we didn’t teach her this one.

But somehow every toddler learns the arch-your-back-then-make-your-body-limp move that signals they will cease cooperation in whatever they are currently doing/being asked/forced to do.

 

Awesome.

winter days

The heat is on. The push to do it. I’m the new magic-maker, tradition-creator, the thud on the roof, the leave cookies for Santa starter. I’m kinda getting some slack cut for me this year, though- because she doesn’t really get it yet.

But next year, I better be on my A game.

I have a plan to purchase some fab stockings the day after Christmas this year. Ones that we will hang by the fire with care. Advent calendar? There are so many great ideas out there. This year, though – the Christmas jammies are washed and ready to wear.

Until Santa comes, we are enjoying the tree, bundling up, and sending holiday wishes to relatives and friends afar. It’s been busy and hurried. Exciting, and always a little hushed at times. We know better when to ask questions and when not to.

My baby is to the age where she wants to be FREE. To wander, touch things, and just let go of mama’s finger for a few seconds longer than the last time.

If we didn’t live on a drag strip through street, I’d be a little more relaxed. 

But we generally have to take a side street to even get feet in between us. She’s my girl, I just can’t help it.

Whoa.

We’ve added a few new words this week, including whoa, wow, yeah, and k. The real good part is the the little head shake that comes with the “yeah” and “k”.

Hey Paisley- do you want a snack?

[quick nod] “Yeah.”

Excuse me…do I have a teenager?

Bedtime.

Treasured in our house. A freshly bathed baby girl brings us books from her shelf. For a few moments, the tireless toddler sits calmly, cuddly on your lap. Watches your mouth as you read, and points at the pictures with you. It’s heaven.

Today there are last-minute ends to tie up, dinner with family, and the anticipation of hearing the “thud” on the roof.

 

 

 

Merry Christmas.

I like to photograph

Us cheering our daughter on for things she really should not be doing. Like “using the furniture as a jungle gym” (directly quoted from my parents circa 15 years ago). Here you will see her being totally proud of herself for said offense, doing a “fist-bump” with her daddy (then me), and acting out Five Little Monkeys (in which she walks around bonking herself in the head and then shaking her finger at us).

please, let me instagram you.

It’s been a busy week, and we are all antsy to celebrate Christmas. Luckily, this year, we are celebrating a week early + Christmas Eve + Christmas day. More holidays = more fun.

Some of these are probably a month old now. I never guaranteed promptness.

She sleeps. Hard.

I love catching this kind of sleep. I can examine her little lips, her thick eyelashes.

Her tiny curl that has developed in her just-long-enough-hair back there.

We walk in the dark. Because the days aren’t light for very long anymore.

 

Where she belongs.

 

We stopped having a morning bottle and are now sitting down for a few moments before school for blueberries and oatmeal. Or sometimes a Nutrigrain bar.

 

This girl tries really hard to put her own hat on. Usually ends up on the floor like this.

She eats with a spoon. And wows us again. Even if she has probably known how to do this for the past 3 months.

H&M brings us cute socks…

 

…And legwarmers this winter.

Oh. my. GOSH.

 

I stayed home sick. It was relaxing.

She’s already a scholar.

 

Hearts, stars, flowers.

I dressed my kid in this the other day. It actually turned out kinda cute. We had no car seat, so no way of leaving the house in the outfit.

 

But dad came home and we went out. To the dollar tree. And let my girl out of the cart. (A scary thing to do as you can see here!)

Need to cook dinner/clean up dinner/take a phone call or breathe? Thank you, Nick Jr.

 

My front porch looked like this one day this week. Oh yeah.

Christmas Pageants. Girl loves her cousins.

Girl had her first Christmas Party. She made us a pinecone ornament.

“Paisley, what do you say to an elephant?” ::Silence:: (I don’t think we knew, either)

This one’s an oldie but goodie. She’s got it down.

I’ve been a gift-wrapping fool for the past few days. I love it.

We are officially having binky issues. She has named it “baboo” and asks for it every time she is tired, gets hurt, sees it, thinks about it, hears a word close to it, or any other illegitimate reason. She has recently gotten tall enough to see that we keep them here.

when doing dishes is cute

Sometimes when I’m trying to load the dishwasher, my toddler is either:

a) crying at my feet because she wants me to hold her

b) crying at my feet because I have knocked her over because she is under foot

c) removing things from the dishwasher as I put them in

or

d) trying to test how much weight the dishwasher door can handle.

On this day, I just chose to let her in on all the fun that was happening up at the sink. She thought she was pretty cool. I thought she was pretty cute. :)