Girls' weekend

Rich was gone this weekend so Gage and I spent the first real weekend of spring (85 degree weather in Mass!) on our own. We met up with Julie (whose husband was also out of town) for Gage's first picnic of the season, watched a baseball game (Deerfield beat Exeter in the bottom of the 7th in a 7 inning game) while enjoying an ice cream cone, and went biking through the farm roads behind Deerfield. Gage loves to sit on the back of the bike and say hi to the cows and the sheep as we go by. We're sounding like some real country bumpkins! Our little flirt enjoys blowing kisses now (even to the cows). But her most favorite activity of the weekend and really of the entire spring is stick collecting. Every trip outside ends with a handful of collected sticks. She gives me the little ones (the duds?) but keeps a tight grasp on anything crayon size or bigger. One of the pictures below catches her "in action." The other was taken at our picnic.

spring

Spring is here! No snow to to make steps difficult and no ice for Gage to slip on. It's a good time to be a toddler. Afternoons at the baseball games and riding behind Daddy's bike in the trailor. Its been rainy this past week though and we're hoping that all these showers WILL bring May flowers. Here's a few pics from playing inside today.

It was a perfect spring day in NH yesterday... some sun, 45 degrees out, and plenty of snow still on the ground. It was a great day to try out Gage's skis in the back yard. While the video is short because we were too low on camera battery, we captured some fun still shots to share too.

Gage Carly's walking... sort of

Gage surprised us all early this week with her first steps. She put five together and clapped for herself. She did it again a few days later, but has since been on strike. In an effort to capture them on camera we have these two videos. But, capturing Gage on video is easier said than done. As soon as she sees the camera, she drops to her knees and makes a crawling sprint for the camera (as seen in the first video!) Hopefully the strike will end one of these days and we can give it another try!

Wintertime notes

The months of January and February have flown by. Gage is getting taller, toothier, and more hairy (on her head) but has yet to take those precious first steps. She likes pointing to things (her favorites: Luca, book, light, and tongue) and is finding her lungs. Shrieking loudly during meal time is her new trick - especially in the dining hall. We are constantly being assured that she is "not that loud" but we feel like she is going to begin clearing the dining hall when they see her coming. She had a chance to visit with GF in New Hampshire and has spent several mornings with Gran and Grandaddy while we have skied. We're holding tight to that morning nap but I'm afraid it will disappear soon, as Gage wants more and more time to explore. The wiggle worm doesn't like to sit still. Life is good.

Gage's first birthday

On January third it was again close to zero temperatures and we could easily remember our cold morning trip to the hospital to welcome Gage a year ago. We celebrated with good friends of ours and their kids and Gage wore the dress that I wore on my first birthday. Gage LOVED the cake and frosting and Noah Overton helped her blow out the single candle on her cupcake. The four little kiddos at the party left the Calhoun house for Cannon mountain to see some fireworks (up close!) and watch the season opening torchlight parade. Gage was mesmerized... or just cold! Thankgoodness for onepiece down snowsuits! (We wished we all could have had one). She went sledding down Cannon's baby slope under the lights with Daddy though, and was all grins.

First Christmas

Gage spent a relaxing Christmas Day here in Sugar Hill with her mom and dad after a wonderful Christmas Eve with Gran, Grandaddy, Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Nathan. She loved all of her presents (and the wrapping paper!) and is in love with her new doll and the assortment of musical instruments that appeared beneath the tree. After a breakfast of eggs, grits and toasted pound cake (the best, you've got to try it!), we all bundled up and headed up to Cannon for some skiing. Although the lifts are closed on Christmas, we thought it would be fun to hike/skin for a ways and ski down for Gage's first ski. She was toasty and warm in her Ergobaby and Katie carried her up and skied down with her. She loved it and laughed the whole way down. Here are some pictures from the big day as well as some from Christmas Eve. We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy New Year!