Merry belated Christmas!

From Christmas2008

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! (Greg, this Rosa photo is for you)

For the first time in my adult life, I didn't have to travel for the actual Christmas day. It was nice. We did, however, get an early Christmas when we went to Missoula to see Matt's parents Dec. 21-23. It was a LONG trip back, and we broke the CV joint in the car when we returned, but we still had a great time.


Even though Anne Marie wouldn't talk to Santa, he took pity on her and was VERY good to her this year. Her favorites: a set of doll accessories (stroller, playpen, bouncer, tummy time mat, nuk), a big bundle of blocks and a Memory game from her Grandma. She impressed me with that Memory Game! My mom got out a set of the little cards with five matching pairs. She didn't miss one. She remembered where every match was every time. That girl is observant. I have to be careful.

Her doll stuff has shown me how precise a toddler can be. When Santa put the stuff under the tree, he stuck one doll in the play pen, another in the stroller, another on the tummy time mat, etc. Now, that is where each of those dolls belong. Bobbi must sit in the stroller, but cannot go in the playpen. Susie cannot leave the tummy time mat. Anne Marie was a bit sad that the playpen was so small. She loves to sit in them!

From Christmas2008

Every day since Christmas, Anne Marie has spent the entire day "playing toys." She's still excited and overwhelmed, and her birthday is less than a month away. She loves her new shoes, and wouldn't let me take them off for a nap yesterday.

From Christmas2008

We had a very white Christmas- it didn't stop snowing and blowing the entire day. In the afternoon, we built a pretty good snowman (almost Snowzilla :)) In my honor, Alex and Matt made it pregnant.

From Christmas2008

I was really excited about the sling I got for Christmas. I had a ring sling with Anne Marie, and I never really got the hang of it. This one is awesome, and I believe it will be really necessary with a toddler still in s stroller. I practiced with Freddy, and he stayed in there for more than an hour!

From Christmas2008

No Santa!

I have no clue why I obsess over this. My daughter is scared of quite a few things. She wants nothing to do with any stuffed animals that move or talk, although she loves ones that just play music. She doesn't even want to go into Costco for fear that she might see that Kota Triceratop or the big stuffed dog that obeys commands. So why would I think she would like Santa?

And yet, I keep trying. First try, Festival of Trees. We waited in line, and when we got there Santa (who had a real beard and looked just like a regular old man) said "Hello." Anne Marie said, "No Santa." There was no scene, just vigorous head shaking. He asked her if she wanted to sit on his lap, and she said, "No Santa." So we walked away, and she waved and said "Bye Santa." Then it was a repeated "No Santa" through the entire festival.

Next attempt: day care. They had photos with Santa when you picked up your child. It was a fundraiser: $2 and they print you one and send you a copy via e-mail. I figured since her classmates were doing it, she would be pumped. So we looked in the window, where her little classmate Adam was just leaving Santa. "No Santa!" We went inside. "No Santa!" After we left, I told her how Santa comes to our house and brings us presents. Probably to the shock of the parents around me, I told my not-yet 2 year old that since she wouldn't talk to Santa, he had no idea what to bring to her, and that he was probably really sad (see how sick and manipulative Santa makes me). Then I told her Santa was one of the fun parts of Christmas. "No Christmas," she says.

So today is Book Babies, one of her favorite weekly events. Santa is coming. I told Anne Marie Santa might be at Book Babies, and asked her if she wanted to say hello. She said, "No Book Babies." I might be giving up.

Happy Birthday Matt!

From Father's Day and swimming in the backyard

Happy birthday Matt! Here's 20 things I love about my man (he's 33, but we want him to feel younger).

1. He gets really excited for his birthday. It's sweet.

2. He goes to whatever class or workshop I deem necessary for the two of us. Marriage class, birth class, baptism class.

3. He does the dishes.

4. He's a hard worker.

5. He has always supported me in my faith. He's not Catholic, but he says prayers with Anne Marie and goes to church with us whenever he isn't at work. He also gets excited about spiritual events in the lives of his children.

6. He either gives Anne Marie a bath or puts her to bed almost every night.

7. He keeps his promises.

8. He cares deeply about his family and friends.

9. He's a funny guy.

10. Mood swings don't phase him... too much.

11. He talks to his little unborn son.

12. He's not afraid of a foul diaper, or even a turd in the bathtub.

13. He's good at beer-making.

14. He loves to read, and he's cultivating that love in his daughter.

15. He makes us feel safe and loved.

16. He has great, thick, wavy hair - maybe he'll pass it on to Thomas Bean.

17. He won't ever stop learning.

18. Even though he hates school, he's still going- a great example to his kids.

19. He can really barbecue.

20. He's a great person to emulate. Anne Marie is currently wearing his hat and walking around with her play cell phone clipped to her pants- just like her papa.

Bossy girl

I've done a lot without posting... gone to Missoula for a football game, eaten turkey, gone to Jackson for what was likely our last romantic getaway for several years, and witnessed Anne Marie go in the potty two days in a row without us planning to train her. But I haven't really felt bloggy.

Tonight, Anne Marie gave me some fodder. She is a busy little girl, and she spends a lot of time putting her babies to bed with blankets. She'll set them out across the room, and say "Good night" to each one. Then the blanket goes over their head.

This evening, she was putting Freddy (the cat) to bed. She used five washcloths from the folded laundry and laid them on top of the already-asleep cat, saying "nice and warm, OK?" Bubba (other cat) thought it would be a good time to attack, and whacked poor Freddy. Anne Marie took hold of Bubba, looked into his face and said, "Bubba get off him. Bubba, say sorry Freddy, OK? Foot hurt." Hopefully Bubba learned his lesson. I couldn't stop laughing.