Happy 2010!

I realize that we have not posted anything since September...we've been busy being a family! The last few months flew by and Makena is growing like a weed! She is learning new things every day and we are happy to report that she passed her last hearing test! Yay for Kena! Her improved hearing has made all of the difference in the world with her understanding and verbal abilities. She is saying a LOT of words now, some other folks can understand, others we only know because they get said so many times a day. She's grown about five inches in the last six months and is in need of a haircut! We are using the Chinese New Year tradition of getting your haircut right before the holiday for her first time! Not sure exactly where we will go, but my stylist is great and would be super accommodating. There just aren't any cute kid things there!

Holidays that have passed...
Halloween was incredible. It sure adds a new dimension to the holidays with a little one! Makena was a Vikings cheerleader for her main costume, but we went as an "Iron Chef Family" to our family party! Makena was too cute in her chef hat and apron...she wielded those spoons around the Tower house like she owned the place...and she almost ate all of their fruit kabobs!




Thanksgiving was relaxing. We spent much of the weekend at home, catching up and enjoying each other's company, as Charlie's travel schedule was a bit crazy. Our good friend, Phillip, had us over for Makena's first American Thanksgiving dinner! Makena and I had made the Williams-Sonoma sweet potato casserole to take, and it ended up being one of her favorite foods (possibly of all time). She entertained all of the guests and didn't throw too much food on the floor during dinner! Black Friday found us at Target and all of the other crazy places...we'll do that again - so much fun!

Christmas was simply incredible. We had NO plans. It was just the three (okay, five...we had a lot of fun with Boo and Scout) of us and we took our time, all the while trying to establish some new Brown family traditions. We went to church on Christmas Eve and only stayed for the music, as is our usual habit (Makena gets noisy...and it makes Charlie nervous). We had a nice dinner and then Makena got to open one present before we got Santa's cookies and cider ready! Christmas morning we opened our gifts, one by one, and Makena enjoyed each thing before she moved on to the next. Her favorite gift? The Learning Tower that we got her (and gave to her over Thanksgiving...why let it sit when she could enjoy it?). It is the greatest invention, and I bet that she spends a good two or three hours in it each day! Still! We rounded out the day with a trip to a dear friend's house for a wonderful Italian Christmas dinner! It was delectable...thank you Karen and Russ!













We are enjoying 2010 so far and look forward to growing as parents while Makena grows into a beautiful little girl!