Christmas & More in Perry

Our first Christmas Eve at Gram's house.

The whole family - Dad, Dan & Paul in the back, and Danielle, Alexa, Me, Mom & Kelly in the front.

Alexa on Christmas morning with her Build-A-Bear from Auntie Danielle.

Self-portrait time for me & Alexa.

Dan & Alexa on Christmas Day.

Our first Christmas :)

Sorry it has been so long since my last post! Things have been hectic lately, which is normal for the holiday season. We were blessed to spend almost an entire week in Perry for Christmas this year! We had a wonderful time with my family, and it was really hard to leave them. Luckily for Alexa, Santa found Noni & Papa's house without a problem :) She received so many things it was ridiculous. Books, DVDs, the bear, clothes, money, ornaments, and much more. Among my favorite gifts from Dan are a new North Face jacket, some knock-off Ugg boots and a beautiful snowflake necklace. The most important thing that I got Dan was a kit to brew beer! He says to get ahold of us next winter because he plans on perfecting his brew to be an equivalent to Barley's Christmas Ale! My parents, as usual, were too generous with us. They got us a new digital camera, clothes, tools, money, and more. We seriously got so much stuff that we couldn't fit it all in the car to bring it back to Columbus! That's okay with me though because that means we get to go to Perry again this weekend :) To see more pictures from our time in Perry (besides the few I posted above), check out the following links:
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Post Christmas
I'm hoping to have more time this weekend (or at the very latest the beginning of next week) to upload pictures from Andy and Cathy's visit to Ohio. It was really great to see them and David, and to meet our new niece, Natalie! We wish they weren't so far away so that the kids could all be growing up together. Hopefully, we'll be headed to NC for Natalie's baptism in February so it won't be too long until we see them again. Well, I must sign-off so I can get ready for our friends to arrive to celebrate NYE with us... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Slumber Party

Getting kisses from Erin.

Even Chloe was at our slumber party.

Goofy :)-

Me & Chloe.

Alexa with Erin & Auntie Danielle.

Haha... Dan being well, Dan.

Us girls.

We had a slumber party in the family room and watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

New Friends & A Trip to the Salon

Paul's buddy, Ben, who just returned from Iraq.

My hair dresser, Cate, with Alexa.

Me & Alexa at Lagier Salon.

Noni & Alexa after our hair appointments - Alexa didn't need hers done yet :)

Danielle's friend, Erin (and she's also Cate's little sister), meeting Alexa for the first time.

Well, we arrived safe and sound in Perry on Monday afternoon. The trip took about 20 minutes longer than usual because of weather. That evening we hung out at home with my family and some of Paul's friends. We also began working on a gingerbread house - it didn't get finished until Tuesday afternoon (I'll post pictures of it later). On Tuesday, Mom, Alexa, and I ran a few last minute errands before our hair appointment. Then, in the evening Aunt Janine, Uncle Ken, and Gram came out for dinner. So far we've had a really great visit... I've enjoyed my time with my family, and Dan is perfecting his stroke on Tiger Woods Wii Gold :)
I've posted some pictures of a few new friends (of Alexa's) and from the hair salon. I'm sure I'll have many more pictures to post in the next few days between the holiday and meeting more friends (everyone my parents, brother, and sister know wants to meet the munchkin).
Tonight is my most favorite day of the year, hands down! We'll go to Mass this afternoon and then head to Gram's house. Then tomorrow is my baby girl's first Christmas. I know it is going to be a very special day!!!

KAT!!!!

Aunty Kat meeting Alexa for the very first time!

My best friend, my daughter, and me... pure awesomeness!

Kat and Alexa were fast friends.

This afternoon we went out to the east side of town to finally introduce Alexa to my best friend, Kat, and her boyfriend, Dave. They live in London and just arrived in the States for the holidays. It was so great to finally see Kat holding Alexa! It was just great to see Kat in general. She is one of the only friends that have not treated me differently since finding out I was prego back in the spring. I know that having a child means growing up and maturing, but it doesn't mean I am a completely different person. Kat just gets that, she gets me. Anyways, I'm just happy that her and Dave are in town for two weeks!!!
The next time I blog, we'll be in PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas in Pataskala

Me & Alexa sitting around until it was time to go open presents.

Our lil family in front of the tree.

Maureen & Dan.

Uncle Dan holding Alexa & her bear.

I got these cool 'candles.'

Becky holding the bowl Maureen made her in pottery class.

Pat very excited about the Eastern Europe travel book (and beer and wine) that we got them.

Dan with his new Shop Vac.

Maureen & Dan got the makings for s'mores! (they just built a fire pit at home)

Dan with Alexa's gift - a wagon.

The cute outfits that Auntie Mo Mo & Uncle Dan got Alexa.

Chloe & Maddie (M&D's dog) chillin' out.

Alexa with Grandma & Grandpa.

Today we celebrated Christmas with Dan's parents, Maureen, and Dan (next weekend we'll have another Ritchey Christmas with Andy & Cathy and their kids). First, we had a wonderful chicken dinner. Then we went downstairs to open gifts. Some of the things we received were 'candles,' baskets, a Shop Vac, money and Buckeye cookies. Alexa got the cutest purple dress and some onesies, as well as a teddy bear and wagon. After we were done exchanging gifts, we went upstairs and had cream puffs for dessert (a Christmas tradition at my in-law's house).

When we got back to our house, I finished wrapping Christmas gifts!!! It is such a relief to know that I can now just sit back, relax, and enjoy Christmas --- which means, we are almost headed to Perry!!!! I am so looking forward to Alexa's 1st Christmas Eve at Gram's house and to opening gifts with my parents, Dan, Alexa, Chloe, Paul and Danielle on Christmas morning. My parents have always made Christmas such a special holiday, and I am just so excited for my daughter to experience these traditions (even though I know she has no clue what is going on). It's been 14 days since we've seen my family, and it seems like it has been forever! In less than 48 hours, we will be with them again, thank goodness. It's amazing how starting a family of my own has made me appreciate my family (particularly my mom) and has given me a fierce desire to be closer to them... For those of you who live in Lake County, we will be in town until at least Friday, maybe Saturday... give us a call or text and come over to my parents' house to visit!

Tomorrow Alexa is going to meet my BFF, Kat, and her boyfriend, Dave. They live in London, England and are visiting for the holiday. We cannot wait to see them!!!

Meeting Auntie Mo Mo & Uncle Dan

Maureen meeting her niece for the first time.

Cheese!

Alexa with her Uncle Dan & Auntie Mo Mo.

This evening Alexa finally was able to meet Dan's sister, Maureen, and her fiance, Dan. Yes, the poor child is going to be so confused - Daddy Dan, Papa Danny, Auntie Danielle, & Uncle Dan... how crazy that we have so many derivations of Daniel in our families! Anyways, they came over with Dan's parents and we all went out to Olive Garden for dinner. I strongly recommend that you try the Chicken & Gnocci soup, it was fabulous!

Cuddling Daddy

Daddy, Alexa & Chloe - thank goodness we have a king sized bed!

I swore, before Alexa was born, that by one month she would be sleeping in her crib in the nursery. Yeah right. I cried the other night when we just talked about it! Anyways, I woke up really early to go grab a Christmas gift for Dan before he left for work so that I wouldn't have to take Alexa out in this crappy weather... when I returned home I found Dan, Alexa, & Chloe all snuggled up in our bed. Dan and I are in agreement - Alexa is the best cuddler ever!!

Christmas Shopping

Alexa in her car seat right before we left the house.

Today Alexa and I went out Christmas shopping. Thankfully, I think we got just about everything done!!! While we were out, we were near Dan's work so we stopped in to say hello and to meet some of his coworkers :) A few of them asked how old 'he' was just because her sleeper had blue on it - this solidified my decision to pierce her ears. I met a woman last week (at the mall actually) with a 4 month old. She had pierced her daughter's ears at 3 months because she was told that was a good age since the child will not play with them. So check back with us at the end of January - beginning of February to see Alexa's pretty pierced ears!

A Productive Day

Our bubbling beauty in her bouncer.

Trying out the sling - I was able to get a few Christmas gifts wrapped this way!

Dan and Alexa fell asleep on the couch.

The sling was definitely helpful today... I was able to get all of our Christmas gifts wrapped, I cleaned the kitchen and family, and did a few other random things (like played online, lol). Now, Alexa and I just have to shop for Dan/Daddy, and we will be all done! After spending the morning downtown in a class, Dan worked from home in the afternoon today. He got to experience how Alexa constantly wants to be held and tried a new trick with her - he laid her in the bassinet with his undershirt, and she stopped fussing. It was amazing. I may have to try it when he is at work - maybe she just misses her Daddy while he's gone (like I do). Will post more when we have a more eventful day :)

Happy Baby

Alexa hanging out on the floor right after a diaper change.

We have really been enjoying Alexa during the first seven weeks of her life! She is such a happy baby! She loves to be held (so much so that I had to go out and buy a sling tonight so that I can start doing stuff around the house). And as the Ritchey's can vouch (based on our Christmas party), Alexa can sleep through anything! In other news, when Alexa was born she weighed 7 lbs 4.5 oz, and last week she weighed 8 lbs 15 oz - so nursing is a success for us! Today was a wonderful day for Mommy & Alexa. We stayed inside because it was sooo cold and just hung out - we hadn't had a lazy day at home the past few days because of Christmas shopping. We read books, had a massage, did some exercises and played with the rattle. While Alexa was laying on the couch moving about, I decided to take a quick video to show how squirmy she is... and I was pleasantly surprised that about 40 seconds into the video she smiled!!! Enjoy :)