Busy, Busy, Busy

Gosh, we've been busy lately.  Too busy, as I'm sure most of the world has been, what with all the holiday nonsense going on.  Last week, we were busy preparing for Christmas.  The weekend was busy celebrating with family.  And this week is turning out to be just as busy, as I try to organize my house and find places for all of Laci's new things.  I've also gone on two shopping trips in an effort to restock my kitchen with food that has more nutritional value than sugar content.  Fortunately, I've taken pictures of almost everything we've done, with the exception of grocery shopping (I'm pretty sure I don't need to photographically document that), so I can record for my posterity exactly how crazy the holidays have become.

Just a few of last week's highlights: 
I baked sugar cookies, and then Ryan (and others) ate about half of them before I could even get the icing on.  I wrapped a mountain of gifts and then stacked them vicariously on the dining room shelf so little fingers couldn't rip them open.  And I made a practice batch of the Pioneer Woman's version of Parker House Rolls, since rolls have become the item I bring to dinner each year.  They were buttery, and delicious, and much more work than picking up a package of rolls at the store.  If rolls are my responsibility next year, I think I may take the easy way out.

Somewhere in there, I managed to also feed my child, although clothing was pretty much out of the question most days.



Each year, I try to do at least one handmade gift.  I never succeed in hand making something for everyone, but I think, over the years, everyone has received something I've made.  This year, I wasn't very good at planning ahead, so I did a little semi-homemade gift and I think it turned out alright.  Just a few fleece blankets from Walmart (just $3 each), and some felt and embroidery thread that I already had in my stash, and...

Walaa!  Three little personalized blankets in under an hour. 

Laci helped too, by becoming completely engrossed in the TV and being content to wallow in her own mess while I crafted away.  Sometimes, she knows just how to help me out.  Of course, this is certainly not all of the time.  In fact, most of the time while I was baking and crafting, she was whining, crying, and fit throwing, but we both survived.  And to top it all off, she ate a bunch of beads, which made for very festive diapers over the next few days.

And, as if I didn't have enough on my plate, I decided to turn my front room into a studio.  I bribed Laci with ornaments, lights, and a stuffed snowman, all so I could get that one priceless Christmas picture.  Or at least one that was worthy of printing for family.  Yet again, I wasn't organized enough to put together a card, but I'll just have to accept that I may never be one of those moms that sends out the Christmas card to family and friends each year.  I think I can accept that, I think.

Anyhow, the bribery and the furniture rearranging paid off when I was able to capture this one.  Pretty, isn't she?

I think preparing for the holiday is at least half the fun:  the baking, the crafting, the picture taking.  It's exhausting, but worth it.  The shopping part isn't so much fun for me, but also, very worth it in the end.

For our holiday celebration, stay tuned...

...sixteen months...

I haven't done one of these monthly posts in a while.  Even though she turned sixteen months on Saturday, I think this still counts as close enough.  Especially since she went to the doctor today and had an official checkup.

The stats:
29 1/2 inches tall
17 lbs 11 oz

She grew 2 inches since her last visit, which makes me feel a whole lot better about thinking that I shrunk all her clothes, and bumped her up to the 10th percentile for height (if you're in to those statistical things).  Ummmm, not so much weight gain.  In fact, she fell off the growth chart, and nearly fell out of the scale as she was trying her best to fling herself out of it.  Given her genetic background (daddy's side), we're not concerned about her tiny size, but we'll go back in three months just to make sure she keeps growing.

When the pediatrician asked me today how many words she said, I didn't really have an answer.  She talks constantly in some language I clearly do not understand.  I have no doubt she will soon be chatting our ears off, but in the meantime, our communication involves various high pitched whiny sounds, mixed in with a good amount of gibberish that goes something like, "diiidiii di di diiiii diiii di di da."  In other words, "I want some raisins and I might wilt if you don't give them to me now."  Side note:  if you are what you eat, then my child will be a raisin by Thursday.

For those concerned, there are a few words we can clearly understand.  Daddy is clearly "Daddy," although Mama has somehow become "Da."  Yes, that is how I am addressed.  I am "Da."  It works.  I am only called "Mama" when she is hysterically crying, and it sounds more like "MAAAAAAAMAAAAAAAA."  She says "Hi" clear as a bell, to everything that walks, talks, or crosses her path - people, animals, and inanimate objects included.  And just this week, she has learned Hot, which sounds more like "HA" and requires putting your hand out in front of you like a crossing guard.  She knows the wood stove is hot and she can't touch it, and really, who needs to know more words than that?  Especially when "Diii diii dii" gets you everything you ever wanted and more.

I'm sure there are a jillion milestones I'm forgetting, like she has six teeth on the bottom now, which makes for ten teeth total, although the arrangement in her mouth is like nothing I've seen before.  She runs like a maniac, climbs everything, and thinks she's jumping when she bends her knees and stands up really fast.  She is a joy, and a headache all at the same time.  And, she has determined the tub is not just for baths anymore.

More Games We Play

Sunday evening is here.  I have survived Day 3 of what is supposed to be seven days of rain.  SEVEN days of rain.  This type of weather pattern is detrimental to my emotional well-being, but it appears I am surviving, and since I've been out in the weather quite a few times, I can confirm that I will not melt.  If you know me at all, you probably already knew that I'm not sweet enough to be made from sugar, but then again, didn't the Wicked Witch melt when wet?

Anyhow, Day 3 of rain means we have not been doing much playing outside.  Which means that someone hasn't been napping at her usual times.  Which means that the rest of her sleep schedule is all out of whack.  Which means the amount of sleep this house has been getting lately has been...shall I say...Inadequate.  I'm not sure that the weather is directly related to our lack of sleep, but since I hate rain AND I hate being tired, I'd like to link the two together.  And to be perfectly clear, it isn't so much the rain that I hate, as the lack of sunshine.  Is there a way I can get both sunshine and rain at the same time?  That would be great.

Nearly two weeks ago, we went outside to play, and I took some pictures.  We have been outside since then, but my camera hasn't, so this is what I've got.  Pictures of a great game called "picking up the olives".  I don't mind the green olives, except when she puts them in her mouth and threatens to choke on them, but the ripe black olives make a terrible mess and like to stain things purple.  I don't like olives.  Unless they are in a jar with lots of salt and garlic.  Then I like olives.  I also like peppers in a jar with vinegar and lots of salt and garlic.  Remember when I talked about canning/jarring peppers?  I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I actually followed through and canned about ten jars.  After sampling them, I can say they are awesome.  Especially with cream cheese and salami.  Although, I'm thinking it's more the garlic and salt that I like, so really I could probably eat anything with enough salt and garlic, and possibly vinegar.  But now I'm totally off track.  Back to playing outside.

Another great game is "picking up dirt."  Go figure.  I think there is a theme here with picking things up. Except this game also involves carrying a handful of dirt to your daddy, putting it in his hand, returning to the dirt pile to pick up more dirt, returning to daddy to dump it off, and repeating this pattern about thirty times.  After that, you start dumping the dirt on the cat's back, but the cat thinks you're petting it, so it just purrs and rubs against your leg while you dump more dirt on its back.  All the while, I'm trying to get pictures of this hilarious baby, dirt, cat exchange, but can't seem to get it all in the frame.  So, I just give up and stop taking pictures.

Carrying the dirt, which apparently, is very serious business based on the facial expression.

Dumping dirt in daddy's hand.

Returning for more dirt.

More dumping.

Looking at these pictures makes me realize that even though everything is dead and grayish brown, I still like it.  It's my yard and I love it, and even though the area you see above is currently under about an inch of water, I know it will turn green and lovely again in a few months.  Looking at these pictures also makes me realize that my dogs do weird things sometimes.  I can assure you that Lunati is not dead in the third picture above, although it looks like she might be, and also, there are VERY few things that can distract Bailee from chewing on a stick.  Stick chewing is very serious business, just like dumping dirt.

On a less "grayish" note, this week should be a whirlwind of wrapping, baking, and last minute errands, culminating in two days of eating, presents, and good family fun.  Which all sounds significantly less depressing than the current weather.

Relief

I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I was walking out of Barnes & Noble today.  Not only because it was a madhouse in there and I was lucky to have escaped unscathed, but also because my Christmas shopping is officially done.  I'm a terrible holiday shopper.  I always wait until the last minute, and then agonize over getting the "perfect" gift for each person.  The logical part of me knows that, given my budget and time constraints, the "perfect" gift is impossible, not to mention the "perfect" gift isn't always necessary.  However, the idealistic, slightly perfectionist, side of me insists on getting just the right thing for everyone...or at least as close as possible.  This has been our first full year on a single income, so shopping seemed even more challenging than usual, but even so, I feel like I did the very best I could.  And for the time being, I can finally put away the holiday stress and just enjoy getting ready...baking, wrapping, and filling our home with good smells, sights, and songs.

Light Parade

On Saturday, we did something I've been meaning to do for the past 15 years.  We went to the downtown Light Parade.  I couldn't argue with the unseasonably warm temperature this year as I have so many years before.  I had fun.  I'm not so sure about Laci, who was irritated that she could not run around in the street, and was more entertained by the butterfly wand she stole, than by the brightly lit floats.  Technically, she didn't steal the butterfly wand, it was being "shared."  However, once it became Laci's turn to hold the wand, there was no prying it from the death grip she was using to hold it.  Shortly after this picture, Aunty Kristina broke the wand and no one wanted it.  Problem solved.

We live in a small town, so the parade was enjoyable, but nothing like what you might see at Disney.  We saw Frosty, Santa, and Snoopy...trucks, cars, and even a school bus covered in lights...floats with sparkling holiday themes...middle school marching bands, complete with flag girls which brought back some memories for me (yes, I was a flag girl in junior high, one of my best memories of growing up).  You know, the usual holiday things.

And a fire breathing dragon.

Yes, a fire breathing dragon.

Not your classic holiday creature, but he was wearing a Santa hat and beard, so at least he was festive.

He is a made from old pieces of metal: car parts, cans, basically metal trash found at the dump.

I'm not sure if you can see him clearly enough in the picture,

but you're looking at him from behind.  He "breathes" fire from his nostrils,

has huge wings, and a long tail towards the left of the picture.

I'd love for this to become an annual tradition for us,

but I'm doubtful that next year's weather will be as favorable,

so I'll hold off on making that decision for a while.

It was fun to have both sets of grandparents, plus aunts, uncle, and cousins to share the evening.

At least I can finally say, I've been to our light parade.