December Daily 2009: Day Seven

December 7, 2009

Dear Sean, my sweet little buddy,

Ho! Ho! Hop! At twenty-three months you have quickly gotten to know Santa and what he says. I love how you add the “hop” at the end. Must be a subliminal longing for your favorite pop-pops (lollipops). You’re talking A LOT these days, and most of the time we have no idea what you’re saying. But you’re determined and repeat it over and over again until we understand.

All of the Christmas decorations and festivity makes you a little giddy. When we first put up the tree you danced all around and said, “pretty, pretty!” And you just can’t help yourself to not touch the ornaments and lights on the tree no matter how many times we say “don’t touch”. You also love the dancing and singing snowmen, turning them on and off over and over again. The other holiday decoration you love is your Little People nativity set. You’ve come to love baby Jesus, and have all of your friends -- such as Piglet, Mickey, a gorilla -- kiss him. Sadly baby Jesus has been thrown across the room a few times, but you’re learning!

Right now you’re into cars, trucks, and trains, trains, trains. Once Daddy put up the train tracks around the Christmas tree you immediately went to get your little Thomas the train and started pushing him around the tracks. Maybe you should ask Santa for your own train set?! You also love Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, and will quietly sit and watch the entire movie. Recently you really like watching Sesame Street. When it’s over you ask, “More? Ses-steet?”

Your birthday is right around the corner, and soon you will be TWO!! You’re growing so fast. Last week Daddy was getting you up from your nap, and I heard you talking & laughing. You were so happy. It made my heart smile. I quickly asked God to help me remember these moments and to cherish each and every stage of your childhood. I love your laugh, your bright eyes, your inquisitive nature, your naughty boyish charm, and your many kisses and hugs. I’m blessed to be your mommy.

Love, hugs, and lotsa tickles,
Mommy (age 39)

December Daily 2009: Day Six

Sean placed his boot outside his bedroom door last night in hopes that St.
Nicholas would drop off some goodies. He was thrilled this morning to find the
caring and generous saint left him his favorite pop-pops and cookies. Yummy!

December Daily 2009: Day Five

Today was a day for relaxing and catching up on grading papers. Only one more week of school and then December break... and a full session off in January. What bliss!! This evening we decorated the front room tree. Our decorating is going very slowly, but it’s nice not to rush. We’re really just enjoying the season and time together. A time for hope. A time to believe. Our Believe ornament was bought the year before we conceived Sean. This year we pray God blesses us with another little miracle.

December Daily 2009: Day Four

Today was our annual outlet mall shopping day. Sean and I joined Aunt Maureen, Aunt Shannon, Kari, Beanie and Annie for a day full of good conversation, great deals, and bitter cold weather. Baby, it’s cold outside! It’s funny, I rarely do Christmas shopping on this day but instead buy things for myself, the house or Sean. It’s more fun that way!

I picked up a pair of monkey slippers for Sean today. He's never worn slippers before, and he thought it was best. thing. ever. to happen in his young life! Couple this with the fact he ate a whole piece of chocolate cake for dessert, and he was bouncing off the walls. Literally. Ah, the joys of the season!

December Daily 2009: Day Three

The first snow of the season! It didn’t stick around, but long enough for Sean to want to play in it! Today was a day for groceries, laundry, and baking a cake just for the fun of it. And the window gels were clung to the transom window. Slowly the house is starting to look... and smell like Christmas.

It's only day three of my December Daily project, and I already altered my original design. Uh oh. I'm honestly trying very hard not to be a perfectionist and change everything every day. The good news is I didn't change it too drastically. The shot of Sean at the patio door needed to be vertical, and the original layout only had two horizontal photo spots. So I flipped it 90 degrees, added another photo, and opted to have the journaling in the red bar with the number. I really like the final layout much better -- focuses more on the story, don't you think?

Here was the original layout:



Credits:
Ali Edwards December Daily layered template #4
Katie Pertiet's Santa Baby Paper

December Daily 2009: Day Two

~ Wednesday ~

Oh Christmas Tree! What a joy every year when you’re dragged out of the garage and life is breathed into you. The day we decided to build our house Jeff said, “We’ll put our Christmas tree right here. And imagine all of our (future) kids waking up on Christmas morning and looking down from upstairs to see what Santa brought them!” Our dreams are coming true. Now, if only we can keep Sean from climbing up the tree before Christmas day!

December Daily 2009: Day One

~ Tuesday ~
The first day of December is here! Can you believe it? And the weather was so gorgeous, it's hard to believe that snow will be here sooner than we know it. The high today was 54. Wow! Sean and I took advantage of the nice day, and played outside for a little while after he woke up from his nap. Soaking up the sunshine while it lasts! I had class tonight, but then we started to decorate the big tree. It has been up since the day after Thanksgiving with no ornaments. No excuse except lack of time, but in the end it has worked to our advantage. Sean has gotten used to it being around, and hopefully won’t be as tempted to play with the ornaments! I also had to doctor our star. We bought a barn star in Shipshewana, IN a few years ago and Jeff rigged it with lights. It’s perfect for our tree, but the delicate assembly of the lights needs attention just about every year now. It’s worth it.