Berlins first Christmas

Christmas Eve

Our little bundle of joy had her first Christmas. Now if you did not know, Christmas is a big thing in my family. We do Xmas eve with my Parents, my Brother his family, and usually my Oma, Uncle and little brother, are there too. And if we are really lucky my Sister and her family come from Co. However this year was small. We still had a wonderful time. The kids stuffed themselves on cheese, deviled eggs and shrimp. And Cory got to try his first oyster.

this is for me! Thank you Santa! 

On Christmas morning Berlin and I woke up Grandpa, and Nanny, then saw what Santa got her. She was so cute. She looked at the toys on the mantle, and you could see she was thinking "Are those for me?" She ran to them, and started playing right a way! Its so cool seeing how she is growing up! 

Nanny what is it? 

 Later we opened gifts from my Parents and my Lil Bro. There was a big gold wrapped box and Berlin wanted to see what was in that one the most! So when it was Nanny's turn, Berlin helped.

Then later my Moms side of the family came over. We are 2 great grandkids, 7 grandkids, and 5 kids, and 2 grandparents, as well as spouses and boyfriends! OMG! We are a lot of people. So a small gathering of the family is never less than 20! Berlin got her first piece of jewelry. My Nana and Baumpa got her the sweetest little pearl bracelet! And it just so happens that I got one the night before! So we match!

All and all, I think Berlin has a wonderful time! And I know everyone had a wonderful time seeing and playing with her.

I love dollys! 

Grandpa, can I eat the candy cane?

I love my mommy

I love my daddy too! 

 

the shoes of my dream!

 If they were an inch or so shorter! I love shoes! These are made by Jessica Simpson Collection. I tried them on at Macy's a week ago, and can not stop dreaming about them. They would be mine, however the heal is 4.7 inches tall! That is a little too tall for me to be running after a one year old baby! But let me tell you, if I can find them on SUPPER sale, I will not hesitate.

My little Dancer

Oh she is a million laughs every day!

 A few weekend ago I went to my parents house on Sunday night for dinner. Uncle Troy made a wonderful dinner, and after I was helping with the dishes, and Grandpa was keeping an eye on Berlin. 

She tried to make her way to the kitchen where I was, and I asked Troy to keep her out of the kitchen. 

As a 22 year old male would do, he put her on the table so he did not have to get up. 

She then walked the length of the table, flirting with the boys and 'dancing,' laughing and having the most wonderful time! I have to say she was on that night. 

During dinner, she was flirting and screaming at the boys across table. What can I say, the kid makes me laugh everyday!

LA Zoo

On Mothers day, Benji got me a pass for the L.A. Zoo. I love it! And I love taking Berlin there. Now our pass is good for me and Benji, or one of us and another adult, and kids under three get in for free.

On Tuesday Aunt Janin and I took Berlin. This was the first time she really saw the animals! It was so cool to see her reactions. We first went to the babies. In January the Komodo Dragons had 22 eggs that hatches. There are only five baby Dragons at our Zoo, and one was at the glass, like a puppy at a pet store. Berlin wanted it so badly!

It was also members only preview to see the elephants! I was so happy, cause these pachyderm are my very most animal! They have such a beautiful new home

Then we saw Berlins favorite animal! The Giraffe. There are four our Zoo. It looks like a Mommy, Daddy and two kids. 

 Our day was a little short, but wonderful just the same. Next time I will get pictures of my little one.

so very much has happened!

Since I last blogged, so very much has happened! 

Berlin has grown so much! She is walking like a pro! My Parents and I tried to take Berlin and two of her cousins to see Santa. This was as close as we got that time! One of the kids was not into it, and that made another not happy and two were crying then my girl started too! O well! 

Then Grandma, Aunt Amy and cousin Felix came to town. How very much fun that was! They stayed with us for the weekend. Berlin was fallowing 16 month old Felix around the house, chatting at one another and just having a ball

. 

The fallowing weekend was the Winter Fair at Highland Hall. I made some plans, and met an old friend and his boys, 3years old and 16 months. When we sat down for lunch, Berlin spotted a little girl in a white dress and white fairy wings, the funny thing is, I knew her and her parents another lifetime ago! She looked at my mom and said 'you can take a picture if you want to.' So my mom took the shot. 

After the fairy meeting, Berlin say a large dried leaf and needed to rip it up! So Daddy sat with her 

(Victor and his boys)

Then Mom had a birthday, and got a food saver( so cool) and two sing-a-ma-jigs. And could not be happier!

And now you are up to date with my life! 

New Shoes!

Yesterday Nanny and I took Berlin to the mall to get her first pair of shoes! I got a bit emotional, I can not lie!
Let me just tell you, this kid has some round feet! She is just like her Mommy with a high arch and a high in-steep. Thus, no little Uggs (its too much $$ any way!) But it makes me sad.

Here are some pictures of the event, and later if I can turn the film sideways, I'll post that too.

Thanksgiving... early!

Our family has so many 'his, hers and ours' that about 10 years ago we started doing Thanksgiving early. I remember the last year we did it on the real Holiday, my Aunt, Uncle and their kids had to eat three meals. So we started doing it early. Which now that I'm married and have a my husbands family too, it works out really well for me!
So it was Berlins first Thanksgiving. She was a perfect angle! I was just a little bit worried because the day before, I had a girlfriend come by and Berlin freaked out! And this girlfriend was at the hospital a few days after Berlin was born, and comes by at least once a month. Any way, when we got there (30 mins late), walked in the door and heard her Grandpas voice! Berlin smiled and did not stop playing, jumping and making everyone laugh till about 530, an hour before her bedtime! She has a little turkey, yams, gravy and mashed potato's, and a lot of green beans! Then she had some apples from the inside of an apple pie and she loves her whipped cream!

1 down, 2 more to do!

Ladies and Gentleman, we have a video of walking!

And talking. She is now saying 'num' every time she puts something in her mouth. And today she said 'mama' My heart melted!

By the way, does any one have an easy way to loose some baby weight? 

its been a long time!

I've been having computer problems. But its all better now!

Berlin is now 10 months old, clapping, standing, singing and walking! She also has two teeth that have cut through, and at least one that will come in any day now. She had her first Halloween, and still does not sleep through the night!

I am working on a video of her walking. It makes the cutest little sound, and now when you say 'yay' she claps. I am working on her blowing kisses. When she does it melts my heart.

For Halloween we were a family of clowns. Nanny made Berlins costume, and I (with some help) put our costumes together. We met at Nanny and Grandpas house, got lil B dresses, then went to Uncle Curt and Aunt Amy's house for dinner and some trickier treating. All and all it was a wonderful night!

Family Picture Day

This week almost all of Benji's family was in town. So we did family photos!
It was Benji's sister Janin, and her two boys, brother Alex and his daughter, Benji myself and our lil one.

We took advantage of my great deal at Sears, and did the photos with no sitting fee, and we got a great deal on a CD of the pix and prints. I cant wait to get the 8x10 of us all framed and on the 'great wall.'

Well the CD is with Janin, so I cant share any of the pictures, but soon! We got a bunch of good pictures.

She's still our Jumping Bean!

When I was pregnant with Berlin, the second time we went to the Dr. we got to see Berlin, and she was jumping! She was about 2in long and she was jumping about 2in. I was laughing so hard that we could not see her! I had to turn my head so Benji could see out little Jumping Bean!

Now, she still loves to jump. As soon as she gets in her Nannies arms She starts jumping. She will do this for more than 5 minutes. The other day when she was trying to walk, she jumped with both feet off the ground and fell flat on her butt with a smile from ear to ear! She is such a little dare devil! Just like both her parents.

In this video, I thought I was going to get her walking, instead she jumped for me! Once again, Benji and I were laughing at our little jumping bean!

Caught on Tape!

Here you are! I would say that she still has not taken 20 steps alone, and here are 3 all on her own!
I am so proud of our little baby!

Sorry about the fact that its sideways.

One Step for Berlin, A Giant Leap for the Conn Family

I would have to say that our new life, as parents, has been very easy. However life as we know it is about to change! Berlin took her first steps today! It went like this!
I was cooking pancakes, Benji was watching football on the couch and Berlin was between us at the "office." She was beating up Benji's tool box, which she loves to stand at and pound on! However this time my back was turned to her, I turned to look at her, and she was a 'full' baby step away from the box. I then called 'Benji!' He looked up just in time to see her put her right foot back on the floor. Later in the day she and I were at my Parents house, and my Mom and I got her to do it another two times. Right, left, sit. That is how it all starts.

 Benji and I are going to try to get it on camera tomorrow, so I will post it as soon as we get it. In the mean time, here she is standing on her own for the very first time!

Aquarium of the Pacific

I know we went a very long time ago, but I was looking through my pictures, and found these. We walked around the whole Aquarium, and loved it. Berlin did not really care about anything until we got to the Jelly Fish. She loved the little Bell Jellys. Benji held her up so she could see the tanks. When we got to the Bells she started cooing for about ten minutes. We Benji and I were laughing and out hearts were melting. It was so sweet. I cant wait to go back now that she is more into her surroundings. Like the last time we went to the LA Zoo, she was into some of the animals! It was cool.

Be a Clown, all the world loves a clown!

With Halloween just around the bend, my amazing mom is going to make Berlin the cutest clown costume! I can't wait!

So I thought it would be fun to dress up as one too! So I was looking pictures today and came up with these as inspiration!

I think I can pull something cool off!

Abbot Kinney Festival

I have been going to the Abbot Kinney Festival for the last 4 years, and I have to say, this year was the best! The weather was a little warm, and I now look like a lobster, but the vendors and vibe were the best yet. There was a bunch of 'food trucks.' However you could not get to them cause the lines were so long. I got to see a bunch of old friends, and even some new ones. A few of them even had booths there. And I'd like to plug them!

First is Opal Moon Designs 

Benji worked with Kerrie on a movie two years ago. We bumped into her not long after the movie wrapped. And I've been fallowing her on her website here. I love her clothes, but have been drooling over this belt she makes. You can buy and her designs here.  For a little pre view, here is the belt and a picture from the Festival.

JD is one of the spiciest men I know! And makes the ONLY hot sauce I like! And its HOT! When I was pregnant I would put it on some gluten free chicken strips and make myself some hot wings! Yum! He makes some of the most flavorful hot sauces around. I would say go to his website and get yourself some!  Just an fyi, Benji eats the Chipotle Garlic Sauce almost every morning! 

Mr. Kate jewelry

I went to school with this lady. We never really talked. She is a very talented jewelry designer, decorator, blogger, artist and actress, (you may have seen her in Entourage, and you can see all of the above on her website). And she does not know it, but she played a huge part of inspiring me starting my blog. 

Kate has a line of jewelry that I LOVE! You can find her here.

This is one of my very favorite pieces she has! 

 Le Cadeau

 She has an amazing since of fashion, and always has. Her Blogs are a fun quick read, and I totally encourage you to fallow her posts, and buy LOTS of MrKate jewelry. And as soon as I buy a piece I will post a picture and let you know how wonderful it is! 

Here are a few of more of my favorites

 cereal. food for love. 

This is kind of a make your own. You can mix and match the colors.

nut. wrap bracelet

bark. knuckle ring. antiqued gold and silver

twigs. rings. black gold