Christmas

Cousins, Christmas Morning, 2012

Christmas this year was, well, tough. Both girls were sick. Neither girl slept well. By the end of four nights of no sleep, Mommy and Daddy weren't the patient parents we endeavor to be. Still, it was Christmas for children, and Christmas for children is magic. Violet really has fun with Christmas now, and Daphne loved the wrappings and toys. It was wonderful to spend time with family, and it was a well-paced day. Next year we will spend the month leading up to Christmas in a bubble, and it will be perfect.

The girls' Santa haul.

Katie and I slaved over these cookies, but aren't they gorgeous?!

Claire and Violet went to feed the reindeer, and it was hilarious. It was freezing outside, so when we told the girls to sprinkle the food on the lawn for the reindeer, Violet threw the whole ziplock on the grass and headed for the door. "No! You have to open it for them!" She opened it, then threw it on the lawn. "No, you're supposed to take it out and sprinkle it for them!" Exasperated and cold, she dumped it out all in one pile and ran inside. Claire, who knew better how to properly sprinkle reindeer food, was apparently also cold and tired as she followed suit. Both girls then ran upstairs, explaining that they had to get to sleep so Santa could come! Highlight of the night: not ONE peep out of them on the monitor after goodnights were said. Until Violet woke up sick a few hours later, that is.

Baby's first Christmas. Aw, Daph. You're so cute. Even when I can't see straight because I'm so tired. Merry Christmas, baby. I love you.

Daphne, 9 Months

Happy 9 Month Birthday, Daphne, Daphers, Dapha, Dapharoo.
You sleepless cutie-patootie, you! I love you more than I love sleep.

Quick Update

This is just a quick update, but I have to post while I'm thinking about it. This post is all gushing, and nothing but.

Violet:
Is loving preschool. Her teachers say that she is always very concerned about what her classmates are doing. She regularly tells the teachers who needs help with his or her puzzle. When her table-mate Parita's dad was late picking her up, Violet refused to leave. She went and stood with Parita, and gave her a reassuring hug. She was genuinely concerned. She has made quick friends with everyone in the class, but she sure talks about Landin a lot. I do believe we have a first crush. She also enjoys her job every week. This week she was the key monitor. Last week she was the cone monitor. Next week maybe she'll be the crayon monitor or something. They are preparing for their Christmas show next week, and she's very excited to sing "Feliz Navi-dop" with everyone.
We are also enjoying baking and crafts at home. She's an expert egg-cracker and flour leveler, and she doesn't spill... very much. She's very cute and sort of bossy in the kitchen.
She can zip her own jacket zipper.
Violet told a story tonight. We have a big book of things to find, and each page has a different theme. She loves to tell stories about the people in the pictures. Tonight's stories were just so stinkin' cute. In the second story she told, the princess went to the evil witch to buy chiuauas (yes, the dog), because she didn't know she was the evil witch! Then, the witch stole the princess, but she didn't know she was a princess! The princess escaped into the woods, but didn't know where she was. "Then her found a castle!" Naturally, prince charming was in the castle, and they lived happily ever after. Sweet Violet.

Daphne:
Talks! Sort of. Last Friday we were absolutely sure for the first time that she said, "Uh oh!" It was so cute. "Uh-oh" was Violet's first word, too. Though when Violet said it, she thought it was hilarious. Daphne seems rather concerned. And, I'm pretty sure as of a couple of days ago that when she says, "Mama," she means it. Today, she signed, "All done" by waving her hands. It was so cute. She didn't want any more peas.
Here are some milestone dates:
Tooth #4, Upper Right Lateral Incisor: 11/1
Sat herself up: 11/3
Crawled once or twice: 11/12-13
Officially a crawler: 11/16
Pulled to a stand: 11/18
Tooth #5, Upper Left Central Incisor: 11/23
Tooth #6, Upper Right Central Incisor: 11/24
Stood hands-free (and promptly fell): 12/2
Took a nasty fall free-standing after pulling up on the dishwasher: 12/4
Said "Uh-oh" (first word): 12/8
Fed Violet: 12/13
Said Mama: 12/14
So, she's been busy. She's a funny little girl, and excellent crawler. The things that make her laugh, make me laugh. She loves tickles and flying in the air, and every time I show her a hand sigh, she cracks up like I'm the funniest person in the room. She doesn't love her pacifier, and if you're trying to, well, pacify her with it, she'll take it from you and throw it across the room. That goes for anything you try to give her that she doesn't want. If she doesn't throw it far enough the first time, she picks it up and throws it again while looking you in the eye. It's extremely cute... for now. She likes to play with toys that have buttons, and thankfully she's proven to be discerning as far as what she will eat off the ground. Dangerous things like Barbie shoes get spit out, delicious things like week-old Cheerios in the corner are eaten. Both of which make mommy scream.

The Girls
...are sharing a room! We put Daphne and her naughty non-sleeping ways to bed in the other bedroom all by herself, and we shared our bedroom with Violet for a week after Thanksgiving. We thought it was going to be tough, but Daphne slept much better when she was not in our room! After a week, we moved Violet back in. Now Violet sneaks in each night and reads by flashlight until she falls asleep. So mature, I tell you! They remain the best of friends. I really hope this lasts forever. We've made their bedroom into more of a play room for them. It's really nice, and it's helping to keep the rest of our home clean, too!

We are looking so forward to Christmas this year! Tomorrow we are heading out in the car to play Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate, and find some Christmas lights. And, we love our little family!