2007 is almost here!

As 2006 is coming to an end, here are some random shots of Helena from December:



After a long day out shopping with mommy and daddy, Helena fell asleep on the car ride home. Rather than take off her coat and wake her up, mommy and daddy let her continue to sleep on the family room floor while being watched over by her friends: the RCA dogs, Elmo, and Tad.



Helena bathing by herself and playing with toys in the bath tub



Sara, Helena, and Elmo

Hannukah - 2006

Helena reading in her new chair



Helena and all of her new Elmo toys.



Go Sawx!



Helena, Mommy, and Agam



Helena is wiped out from opening up all of her Hannukah gifts!

Thanksgiving (2006)

Helena and family were in Boston for Thanksgiving this year.



Keep that cranberry juice coming, Bubbe!!!



I'm outta turkey!!!



Helena and cousin Kobe



Helena and cousins

Thanksgiving Feast at Helena's Daycare

The day before Thanksgiving, Helena's daycare center had a feast for the kids and any family members that wanted to join them. Helena and her classmates had an enjoyable meal.

Michigan-OSU game - November 18, 2006

Despite the fact that Michigan ended up losing the game, the whole family got dressed up to support the Wolverines. Looking forward to seeing them play in a New Year's Day bowl game (or possibly a rematch for the National Championship!).

ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY FORMAL PICTURES

Look Mom - no hands! Helena is standing all by herself (no trick wires involved to help keep her standing). Now she just wants to walk (or run) everywhere!





Helena is all smiles with the toy boxes

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Who's the cutiest little elephant for Halloween in 2006?





Flashback to Helena's first Halloween last year in 2005




Helena and classmates in their Halloween costumes, getting ready for the daycare center's Halloween parade




Helena and her teacher, Miss Pam




Helena and her classmates getting pushed around during the daycare center's Halloween parade




Helena and her boyfriend from daycare




Helena and her mommy

FIRST PAIR OF SHOES

Check out my first pair of shoes! I'll be walking to a neighborhood near you soon.

SWINGS AND SLIDES

At some point after Helena's birthday, her daddy found the time to put together her toy swing and slide. We all remember how much Helena (and her parents) enjoyed her swing in her early months!

CHICAGO - October, 2006

October was a busy month. Besides celebrating Helena's first birthday, the family also went to Chicago the weekend after for a family wedding. It was Helena's first "real" trip to Chicago (she went while in utero last September).



Helena and cousin Sammy



Aunt Helene, are all of these toys for me?



Sara, Helena, Jeff, and Aunt Eve



Helena loves her stuffed panda.



Sara and Jeff, a night out on the town without Helena!



Helena making her way through O'Hare Airport

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY HELENA

Helena's first birthday is October 16, 2006. We celebrated her birthday early with a party on Saturday, October 14th. Family from near and far came to share in the celebration.





The birthday girl, in her party dress with her "1st Birthday" tiara



The birthday room all decorated for the party.



Helena and Mommy



Mommy, Helena, and Daddy



Bubbe, Helena, and Mommy



Papa, Auntie Danielle, and Cousins Avi and Becca



Grandpa and Helena



Grandma and Helena



The birthday cake, made and designed by Sara (it looks professionally made!). Notice Helena's hand sneaking in at the bottom to get her first lick of icing!



The rest of the desserts (also prepared by Sara). The fruit on the stick is shaped like animals from Noah's Ark (as if there wasn't enough food for dinner, Sara made enough dessert to feed everybody on an ark ten times over).




Let's eat cake!



Helping Mommy open gifts.




Good tasting sweater (must not have had enough birthday cake). The red sweater is from the GAP and was part of their AIDS charity promotion.



Cousin Kobe enjoying Helena's gift and remembering when he was that age and had the same toy!



Helena, wearing bib 'Cuse Cutie from cousin Rose at Syracuse University. She'll wear the bib, but in her heart, Helena is true to the Maize and Blue!



Auntie Amanda and Helena



Auntie Esta, Cousin Robert, and Helena at Harold's Deli for breakfast on October 15th. As if we didn't eat enough at the birthday party the night before, we decided to go to a family-style deli for breakfast (see below picture).



Is that blueberry pancake all for me?!?



Cousins Becca and Avi



Helena doing the "Happy Food" dance. She does this when she enjoys what she is eating, which is most of the time.