Bells will be ringing . . .

Happy Dec. 1st. 

Yep, I said it, it's official -- we're in December.  The last month of 2010 starts today. 

Leading up to today, I have managed to decorate both my house and the church.  I couldn't have done either of those things without Eric's help, and the help of some people at SG last night.  I was honestly expecting to be at church until the wee hours of the morning, but instead six people showed up to help out, and the hours -- and tasks -- flew by!  Eric, Cassy, and I went to get this year's Christmas tree, and I managed to get that trimmed as well.  Lyrics and Trivia are set and ready for the holiday party THIS SATURDAY 12/4!!

The office holiday dinner is this Friday.  It just seems so strange that Christmas festivities are already upon us.  I feel like I barely had time to greet November, and here we are talking Christmas.  I'm excited for it -- excited for Cassy to see all the lights and decorations, excited to fill her stocking for the very first time.  I get these little flutterings of anticipation all through me, and it's very fun :-)

My mom's surgery is tomorrow, which I am very reassured about.  I am honestly not scared at all, I have a great peace about this whole issue.  I know that so many people have been praying for her and her recovery, and I know that God hears all of these prayers.  Her EKG came back just fine yesterday, so that means everything is set for the go-ahead.  Soon this will be behind us, and I know that will be a great weight off of Mom's shoulders -- right in time for Christmas!

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Cassy has 4 teeth now that you can actually see.  She has another one, at least, that's trying to come through.  It's possibly two, but we'll find out soon enough. 

Just a few nights ago she started standing on her own.  She really enjoys doing this if she has toys in both hands, so she can sort of 'show off' her standing skills.  If she's not holding anything she doesn't bother standing, because what's the point?  She's funny.

Cassy now speaks perfect baby gibberish.  She's just about mastered all consonant sounds, and has had the vowel sounds down pat for months.  Even so, I think it's the cutest thing to actually hear my own baby say "goo goo ga ga."  Cliche, yes.  Adorable, yes.  :-)

Outside of baby gibberish, Cassy actually does understand a few key words.  If I say, "where's your ball, do you want to play with your ball?"  She'll crawl right over to her ball.  She knows "Green Monkey," a stuffed animal Eric and I brought back for her from Philly Zoo.  She seemed to have a solid grasp on primary colors a month ago, but since then she's decided she doesn't like playing the colors game anymore.  Ho hum.  She does like turning pages in her board books, and toddling around on her walker.  I can't believe she's almost 11 months.  Seriously?  Next month we'll be celebrating her 1 year birthday.  Goooodness.