A Song From Hannah to End Advent

Hannah's "People"

Hannah has her very own Nativity set. She got it for her very first Christmas. I thought we'd really hit the jackpot when she was diligently unpacking each piece as I set up my Nativity Scene this year. She was occupied the whole time! Then it came time to go upstairs. Her surprising observation:

"Do they need a house?"

I have to admit I had two very separate thoughts at that moment:

1. How theologically poignant that question is for us to ponder in the Advent season. Yes, Hannah they need a house. And there's a beauty in the fact that my sweet toddler recognizes that need and in her own little maternal heart wants to provide for the need of the holy family.

2. Oh NO! There's no way I'm getting this girl to bed without allowing her to move her "people" into my nativity scene. And moreover, she sees, in her toddler way that mommy's toy is better than her toy.

There was a compromise resolution that night. Followed by this genius solution:

Mute Monks to Start Your Advent

Try here to get the video.

Roar!

Hannah was a little wide-eyed going up to people's houses for trick-or-treating. My non-stop chatterbox was dumbstruck for the first house or two. It took running into a neighborhood friend to get her warmed up to showing off her fabulous roar. With candy reinforcements, she was induced to repeat her performance. Very charming.

Pumpkins

Happy Birthday Mom

Here's a message from your grand-daughter:

We miss you and we hope you are having a great day!

Autumn

Because She's Just So Cute

And we're going to ignore the boxes. Apparently they multiply at night...

Because Someone Asked

"Moving the Lawn"

Here's Hannah trying out her birthday gift. Her very own lawn mower! Now she can "move" the lawn, just like Daddy!

If the stars line up-I mean if the toddler actually pushes the toy completely level so that all four wheels move at the same time- it also makes bubbles.

Summer Pictures

Since I've been remiss in posting this summer, here's a glimpse into our summer.

Artiste

A special thanks to Jessica at www.thejlbs.com for this super cute smock and to Bastien for the paint brushes. Who need to use your fingers with a new toy like paint brushes! Okay...maybe Hannah did paint herself a little bit..

Potty Training Update

I know, I know you've been waiting with bated breath.

Hannah woke up on day 2 talking about her Princess Panties.
She wore diapers the entire day.
She had many opportunities to practice the step by step process of using the toilet.
She would like to wash her hands ALL DAY LONG if permitted.

Today (day 3) I began to lose my steam.
She doesn't seem to be making the connection.
She still wore diapers all day.
She had fewer opportunities to practice sitting on the toilet.
She initiated sitting on the toilet and going through the motions(still with no success)

Potty Training- Day 1

Today was the day. I'm finding that with many of these big deal transitions, I just decide one day that it's time. Perhaps it was finding Hannah with a poopy diaper in hand several times after naptime this week that pushed me over the edge. Perhaps it was a friend's suggestion that potty training is easier to manage without a screaming infant or crawling sibling. Perhaps it was Hannah's obsession with changing diapers (sidenote: I recently found myself "changing" a toy telephone in a public place to keep Hannah happy) or her recent insistence that "I will take care of it!"
Whatever the final push, today was the day.

Given today's success rate this may have been a one day thing. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

What is the size of a lemon?

According to www.babycenter.com the baby growing in my belly is the size of a lemon this week! "Baby Blueberry" should make an appearance sometime in the beginning of January. (I know too many fruits...)

We are trying to get Hannah used to the idea of a new baby coming. When we ask if she wants to be a big sister she says, "yeaaah." She is even willing to say hello to the baby in-utero. We feel confident that she will be a helpful big sister. Maybe too helpful.

Speaking of the big-sister-to be, Hannah went in for her 2 year check-up. She's 33 inches and weighs about 24 lbs. I was sure she was at least 30 lbs! She also received a shot and got blood drawn. No wonder the only thing she would say to the doctor was "I want to go now."

Same Dress, Different Year

Wow! Our little girl has grown SO much. We knew she was growing, but this really puts it into perspective. Mommy will have to take the straps down a bit.

The crazy hair is longer, but still crazy! (She wouldn't allow any doing of her hair this morning!)

Mommy's Helper

Dancing Queen

In a final burst of energy, Hannah insisted on dancing with the big girls at our latest out of town wedding.

How we survived the 7 hour car trip

After about 5 hours, everyone was ready for a break from the car. The gas station we stopped at was not a good place for a toddler to run around. It was situated on the top of a steep hill. Luckily the lady working at the flower stand across the street directed us to this park! Most refreshing.

A Poem for Today

Daffodowndilly
by: A. A. Milne

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour;
"Winter is dead."

Easter Pictures at Church

Easter Hunt and Aftermath

Naptime yesterday...

no further comment.

For winter is past....

which can only mean two things: flowers in our garden and opening day (four days 'til baseball)

Spring is Here!

Ed walks around our front yard daily looking for new signs of life. Here are pictures taken yesterday on the first official day of Spring:

We are completely ignoring the freezing temperatures of the past few days and focusing on the 10 day forcast: sunny and warm by the end of next week.

For a Toddler, Happiness...

is an infant carseat in the kitchen.

Twinkle, Twinkle

This was one of a couple attempts to re-invent a spontaneous moment: Hannah singing to herself as she was playing. The camera is WAY too interesting to allow for candid moments. The minute Hannah notices the camera, it becomes the primary focus. Hannah's favorite songs to sing are The Alphabet Song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

This is for Kelly

This is a picture of a very contented Auntie. More pictures of the adorable Annabelle are here.