Polar Express

To kick off our holiday season, we once again took Staley to Monticello, IL to ride the Polar Express.  As we felt Adelie would still be too young to appreciate it (and it's a long car ride and it would be past her bedtime and we didn't want to end up being those people who bring a tired, crying baby on the train), Adelie stayed home with Grammie.  Staley enjoyed her special alone time with us.

The experience itself was exactly the same as last year.  There was a golden ticket, cookies and hot chocolate, dancing girls, songs, a reading of the Polar Express story, a train trip to the North Pole, a bell, and a somewhat creepy Santa.  The only difference was that Santa did not make Staley cry.  Instead, she was excited to show him her bunny toy that she got in her Happy Meal before the trip and was ready to tell him that she wanted a princess dress for Christmas.  Zach told her that Santa might ask her if she's been good to which Staley replied, "I went pee pee and a little bit of poo poo."  It was true that she had done both those things before boarding the train, although I'm not sure if that is Santa's only criteria to get on the good list.

Cheesing with her golden ticket

Staley and Santa

All in all, it was a great way to start our holiday season.  And because Staley has been good this year (both with her potty skills and otherwise), a princess dress may just find its way under the tree.

New Year's Resolution

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions.  I generally don't make them.  But yesterday at work, I received the motivation I need to make my official New Year's resolution for 2014.  I was walking towards the hospital to see a child for therapy.  As I passed a random stranger walking the other way, she smiled at me and said, "Looks like you're going to have a little one."  I looked right at her, said "nope", and continued on my way.

And therein lies my New Year's resolution.  I don't really care what the scale says.  I'm happy with how my clothes fit.  I don't feel the need to work back into my pre-kids skinny jeans.  My goal for 2014 is simple...to no longer look pregnant.  But until 2014, bring on the Christmas goodies!!

The First Gift of Christmas

I had to work on Friday after Thanksgiving, so Zach stayed home with the girls.  He took them to the Hallmark Store in town, and Staley picked out something for me for Christmas.  When I got home, she told me that she got me a surprise, but it was a secret.  I was impressed by her ability to keep the cat in the bag.

Well, it lasted 2 days.  Zach and Staley went and picked out a Christmas tree on Saturday morning.  On Sunday morning, Staley told me, "I'm going to give you your surprise."  I said, "I think it's a surprise for Christmas.  Let's wait until Christmas."  Staley responded, "I will give it to you after breakfast.  It's an ornament."  She REALLY wanted to give it to me so I could put it on the tree.

And so, the first gift of Christmas has been given.  It's a red, sparkly heart ornament with a nurse's cap in the middle.

And I couldn't love anything more!

Question of the Day

Which is better?

A daughter who sleeps through the night for two straight weeks and then stops
OR
one who never gave you a taste of a full night's sleep to begin with?

Trick question.  Neither is better because either way I'm still up in the middle of the night.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so many things to be thankful for...

but these two top the list.

Eight Months

How is it possible that my baby is already eight months old??  She's learning and growing and changing on a daily basis.  She weighs over 16 lbs and wears size 3 diapers.  She is wearing her 6-9 month clothes, and is starting to wear her 12 month clothes.  Adelie smiles often with her 4 teeth.  She nurses 4 times/day, eats 2 meals, takes 2 naps, and has recently started sleeping for 11-12 hours at night.

Pretty happy about being 8 months old

Likes:  Adelie remains happy and easy to please.  She still loves baths, people, music, and her big sister.  She likes toys, but prefers things like shoes, paper, DVD cases, fruit snack wrappers, keys, remotes, empty water bottles, and spoons.  Favorite toys generally include anything new or different or anything that Staley is playing with.  Adelie enjoys looking at herself in the mirror and playing peek-a-boo.  She likes looking at books with her favorite remaining 'Baby Talk.'  Favorite foods include Puffs, sweet potatoes, and fruit.

Not sure why, but Adelie LOVES shoes.

Dislikes:  Adelie is demonstrating more of an attitude about things she dislikes.  She still fusses when she is hungry or tired.  She will also get upset when she is bored, left alone, or a preferred object is taken away.  She is not a big fan of green veggies.

Skills:  Adelie is still my active little gal.  She crawls quickly, pulls to stand, and is beginning to cruise along furniture.  She is starting to take steps while walking behind a push toy.  She bangs toys together, plays 'so big', and signs 'more.'  She can hold her own cup to drink and is starting to finger feed (although drinking involves a lot of spilling and finger feeding involves a lot of dropping Puffs or getting them stuck in her hand.)  Adelie is making lots of sounds, primarily consonant sounds like 'm', 'b', and 'd'.  She has stopped growling, but now likes to make a clicking sound with her tongue and blow raspberries.  She is starting to understand more and more.  She seems to understand words like cat and sissy, bang and splash, eat and drink.  Her smile and her laugh are constant, making all our days brighter.

So big!

Adelie at 8 months old

Fun Moments

Although this week for us was often consumed with thoughts of the overwhelming situation in Washington, it did provide some fun moments for my girls.

On Wednesday, Staley and I accompanied Liam and Melissa to see 'Sesame Street Live.'  Prior to the show, Staley was convinced that she was going to dance with the Sesame Street characters on the stage while I watched her.  She thoroughly enjoyed the show and did her fair share of dancing at her seat, but there were a few tears when the show ended and Staley had not had a chance to meet the characters.

Sesame Street Live

Staley was all smiles at the show

On Thursday, having heard of a free carousel at Bass Pro Shop, we headed over to check it out.  As carousels continue to top the list of things that Staley loves, she couldn't have been more thrilled to see a free carousel with no line that she was able to ride over and over and over again.  (I think she rode it 12 times.)

Happily riding a reindeer

Adelie was more interested in the Christmas lights at the top of the carousel than the carousel itself.

In between rides on the carousel, Staley also colored a picture, looked at the big fish, drove remote control cars, and watched a model train go around its track.  And Adelie just took it all in...

...while trying to eat her socks.

On Saturday, we helped Elliott celebrate his 5th birthday at his Star Wars party.  Staley enjoyed hanging out with the other kids, playing with Elliott's toys, and eating a cupcake before dinner.

Adelie in her Princess Leia tunic and buns that Aunt Carrie made

To cap off their fun week, Staley and Adelie got to spend the day with their grandparents while Zach and I traveled to St. Louis to watch the Bear's game.

Luckily the Bears were playing inside a dome today so we didn't have to sit outside in the frigid weather to watch the Bears lose.  At least we got to watch them lose in the comfort of a climate-controlled arena.  So our week ended a little bittersweet, but even a Bears win might not have been able to compete with an Elmo-singing, carousel-riding, party-going, grandparent-playing week.