More baptism photos

I posted the report and initial photos of Katie's baptism here, but I have several more to share! The professional-looking ones of Katie in her baptism dress were taken at Target the day after Christmas.

Go Maryland!!

Katie attended her first Univ. of MD basketball game last week and enjoyed it thoroughly! Her favorite part was when the stadium went dark except the flashing lights. Daddy's favorite part was watching Maryland win over Wakeforest, which he wasn't expecting. (It also didn't hurt that Daddy's brother Jamie, a Wakeforest grad, was with us.) Here are some photos from the experience:

A few days later, Daddy was even happier when Maryland toppled undefeated #1 team UNC (sorry Mom, Daniel, Jason, and Anna). Katie cheered for that game as well, though from the comfort of our couch. I'm thinking of renting Katie out as Maryland's new mascot. Both times she's cheered for them, they've won. Plus I think she's awfully cute when she dances to the Maryland Fight Song. :-) You can see for yourself in the video below (shot with 1 minute left in the MD/UNC game).

Katie's First Christmas, Part 1

I'm finally getting around to posting photos from Katie's first Christmas. Here's part 1.

The weekend before Christmas we travelled to Danville, VA for a massive get-together with my grandma, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, etc. Every Christmas my grandma's present to all of us is to hire my mom's cousin Susan to cater a big lunch where we can all visit with each other. After spending the night in Danville, my siblings and I all gathered in Ashland, VA to exchange gifts with my brother Jason and his family, since Jason had to work on Christmas Day.

We were blessed this year to have some of my grandma's siblings and sisters-in-law stop by to see all of us during the lunch in Danville. And if you want to see one FUNNY non-Katie video, you'll need to watch the following. What happens when you put my crazy family members together? We race toddlers against 90-year-old Aunt Thelma.

Now that you've had a good laugh, here are just a few of the cute photos from that trip:

To see the rest, you'll need to click here to view my entire Danville/Ashland photo gallery.

New Years Day in D.C.

On New Years Day, we went with two other young families to downtown D.C. to see the train setup at the U.S. Botanic Garden and the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House. You can see my photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13824283@N07/sets/72157603693372208/

Bye bye, Christmas tree

Katie was sure sad to see the Christmas tree go bye-bye.

Playing with Mommy

Katie is getting more active and adventurous all the time. Nowadays she loves to climb on my head and shoulders, as well as hang upside down. In this video she stands behind me "hiding," and when I find her she starts doing the baby dance and finally waving and talking to the camera.

Christmas at the White House

OK, speaking of overdue photos, on December 10 I was invited by my friend Emily Yee to go with her to see the White House East Wing decorated for Christmas. Thankfully my church provided babysitting for the very hours that I'd need to leave Katie behind -- which I saw as God's indication that I should go!

Every year the WH decorations are themed, and this year's theme was the National Park Service. That's why you'll see a lighthouse, photos of presidents in parks, deer decorations, a seashell-themed mantle, and a painting of a California mountain range (which Emily could name but I can't remember right now). Other photos below include a montage of Christmas cards from different U.S. presidents, and a White House made out of gingerbread (I tried to hint that they could give it to me when they were done with it instead of throwing it out, but I didn't get very far with that...).