BG-isms at 4

Yesterday, BG informed me that she wanted a dog. I told her to ask her father, which she did when he got home. He told her that if she was really good for a few weeks, we would start discussing it. WHAT!? Obviously we were not on the same page with this one.

Later she told me she wanted a unicorn. I asked if she would rather have a dog or a unicorn and she chose the unicorn. To get back at JM, I told her she could have a unicorn, but would have to talk Dad into buying it for her. She got really excited and started telling me all about where her unicorn was going to live and eat and all the things they would do together, including walking on a rainbow (obviously). I felt a bit guilty - perhaps I have taken things too far? When JM got home and heard her request for a mythical creature, he told her they can only be purchased in France, but aren't allowed on airlines.

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BG is really into mermaids right now. She really, REALLY wants to be a mermaid. She keeps telling me that I need to take her to a "special doctor" to give her a mermaid tail. I'm not sure she understand what kind of surgery that would entail, nonetheless, she is insistent. I try to tell her she can be a pretend mermaid anytime, but she insists on being a REAL mermaid.

JM told her that she can't be a mermaid because she hasn't had mermaid lessons. Now she is fixated on getting the lessons. I told her that she would have to take swim lessons and not be scared of putting her face in the water if she wants to be a mermaid. So now we're looking at swim lessons.

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BG loves family hugs. Anytime she sees JM and I hug, she yells "Family hug!" and runs to join in.

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She likes to pretend to get married. She asks me to be the boy and marry her. We hold hands and spin in a circle. She has asked on numerous occasions that I find a boy for her to marry when she grows up. Somehow I don't think she will be so into my opinion on that later in life.

Baby's First Birthday

One year ago today, I was given my second daughter. She was born at 12:52 pm after only 4.5 hours of labor. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by since she joined our family. In an effort to remember what is going on in Blanche's life right now, here is a list.

Likes
Food: Bananas, Mandarin oranges, blueberry pancakes, carrots, pears
Her sister - She will squeal when BG comes into the room.
Balls - She loves banging them together.
Shape sorter - She can push them shapes through the holes but gets frustrated that she can't put them in the correct spot yet.
Being upside down
Combs - holding them, not in her hair
Eating off the floor
Playing Peek-a-boo
Sucking on her blankey. It helps her go to sleep.
Baths

Dislikes
When mom takes away things
Being put down
Poopy diapers
Washing her face, especially goopy eyes
When BG takes toys away
Having bows or flowers in her hair

Skills
Self feeding and throwing food on the floor
Crawling, standing, cruising on furniture
Squawking, really loud
Putting objects into other objects
Pushing down on levers
Signing "All Done"
Pulling out hair accessories

Cold

I hate this time of year. I hate feeling frozen all the time. I hate the biting wind and the thick smog in the air. I hate that Christmas is over and I have nothing to look forward to amidst the dreary winter. I have no motivation to do anything. I just want to sit by a fire, while wearing a coat, under a blanket, drinking a hot beverage.

Stupid winter.

Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas weekend. It was relaxed and low-key, just the way I was hoping. On Christmas Eve, we had a big Turkey dinner at home and read the Christmas story in Luke. The girls opened jammies and a Christmas book. We set out cookies for Santa and BG rushed to bed so she would be asleep before Santa arrived.

We slept in on Christmas morning (so nice!). By the time we got Dad out of bed, we opened gifts and had tasty Baked French Toast for breakfast. Blanche went down for a nap and we got ready for the day. When Blanche woke up we headed to my parents. They were very generous and BG was thrilled to get Barbies. On Sunday, we had a family party with JM's side. It was great to see everyone and they were generous with gifts. BG got a trunk of dresses with jewelry and accessories. She has been wearing them all week.

We brought home our gifts from my parents in a large box. Today BG was playing in the box and pretending it was a spaceship. She told me that I had a choice about where to go in the spaceship- either space or outer space.

And just because you really need some pictures, here's what our Christmas morning looked like.

Christmas Baking

About this time of year I really, REALLY start drooling over all the delicious Christmas cookie/ candy/treat recipes that are circulating. Since I haven't done my neighbor gifts, I think those recipes work well for giving away. This is also about the time that my idea of not giving unhealthy sugary gifts goes right out the window.

This year JM is doing a workout/diet program. And you can imagine, it doesn't include vast amounts of sugar or chocolate (boring!). That leaves me a bit stuck. Do I support his efforts and give up my love of Christmas calories? Do I make it away and just give it away? Or should I make it all and binge until I've made myself sick (then repeat night after night). So far, this is what's on the list of things I'm aching to make.

• Peppermint Bark
• Peanut Brittle
• Fudge (although I've never had it turn out right)
• Caramel popcorn
• Anything that includes Peppermint extract

I could go on and on, and I'm not even looking! What's your favorite holiday goodie? I obviously need to add more to my list. If you are my neighbor, feel free to weigh in on your treat of choice from our family.

Thinking about Calm

There is a strange calm this year around Christmas for me. My decorations are up, the tree has been trimmed, 90% of the gifts have been purchased and wrapped. My Christmas Cards are sitting on the table waiting for stamps. Our calendar is not too full (yet) and my blog background reads "holiday". How did I get so on top of things this year? We have even gone to see the lights.

It's also been interesting watching Blanche, as this is her first Christmas. Yet, it doesn't feel that way. She isn't a tiny baby is awe over the lights. Instead she is a mobile, nearly-toddler, snatching ornaments and shoving everything in her mouth as quick as she can. It almost feels like she is getting cheated out of her first Christmas, because she doesn't feel like a baby. She feels old enough to have one of these holiday seasons under her fat little belt. But, I suppose she is nearly 11 months old. She was born a mere few weeks after Christmas last year. It's unlikely Grandma will get the traditional picture of her on her back, under the tree playing with ornaments. Instead, she will flip over, pull up and gnaw on the branches.

I'm tempted to add more things to fill up the time, the season. Maybe I should be baking, or decorating. Maybe we should be shopping or partying. Yet, I'm enjoying the calm. Maybe, just once, I'll sit back and enjoy the season, rather than stress and let it overwhelm me.

Thanksgiving Weekend

I've been slacking on the blogging lately, but we've been busy. This week has been especially eventful, so I thought I'd post about it.

Seeing as how this was a holiday week, I got to take two extra days off work (because the girls were sick). We got to get out and about (to the doctor's office) in our time off. We whipped up a cheese ball for the Thanksgiving feast. On Thursday, we lounged around most of the day (because I was sick) and enjoyed a big meal (brought to us by a kind in-law). I did some Black Friday shopping (online since I had to work). I got some good deals (Saturday, after everything had been picked through) and bought a fresh turkey on sale. We went for a nice drive (to the doctor again) and nearly got admitted to an exclusive facility (the hospital). Blanche has been upbeat (despite moderate dehydration) and really putting her diapers to good use (with excessive diarrhea). We got to watch our team beat their biggest rival (by one point) and settle back for a cozy evening. So all in all, a great holiday week.

All sarcasm aside, we do have much to be thankful for. Right now I'm especially thankful for (typically) good health, health insurance, medication to help illness, and providers who are open during the holidays in addition to the many other blessings we have.