Merry Christmas from the Ganoes/Looking back at 2008

Merry Christmas! If you were referred here by our Christmas card, thanks for stopping by. If you didn't receive a card but would like to be on our mailing list next year, let us know. Also, feel free to check out previous posts on this blog. Many posts include pictures!

2008 started out with a bang, as we found out on January 1st that we were pregnant with our second baby. It was exciting and overwhelming. We spent the next 9 months preparing for our newest addition. Brianna Marie Ganoe was born on September 2nd 2008, weighing 7 lbs, 5 oz. She and Kaitlyn are just 18.5 months apart and we can't wait to see them grow up together! Having 2 so close together is keeping us busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way. It is amazing, challenging, awesome, crazy...all in one.

Kaitlyn is 22 months old, and an amazing little girl. She has her days (don't we all) where she is cranky, cranky, cranky. But in general, she is very sweet...and SO smart. She is currently mastering more and more phrases rather than just single words. Her verbal skills are definitely one of her strengths. She is saying "Thank you", sometimes even in appropriate situations. She can count from 1-10 with no help. She is a great big sister, giving Brianna good night kisses before bed every evening. She loves baby dolls, stuffed animals of all types, and especially books. She has also recently become very interested in her "Signs" DVD, and has been adding to the signs she had previously learned at daycare. She knows ball, mommy, daddy, milk, friend, sleep, blanket, play, and more. Not that she needs the signs, since she is talking so well anyways!

Brianna is almost 4 months old, and she is growing so fast. She is much bigger than Kaitlyn was at her age. She rolled over from front to back very early on, but we are still waiting on back to front. She is close, though! She has very good neck and head control and loves to sit up. We are starting to use the Bumbo. She also likes the snowsuit we bundle her up in during these cold winter months. She smiles as soon as you put her in it. Actually, she is a very smiley, happy baby in general. She especially loves to watch her big sister. You can tell that she is already fascinated by Kaitlyn and is really going to look up to her as she grows. We also got lucky a second time because just like Kaitlyn, she started sleeping through the night prior to the 3 month mark.

Andy is still employed with Flint Interactive as a Web Developer, a job that he enjoys and excels at. He was able to get out for a successful weekend of deer hunting this fall, which was a welcome and deserved "mini-vacation". He is severely outnumbered at home by females (the only other male in the house is one of our three cats). But he loves having 2 little girls, and people who barely know him have commented about what a great dad he is.

Kandi continues to work for RSI and has hit the 5 year employment anniversary mark. She did take a 12 week maternity leave after Brianna was born. During maternity leave, she kept busy with the baby as well as planning a Bridal shower and Bachelorette party for a very dear friend. The wedding was just a couple of weeks ago, and Kandi was Matron of Honor while Kaitlyn was a Flower Girl. After the wedding, Kandi promptly went to get her hair cut off and is proud to say she donated it to Locks of Love. She is now 11 or 12 inches worth of hair lighter!

2009 will hopefully be the best year yet! Kaitlyn will turn 2 in February, Brianna will turn 1 in September. Kandi and Andy will have been together for 10 years in February, and married for 5 in August. It will be a busy year, but we can't wait to get it started! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!