Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Ooooh, Santa

Last year at this time Ayla was four months and oblivious to the large man with the beard and a red suit holding her on his lap.
Uh, not so much this time.
We waited in line for over an hour as she got to run around the mall having a blast, waving at Santa numeroud times I might add. So I was pretty optimistic, then, as we approach him for the pic, she isn't so friendly...Are we torturing our kids by forcing them to sit on a stranger's lap? Do we feel better only because EVERYONE on Earth does the same? We all have that pic of us and our brothers and sisters screaming on Santa's lap. So I suppose I shouldn't feel THAT bad right?!

From screaming, to pouting, to self soothing while pouting...

MUCH happier when we get home. I am glad she doesn't know how to hold grudges yet


Sunday, December 13, 2009

It's that time of year again...

Ayla looking at the snow falling outside...keeping pants on this girl, by the way, is near impossible. We are lucky she has a onesie and a shirt on. Oh, and somedays she loves wearing socks and others she screams while trying to pull them off her feet, go figure.


Ayla being oh so gentle with the tree and its ornaments. We debated getting a tiny one and putting on an end table, then realized how extremely lame that is. So we packed up and went to Carpinito Bros to pick out a nice big one that Ayla can really appreciate :) Surprisingly Ayla has done really well and not grabbed any of the ornaments or yanked on the lights. She will go up to the tree sniff it (Brett taught her that), point at it a little, then very gently touch an ornament or ribbon. You can just see the restraint on her face, so cute. I think she is the perfect age, if it were 3 months ago, she would have been climbing and grabbing all over the thing!

Well, the holidays are among us. Ever since we lost my dad, honestly, I have tended to dread this time of year. What used to be my favorite time of year became quite the opposite. Demands of family and friends becomes too much sometimes and the busy chaos all around us can frustrate me. My perspecitve has become much more positive though, when I look at Ayla and see the excited smile on her face as she points to the tree and when she sees me plug in the Christmas lights. I have this precious little girl who brings joy to so many, from the perfect stranger to our closest family members. And that pit in my stomach when December approaches has shrunk tremendously.
The joy she brings to my mom is extra special to me. What used to be an annual trip for my mom and I to the Victorian Country Christmas has now become an annual trip for the three of us! Ayla was so intrigued by all the people, decorations, lights, and Christmas goodies, she loved it. We went outside to let her run free and it started snowing! I look over and see the huge smile on my mom's face as she is looking down at Ayla (who is looking up with eyes fluttering as the snow hits her little pink face). A perfect moment.
As each year comes, new traditions begin and although things will never be the same, I am looking forward to the new stories and memories that we will create each holiday season. Like these ones of Ayla and her cousins Grant and Kyla during Thanksgiving...
Reading with cousin Grant...he is so patient with her.




Playing in the ball pit with Kyla

Hide and Seek

Frist of all, I am updating the blog after only a couple of weeks! My motivation is the new HP notebook (Windows 7 and all!) Brett and I bought for Christmas. We simplified and got rid of our desk and old PC, yay! I have neglected my blog long enough so hopefully I will keep it comin.
The real reason for the update though is to share how much fun my daughter is...more and more fun everyday. She has recently discovered hide and seek. Her favorite hiding spots are her closet and her big blue worm tunnel:

We went last week to get our family portraits (mostly Ayla, tee hee). We got home and the first thing she did was run into our bedroom and hide in our closet. Love it.