Candy Cane

You saw yesterday that Abi likes to make things into the shape of other things.. like the apples into the beanstalk.... here's another one.
I was on the phone with my mom earlier tonight and Abi went out into the front room by the Christmas tree. We have a Christmas checkers game that she really likes to play with so I knew that was probably what she was doing. After about a minute Doug went in with her and then stopped me to tell me I needed to come see what she did.
She had taken the Santa checker pieces and formed them into the shape of a candy cane. "Look. A Candy cane!"
It was so cute and really looked like one. I told my mom about it and Doug went to get the camera. She realized we were going to get a picture so she grabbed a candy cane off the tree and stuck it next to her Santa candy cane- I guess to compare them.

Thanksgiving

We decided this year that since Abi was getting over being sick (although you'd never know it. I thought she would be less active the couple of days after being so sick but she has been as busy as ever!)and we were not going to be going out of having anyone over that we would have a casual Thanksgiving dinner.
Doug and I stayed in our jeans and Abi in her sweats.
I bought this turkey headband for a buck a long time ago and had it hidden away so Abi was so excited when I pulled it out for her. She wore it the rest of the night and was still wearing it for part of today.
I also did casual cooking this year. Last year I went all out and made everything homemade... but not this year. The turkey, as usual, was a prepared frozen to oven roast because I have real issues touching raw meat as it is and can usually find creative ways to make things with minimal contact but turkey is really pushing it. I made our mashed potatoes but everything else was store bought- the veggies were Steamfresh, the rolls in a can, and a frozen pie. The pie was awesome though. It was only $5 but was one of the best I've ever had. Abigail loved the potatoes.



/Abi blowing on her turkey to cool it down:


Abi was really messy after dinner so Doug volunteered to clean up while I gave her a quick bath. Then we sat at the table and wrote letters to Santa.

Then we placed them in our magic mailbox under the tree for Elvin the Elf (Santa's #1 elf) to get. Abi loved this.


We then played for awhile and then had the apple pie. After that it was bedtime for Abi.

I stayed up way too late considering I went out to brave the stores this morning but I had a project I wanted to finish. I finally finished it tonight. I am taking part in a think called Pink Christmas this year. We all paid a small amount to take part that went to three families in need and then we were all given the name of someone else participating. We then make them something for Christmas. That is what I have been working on. I put together a litte grouping consisting of a booklet of Christmas stories, a journal (I think that is my favorite I have made so far!) and a group of Nativity hand puppets. Those took a while but I really like them. I think I may make us some as well now.

Abigail tells me a bedtime story

It went exactly like this:

"Once upon a time there was a happy little ponytail. Far away in the kingdom there was a prince and the big bad wolf came but the prince wasn't scared."
"Once upon a time there was a happy little fishy and a happy little shark and a happy little boat and the shark and the fishy were waited for the boat for they won't go all the way down down down in the water."
"Then there was a lion and it was a beautiful thing because he wasn't mean anymore.. maybe he just did lotsa lotsa ROAR and maybe he says ROAR and maybe he was in my Dora movie... the rainbow one or the beautiful princess one or the big bad wolf one or the pig one... and he maybe ROARs. Yep."

So that this is not a pictureless post here is a random photo of Abi from last week. She did this with her food and then said, "Look mommy. I made a beanstalk!"

We've got a sick girl..

I don't think I am good at having a sick kid! I'm just not used to it yet I guess. Abi will be three in about 3 weeks and has had only a handful or so of colds, one ear infection (last spring) and today she threw up for the very first time. Now you can see why I am not used to it yet.
She went down for nap and actually slept ( a rarity) and it had only been about 30 minutes when I heard her call to me. This is unusual as I now leave the door open and she usually just comes out looking for me so I ran upstairs to her room. She had thrown up all over her mattress and floor and herself. She looked like she was going to cry. I picked her up quickly and gave her a bath to clean her-especially her hair. While in the tub she was in great spirits and continued to act normal the rest of the afternoon. Doug played with her while I went grocery shopping and then when I got back I gave her some crackers with turkey and a little cheese and some water and sprite. She didn't eat much but was still being goofy and fun. We sang Jingle Bells while she watched me putting tootsie rolls on our advent streamer.
Then she began to crawl away toward the stairs. I asked where she was going and she whispered, "upstairs". I knew. Then she threw up all she had eaten which seemed to have tripled. It was horrible watching it happen this time. She looked so sad and confused. We cleaned her up again and I got her into bed.
I took her temperature and it is up but not too high I hope. We gave water. Doug gave her a blessing and she fell asleep faster than ever.
I am so worried about her. I keep stressing over it. Do we call the doctor? Do we go to the instacare just to make sure she is okay. I worry about dehydration and fever. Then I think I'd be dumb to go in over a kid throwing up twice. Then I remember how I felt that way when she cut open her head because we didn't think it was too bad and how the doctor said it was good we came in.
So- how do you deal with sick kids? What advice can anyone give me?
What are the real warning signs and things I need to be doing?
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be getting any sleep tonight!

Finished!

While my mom was here I started on a Christmas project. We had a few days where we watched movies and worked on crafts. I have been wanting to make a big wall advent calendar with pockets to stick surprises in for a very long time. I had planned out the whole thing but then got a recent Pottery Barn Kids catalog and noticed one they had for about $80 that was much cuter than the one I was going to make. It was made of felt and had cute little pictures on the pockets that reminded me of the felt ornaments my mom makes. I borrowed her patterns for those and then made up some of my own to make 25. I first put them together and then put them on the pocket and then put that on the tree. Tonight I finally finished getting the back of the tree sewn to the front and the star on. It was a huge project. I am not used to doing all of my sewing by hand but I kind of enjoyed it. The entire thing was sewn by hand which led to some imperfections (quite a few actually) but I am going by the mantra that imperfection is beautiful and I am quite pleased with the result anyway.
It doesn't look exactly like or as cute as the Pottery Barn one but it is very similar, I think, and cost less than $10.
I am excited to have a new tradition around here that I created and to stock the pockets with little prizes. The #1 spot (December 1st) will always have a new Christmas book in it- that is why it is so much bigger than the other pockets.
The rest will be filled with stickers, candy, little trinkets and books, and decorated note cards with an activity for the day (for example: " Make a gingerbread house" etc.)
Thanks for all your help with colors and ideas Mom!

The earliest we've ever put our tree up!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my mom helped us buy our tree as part of our Christmas present so we decided we wanted to put it up while she was still here. Putting up the tree is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. In my family I was the ornament sorter which ensured I got my favorite ornaments for my portion of the tree. I did that again last night giving Abi her own little pile of non fragile and homemade ornaments to put along the bottom of the tree all around.
While I made dinner we listened to Abi's Baby Einsteins Holiday Melodies CD and Doug put the lights on the tree. The greatest thing was the second the music started, Abi began dancing. I love watching her dance!


After dinner we got going doing the decorating. We always listen to the Carpenter's Christmas CD while decorating the tree. This began in my family and is something I have brought into our little family. There is one song that has the march of the wooden soldiers in it and for as long as I can remember when that part started I would stop whatever I was doing and march around the room pretending to play a trombone. I don't think I have done that the last few years but last night having my mom here made me remember to do it. I told Abi to do it with me. She marched around the room behind me and played her little trombone. I wish we could have captured her arm out on camera but we couldn't quite get the camera to take a picture fast enough to get her doing it. It was so much fun.

Part way through decorating all of a sudden Abi got her pouty lips on and ran around the room kissing us all on the heads. Wierd.

Then we got down to business and finished adorning the tree. It was so great to have mom there for it and to have Abi be able to actually participate. I loved watching her take ornaments from her little pile and find a place for them on the tree. We sang and danced and acted extremely silly and had a great time!





When every ornament was on Doug put Abi up on his shoulders and had her put the star on top. It is a little crooked and facing a wierd position but I think I'll leave it that way.


Then Grandma brought down all of Abi's Christmas gifts and one for us from her room. She wanted to do all of Abi's birthday and Christmas shopping while here so she wouldn't have to ship things out here. It is so fun to look at the tree and have brightly wrapped gifts sitting there. Abi is doing pretty good with them but the temptation is great.

We then had hot chocolate with mini candy canes (another tradition of course!)and watched part of Kitt Kittredge.


After the cocoa was gone we got out Abi's tree. When Abi was born my sister and her family brought a little tree complete with lights and ornaments to my hospital room for a little Christmas cheer since we were going to be there a while. It was the talk of the nurse station. They all came down to see it. I loved it so much- they are always so thoughtful. The last two years this little tree has had to be our main tree. In 2006 because we were in a rental and all of our stuff was in storage while our house was being built and in 2007 because our big tree fell over after two days and died. We were going home both years so we didn't bother getting anything bigger. This year Abi finally gets to have her own tree in her room. She and I decorated it and then replaced her bedroom lamp with it so she can go to sleep with the glow of Christmas! She loves it!!

It was such a great night and a great way to spend our last night with my mom before her flight today.

Family Pictures

Saturday we drove over to the lake to take a family picture. Doug's mom had sent us a cute green dress for Abi recently so we worked around that. I curled her hair in ringlets all over her head which was so beautiful but didn't last very long as she is cursed with my fine hair that won't hold anything. We didn't get many pictures because it was so cold and we didn't want to wear our coats but there were a few cute ones. Here is a sneak peek:

Twilight

Friday night mom and I went to see the late showing of the new Twilight movie... so did I like it?
YES!!!! I thought it was great. I have heard a lot of mixed reviews but I actually liked most of the things I have heard others didn't(such as the humor).
I thought it was funny and well acted. I thought every single person in that film was well cast. There wasn't anyone in it that made me think they shouldn't have been cast in as I was watching. I felt like the dialogue between Edward and Bella was awkward at first.. but it was supposed to be so I'm glad it was.
I am glad he wasn't shirtless the entire 'meadow scene' and I loved the kid that played Jacob- not that he was in it much but I thought he really looked like him.
My favorite scene was the baseball scene. It helped that my favorite Muse song was playing.
Anyway, I really felt like they kept the spirit of the book in the movie which is the most important thing to me when watching a movie that has been made from a book I like. I hope they make the rest of them and I will definately see it again. Oh and by the way- Mom liked it too.

American Girl Place: Warning! Lots and lots of pictures.

Last year when most of my family came out to visit we went to American Girl Place in Chicago with my mom, my sister Stephanie, and my nieces McKenna and Courtney for lunch at the cafe. It was amazing and my parents got American Girl dolls for all three girls for birthday/Christmas gifts. (All 3 have birthdays close to Christmas)Abi got Kirsten. So, while my mom is here we wanted to go back again. This time we went for brunch. Abi loves her Kirsten doll so we were able to take her along. They give you special seats for your doll if you bring her.
Abi has been looking forward to this day the entire time my mom has been here (as have we) so she was really excited this morning and didn't even throw a fit as I did her hair because I was doing it to look like Kirstens.
Here she was all ready to go:

Grandma and Abi at our table. They just opened in this new location and it is more amazing than ever. I loved all the Christmas decorations and we were so happy they sat us next to the Christmas trees! Our waitress was named Abyssinia and went by Aby. Cool. They have these scrunchie things on the napkins that you get to take home.

Abi checking out the menu:

Having her first cinnamon bun..



My mom and I both had the cranberry quiche- very good and Abi had the heart shaped pancakes. All of it came with little fruit skewers.


Such a happy little girl!


The above picture was Abi clapping when I told her they were bringing us little flower pots with ice cream in it(it's really mousse).



Stopping to smell the daisies...

The next few pictures are out of order but here are my mom and Abi outside the store after brunch and shopping....

Back in the store Abi pointed out this doll to me and said Aunt Stephie needs that doll "'acause it looks like Aunt Stephie!" It does actually.

The Cafe



Us outside again




We had such a great time and loved picking out some birthday presents. After we left we met daddy at his work and all went out to lunch. AND I DROVE ALL DAY!!! Yes, I drove our little stick shift all over Chicago with only a couple of humiliating moments.. usually following some comment about me getting good at it. My car needed to humble me I guess.
After getting home Abi showed me that she was sick of having her picture taken: