes

A little bit of flirting: Helaina showing her love to Aiden by attacking him with her hand, Aiden trying very hard to dodge the blow

Thank you again Archer family for visiting us!

Shoe Shopping

You may be wondering why we've posted a photo of Helaina's shoes...well, this weekend Helaina and mom went shoe shopping. This is a very special moment for our family because since Helaina was about 8 weeks old, she has refused to wear shoes. During the summer months, we'd put on her open-toed sandals and within minutes, she'd have them both kicked off. Within time, it had become a game that Helaina always won...1. mom puts on the shoes, 2. Helaina spends the next 10-15 minutes kicking them off, 3. the game continues as Helaina works endlessly to get them from her foot to inside her mouth 4. mom considers putting the shoes back on her feet only to find they are soaked her in saliva. We'd actually take them with us in her diaper bag to use as a toy because they would keep her occupied longer than anything else.
Recently, Helaina has been learning to walk and before this weekend, I'm embarrassed to admit that she didn't even own 1 pair of shoes (that fit her feet anyways). Besides Helaina not wanting to wear shoes, we have failed in even finding a pair that fits her extra, extra, wide feet.
I've become determined to get our child to wear shoes by the time she is walking this spring, so this weekend, mom and Helaina went to Perkos Children's Shoe Store. Helaina's cute, but oh so chubby feet measured at 5 1/2 double wide...oh my! The nice lady recommended that Helaina get tie up shoes and if we liked the convenience of Velcro, we'd need to purchase a pair similar to high tops so she'd have to work harder to get them off. Luck was on our side, and we found a pair of each. She's been wearing them several hours during the day and has been doing great! Finally, the shoe mission is complete!

(By the way, who knew kids shoes were so darn expensive?! Geez, can't wait till she outgrows them and needs a new pair this spring!)

Last Christmas Post Til Next Year

And just like that, it's gone! Christmas and New Year's are over, and it's back to work, back to routine activities, and hopefully accomplishing some of those New Year's resolutions. Our family spent New Year's in Valpo celebrating Christmas with my side of the family. Of course, there was no shortage of gifts for Helaina. She won't remember, but we'll be sure to remind her just how much she is loved by all.
Opening her new purse with Grandma Cathy. Probably my favorite gifts that Helaina received while visiting Valpo :)...her personalized chair from Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Don and "Bunny Sue" from Uncle Nathan and MaKayla

Opening more gifts at the Walter Christmas

Home is such a great place. It brings everybody back together, especially during the holidays. My cousin Jessie and her family visited with us on Friday afternoon. She doesn't get back home often (she lives in Key West), but Helaina was happy to see her!