general sillyness and a very gross story

This is a picture of Emilia's newest favorite game. She loves to lie on Mama Mama's legs and "swing" cackling with delight. It's pretty cute and looks kind of fun I must admit...

So Emilia put on her latest pair of jeans. When she was getting dressed though she decided it would be really funny to grab a new toothbrush. Then she saw Mama Mama putting rollers in her hair and wanted some of those too. One can only assume she wanted to create an "enganchabobos" - Spanish for "hook to catch boys" (a very bad translation but I think you get the idea).

And now, for the gross story (you may want to stop reading here if you have a weak constitution.) As I lay in bed this morning marveling that it was 7:30 and Emilia was just starting to stir I was thinking how lucky I was that the girl had slept so well. As I ran up the stairs, full of energy after a good night's sleep - what to my wondering eyes did appear? My child who had just been changed into a fresh pj by her grandmother with - wait for it - vomit ALL OVER her hair. The girl had projectile vomited at least twice as far as we can tell. Sheets, bumper pillows, hair, pajamas, everything. We had to bathe her twice. The good news is that I don't think it's a stomach virus. Last night Emilia ate mac and cheese for the first time and LOVED it. I think she had too much and that the cheese did a real number on her belly. So of course, we are back off dairy for a while. Poor boo.

santa - take 2

We went back to South Park on Monday for another crack at getting a picture with Santa. Unfortunately, this was the best we could manage. Emilia was fine while she watched the other kids getting their pictures taken but when it was her time she got very nervous. The guys were friendly and let her hold the jingle bells and this little pop-up toy but she just wasn't down with it. Hence, I got to have my picture taken with Santa as well (I'm thinking this was my first pic with Santa - I don't remember doing this at all as a kid, which of course makes me wonder at the wisdom of doing this with Emi but whatever!) My scanner didn't do the greatest job with the picture so it's kind of small... I think you can click on it to make it bigger and really get a good look at Emilia's shell-shocked face! Happy Holidays!

Last evening we took Emilia to go see the lights of McAdenville, NC a.k.a. Christmastown USA.

My pictures of course don't do it justice but it's very pretty and Christmas-y. (I was messing around with a bunch of different settings on the camera). Emilia loved looking out the window and seeing all the "bubbles" (a.k.a. "lights") and there were a TON of them.

Wearing her new Redskins sweatshirt despite the spirit-crushing loss.

better not pout!

The terrible twos are upon us I fear. Emilia has recently started stomping her feet when she wants something and she's either not getting it or it's not coming to her fast enough. Most of the time it's kind of funny and we just ignore it figuring if she sees that it gets a rise out of us, she'll continue to do it. Today I happened to have my camera when she had a little meltdown. Who knows what set her off but she was very sad to be sure. Fortunately it lasted all of about 2 minutes and when she realized we were not going to pay attention to her while she behaved like that she came running in to the playroom happy as a clam. If this is a glimpse into the teenage years I am very afraid! Sorry the pictures are not great - I had to take them from far away so she wouldn't see me.

picture with santa - HA!

Braving irritated skin and a bit of a drippy nose (due to more teeth I suspect), today Mama Mama and I got Emilia all dressed up and rushed over to South Park to see Santa. No evidence that he was drunk this year (last year the rumors were wild that Santa was boozin'), but of course we were at the mall early (like 10:30 - brutal). We stood and watched as one little girl was finishing getting her picture taken and it seemed that someone was going to be cooperative. Fat chance. The second I started walking her over to see Santa up close she did her kangaroo move when she latches onto you and won't let go for anything in the world. So we left and did a little shopping stopping at Gymboree & Children's Place. After each store we walked by Santa just to get her more familiar with him. Surely we were warming up to the jolly old fellow by now, right? Snack in hand, bears at the ready and juice on standby we stood in line behind a lady who was on her 4th try (!) to get a picture of her daughter with Santa that didn't result in a meltdown (either by her or the daughter - not sure about that). I was confident that maybe this "getting-to-know-you" visit with Santa would turn out to be the "1 and done" trip. No luck. Walked her over to Santa (who was, it must be said, pretty friendly and a nice looking Santa to boot) and melt she did. Even when I sat next to Santa (mortified that I'd have to get my picture taken with my child looking splendid and me in jeans that I'm pretty sure were dirty) she wouldn't even turn around and just clung to me screaming. So, we left. We'll try again tomorrow but of course that means I now have to get her dressed up again. Wish us luck!Don't worry Grandpa - we'll take a better picture of the pretty dress.

We didn't even manage to crack out the camera at the mall so our pictures were taken at home at lunchtime.

christmas cards

Well we had a big old "photo shoot" Sunday morning before my annual school Christmas party. The goal was to finally get a pic of the girl for our Christmas cards since I was already late in ordering them. I'm still not 100% sold on the pics we went with but they're ordered so there's no going back now. Here are some of the outtakes.....

It's really REALLY hard to take a picture of a toddler!

rockin' around the christmas tree

"chopping" down the tree - not! it was raining and miserable out! emilia and i waited in the car!

ooh! a star!

the worst part of the tree process - putting it in the base!

dancing!

Well, the tree is up and it looks like Santa and his elves have been busy in the house. We finally got it all set up for our annual open house on Sunday. Our tree this year is the biggest one we've had yet - an 8 foot Frasier fir beauty. And we finally have a star on top to boot - like real grownups! Emilia loves looking at the lights on the tree and loved dancing to the Christmas carols while we trimmed the tree. She only broke one ornament (so far) and it wasn't a particularly special one anyway so that was fine. Happy holidays!