There's Something About Harper

If you've seen the movie, "There's Something about Mary" then you know the reference to Harper's hair. Fortunately, it does not take anything to make her hair stand on end like this, just a good day.

Christmas Day 2008

Lucy was asleep in seconds last night (due to the idea that Santa could not come if she was awake). Harper on the other hand, had ideas about catching Santa in the act. She was up at 11, 11:30, 12:30, and then from 4am-7am. Then she got up at 7:20am and Lucy woke up a little before 8am. What a night.

But this morning we forgot all about being sleepy when Lucy was bouncing off the walls. We made her come into our room for a few minutes while Harper finished eating and Ian took the dog out, etc. Then it was a rush to the family room where she then got nervous and tried to deflect all the attention onto Harper. Harper was all too glad to sit down and tackle a new pile of toys. Lucy warmed up quickly and was pretty excited about her new scooter, her bean bag chair, dollhouse, marble run, grocery scanner, Thomas the train that goes when you whistle, and assorted other toys. She also loved the kids chopsticks that were in her stocking as well as the candy, cars and hair glitter. Harper was happy with her pop up toy, block tower, ball and books. She and Lucy both chowed on her treats and of course, there was the wrapping paper. She tried to eat it, play with it, play peek-a-boo with it, etc.
Another Christmas Day has come to an end. In the girls' world, that just means that we gear up for 3 (yes, 3!) more Christmas celebrations with family when we hit KY tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that the drive will be smooth. It could be 9 hours, it could be 12. 10 would be fantastic. That is just enough time for Lucy to watch all the movies in my arsenal, both girls to take naps and for me to read a magazine in between trading out toys with the back seat. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve in our house this year consisted of following Santa on NORAD all day, baking cookies for Santa, wrapping a few last gifts, a water skiing Santa, candlelight service at church, dinner out, leaving food for the reindeer outside and cookies for Santa inside and reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before bed. Oh, yeah, and tons of excitement and restlessness. Lucy could hardly contain herself at different times throughout the day. It was infectious and Harper was quickly caught up in the excitement. Here is some of the pure energy that was Lucy today.

Waterskiing Santa

For three years I have read about the water skiing Santa that puts on a show every Christmas Eve. Lucy has either been too young or we have been out of town to take part. This year, though, Lucy and I treated ourselves to this silly tradition and we both loved it.

It was cold. Really, really cold. Icicles covered the hoses around the docks, the wind whipped straight through our clothes, we huddled together to keep warm and I would still do it again. The giggles that took over Lucy made it all worth it. She was a little uncertain as to what we were going to see, as was I. But once it started and the Grinch was antagonizing Frosty and the reindeer came out ahead of Santa and then Santa went by, with bag in hand, we were both sold. Before the show I gave her the whole "this is probably one of Santa's helpers" routines that every kid her age gets once or twice a year at this time. I really didn't know what to expect so I was setting the bar low. Once we got in the car after the show she said, "Momma, I think that was the real Santa. He came all the way from the North Pole to water ski. He was really good. Now he has to get back to the North Pole to fill his sleigh with toys for all the kids who aren't naughty." A believer can warm anybody, even on the coldest of days.

Two in a tub

Harper has graduated from her baby bath to splashing in the tub with Lucy. She loves it, it saves us time and Lucy likes having someone to make waves with. Afterwards they whoop it up for pajama time. Bon Bon gave them Christmas pajamas, hence the night cap.

Giggles at dinner

Harper laughing it up at dinnertime- a nightly ritual, usually with some sort of pureed food being spit out of her mouth while she bellows.

Coo coo for Choo Choos

We met the Butlers at the Botanic Garden to see their annual holiday train display. As usual, Lucy adored Eli's company and they both adored the trains. Lucy liked the "really, really, really long train" the best and the tall bridges that it crossed as it went overhead. Simply coo coo for choo choos.

Our Special Angel

I mentioned in a blog a couple days ago that we had to go to Louisville unexpectedly last week. Since then I have been contacted by several people hoping that all is well, etc.
We had to go to Louisville to attend my Mama's funeral. She was 81 years old and was the spunkiest lady I've ever known. I will miss her and while I could talk about what a nice funeral and rememberance it was I would rather talk about a list I made for her when she turned 80 titled "The top 80 things I love about my Mama." Here are a few of my favorites:
-She would always say something like "Hot Dog!" when somebody told her about something exciting or new
-She claimed herself to be a blonde, no matter how yellow, pink, white or gold her hairdresser dyed her hair
-She always smelled of Oil of Olay
-She had a blue Rick Pitino Christmas tree (back when we liked Rick Pitino)
-She used to make us pot roast with mashed potatoes and fruit salad on the side (with extra cherries) on Wed nights for us when we were growing up
-She would always send $5 on Valentine's day, "for a treat" or in my case "for french fries"
-On Christmas she walked around with a basket full of candy bars wrapped in $5 bills for all the grandchildren, and later their spouses, too
-She woke at the crack of dawn to say the rosary with the radio program- yes, such a radio program does exist
-We got our drivers licenses at the same time
To explain to Lucy what was going on we told her that Mama had to go to heaven to be our special angel. She still asks if we can send her cards and pictures "to heaven" she says. I tell her that we can make whatever she likes and that Mama can see them from wherever she is. Lucy pictures an angel with wings and halo. I just like to remember her in something pink, hair perfectly round, skinny legs and a happy-to-see-you-smile.

Ice Show

I took Lucy to a local ice show this morning. It was at the rec center just down the street and was basically a recital for families, etc with the public invited. There were lots of falls, lots of kids tentatively stepping onto the ice, poor sound quality and lots of kids doing things that resembled stunts on the ice. There were no perfect tens. There was no Russian judge.

What there was, though, was a very happy three year old. Lucy never noticed a fall, but she did notice the sparkles on the skaters' outfits. She didn't notice the poor sound quality, she as too excited over hearing "the Nutcracker" or "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer". She loved the girl, dressed in white with silver sparkles who skated to "The Nutcracker Suite". She said that "she looked like Clara from the Nutcracker". There were audible "Wow!"s "Did you see that?" and "I love twirling!" from my little companion. Ronin and X joined us for part of it and she loved seeing her buddies.

All of this reminds me of a conversation I had with someone a while back. They had gone to see the same Nutcracker performance as we had and they had hated it. It wasn't professional enough for them. Not a big enough production. I think the production is getting out of the door in time for the performance.

All Lu really wants is to get the idea of what should be going on, to see the costumes, to hear the music and to have an outting with her mom. We may be low-budget, but we are not low-expectation. And we get all that we expect: a thrilling, sweet, inspiring new experience that Lucy will talk about for days and will re-enact in our living room, on wax paper skates.

Not even a box

How many times have you heard folks say that their kids would be happy with just the box that the toy came in? Well, in our house you don't even need the box. Here is Harper discovering the joys of wrapping paper. Crinkly paper is definitely her favorite thing in the world. Christmas morning will, I'm sure, be filled with lots of gift opening and Harper sitting in the middle of it all, thrashing around in the crinkly wrapping paper, squishing it, eating it and squealing with delight.

BV Christmas Party and Scottish Walk

Our neighborhood hosted their annual tree lighting ceremony a few weeks ago. The girls sat on Santa's lap, admired the lights, chased around with their friends and ate cookies galore. The next morning we went to the Scottish Walk with our friends the Butlers. Bagpipes were the soundtrack, gingerbread and candy the eats and men in skirts the entertainment.

Want fries with that secret language?

For about a year now Lucy and I have been developing our own little language. It started with her love of olives. She was eating olives one day and we had a discussion that saying "Olive Juice" sounds a lot like "I love you". She thought that was funny and we began and endless stream of food related sayings that we exchange with each other pretty much daily. Her favorite is "Pickle You" which now means I love you around our house. "Red pepper you" and "Ketchup you" also resurface from time to time.
Sometimes the language goes in a direction that even I don't quite understand (go figure). Lately it is Lucy's saying of "Happy Annigrocery!" It means I love you, good night and everything in between. I have no idea where it comes from but I can always tell the meaning and she loves when I shout it back to her, or, even better, think to say it on my own.
Be clear, it is not "happy anniversary". That leaves a bad taste in her mouth and she will ridicule you for even attempting to say it or imply that she is saying it. I'll stick with the condiment aisle of our new language. Ketchup, pickles and olives are tasty morsels of love around here.

A tooth!

Harper has been a biter, a drooler and an overall mouthy little girl since just a few weeks old. For months people have been approaching me and saying, "Oh, she must be getting a tooth. She is drooling so much and look at how much she chews and bites on everything." Never a tooth was found.

We had to go to Louisville unexpectedly this past week and Harper, although mostly smiley and happy, was just not herself the past few days. She couldn't sleep, she cried (I know, these things are the normal for other babies, but they are not the norm for Harper) and there it was today. She took a 3 hour nap after our plane ride home and apparently that is all it took. They are still cutting through and I'm sure we will still have a day of stress over it, but relief is in sight, along with the sweet little spots of white that mark her very first tooth.

Naughty and Nice

I'll let you decide. Who is Naughty and who is Nice?