pace's christmas

let's face it--christmas this year was all about pace!  this post has 24 new photos of pace, so it's kind of for the grandmas and grandpas.  we got to skype with everyone this year, which was fun, but it isn't the same as being in person. 

we are liking the annual get a photo of pace with the santa hat tradition.  it'll be fun to do this with two:

whenever we got a present in the mail, we'd just put it under the tree to open on christmas.  we spent all december telling pace to not touch the presents, that when the morning finally came to rip off the wrapping paper, he was very hesitant.  we'd start opening the present for him, and then tell him to keep opening it; every time pace ripped the wrapping paper, he'd look up at us with a worried look, as if saying, "is this ok to do?"  but once the presents were out of the wrapping paper, he had eyes for nothing else!

pace was very determined to get his activity box (which is all wood and quite heavy) from the library to the living area near the kitchen.  i was doing dishes and david was cleaning up from presents, and i heard this scraping noise.  david came running in to get the camera.  i thought pace was helping david get boxes put in the trashcan, but when i turned the corner to take a look, pace was really working hard to get his little play center into the living area.  i love the look on his face!--working so hard!

a few very adorable shots in his booster seat.  pace is very proficient at feeding himself with a little fork, he is very proud of himself and will only occasionally let me help feed him.  he is turning into a very independent little boy!

this is the classic "oh!" face.  pace is picking up on verbal cues and starting to become very vocally interactive, which is super fun.  we are excited to hear actual words come out of his mouth instead of jibberish, but we'll get there.  he's picking up on "uh-oh", but only says the "oh" last part of it, and says it as a very determined exclamation.  this face says it all:

pahpah sent (of course) a redskin-themed present (...every. single. present. he. has. ever. sent...), and pace loved cuddling his little hog-pillow.

and his new, favorite toy: a school bus.  this little number was on clearance at kohls, and i had $10 of kohls cash, so we spent just over $5 for a load of fun for pace a few days after christmas.  i'm trying to teach him how to peddle his little feet to get himself moving on it, and david throws him on the bus and runs him down the hallway.  guess which one pace loves doing better?  i'll give you a hint:  he hollers with glee as the wind rushes through his long locks while he's being bussed down the hallway...he's also content to get behind it and push it up and down the hallway on his own.  it has two little music buttons he loves dancing to.