Santa Baby

My little Lorelai --

You aren't so little anymore. Nearly each week, your daddy and I find a new way that you're becoming such a kid. 

And we were even more aware of those changes a year makes as we celebrated your 2nd Christmas. Last year was fun, but this year proved even better as you were so much more aware. You understand the notion of presents, and you're getting really good at people's names, so you could get excited when I told you everyone we would see. In the week leading up to Christmas travel, you marched daily into our kitchen to point at Christmas cards on cabinets and chant the names you know. Your favorite person to say from cards was your cousin Natalie -- not only would you demand to be lifted so you could point to her face but you also pretended to call her at mealtime to demand that she eat.

In our little world, we are blessed with two Christmases. So first we headed off to visit our Katy family.  In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, the theme seemed to be pinning down anyone close to read your Christmas books:

GiGi...

Maw (great grandma)...

Uncle Brad & Katie...

And Aunt Lindsay.

Of course, this makes your Mommy's English-teacher heart happy. Your uncle asked if love of books could be genetic, and your GiGi said you don't have a choice when it comes to books. I don't know about that -- but I love watching you dig your books.

And I love watching you and cousin Ryan. The six months between you matter less and less. Ryan often calls you "my Lorelai," and you two have fun being silly together.

And I chuckle at your little squabbles -- mostly because I'm seeing your ability to be a little sneaky. You have finally discovered "MINE," and it came full force around Ryan. The sneaky entered in when you discovered how much it bothered Ryan if you claimed one of his toys. I caught you on more than one occasion leaning across a table to whisper "MY truck" -- just to make your cousin yelp "MINE" in return. Little stinker. But luckily you two get along most of the time...

With more-aware toddlers this year, we tried out a few possible traditions. We decorated birthday cakes for Baby Jesus (cool whip & sprinkles)...

...and decorated cookies for Santa.

On Christmas Eve, we let the two wee ones investigate their stockings. You found a dress-up skirt and slippers, which you promptly wore...

...and snacks of course. You chowed down on cinnamon Chex mix while you played with Ryan's manger set.

Later, at GiGi's house, you met presents, presents, presents. And this year, you were ready to rip paper with the best of 'em. A few favorites were a shirt for your next birthday...

a handmade bedspread from GiGi (and a quilt from Mommy's aunt)...

and a motorized car from Uncle Brad & Katie. Oh my. So your first attempt was sitting backwards inside the box -- so what?

You soon figured it out by trying cousin Ryan's truck version...

After a great visit, we headed to San Antonio to see the Cullens. The group there is big enough to separate kid Christmas from adult Christmas -- but the volume of cousins (6 girls!) still overwhelmed you at first...

But then you enjoyed the paper-ripping fun. You took special note of play-food sets and a soft stuffed monkey...

and played along with your Daddy's favorite gift :)

You enjoyed your presents -- but you enjoyed even more your grandparents big back yard. We were met fairly often by a request for "outside, outside," despite the damp cool.  Happy to scamper, you beamed especially brightly when cousins Heather & Audrey created a game for you.

Well, more of a ride, I guess :)

And the new toys will be great, but during our visit, cousins Caroline and Maya let you in on a secret: Grandma's toy closet. Score!

We stayed an extra day to visit. I'm so glad for you to have time with your grandparents. And even moments of toddler tears end sweetly...

We returned home, surrounded by gifts and love. One day later, Daddy & Mommy were able to get a big surprise from Grandpa & Grandma ready to show you...

Your very own kitchen -- success!

Looking back, sweet girl, a couple of our Christmas memories make me giggle. You suddenly can't see an image of Santa or hear his name without swiveling quickly to chant, "HO HO HO!" And you took to the idea of "Happy Birthday, Jesus" so firmly that you're a little stuck. You seem to think birthdays belong to him at present. Post-Christmas, I've tried to tell you the next big birthday is yours, but you consistently tell me, "No. Jesus." Too funny, Lolabug.

I know it's a common refrain, but it really is amazing to think how much change can happen in one little year. When I remember last year...

and then think of the little person you are now, it's a bit difficult to think that it's only a year between. What fun to imagine who we will be, who you will be, next year.

'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai 

Lorelai Lingo

The 2's are fast approaching. Frustrated with an exploding sense of language that does not yet account for your thoughts & feelings, you're both making do and acting out. We're seeing more of what I would call tantrum-startups. Sometimes, you give up on words, squealing and making us guess. I say "use your words" pretty often these days. The list of words we recognize is really growing so quickly -- but I guess your thoughts are multiplying even faster. Recently, you've added "roll" (your sleeves), "jacket," and attempts at "clip" (for hair). Um, I think I see a trend, little fashionista.

I'm starting to recognize names of friends at school, and that's so sweet. If I ask you ("Who's your friend?), you almost always answer "Ahb-gail" (Abigail). I love the consistency. Sometimes Aubrey or Maddox make the list, too. You can pretty confidently say the names of your teachers (Amber & Kersten, no Ms. yet).

One of your old favorite words has taken on a new sassy sound. For awhile now, you answer a quick "yeah" to many questions. It makes people chuckle. I've tried to suggest "Yes, Mommy," but just the "Mommy" comes out. So recently, it's become "yeah-uh," and it's both a little sassy and a little charming. (We might be in trouble.)

You haven't tried "mine" yet, but you get the sense of it. If you like Mommy's bracelet or necklace, you point to your chest and repeat "Lo-lye" (Lorelai) over and over and over...

You've settled on many uses of "oh no" and "uh oh." In play, if Mommy teases you by noticing a toy on the floor (such as Dolly, face down in the living room), you'll thoughtfully draw out the words "oh NO!" You can be very theatrical, even in the way you pick up the negligent toy. And "uh oh" can be everything from a speck of dirt on the floor to food on your fingers to (for some reason) the construction trucks we see on the way to school.

Speaking of trucks, you kind of like them. Not too long ago, we took you and Ryan to Touch a Truck, where you could climb in everything from one of those big construction trucks to a limo to a fire truck. You seemed interested :-)

Back to your words, you've also decided to orchestrate the nuances of mealtimes. No, actually, no nuances with you, funny one. At random moments during a meal, you bark, "One more, Mommy!" This means I better take one more bite of whatever you're pointing toward. You also declare, "Boo, Daddy!" This means play peek-a-boo. Now. And every single time one of us finishes food, you make sure we know: "Mommy, all done. Daddy, all done." 

Really, you're suddenly completely fixated on whatever Mommy & Daddy have at meal time -- salad dressing, soy sauce, butter -- if we use it, you need it. Makes no matter that you have no salad (as you still think it's super weird that Mommy & Daddy eat leaves) -- the dressing is still needed. You chant "yeah" (or "yeah-uh), pointing, until we catch on.

And food is a bit of a sticking point between you and Betty Boop these days -- after a few dropped snacks went missing, you don't seem to trust our sweet pooch. Each morning, you call for "Boop" and run to pat her goodbye, but when we get home for pre-dinner snack, it's all about "No, Boop!" You're taking no chances. Poor puppy :)

As we figure out all these words to learn, we're still having lots of fun, little one. We've played with pumpkins...

and sweets...

and bean-bag fair games.

Each one got a "yeah" or a "Lo-lye" or a "one more."

But my favorite Lorelai word is still hearing you call for me. Each day I pick you up from daycare, when you spot me in the doorway, there is the sweetest moment of recognition. A giant smile, a high-pitched "MOMMY!" -- and often running and laughing. I hope this trend sticks for a long while.

'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai

Little Big Kid

Since returning to daycare a month ago, you've entered the world of big(ger) kids. Your return meant a new classroom. I was taken aback on day 2 when a couple of these kids, just months older than you, could say your name clearly.  I mean, really, Lorelai is not the easy name of any play yard.

Being in this new classroom has created new skills and new laughter. You're suddenly proficient at chunky wooden puzzles, and you have a renewed interest in books. (happy English teacher heart) 

And when you started suddenly pushing off my chest at night to growl "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby" and laugh hysterically, I had to ask your teacher if she understood. You obliged with a demonstration for her, and she laughed. Your sweet teacher calls little toddler girls "Mamacita" and little toddler boys "Poppy." I'm not sure why you created a caricature of this habit, but you made us smile.

But my favorite new thing? You're learning to pretend. You suddenly understand your toy tea set, and you try to share your tea with your baby doll. (I tried to convince you that tea, if caffeinated, is hardly proper nourishment for an infant -- but you were having none of my advice.) You even make the little glub-glub noise of pretend drinking. It's great. I see glimpses of talking with and for your stuffed animals around a table.

Speaking of animals, you've begun to call yours by name. Momma might have helped in the creation of names (with occasional questions like "Is this Henry?"), but you have settled on a couple with firm clarity. Your mouse may still go by only "Mouse," but you now have Mimi the monkey and Ellie the elephant. (That last one makes me chuckle, since Ellie is supposed to be a nickname option for Lorelai.) At recent bedtimes -- or really, anytime in your room -- you call loudly for Mimi and Ellie. They join us for night-night storytime and snuggle in with you for night-night dreams.

And, my sweet girl, I didn't anticipate what is now one of my favorite things. You've become very consistent at mealtimes in requesting that we "pay" -- which if not for the palms slapped together under your chin, I might not have easily recognized as "pray." Your daycare has a practice of a general sort of prayer (...thank you, God, for everything...), but I find myself a little surprised that you've latched onto this idea so clearly. There may be no sweeter sound than your gentle "Ah-men" at the end of a little meal prayer. And at the end of a night-time "bibble" (Bible) story prayer. Happy heart again.

You're so little-girl these days -- more to say, more opinions about clothes and activities. I love our storytimes and night-night talks. You're all our child and all your own -- part pensive, part comic.

We sure love you, little one. 'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai

Summer Lovin' -- Week Ten

My not-so-baby Lorelai,

This week, I've been feeling the end of summer. Back from our beach trip, we are in the last full week before daycare and school start entering our lives again. We have had a great summer, and I trust that there are blessings in the year to come, but I'll miss having so much time together.

This isn't your first year in daycare we are approaching, but this year, you seem so much more aware of your little world and the people in it. You still love, love your mommy, and I hope that won't change soon. You still yell "Daddy" when he comes home and most times that I get on my phone. (It MUST be Daddy on the phone, right?) You're learning to say the names of other loved people, too: Auntie, Ryan, GiGi, Maw, Uncle, and (attempts at) Grandpa.

One of the pleasures of this summer has been to watch your confidence grow. You walk -- and run! -- so much more now, and when you get comfortable, you get silly. We love your silly.

We love a little less the glimpses we are seeing of toddler tantrums -- but I also trust that we'll muddle through those somehow. We're lucky so far that these flashes of tantrum don't last long, and other times are full of books and puzzles and silly songs.

So this week, we returned to music class -- stopping first at the store's play area. You were quite intrigued by the play kitchen:

("Wait, Mom -- an oven I can play with?")

You again enjoyed the music class and a silly book about a long-nosed pig. You clutched your music sticks...

...and then pounded them during an ABC song and a silly song about food.

You waited to choose an instrument for a parade with other kids...

...and listened intently to the Bunny Fufu song.

We returned later in the week for a storytime. There was a book about Elmo sneezing, and all the kiddos got scarves to practice the ACHOO! After a moment of looking stunned, you decided the silly play was fun :)

Throughout this week, I've enjoyed watching you in your bigger-kid moments. At a playscape, you got a little more adventurous and climbed in and out of a playpod by yourself.

And at home, you rediscovered Wild Animal Baby Explorers on the TV -- but unlike last year, you can watch a 10-minute show.

And you watch like this:

(I think Mommy disappears.)

Then, at week's end...Bubblepalooza! Daddy and the girls headed downtown. Hot, hot, hot -- but we found bubbles!

Lots of bubbles and wands to explore in the sun with Daddy...

And then we moved on to sidewalk chalk -- first time!

I think you liked it!

And finally, frozen custard -- chocolate, of course! -- and parachutes :)

Oh Lorelai -- you are such a sweet and sassy girl. I love being a part of your life, and I'm glad you're a part of our world. I'll hold these memories close as our family walks into the coming year.

'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai