Sunday, January 23, 2011

Fun Times

Dear Abigail,
I just wanted to document a few fun times you've had over the last couple days...
Last weekend, Mimi came up on Friday and stayed all the way through Monday! That's a ton of Mimi time for sure!!! She got here on Friday night just in time to head to Mexican for dinner. I let you stay up a little later to get some playing time in that night, but why bother, you had like 4 straight days, huh! Saturday around lunch we had Chloe's birthday party (lots of fun, aside from one minor not fun moment) and then Saturday night you and Mimi had a date night at home! Mommy and Daddy went out on our own and you and Mimi got to stay home and play, AND, you even got to sleep with Mimi in her bed!! Sunday involved more playing and a trip to Costcos and Monday Mimi went with us to gymnastics!! You got to show her all your moves, including the trampoline! OH, and at gymnastics they had the bouncy house blown up and guess who got in it with no concern at all? YOU. (member how you have been so afraid of the bouncy house you got for Christmas????). Just keep that in mind, k?
So Mimi left after gymnastics and we met Miss EP and Baby Grant and Miss Leigh for lunch, to which, I must say, you did a fantastic job at behaving (and requesting on your own, a trip to the potty!). Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday passed with a blur and on Friday we had guests!!
Miss Auburn and Chloe and Cole came over to play! We were a little concerned that we were going to have to cancel as it snowed, again, on Thursday night, but Miss Auburn 'risked' it and made it by 11! You kiddos had sooo much fun and you love you some Chloe! I told Miss Auburn that I felt sorry for Cole because all you talked about was "Chloe play with me" or "Chloe eat pizza with me" or "Chloe dance with me", etc. But, Cole made it just fine, and you two did end up playing together, if that's what you call sneaking into Mommy's bathroom and getting the toothbrushes (again!). After a yummy lunch and lots and lots of more playing (and talking between Mommy and Miss Auburn) we decided it was time for naps. Actually, you confirmed it when you crawled up in Mimi's bed and got under the covers and said "I go to sleep". So, they packed on their snow gear and headed home. What fun we had with them, though!!!
Friday night we headed to our usual Mexican. Oh, and we had our first encounter with someone who looks at our table (i.e. all the kids) and requests to be seated somewhere else! Yep, that's right, we were sitting in the back section of the restaurant (away from the water!) and you kids were having a moment, competing with who had the loudest scream, or something like that, and this cute, young, smiling couple, was being seated right beside up. The girl looked up, saw/heard our table, and immediately requested to be seated somewhere else. We all saw her do it, and what's funny is she didn't even try to hide it!! We didn't care, we warned her to do it while she could, although I did think it was odd of her to expect to come to a Mexican restaurant on a Friday night at 6 and NOT be seated beside some child, but 3 two-year olds are probably worse than 3 nine-year olds! Anyway... After Mexican we went to Ellie's house. Now, member when I said you got in that jumpy house no problem? Well, when I mentioned Ellie's house, your first response was "I not go in jumpy house". So I decided to remind you that you had already jumped in a jumpy house, at gymnastics. So when we got to Ellie's you immediately wanted to go jump in the jumpy house! So we did - and you LOVED IT! You went crazy bouncing and sliding and running around over and over again! It was like you never had a fear what so ever... who knows. As I've said before, you decide, on your own time, when you do what you want to do! We let you guys stay up a little late so you could get the full effect of the bouncy house and then off to bed you went while Mommy and the gang watched a movie. PS - you are now sleeping in your sleeping bag and I just find it to be the cutest thing EVER!. and you love it!
On Saturday, we went to look inside houses so we could get some ideas about our new house we're building and spent the afternoon jumping in the bouncy house! That's right - we took it to our house! It's the best thing ever, indeed. You loved jumping in it and jumping with all (and i mean ALL) your animal friends, who also enjoyed going down the slide!
On Friday at Mexican, Miss Leigh convinced us (me, you and Daddy) to join them at Sportsman Grille. She was craving something specific and we don't mess with a pregnant woman's cravings, so we decided to join them :) We got all cutesy-ed up headed out, only to get there to be told it was a 45 minute wait. So we left. And went to another restaurant, and were told the same thing, so we left. And went to one more restaurant and was told the SAME thing, so we made a decision to pick up BBQ and head back to our house, to jump in the jumpy house of course! Well, thank goodness we did because all of a sudden, Daddy got struck with a stomach bug and had to call it a night immediately (before we even got the food on the table!). Miss Leigh and Mr. Lee and Ryan decided to stay, since Daddy was locked in his bedroom, and you and Ryan had so much fun. There were a couple boo-boo's thanks to the way jumpy houses make you collide heads, but there was a lot more love. You kept laying down beside Ryan and giving him hugs and we just thought it was the cutest thing ever. Eventually (and when I say eventually, I mean after a bloody nose and the realization that it was 9 o'clock!!!), they headed home and we headed to bed.
What a fun times we had over the last couple of days! I can't wait for this weekend either. It's Clara Lee's birthday and we're heading in on Thursday!!
Love you!

Update

Dear Abigail,
Oh my little precious spittin' image of your Daddy but act just like your Mommy... Well, you just HAD to prove me wrong, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!!! So, as you are very aware, and as noted in the last post, potty training was, well, not fun, at all. And I begged and begged for your school to be open on Tuesday so they could at least give it a "go" (ha, no punt intended...) and so it was, just opened a little later. So, Mommy went to the school to drop you off and went into this long speech (I often extend stories a little beyond the necessary, I admit) about the whole weekend and how you just held it and held it and how I was so frustrated and just didn't know what to do, etc. etc. Your teachers assured me that we'd all figure it out and to just be patient, etc. etc. Well, I went home and waited on the phone call. Sure enough, the phone rang literally 2 hours after I dropped you off. TWO HOURS. Ugh, I at least thought you could make it to lunch! So, with hesitation, I answered it, only to be completely thrown off guard. Miss Amy called to update me that you had gone, on your own might I add, TWO times in the potty, no tears, no hesitation, nothing. Just decided you needed to go, so you went. WHAT?!! What happened to torturing me and Daddy for hours on end??? I asked if they had the right Abigail and they assured me things were going smoothly. So, I waited for the end of the day to get the 'real' report, and sure enough, not a single accident, not a single tear, you went several times, even poop! I'm positive your teachers think I am plum crazy and hallucinate things, or am extremely dramatic, which may be true a little BUT not on this whole potty training thing - at all - ask Daddy (or Miss Leigh or Miss EP who saw/heard the stress it caused!). Anyway, so, yeah, it's been two full weeks since you went to school and, drum roll please..... NOT A SINGLE ACCIDENT!!! At school, at home, anywhere. It's like you've been potty trained for 2 years. Okay - actually, let me back up... So you sort of had 1 accident, but that was COMPLETELY my fault. So you went the whole week of school and home with no accidents (and yes, this includes at nap/night time as you do not even wear a diaper then!!) So Saturday, we went to Chloe's birthday party at Pee-a-boo Playtown. You were having so much fun running around, playing with all the kiddos and fun stuff to dress up as/play with, and I kept my eye on you because I knew I would have to remind you about the potty; however, I failed... Just as I was bragging to Miss Auburn about how you had not had ANY accidents (seriously, like I literally was just telling her this...) I looked down to see you holding it like you needed to go potty. So (here comes the mistake #1), I asked you "Do you want to go potty?" to which you replied "No". So I let you keep playing. And then I asked again, because it was clear you needed to go, but you insisted (while running around like crazy) that you did not need to. Finally I realized my mistake (i.e. never ask, just take), so I stopped you in the middle of the chaos and said "Let's go to the potty". Well, you threw one heck of a fit, legs flying and all, and (here comes mistake #2) because I was a bit embarrassed by your reaction, I just let you keep playing. Let me tell you what's more embarrassing than a 2 year old throwing a small tantrum about having to go to the potty - that 2 year old walking up to you (while talking to parents about how well you've done with this potty training) with completely soaking wet pants saying "I need to go potty now". Lesson learned. Lesson learned. That's why I take complete ownership of your one accident. Thankfully, I had brought extra pants so we were able to clean you up and get you back out there, but the damage was done, I was proven wrong yet again by you!!!! BUT, aside from that one minor incident, there have literally been no other accidents. None of us can believe it. Mimi came up last weekend and witnessed it and still can't believe it. You even had a little case of a 'tummy ache' and were able to achieve perfection that entire day, although I'm pretty sure you set a record for the number of time you went potty. Oh, that's another thing, member how you would go twice a day, now it's pretty much twice an hour. But you go, half the time you don't even tell us until after you are done, but you go! We are soooo proud of you! I can't even begin to explain. If I had known it was only going to be 3 days of, well, no fun, then I would not have complained so much because you are absolutely perfect now with this. You've even got public restrooms mastered (aside from Costcos where you just decided to hold it!) and like I said, go to sleep in big girl panties and wake up dry! I just can't believe it myself, but I should - I really should. You surprise us all the time and when you want to do something, you do it, on your terms, of course! Yay baby girl, I mean BIG GIRL! SOOOO proud!!!!!! I love you!!

PS - I think I'll go have myself a cry now. Where has my baby gone? Now that it's official that you are 100% potty trained, I don't know if there is any 'baby' left in you. I'm so proud, so proud, but you will always be my baby girl!!!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Snow vs. Potty Training


Dear Abigail,
Well, it's that time. As you may recall, we tried potty training back in September because all signs pointed to you being ready; however, you decided to hold "it" for 16 hours, multiple days in a row, and therefore caused your bladder to swell, to which causes bladder infections (not to mention many many tears and trips to the doctor), and therefore we seized all training. It had been suggested by both your teachers and doctor to wait until you were 28 months old, a little maturer, they said. So we did. And January 5th made you 28 months old. Perfect! It was after the holidays. No plans for being out of town until the last weekend of the month. No parties to go to for a couple weeks. Perfect. So, Mommy decided before Christmas that come January 5th, it's on! Well, January 5th was on a Wednesday, so I decided that, since gymnastics was on Thursday (and a bunch of errand running needed to be done) that we would start on Friday, January 7th. So we did.
The first day of potty training was pretty much just like last time. You running around with just a shirt on, sitting on the potty for hours straight, watching "Booty and the Beast" and eating popcorn. And nothing happening. I can't really remember every detail from Friday (as I try to block horrible memories out of my mind) but I'm pretty sure you did the 'other thing' first in the potty and then maybe #1 later on in the day. Over all, it was clear that you were back to holding it. Because we wouldn't dare take you to Mexican on the first day of potty training (and because we can't dare be away from our friends on a Friday night!) we had the gang over to our house for Mexican. Mommy, being bored all day from watching you sit on the potty went all crazy and made all sorts of Mexican things, with the goal of using every possible dish in our house. And I succeeded. (Oh, and we made doo-doo cookies (again) for dessert!). So the gang came over at the exact time you were at your breaking point from holding it. You saw Ryan at the door and ran, pantless and all, straight from the pottty, to greet him, only to invite him over to sit by you as you continued to sit on said potty. So, yeah, you are VERY aware of the fact that you need to be sitting on the potty because you have to go, but you JUST WON"T GO!!! So after about 30 minutes of watching Ryan play with your toys near by, you decided to chance it (and MOmmy and Daddy had decided we'd let you because there was just nothing else we could do considering it had seriously been 2 hours of sitting there!). Oh, and also because it was time to eat dinner. So, I'd say about, oh, 1 and 1/2 minutes into eating dinner, you reached your breaking point and came running in the kitchen saying you needed to sit on the potty. Funny part was Ryan was "running" right behind you. I say "running" only because he was trying to run, but it's hard to run when your legs are spread apart because you are trying not to step in the liquid that you are following...
So, we reached the potty (soaking wet, I might add) and then the melt down begins. I didn't know why, at first, but later figured out, that you had a rash on your bottom. Not sure how it got there, maybe from sitting in teh same spot (i.e. the potty) for hours on end, but nonetheless, you screamed and screamed and had total meltdown. After about 10 minutes, we got you calmed down, decided to put that diaper on you, and let you eat your dinner and play with Ryan and send you to bed. I was real hesitant with putting the diaper on you and letting you play for that last hour before bedtime, but it didn't matter. You didn't go... You did have fun with Ryan though! You kiddos loved playing in the 'coffin', and particularly closing each other in it!!




And then we all had so much fun playing dress up with Ryan (that is, me and Miss EP and you! Miss Leigh wasn't too thrilled that we were putting necklaces and high heels and tiaras on him! And Mr. Lee didn't know it was happening!!). Finally it was time to head to bed, and Mommy to relax.
So Saturday came around and, well, remember that statement about how we didn't have any parties to go to - WRONG. You ended up getting invited to a birthday party for a little boy at school AND Daddy got invited to a work party later that afternoon. Well, we decided early on that the birthday party was not going to work out because it was at a jumpy house place and, well, no way you could control yourself there! So we didn't go to that. But by the time the afternoon party came around, both Mommy and Daddy needed a break from this whole potty training gig. Yes, you continued to hold it and cry and hold it and cry. I think you ended up going in the potty that day. Yes, as a matter of fact, you did both! And we were so proud (this was before nap). So off to nap (with no diaper, I might add!) you went. After nap, Daddy made the executive decision (against Mommy's will) to put you in a diaper to go to this work party. Something about cleaning up a mess on their marble floors or something... So, we did and you had such a good time playing with all the kiddos there. We decided to go out to dinner, since we were already out (can you tell we were dreading getting back home and dealing with the potty training??!!) and, well, you weren't the best, let's just keep it at that. We decided to get you home and in bed and start fresh on Sunday. Let me just say, the reason we were so relaxed (for Daddy and me) about this was because we knew you were going to school on Monday and were going to go all week. So we were going to hand the reins over to them. So, Sunday comes and we spend all day in the house. We try and try and try all different approaches to getting you to go, but you refused for hours on end and then at the last minute, would go. Problem was, that literally, you went 2 times on Sunday. 2 times! All day! Once before lunch and the other that afternoon, right before bedtime. And you were 50/50. So, yes, I can't complain about having to clean up messes and stuff but man alive you NEEDED to go like 8 times, you just wouldn't, so we'd have to just watch you come up with clever ways of 'holding it'. Such as...1) asking Mommy or Daddy to hold you. Some reason this stopped the pressure... 2) Physically holding it yourself. Yes, this was not pretty. 3) Sitting on the floor or table. You figured out that if you stand up, the pressure is more intense, so if you had to go get something, you'd just scoot along on the floor rather than walking to it. Clever baby girl, but so annoying. At this point, all I could think of was Monday can't come soon enough. But it did... And so did the massive amount of snow. Like 5+ inches. And, guess who was closed? Yep, your school. UGH!!!! Well, at this point, Mommy and Daddy both were just going with the flow. If you wanted to sit on the potty, sit on the potty, if you wanted to run around and hold yourself, do it! Just get us through the day without losing our minds!! Eventually, we decided we wanted to play in the snow, and that we wanted to play with Ryan in the snow, so off we went to the Grugett's house! And, just because I know you are wondering, we did put a diaper on you. AND, just because I know you are wondering, you did NOT go in the diaper - at all. The whole 2 hours in the snow and you didn't go in your diaper. And hadn't gone all morning. Holding it. ALL THE TIME. Regardless of the situation. So frustrating!!! But, thankfully we all forgot about it for a couple hours...









After playing in the snow, we ate some lunch, took some naps, and decided to go BACK over to Ryan's to let you kiddos burn off a little more energy (and let Mommy and Daddy chill, too!), oh, and to watch football. And no, you did not wear a diaper, but you did go in the potty over there!!! Just once, but we were all so proud! Later that evening, after a couple prayers, Mommy checked to see about your school and HOORAY it was open, a couple hours later, but nonetheless, OPEN!!! You better believe I had you dressed and ready to go at 8:30 (it opened at 9). I just didn't know what to do anymore, so I was ready to let your wonderful teachers give it a go. I took you to school on Tuesday and explained the whole weekend to them, clearly stressing the stress, and they said they would give it a go. Well, I was just waiting for that phone call (they were the ones last time that called to tell me you needed to go to the doctor...) and low and behold, 2 hours into school, and I got a phone call. I was SO upset to see your school number show up on my phone, but I picked it up anyway. And was I surprised - you had already peed TWO TIMES in the potty. TWO TIMES, in 2 hours. I waited 16 hours and got once in the potty, once not! TWO TIMES ABIGAIL! I was ecstatic, to say the least, and they promised to keep me posted as the day continued. Well, Daddy picked you up and it was reported that you went a total of FIVE times, all in the potty, no accidents, no crying, no sitting on the potty, nothing. Just decided when you needed to go, and bam, you went. WHAT IN THE WORLD! I have no clue what Daddy and I were doing wrong/different, maybe it's peer pressure, maybe it's the potty, maybe it's just a different environment. I don't know - but I do know you are going to school ALL this week and if they were open on weekends, I swear you'd go then, too!! (j/k - Mimi is coming up this weekend and we all know she wouldn't have that!). I'm hoping by the time the weekend comes that you are comfortable with doing it at home, because you seem to have the school thing down pat!!!
Overall baby girl, you are not a baby girl anymore!! You are my big girl and I couldn't be prouder. You've proven so many things to me this weekend including both determination (as in you are determined not to go) and intelligence (as in you figured out how to hold it!), but most of all, that you CAN do it! You have your own special way of proving things will be done on your time and your way (not sure where you get that from...) but you CAN do it!! I'm so proud. Keep up the good work. I love you!!!!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The First Snow of the Season and then some more

Dear Abigail,
Mommy got a little behind with posting stuff on the blog, thanks to our monstrous Christmas schedule, but I wanted to make sure I posted about our first snow of the season! It was a little unexpected, and even closed your school down! It started on Sunday, December 12th, and kept falling and falling and falling! We were all super excited and Daddy was even more excited when everything was closed on Monday, including his work!! So we all got to take a snow day! We decided to get out in the snow on Sunday after your nap, and after 30 plus minutes of getting you and me and Daddy all bundled up, we lasted maybe 10 minutes out there!! It was really cold, but we had fun!




After we got back in from the snow, Mr. Lee and Miss Leigh and Ryan popped in. Since you kiddos couldn't go outside and burn that energy and since the roads weren't in the best condition, and since we live seconds away from them, they decided to pop on in! I have to say, it was one of the 'funnest' times because we all were just super casual, letting you kids run around and around and around, throwing random things together to make a snack and dinner (b/c mommy did not have any groceries!). And let me tell you, you burned some energy off, no doubt! The two of you, especially Ryan, love some Kitty and LOVE to chase her around and around and up the stairs and down the stairs and all around. That poor cat went through a lot that night, no doubt. But, as I said, energy was burned, and eventually you went down to sleep no problem! So, all in all, our first snow was a success!!
Now, as I mentioned in previous posts, we did see snow again, at Mimi's in Munford, but from what everyone has told me, our house in Franklin got a TON of snow on Christmas day! So we've had a couple snow showers already, and it's just beginning the new year!
And, then, one day last week, before the kids all went back to school, we (me, you, Ellie and Aunt Steph) met up with Auntie Amy and Caroline, Spencer, Harrison and Alexis at Snow at Opryland! Well, while the weather wasn't exactly on our side, we were able to play for a little bit...





But eventually the rain got to us, so we decided we needed to warm up, and what warms you up best when playing in the snow?? S'mores, straight from the fire!


After the rain starting coming down pretty hard, we decided we'd head into the hotel to get a bite to eat. This go round was much easier as I knew exactly where to go, and already knew I wasn't going to find a bathroom with a changing station! And, we quickly found a table, right by the pizza joint - sweet!! We got our bellies full and then we let you kids run around a bit. Some of you stayed near by (Ellie, Alexis, and you) while others wondered off and had to be hunted down multiple times (I won't mention those names!). Actually, at one point I think you were running from Alexis and ran right onto the elevator, but she saved you! She saved me that day, too, being such a good baby watcher! I need one of those permanently at our house :)
Soon enough we had to head back to the car to get you girls home for a nap. We decided to take you both back to Aunt Steph's for that, and Mommy even got to put in a little snooze time! It was the perfect day, too with it being rainy and cold. Later that night, Ryan and Miss Leigh came over for pizza and eventually we made it back to the house! A great day, no doubt! Maybe next time the weather will better, but then again, that's what makes for awesome memories!!
Love you powder monkey!!!

PS - I just looked out the window after writing this post and guess what?! IT'S SNOWING!!!

Pinky

Dear Abigail,
I cannot believe, out of all the blogging I just did, that I forgot to mention your favorite part of the holiday season - Pinky!!! By the time you are reading this, you will know exactly who I am talking about when I refer to Pinky, but, just in case you start reading tomorrow (which wouldn't surprise me), I'll go ahead and fill you in. So, Pinky is our own personal elf that comes straight from the North Pole - yeah, like totally one of Santa's helper elves! Can you believe it?! So she came to us in a box, but when you open her up, that's when the magic begins. First we had to name her, and because your favorite color is pink, we thought Pinky was appropriate. And then we read this book about how she comes to our house every day during the holiday season and watches over us, making sure we listen and use our fork instead of our hands, and stuff like that. Then, every night after we all go to sleep, she flies back to Santa (not in an airplane, but by magic!) and reports whether we've been good or bad! And then, before we wake up, she's back in our house, sitting in a new spot! It's crazy!! Now, from what we read, we're not allowed to touch her, or she loses her magic, but we can talk to her all day long! For you, this year, the most exciting part was waking up every morning and trying to find where she was hiding. You should be in the FBI or something because you could spot her in very limited time, sometimes before Mommy and Daddy even got a chance. You got the biggest kick when you did find her and could not wait to point her out to us! Sometimes she was hiding in the light fixtures, sometimes hanging from the kitchen cabinet, and once she even hung out in the bathroom (shooo!). Every day, though, it was a new spot, and every day, you found her. Then, if you recall, we headed to Munford a week before Christmas. Well, we thought Pinky would just stay at our house and make sure Daddy was behaving, but we got to Mimi's and WOW, there she was!!!! You were so excited, and so every morning, when we'd get to Mimi's, you immediately would start looking for her. And you even got Em and Clara Lee involved. If Em wasn't at Mimi's that day, she would call and the first thing she would say is "Where is Pinky today?" and Clara Lee went around pointing her out, saying "Pinky! Pinky!". Well, as the book said, on Christmas Eve, Pinky goes back to the North Pole to give her final report, and if all goes well, Santa pays you a visit - and he did!! You got a letter from Santa and it specifically said that Pinky had nothing but good news each night! (She must have overlooked a couple of those tantrums that Mommy saw. I'm guessing the good outweighed the bad, so that's why!). Unfortunately, when Santa comes, that means Pinky stops visiting, but she told us she'd be back next year, right around Thanksgiving, and she even said she may pop in every now and then, just to make sure we're all acting up to par. Well, it's been a couple weeks since we last saw Pinky, and I can tell you miss her so much. You ask about her at least once a day, always saying "Where did Pinky go?" and I say "Where did she go Abigail?" and you say "She at home. She with Santa." Of course, you always follow it with "I don't go see Santa" as you violently shake your head... Maybe Pinky will convince you that Santa is okay :)
Anyway, you loved meeting Pinky, as we all did, and we can't wait to see her next year! Just remember, she's always watching... LOVE YOU.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas in Munford - Part 2

Dear Abigail,
Because we have 20o different places to be (when we're in Munford for Christmas, that is), we celebrated Christmas at Papa Rob's on Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve. Thursday morning began with Mimi getting the stomach bug that got passed around. Let's just say this wasn't a pretty site, and you and I tried to avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, we had somewhere to go, so after a tough morning of getting things under control and situated, we ventured off to Papa Robs. Also, Daddy finally made it into to town! So we left Pic-pic to mend to Mimi, and started our Christmas celebrations!
Ever since I mentioned to Papa Rob that it would be nice if we could all sit in the same room for Christmas dinner and eat a meal rather than a bunch of appetizers (as we've done in the past), he has been in turbo mode to make it happen! And, if you know Papa Rob, you know he's been stressin' about it, too!! But, I have to say, he pulled it off. He cleaned out the bird room, including painting it and setting the Christmas tree up in it and tons of tables and chairs! It looked so nice and was felt so good with all of us sitting in there. And when I say all of us, I mean our family, CL and family, Em and family, Papa Rob, Gramma, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Gloria, Krissy, Madison and her crew, including her cutie pie little brother! So yes, there were a lot of us, but we were able to sit in the same room!! YAY! You and Clara Lee had a ball sitting beside each other. I dare to say it, but I think you guys love each other...



The 2 of you had tons of fun before dinner, too...
And I told you that John Michael didn't stand a chance with all you girls around!!!!



And then after dinner it was time to start opening those presents!!! This was your first present to open this season (other than the monstrous amount of presents we opened with our advent calendar - note to self: make those smaller for next year!!).
We watched as you helped Em open her dollhouse.
And them Clara Lee unwrapped a dancing Mickey Mouse!!

And then it was your turn...

A tricycle!! And a pink one on top of that!! With a basket for your baby doll! It was perfect - except John Michael got a hold of it and wouldn't get off!!! Look at that kid go!!

Eventually he let you ride, but then Clara Lee wanted Mickey to ride it, so you were nice and let everyone else have their turn. In the meantime, you had a ball playing with Madison and Emily and Clara Lee! And you destroyed the play room - YAY! That makes Papa Rob so nervous, even though he tries to be all cool about it!! Eventually it was time to head to bed, but guess what - when you woke up that next morning, no one was there but me and you and Daddy and Papa Rob and Gramma - so guess what that meant...

You got to ride your tricycle with no one bothering you! Hooray! Papa Rob cooked us all a big hearty breakfast and we eventually headed over to Mimi's to check on her and get things ready for Christmas Eve. Thankfully Mimi was 100% better, just that old 12 hour bug, so we were back in action! Christmas Eve day was fairly tame, if I may say so myself. We made a couple casseroles for Christmas Day, and got things ironed and straightened, but overall, pretty relax. That afternoon/evening, we headed over to your BFF's to celebrate Christmas with her and all the McCormick family! This is Mommy's second family, no doubt, and they have no problem accepting you right on in there like another member! And, they even had a present for you!!!! Bebe was so excited about giving you a gift and I can see why! It was just what you needed...


Cleaning supplies!!! You got a mop and a broom and swifter thingy and wrags and all kinds of things AND it was all pink!! Your favorite color! It was perfect, and Miss Claudia was super pleased you were cleaning her house!
After we got a good bite to eat, you and Bebe and Robert Hale chased each other around and around and around! Bebe is my favorite little helper!

And then Sarah decided to give you her present - Woody!!!! You, my darling, love you some Woody! It's been 2 weeks since Christmas and have slept with Woody every night and begged each morning to take him to school with you. When you are picked up from school, you immediately ask if Woody is at home. Love you some Woody...
So, member how I said the Clark family got together on Christmas Eve, well, we decided it would be fun to Skype to them while they were having their Christmas and we could all open presents together. Well, long story short, the pig was frozen, Uncle Martin was asleep, and dinner was delayed, therefore present opening was delayed for the Clarks... So, we decided we'd just get you to bed since it was Christmas Eve and all. We said goodbye to the McCormicks and headed to Mimi's house. Mimi and Pic-pic were up at Pic-pics Mom's house so we stopped in and said hello (and to show your pretty little face off!) and THEN headed home. We sat out milk and fudge, because Mimi says Santa likes fudge much better than cookies, and off to bed you went. Right after you went to bed, Mommy got a phone call from Aunt Steph saying they were reading the Twas the Night before Christmas all by the fire. This is a long time running tradition in the Clark house - everyone gathers around the fire while someone reads from the same book. At this point, Mommy and Daddy both were rethinking this whole separate Christmas things, BUT, we put them on speaker phone and listened to the whole story!! Then, we kept them on speaker phone as they opened their presents from us and we opened ours!! It made Mommy so happy, and I really wish I could have woken you up, but you needed your rest. And rest you did! I think you slept until 730, which I'm pretty sure will never happen again on Christmas morning, so Mommy and Daddy enjoyed it while it lasted. Eventually, you got up, though, and WOW, look what was waiting for you in the living room...
Santa came to visit!!!! And he even left you a note, and I guess Mimi was right - he loved him some fudge!
You were completely overwhelmed with all your new toys, but clearly loved your baby doll stuff...
Oh, and your massive amount of M&M's that were left in your stocking! That was sweet of you to share with Baby Kate...

Of course, you have all these new toys and you wanted to play with Mommy and Daddy's...

(it's a ski helmet so we don't hurt our heads! That Santa is so smart!)
And you played and played until Mommy made you start opening more presents!! Cause that's all you needed was more presents!


You even had Pic-pic hold Baby Kate while you opened your presents...

Eventually, we headed over to Clara Lee's to see what Santa brought her (that's one of Mimi's traditions), and of course the 2 of you were up to know good immediately!
We turned our heads for a second and the 2 of you were hiding in the bathtub - the wet bath tub that Jesse had just gotten out of !!!
And, then, while Mimi and Pic-pic went to Em's and John Michael's, Mommy and Daddy and you headed back to the house to get things together for Mammaws Christmas Breakfast. Now, talk about a tradition. We've been going to Mammaws for Christmas breakfast FOREVER - for all I've ever known, that's for sure. And, the best part about it is you get to wear your jammies down there!!! Well, that and you get about 1 billion presents on top of those you already have!! You have so much fun down there though because pretty much nothing's off limits! You and Clara Lee were into everything, but specifically the double stroller - how fitting...





And you helped Lynnie look for something under the bed - what could it be??
Of course, her kitties!
And you and CL loved those kitties, although I'm pretty sure Lynnie was having a small heart attack, while the kitties were, well, frightened to death!

And then the kiddos had a little fun - Oh, wait, you don't look like you are having fun, you looked scared. What would make you scared on Christmas morning breakfast??
Well Katie Ann carrying all 5 of the little kiddos, of course! They were having a ball on Katie's back but you did not want to come near that!!
Eventually, we got to eat breakfast (member how I said anything goes!!)
And then we opened presents! Present opening at Mammaws is a bit chaotic, to say the least, so the last thing to do is take pictures. So, yes, I did not get a single picture of present opening at Mammaws. I'm hoping Aunt Ash-ash or Aunt G got a couple, but, again, things get pretty crazy at that point!! I do recall, even if there are no pictures to prove it, that you got a lot of mighty cute presents, including a cute cute cute polka dot pram stroller and a baby swing! I'm starting to think this is Baby Kate's Christmas!!
Soon enough, we headed back to Mimi's for you to take a nap and for Mommy and Mimi to go into turbo mode to get ready for Christmas Dinner. What an adventure that was... But let's start from the beginning. Everyone arrived around 3ish, and we decided we wanted to open presents before eating this year, because eating is always so rushed and we get all in a hurry and then when we finally get presents open it's time to go to bed! So, we opened first. Which seemed to be going fairly well. You of course were being a bit of a diva and didn't feel like opening anymore, so Daddy had to do the unwrapping for you...



You, as expected, got tons and tons of awesome gifts, as did everyone, and eventually after all the presents were unwrapped, the women of the fam went straight to the kitchen to get the dinner going. Now, I will say, we did have a few things going as we were unwrapping gifts, and Pic-pic and the men were frying up some turkeys in garage out back, all while you kiddos were having a ball playing together and with your new presents. But then horror struck! Somehow, one of the casseroles leaked butter or grease or something into the oven and BAM, it caught on fire! Of course, most of the men were outside so the women were screaming inside, not knowing what to do. I ran outside to get Pic-pic and Uncle Bubba in the mean time threw water on it, which supposedly worked, although we got the fire extinguisher just in case. It was a bit chaotic for about 10 minutes and smoke was everywhere. After opening all the windows (did i mention it snowed that day???) and sending the kids all upstairs and shutting the doors so the smoke wouldn't go in the room, things FINALLY calmed down and we thought we could continue on with the dinner. But nope, another fire broke out - same deal. And after fire extinguishing that, we decided whatever was cooked was what we were eating! Thankfully almost everything was cooked and thankfully we cook a lot for Christmas, because we had plenty! Believe it or not, after all that drama, and all that stress, we actually sat down for dinner only 8 minutes past when we said we were! That's right, we wanted to eat by 6 and it was 6:08 when we sat down! I couldn't believe it, but we were ready for it. And after a full belly, the last thing we wanted to do was conquer that kitchen. But, we did, and you girls played and played and played. Eventually, you HAD to go to bed, and after telling everyone goodnight, you ended your Christmas adventures!





Man alive, what a fun-filled Christmas extravaganza baby girl!!! It involved basically the whole month of December, but how much fun was all of that?!! Merry Christmas baby girl! Merry Christmas!
PS - On Sunday (the day after Christmas) Mommy and you went to visit John Michael and Em and had a very VERY lazy day at Mimi's, and eventually, about 8 o'clock that night, made it back to Franklin...