Dedication Sunday

The Sunday right after Thanksgiving, we took advantage of having both sides of the family in town and dedicated Linnea in our church's Sunday morning service. It was an important day because Mommy & Daddy publicly committed to raise Linnea in a Christian home... and also because she got to wear her first hair bow :).

Pastor Carr did the dedication, and Linnea cooperated quite nicely while he held her during the prayer. She got restless in the last 30 seconds or so, but he is a father of 5 so he knew enough to give her a paper bulletin to play with to pacify her.

Afterwards, we came home and had lunch with all four of her grandparents, Great-Gramma Branca, Aunt Aimee and Uncle Brett. She even got to open some nice mementos of the occasion. She was actually quite into it - boads well for Christmas :).

Thanksgiving 2008

Linnea was just tickled pink to have Mommy's side of the family in town for Thanksgiving this year. Above she is pictured with PAPA (capitalized in attempt to capture the sound of her yelling it every time someone else said it to her).

Here she is with Cousin Kelsey - her only female cousin - shortly after her arrival (along with the rest of her family) from north-central Michigan.

And here she is with her eldest cousin, Evan - already helping to shape and mold her young mind.

We exchanged Christmas gifts with Nana and Papa while they were here and Linnea was the recipient of her very first baby doll - a huge favorite. She kisses her regularly.

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday - a great lead-in to other holidays to come. We just hope she resists the thoughts that are clearly going through her mind in the photo above and lets the Christmas tree stay safe until Christmas!

A Particularly Photogenic Fall Day

Halloween - 2 Weeks Late...

Visiting the Minnesotan Kin

Okay, these pictures are a month old (what can I say?), but last month Linnea finally made it up to the Twin Cities to visit her northern kin.  Above she is pictured with Great-Gramma Daniels, her birthday partner.  On February 27th next year, Linnea will turn 1 and Great-Gramma will turn 90.
Above here, Linnea is banging on the table with second-cousin-once-removed (is that what you call Ryan's cousin's baby?) Autumn, 3 1/2 months her senior and completely ADORABLE.
And here she is waving (which she did - NONSTOP - all weekend) with second cousin Krista (Ryan's cousin).
All in all, it was a short but sweet weekend and we were all glad to reconnect with the Minnesotan branch of the family.  And no, it wasn't just because of the amazing Swedish pancakes.

Nana & Papa's Visit... and My First Fever

Last weekend Nana & Papa came for a visit and for the first few days, everything was great.  Linnea re-bonded with them quite nicely (above), we took a beautiful fall walk along the Fox River (below; nothing particularly exciting was happening - Linnea's kind of become a chronic clapper?)...
... we went out for lunch (note the "big girl" highchair - she's so mature)...
... Linnea showed them all her crawling/exploring abilities...
And then - she got sick :(.  Her first throat infection and fever of 103.  After a few rough days (and nights), though, she was back to her old self.  Of course, by then, Nana and Papa had gone home.  But Linnea was grateful they were there when she needed them (picture below provided as illustration) and looks forward to a fun time together again at Thanksgiving!

Fall Fun with Future Friends

Sunday Linnea had her first opportunity to hang out with what we hope will be several future friends - Bennett (2 months, center) and Elissa (3 months, right). Mommy & Daddy got the chance to reconnect not-so-new friends (their parents & older siblings)... all in the wonderful context of Edwards Apple Orchard.
Above is the Scholtens clan - Anna & Carina with Bill & Denise (the birthday girl; she got cider donuts instead of cake).
And here are Bennett's folks - Renate & Drew (photos courtesy of them - except this one, obviously).
Linnea had a fabulous day and hopes that it was the first of many fun outings with pretty much the only people she knows on earth who are younger than her :).