A Cute Video for a Gloomy Day

I'm done with winter. The month of January always makes me wish I lived somewhere else. It has been so cold and cloudy all week. We don't want to take Alaina out in such cold temperatures so we've spent a lot of time at home lately. This video is from a few nights ago after dinner. Alaina was playing in her highchair and she discovered how to make clicking noises with her tongue. There's nothing special about the video, I just think it's cute. Alaina is fascinated with a plug-in candle that I have on the wall behind her highchair... that's what she keeps turning around to see. We can't wait for spring and summer! It will be so much fun enjoying the outdoors with Alaina. She was too young last summer to enjoy going to parks and playing outside. She has so much to look forward to this summer! Only four more months of school and then Alaina and I can hang out and play together all day, every day. :)

More From Greek Music Nights...

Here's another video from Greek Music nights. I love this video, Alaina looks so happy! If you're wondering why Alaina's hair looks greasy, it's because the video was taken a few hours after her baptism. She was still a little oily! :)

Greek Music Nights

Kathryn and Yanni left to go back home to Greece last week. We had a great visit with them and wish they could have stayed longer. While they were here we did a lot of shopping, eating (of course), and just hanging out. My mom bought Yanni a guitar for Christmas. We discovered that Alaina loves to listen to music. She especially enjoyed watching Yanni play the guitar and sing Greek songs! We spent several nights together at my parents' house listening to Yanni play Greek music. Alaina would clap her hands and smile while Yanni played. Above is one of the many short videos we took of our Greek music nights.

Alaina's Baptism

Alaina was baptized last Saturday, January 9th. We had a traditional Orthodox ceremony at our church. My sister and her husband were Alaina's godparents. About 25 people came to celebrate this special day with Alaina. Below are a few pictures from the baptism. Hopefully the captions will retell the events of the day. Overall, it was a really great celebration. Alaina did so well, she only cried for her three dunks in the water. We pray that God will keep Alaina happy and healthy her entire life! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Family picture before the ceremony began.

John, Uncle Nick, My Mom, Dad, Kathryn, Yanni, Alaina, Kalli, Nate

Alaina enjoying a few quiet moments before the ceremony

The priest gets Alaina ready to be placed in the baptismal font.

Alaina was submerged in the water three times!

After three dips in the water Kathryn held Alaina in a white sheet while the priest read a blessing. He also cut a little of Alaina's hair at that time. This symbolizes her sacrifice for Christ.

My mom took Alaina into another room to get dried off and dressed in her white gown.

Alaina smiled as she got dressed in her pretty clothes.

All dressed and ready to go back into church to complete the ceremony. A few sips of milk was all she needed to stay in a good mood.

At the end of the ceremony, Kathryn and Yanni walked around the baptismal font with Alaina. She was fascinated by the preist's sensor and her big baptismal candle.

Holding Alaina in the receiving line after the ceremony

After the ceremony our guests were invited to the church hall for brunch. Kathryn, Yanni, and I set up the tables the day before the baptism. I think they looked pretty nice!
We spent time with friends and family after brunch. In this picture, I am standing with my godmother and her daughter, Maria. The last baptism I attended was Maria's baptism almost 7 years ago!

Opening Presents

This video makes me laugh. This is what opening presents is like with a 7 month old baby.

Alaina's First Christmas!

Family picture at Yiayia and Papou's house Christmas Day

Alaina playing with Uncle John and Theia Katina
Alaina says, "I'm so happy it's Christmas!"
Opening presents and eating wrapping paper...

Alaina's first Christmas was so much fun! We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house with my brother, sister, and brother-in-law. We had a big dinner and then opened presents. Alaina did not get too excited about opening presents, she's still too young. She got more excited about crinkling the wrapping paper with her hands and trying to eat the shiny paper. I'm sure she will understand more about Christmas next year. On Christmas Day, we spent the morning at our house. Alaina had a few more presents to open from Grandma and Grandpa Bruck. We enjoyed our Christmas morning together as a family. Even Zoe hung out with us as we unwrapped the last few presents and went through gifts from Christmas Eve. Alaina had fun following Zoe around the living room as Nate and I watched a movie. It was a laid back morning, but lots of fun- just the three of us. I imagine that Christmas morning will become a lot more exciting as Alaina gets older and is anxious to see what Santa brings. But for now, eating wrapping paper and chasing Zoe was fun too.

Theia Katina and Theo Yanni

My sister and her husband flew in from Greece last night. Their plane was supposed to arrive at 4:00PM, but did not get in until 9:30PM! There was a pretty bad snow storm going through Chicago today, hence the delay. Kathryn and Yanni spent 5 1/2 hours waiting at the airport in Madrid! Needless to say they are very happy to finally be home in Rockford. The original plan was to have dinner with Kathryn and Yanni last night, but since they got in to town so late we decided to meet them for breakfast this morning instead. Kathryn and Yanni had not yet met Alaina. They were very excited to finally meet her. Alaina was also very happy to meet her Theia and Theo (Aunt and Uncle). Below is a picture from the first time Kathryn held Alaina. Alaina is wearing a special Santa hat that Kathryn made for her. Too cute.