Our Little Stocking Stuffer

Christmas was magical this year. Having a baby makes everything much more meaningful, and a lot more fun. Seeing Vi's face when she first saw Santa, Christmas lights, and wore a donkey costume for the Christmas Pageant are priceless memories. Having Violet also made the gifts under our tree a lot more colorful than usual, too. For a long time, I've looked forward to staying up late and setting out the gifts for my kids, just like my parents did. I loved how our living room looked with all the toys, and clothes, and presents. Here are some pictures from our Christmas. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

Halloween Pictures...Even Though It's December

I'm FINALLY getting around to posting Violet's Halloween pictures that I took with her cousin Makaylee. For this little photo shoot we dressed them up in their costumes and the darling coats their Great-Great Aunt Linda bought for them, and set them on some bales of hay next to their Grandpa Newton's barn. Makaylee was a little somber during the "shoot" because her Mama wasn't their, but Violet cheesed it up as usual! These too already love each other and are fun to watch grow up together.

Now I've got the Halloween blog posting out of the way, I'll start thinking now about the next one so the Newton Family Blog isn't so uneventful!

Vi's 6th Month Pics -- Finally!

Well, Violet is 7 1/2 months now, but here are some of her 6 month pictures. Violet is still an amazingly easy-going and happy baby. She loves to eat, but still isn't a big fan of formula (hence the 1st percentile for weight). Violet's favorite food is oatmeal. She can down 2 cups of it in about 2 minutes. If you don't hold the bowl right under her chin and continually shovel it into her mouth, she gets really upset because there isn't oatmeal sliding down her throat!

One of the things I love the most is when she copies the growly sound I make when I play "Momma Monster." It makes me laugh so hard! Her favorite thing to do is sit on my vanity while I get ready in the morning and watch me do my hair, brush my teeth, and put on my makeup. She plays with my brushes and kisses herself in the mirror. Also, she LOVES to be scared -- the more startled you make her the harder she giggles. In just the past week she finally has gained an interest in her dog, Pita, and likes it when Pita licks her hand. Violet has entered the phase where she is into everything she shouldn't be. Her newest thing is to army-drag herself across the room to the airvents and stick her head directly over it and let the cold air take her breath away.

Bret and I feel like the proudest parents ever and are SO in love with this little girl!

Hating on Laptops

Ugh. I'm having serious laptop issues. Laptops are an incredible invention that I can't seem to live without. However, once I've had one for about 4 years, and of course my warranty has expired, the technical issues begin and literally drive me crazy. Everyone says that Dell's are the best, so I continue buying them, but honestly I've had nothing but trouble. I've tried everything with my current one to save it for the past two weeks. Finally, I broke down and called Dell Technical Support today. I hate doing that because I get so frustrated when they are telling me to do stuff I don't understand in an accent I don't understand. Anyways, after holding for ten minutes, I finally got some guy from India who sounded like he was going to be able to help me. I was breathing a sigh of relief when my P.O.S. iPhone 4 dropped the call. Ughhhhh, some more! So the guys must have had my number and tried to call me back, but when I went to answer I got the "Call Failed" message.

I'm not giving up, but I am considering hurling this piece of junk out the window of my car while driving. Yes, I've done this before, but it was with my Palm.... another story for another time.

In short, and unlike Kip, I don't love technology - at least not right now. If you are wondering why I haven't posted Violet's six month pictures, or why I'm not making any posts at all, just know the CRAPTOP is still a work-in-progress.

Violet's First Trip to Lake Powell

Violet and I spent a week in Lake Powell over the Fourth of July on my family's houseboat - Livin' the Dream. Bret joined us for the last few days and we had a lot of fun introducing Violet to boating. Here are a bunch of pictures from the trip that are proof of what a good time it was.