Walking

Elise is starting to walk unassisted!  We are having our big family Christmas over this New Year's weekend, so hopefully she will be able to show off her new skills and keep up with her other little cousins!  She just started doing it today, and I was able to get the first moments on tape!  We are so excited, as you can tell in the video!

The Santa Stare

Santa made a stop at the fire station on Saturday night.  We thought it was the perfect opportunity to get some pictures of Elise and "The Big Guy."  Obviously she didn't see him last year since she was only about 8 weeks old, and you know there was no way I was dragging my new little baby out in the cold to get infested with germs.

This Santa was a balloon animal making Santa.  He had a crowd of little girls around him while he diligently made weenie dogs and penguins while chatting up the kids.

Little Girl: "Where's your sleigh?"
Santa: "It's at the airport."
LG: "Then how did you get here?"
SC: "In the fire truck."
LG: "Which one?"
SC: "The one that's parked out front."

She seemed content with his final answer and quit grilling him like Filet Mignon.  Then she continued on with her list of what she wanted for Christmas while Elise just looked on.

Then Elise's turn came to sit with Santa.  All she did was STARE at him.  She did not take her eyes off of him the whole time.

Afterwards we went looking at Christmas lights.  There was one street in particular that was lit up like the freaking Fourth of July.  They definitely got the holiday spirit!  This is true dedication!

Year Two of Christmas Photos-FAIL

Remember those pictures from last Christmas I tried to take of Elise?  Well, unfortunately it looks like we are starting a trend.  This year's attempt was another FAIL.  Maybe I'll try again and see if I can recruit some help from Jason... or at least try to bribe her with some food or something.

"Okay Elise, we're gonna try to get some good pictures of you by the Christmas Tree."

"Okay Momma, that's enough for this year. I'm done."

"No, Elise.  Let's get a few more just in case.  Now smile for Momma."

"I said NO MORE PICTURES LADY!"

"Hmm.  What's this?"

"Okay Momma.  That will be all.  You're dismissed."

"Do you think you could sit up and we could ONE of you smiling?  Tis the season, Elise."

"Excuse ME?!  Is that ONLY ONE present under the tree for ME?! Oh no you didn't!"

"Well, Elise... Daddy said you could only have one present this year."

"Oh did he?!  Well you get him on the phone right now!  I know I asked Santa for more than that, and I have been a very good girl this year!"

"Oh you have huh?  Well, you sure could have fooled me after this little photo shoot."

"Is that so, Mommy?  Well, guess what?!  I'm not wearing this stupid bow anymore.  And quit putting them in my hair.  Got it?!"

The Toddler Ways

A Little Holiday Cheer

Last night I joined my dear friend Meghan on a Target run.  It's always nice to get out of the house without a little one in tow.  And a diaper bag.  And a stroller.  And having to deal with fighting to put her in the car seat.  In the cold.

We made our way around the store.  Circling and browsing all the departments.  I had nothing on my "to buy" list, so I was just along for the company.  Meghan needed some wrapping paper before we were done, so Christmas section HERE WE COME!  Little did I know that this simple task of a wrapping paper roll purchase would evolve into a flashback of giddy high school girls.

I was going to get some wrapping paper as well, so I was deciding between two patterns...

"Should I get this one?  Or this one?"

Meghan replied, "This is more festive.  It has reindeer on it.  That one is more sophisticated."

"Yeah, this one is more classy"

"Yeah, that one is classy."

"Well everyone knows I'm one classy broad."

::laughter::

"You're right.  The one with the reindeer is more fitting."

We pressed on.  And then in front of our very eyes there IT was............................... THE HOLIDAY BAKING AISLE.

Hallelujah.  Hallelujah.  Halleluuuuuuuuuuuujah!

We squealed with delight over the Christmas Funfetti.  We got all giddy over the snowman baking pans.  We shrieked with excitement over every little thing.  We scared some poor woman out of the aisle after I continuously used my wrapping paper roll as a pointer. 

Pointing and shrieking,

"OMG! Look at that!!" 

"Look!  Funfetti Brownies!  I'm going home and putting on my apron STAT!"

"OH.MY.GAWD.MEGHAN!!!!!!!!!  A gingerbread box kit!!!  Oh Snap!!!!"

"Oohhhhhhhh!!  A gingerbread reindeer training camp!!!!  With SANTA!!!!!!!!"

There are really not enough keys on the keyboard to project this excitement to you!

Up and down the aisle we went, pointing and swooning.  We couldn't wait to see what was around the corner.  We were kids in a candy store.

When we left Target, we went through the drive-thru at Starbucks and recalled our favorite Christmas carols.  We agreed that was a super fun trip and were glad we did it together.  Great company can make a Target run into a fun filled outing.  I don't think we've had that much shopping since we used to drive to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night when we were in college!

Paci Scandal 2010

When Elise was a new baby I took her to one of her wellness appointments.  In the exam room, the pediatrician and I had discussed whatever questions I had and how she was progressing.  Somehow the paci was mentioned.

"We'll throw all of the paci's away at 6 months, ok?  I don't like seeing kiddos at church walking and talking and still having binkies."

"uh......mkay." I agreed.  Well sort of.  Seemed like it would be easy enough, in theory.  Especially since we don't go to church.  Maybe then she could keep them longer?

Well, six months came around.  Jason and I discussed taking the paci's away from her, but we wondered "how in the world will that child ever sleep if she doesn't have her paci in her mouth?" Following that thought came "How in the world will we ever get any sleep if she doesn't sleep?"

So, here we are 7 months later.  She still has her paci.  If that's not bad enough I even had to break down and buy another package of them after losing a couple.

I feel like I'm enabling an addict.

Now every time we go to the doctor's office, I get Elise out of her car seat and say "Okay Elise, we're going to leave the paci in the truck because remember, we don't want Dr. Walsh to know that you still have it.  I promise when we get back out here you can have it back."  I then have to remove it from her mouth or her tiny little fingers.

And I continue on as if she's completely rationalizing with me... "we were supposed to take it away from you when you were six months old, then we were only going to let you have it at night, so you should consider yourself lucky......"

Because I feel like I'm cheating on my pediatrician by continuing to enable my child, a couple of appointments ago I blurted out "She still has her paci!!!!!" And then I kind of winced like I was about to get scolded, but I also felt a sense of relief because I was admitting it.  Isn't that like the 1st step of the recovery process?  Admitting the problem? 

Surprisingly, her doctor didn't lecture me about how I'm going to screw up her teeth or speech by continuing with the paci, but she did make it clear that it's only going to become harder and harder to take it away from her as she gets older and more aware of it.

So, I'm still caught up in this scandal where I tell Elise we can't let her doctor see that she has the paci.  If it gets really hard to take them away, I think I'm going to box them all up and IF Elise is old enough to understand (and we haven't gotten rid of them yet) we are going to take them all to her doctor to 'give to all the new babies that need paci's'. 

In the meantime, I'm going to try to figure out who the real addict is in the situation.  Elise or Me?

13 Months

"You are the best thing that's ever been mine."

Taylor Swift 

Dear Elise,

I admit I have been slacking and failed to write you a 12 month letter.  Hopefully the 1 Year posts made up for it.  You just turned 13 months on the day after Thanksgiving and continue to amaze me everyday.  You make me laugh all the time.  You like to bounce and jam to music, you started waving, and making the sweetest sound I've ever heard, "Momma."  After a short spell of refusing to eat, your mighty appetite has appeared, and I'm so proud of how well you are eating! 

Every day it becomes more and more apparent to me how much you are growing from a baby into a toddler.  You are very independent and aren't afraid to express that me or Daddy.  You will stomp your feet and kick your legs.  Unfortunately I think it's funny and laugh sometimes.  You are starting to get a little too big for your britches, and I think we are going to have our hands full with you.  You have 2 very strong willed, stubborn parents so it wouldn't come as a surprise to us that you are a little firecracker!

Every evening after I give you your bath and get you ready for bed, you and I snuggle up on the couch together in front of the t.v.  I hold you in the crevice of my arm while your little eyes get heavy while watching t.v.  Then you finally fall asleep against my chest. I lay still and take in those moments that I know won't last forever.  You and I are so comfortable with each other, and you make me feel a sense of calmness... most of the time.  This month we will celebrate your 2nd Christmas, and I can't wait to share it with you.  You are a perfect little joy to us and couldn't make us any more proud to call you our daughter.

Love always,

Momma

 

Elise, 13 Months

Momma