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!

Our trip to North Carolina for Thanksgiving was great! Gage had a chance to visit with all of her aunts, and spend some good time cuddling and playing with Mere and GF. Rich and I were worried that she timed her first tooth with the trip - but all in all, the flights weren't too bad, and the drooling and crying were minimal. Gage is getting her first skis for Christmas (size 60 cm) that she can stumble around on in a few months and she was trying them on today (we were banking on the fact that she wouldn't remember them after we wrapped them up). We'll be in NH for Christmas and will eagerly be awaiting Gage's first visit from Santa. Here are some photos (sorry we've been negligent in our "uploading" duties) documenting a wonderful November! A special shout-out to Adelaide, Gage's first friend. They had a great time playing together in Greensboro and she was nice enough to try and teach Gage how to play the recorder but alas, Gage has our musical genes and just drooled on it.

Happy Halloween

I'm going to be a cow for Halloween...



Or if it is cold... a big blue blob!

stairs

Morning exercise






Phew... hard work.

Just for fun - hat head!

Joe the Plumber?

Fall Days (literally)

Here is a great example of foreshadowing by Katie. Be sure to watch until the end!





Fear not, Gage was neither harmed nor injured during the filming of this clip! Our apartment, while not blessed with modern appliances or attractive paint schemes, does have some very cushy carpets. We're enjoying some great fall weather in Deerfield and Gage has been enjoying the falling leaves and then trying to eat them!