We decided to have our little family Christmas before heading back to Michigan. I could watch Bea open gifts all day long. She is so serious – and as soon as she opens a gift she hands it right to me to show me what she got. What a nice relaxed evening we’ve had opening gifts and playing with toys. A very happy girl and the Chirstmas festivities have only just begun.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
To Bea from Mommy and Daddy… a baby sister!
Did you notice her dress – that’s last year’s Christmas dress – I just pulled it out of the closet yesterday and wow – it fits. We’re off to Michigan in the morning and can’t wait to see everyone.
First we found out today that baby number two is looking healthy and, as the doctor said, has indoor plumbing. It’s a girl – we’re very excited. I’m particularly excited that my daughters will have that special relationship known as sisterhood.
The news that seems to be the bigger event of the day – Bea learned how to climb out of her crib. Why oh why couldn’t she have waited a couple months until she had her own room with a big girl bed and I could be prepared to teach her how to stay put. We put her down for a nap as usual – Brian and I were out in the kitchen and my mouth dropped open when she bounced into the room. “Mommy, I climbed out all by myself!” I had a big mix of emotions – I was frustrated, proud, surprised and I had to turn my head so she wouldn’t see me laughing. So then we had a big battle to get her to stay in her bed. And by the way – yes she still needs a nap. I know because when she doesn’t get one she will fall asleep in my bed or on the couch at around 4:00 and then not wake up (grumpy) until dinner time. I guess she is feeling the big sister that she is.
Here are some old photos of Bea playing in the snow:
I read this nice little story today and it reminded me of the many times that I’ve seen people drop everything to push someone’s car or my car out of a deep and slippery pile of snow. I suspect that there is something about the snow in the air that makes people who live in wintery parts of the country very generous. Here’s to all those strong helpers and bring on the snow, it’s December for crying out loud.
Here’s the mystery project Aunt Sandy. I decided I didn’t have time to make a Christmas dress for Bea this year. So I made a Christmas skirt. I used that easy lazy days skirt pattern again. And I am so very inspired by the clothes on Katie Did. It took a while to cut and piece the colors together but it didn’t require any thinking. It’s also good because I just gave in and made something that she would like. She is so opinionated about clothes lately. I thought it would be safe to make something pink and twirly. We’ll pair it with a simple white shirt that I may or may not embellish. Here it is I think we’ll call it the candy cane skirt:
Here’s Bea playing with a beach ball while wearing a candy cane skirt:
Here’s Bea helping Brian to make coffee and foamy hot chocolate while wearing a candy cane skirt:
The weeks are flying by – what have we been up to?
– Brian is away this week – he went to Zurich to start some of his work over there and to look for an apartment for us. He may have found a place – we’re keeping our fingers crossed. Here are couple photos. Hopefully I don’t jinx our chances by showing the photos. It has a great view of the lake, three bedrooms, a fireplace and it’s close to the train.
News Flash – I just got an email from Brian – he said we got the apartment. Of course we have to go over all the paper work and such but YES!!! It looks like we really do have a home in Switzerland.
– Bea and I went over to the Wonderland Express at The Chicago Botanic Garden again yesterday. There are a bunch of model trains in a wintery mini landscape with mini Chicago landmarks. There is one little train that looks like a ladybug and they have it set up so it pops out of a tunnel at regular intervals. They have the same ladybug train outside in the summer and Bea gets very excited about it. Well yesterday as we came around to the area with the ladybug train I was telling Bea to start looking for it and I noticed some of the “engineers” down on their knees peering into the tunnel with a flashlight. Apparently the ladybug got stuck somehow in the tunnel. Bea was so engrossed – she wouldn’t move from that spot and she asked over and over “what happened to the ladybug train?” We never did get to see it, we just talked about it all the way home. She’s still bringing it up at random times today and I don’t expect it to stop any time soon. Here’s what the train looks like:
– Suddenly Bea seems to have become a candy fiend. I guess it’s my fault – I just wanted to set a cup of candy canes out to look at. I guess I can’t do that anymore. If it’s in sight she can’t stop thinking about it. It also doesn’t help that there are so many holiday treats that are fun to introduce her to (starting with Halloween). Things like PEZ and decorated cookies. You should have seen Bea and Jenna shoveling the sprinkles into their mouths when we were decorating the cookies over the weekend. We had to watch them to make sure they weren’t putting their mouths on the shakers. Uhg. I think I need to set up some rules about treats… Maybe after the holidays.
– Baby number two is, according to my baby book, about 5 or 6 inches from crown to rump. Translation: my little bun in the oven is about 5 or 6 inches from the top of it’s soft head to the bottom of its cute little bum. I can feel it moving around now and then. I’m almost half way through my pregnancy and I feel much bigger this time around. My belly is just very willing to pop out. After next Tuesday, if all goes well, I can call it a her or a him. I can’t wait.
– Here’s a little craft that Bea made. I picked up these wooden shapes at Micheal’s for around fifty cents each. I love the free brush strokes that she makes with big globs of paint. It’s similar to the free way she waves her arms around. She’s not afraid to stick her arms up in the air at any time to show her excitement. I mean do you throw up your arms when you are at a restaurant and you find out they do have mac and cheese? I drilled holes, painted them with Modge Podge and put her name and the date on them. I know I’ll have these little trinkets of toddlerhood forever.
Jennifer, Jenna and Mom visited over the weekend. We had a great time filled with Christmasy stuff like visiting the Wonderland Express display at the Chicago Botanic Garden and spending a whole afternoon decorating cookies. On Saturday we went to the warm and humid Garfield Park Conservatory. The plants looked so good, lots of poinsettias, so colorful, not a leaf out of place. Luckily it wasn’t very busy so the girls had room to run around and explore. Bea followed Jenna all around. Lots of fun!
Here’s my favorite photo – don’t they look like two magical little pixies flitting around in the garden.
Laowai 