Christmas Season

We have done so many great/fun things the past weeks getting ready for Christmas. This is the first year I have had a child that "gets it" and it has been magical. My favorite activity is watching her play with our nativity sets and hear her talk to herself about "baby jesus, mommy mary, and daddy joseph". It's sweet.

"baby jesus is awake!"

 Visiting Santa's workshop. No go on seeing Santa (2 hour line, ya right) but we did play with a ton of fun toys. Scarlett loved the giant race track

It's been busy and I have pooped them out!

Family tradition of going to the Nutcracker. It always takes my breathaway. My favorite part is when Clara and the Nutcracker do their final dance, the music is gorgeous.

 No christmas is complete without making candy with grandpa. I have done this every year with my dad since, well, forever. We make candy and listen to the Forester Sister's christmas album. 

I am so excited to celebrate Christmas with my Alice baby. The first of a lifetime!

Alice 10 Months

This has been the best month in our mommy/baby relationship. It has been bliss, seriously baby bliss. She has been nursing, eating, sleeping, and playing great. All day is smiles. I love seeing her personality come out these days. She is the quiet, naughty type and loves to explore the house. Being able to go up and down the stairs like a champ has only escalated her curiosity. I will be doing dishes and hear someone rattling around in the bathroom upstairs. Sure enough it's Ali getting in the cupboards and being happy as a lark. The only thing that gets her upset is when I or Scarlett take something from her, especially the TV remote (the remote is her precious). I love nursing her to sleep and having her give me sweet baby kisses. She is also waving "hi" and "bye", taking some steps, and climbing on everything. I adore this little girl and snuggle her every chance I get. There is very little that brings me more joy than watching my children grow!

Made you laugh, admit it:)

I always sing "here she comes, Miss America" when she crawls into a room. It gets her to give me a rare smile. She is a serious one.

She's 3!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Scarlett is our family's cheerleader. She cheers us on all day, even her self. I make her breakfast and she says "good job mom, way to go!" I make her lunch and she says "good job mom, way to go". I color a picture and it's the same "good job mom!". The best is when I get ready for the day, "good job mom, you look so, so cute".  Nick comes home from work and it's "daddy you're awesome!". Nick gets the biggest smile on his face. Scarlett makes people smile, it is a true gift! I love that she does it for her self as well. No matter what it may be, even if it's naughty, she says "good job Scarlett, way to go!". It makes me so happy that she has a good self esteem, I feel like I am doing something right as a mom. This little girl knows who she is and that she is a someone special.

She can pick up on any of my emotions, I can not hide them from her. She knows when I am having a hard day or if everything is going perfect. She is very perceptive. When she sees me having a ruff patch she will walk up to me and rub my leg or touch my face super soft. I love that she thinks a kiss can solve any ailment. She is wiggly and active but has the most gentle and kind heart. Wouldn't you love that in a big sister, Alice is lucky.

She is also our worry-wart. How can someone be so positive, yet have so much worry? Well, that's Scarlett. If she drops her spoon it's "oh no, oh no" a hundred times. Even the next day, " remember when I dropped my spoon? Oh no, oh no". Just look at her face in the two pictures above, that's her worried look. I was probably doing something that made her worried, "oh mom, oh mom be careful. Oh mom, oh mom". I love how her brow furrows and eyes get a look of distress. It's so descriptive, so telling of how she feels. Ultimately, Scarlett wears her emotions on her sleeve.

 Now here is the real Scarlett... jumping on the coach and riding her bike in the house with her shirt and pants on backwards!

The biggest smile ever!

Her Big Day!

I made that, all by myself!

 Cake/ice cream at the Strobelts. Scarlett loved celebrating with her whole family!

 She got her first bike