Christmas letter and picture

Our last MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting, inspired me to keep Christmas simple this year...that has kinda been the theme of my Christmas. I have been trying really hard to keep things simple and only do what is necessary...but most of all keeping Christ the focus of CHRISTmas. So, in an effort to simplify...and also save lots of money, in postage and printing pictures, we decided to send our Christmas letter out via email this year. Only 3 people on our list did not have an email...so why not?! I'm assuming that if you are reading my blog...I probably have your email and sent this letter...but if not...here is our Christmas letter and picture for you to enjoy.

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope and pray that this letter finds you doing well and focusing on Christ during this Christmas season. The past year has been full of blessings, but our greatest blessing will always be that our Heavenly Father sent his Son to be our Savior! As we watch the news each week and see how our nation is struggling; we find hope and peace knowing that God has a perfect plan. We are excited and hopeful for His quick return!

God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl this past March, Hannah Grace Finnegan. We are thankful for a wonderful pregnancy and delivery. Hannah was born on March 2nd. She was 7 lbs 10oz. and 19 ¾ inches long. We were excited to be parents, but had no idea what an amazing joy and blessing it would be. She has brought so much joy to our lives in the past 9 months. Hannah is FULL of personality! She is learning and growing so much every day. What a joy it is to watch her grow and to see how she is already blessing the lives of others!

Hannah is crawling all over the place, pulling herself up, and constantly looking for a new adventure! Some of her favorite things to do are read books, play “so big” and “peek-a-boo”, clap her hands, and sway back and forth to music.
Becky finished her 4th year of teaching last March when Hannah was born and is excited to be a stay at home mom. Throughout the week we are involved in a MOPS group, go to baby time at the library, and have a baby play group with the other baby girls at church (all 4 born within 2 months of each other). We keep ourselves pretty busy!

March 2009 will mark our 5th year at First Baptist Church in Farmington. We are so thankful for our wonderful church family and the blessing of being involved in such a great ministry! Seth is doing well and keeping busy as always; he wears many hats! This January he will be traveling to Russia for 8 days with Pastor Bob Johnson from Cornerstone Baptist Church to teach Russian pastors. Seth plans to teach the book of 1 Samuel. Please pray for him as he leaves on January 9th.

We took Hannah on her first camping trip this July to the State Park in Bay City, MI. along with some families from the church. Hannah loves camping! In August, we took another camping trip to Grand Lake St. Mary’s in Ohio. We camped with Becky’s family and also spent some time with Seth’s family since they live nearby. Once again, Hannah loved being in the outdoors! In October, we were blessed with the opportunity to stay a week in a friend’s cottage at Gull Lake, MI for our first family vacation.

We hope that you enjoy this Christmas season and remember God’s greatest gift to the world; a little baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World!

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14

Merry Christmas!
Love, Seth, Becky, and Hannah

p.s.

our Christmas letter came with a few more pictures...if you did not recieve one via email....please let me know and I will be sure to send it to you!!

Christmas dance

I have been loving the Christmas music on the radio. Some of the songs just make me dance everytime. I love "I saw mommy kissing santa clause" (which is the song I'm dancing to in the video) and "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree". Mommy and I love to dance around the house and sing Christmas songs...when no one is looking of course! ;o)

Jesus is the reason for the season...

Hannah has already discovered the nativity scene...and we hope to use it over the years to help teach her the Christmas story. We have two nativity's in our living room... Mommy's willow tree nativity...and this cute wooden one made by Gran and Pa DeCamp for Mommy and Daddy's first Christmas together. Hannah has learned which one she can touch and which one she can just look at...and so far has done a great job. Here are some pics of her playing with her nativity.

A day with Daddy

Fridays are Daddy's day off... today we got to spend the whole day together...just me and him. Mommy went Christmas shopping with friends all afternoon, came home and had dinner with us, and then put on a pretty tacky Christmas sweater and was off to a ladies Christmas party. I don't have pictures...because I was with Daddy...but we played, sang songs, and read books all day long. When Mommy got home Daddy told her that being a Mommy is hard work and she needs more day's off... I don't really think I'm hard work...but he seemed pretty tired at the end of the day. Yeah for a great day with my Dad!

My 9 month well-child visit with Dr. Bullach

Today I went to the doctor for my nine month visit.
I had a lot of fun...until the nurse gave me two shots. But I was glad to have Mommy and Daddy both there to comfort me.

I weigh 16 lbs. 8 oz and I'm 27 inches tall.

Dr. Bullach said that I look great! We are always thankful for a good report!

Happy as a lark before my shots...

I got two shots today...polio and tetnus

I'm so blessed to have a daddy who wants to be so involved in my life. He went to most of Mommy's dr. visits when I was in her belly and now he comes to all of my dr. visits...he's so great!

Hannah's first "snow"

Hannah was born in March...so it snowed a few times after she was born...but she pretty much slept through that first month of her life. So now she is really loving the new experience of snow. She loves to look at the snowflakes falling out the window...her face just lights up. Yesterday we got a good snowfall. Instead of taking her out in it, I decided to bring the snow to her. We filled a plate a few times with snow and just watched her play. She loved it!

SNOW BALLS!

I did finally decide to taste it!

Already a music lover

Hannah has been swaying back and forth lately. If I say "back and forth....back and forth" she will usually start on her own. OR if she is swaying and I say back and forth she gets a huge smile across her face. Well in the past few days she has been doing it to music. Last night at our CORE Christmas party we had a wonderful time of praise and worship. Hannah sat on my lap and swayed back and forth to the music. Today she was playing with her pooh bear from Meredith and loving the music...and of couse swaying back and forth. Here's a video for your enjoyement! :o)

A little mischievous

Tonight Mommy and Daddy put up the Christmas tree (but really Daddy did most of the work). They thought that I might have been more intersted in it. I did help Daddy pull the branches out of the box...and even played in the box for a little bit....

...but once Mom and Dad started setting up the tree I decided to see what I could mischief I could get into while there were busy and here's what I discovered...

the paper just kept coming and coming!!

and of course everything goes in my mouth!

It stuck to my tongue and mommy had to help me get it all out.

After all of that I was ready to snuggle into my pj's, cuddle with my favorite doll, and go to sleep!

Night night!

My first sign

Mommy and Daddy have been teaching me sign language. Today I signed for the first time. I asked for "more" squash at dinner. Look at how I am really studying my hands in the video...I sure know what I'm doing!

Here is what "more" looks like in american sign language. For now I have my own interpretation...I know that I'll get better at it the "more" I do it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We did lots of driving this year for Thanksgiving...but were happy to get to spend time with both sides of the family. We started out with Grandma and Grandpa Roth. Aunt Beth made Thanksgiving dinner...she is such a good cook! I had sweet potatoes...my favorite!

Our first Thanksgiving together! So much to be thankful for!

The Thanksgiving table

And of course Mr. Turkey

On Friday morning we traveled to Western Ohio to see Grandma and Papa Finnegan. We started at Uncle Cody and Aunt Erica's house. We were all so excited to see Uncle Adam and Aunt Jill...Uncle Adam gave Aunt Jill a beautiful engagement ring! While we were there Grandma gave me a practice round for Christmas (I got to practice with Grandma Roth too...but Mommy goofed and forgot to take pictures!). I loved my

playing with my Christmas puppy

Thanksgiving dinner with my Aunts and Uncles...we are so blessed!

First Thanksgiving with Hannah!

Fun times with Dada!