Christmas happenings

So I had planned on this nice long post talking about how fun Christmas was this year. But I haven't yet done it. And since it's now over a week since Christmas, I probably won't get to it. Here are the highlights though:

Christmas Eve at my Mom's. Emma loved her boots that her cousin Shelby picked out for her. As well as her Little People farm. She also got a table and chair set from my mom that is being used daily, and quite often.
 
 

Christmas Morning. Emma was SO excited when she saw her kitchen. In fact, all we hear all day long is "Play kitchen!" As well as Play Train (another gift from us), Play Barn (as in Little People Farm) and the stand-by, Play Dora's House. As you can see, Mackenzie slept through the whole thing. And yes, her stocking says Michael. We didn't get her one because I've decided to make stockings for all of us this year. With my Mom's help, of course. A lot of help. :) Got some good smiles out of Mackenzie Christmas Day. Which is always exciting.
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Christmas Day at Michael's parents. Emma is quite strong, as you can see her flexing her muscles while carrying her cousin Ben's gift from us. She now says "Emma strong" but it sounds like "Emma strrronnnngggg."
 
 

Now, on to New Year's!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

 
 

Thank goodness for high school girls

We went to the basketball game Tuesday night. I will be completely honest - my going totally hinged on Maggie being there to chase Emma. Thanks Maggie. And Maggie had help from Trisha, and Erin pitched in too. But Maggie bore the brunt of the work. Chasing Emma all over. Oh, wait, except for the time she let her run on the court at halftime while the cheerleaders were doing their dance. Yep. My face got bright red and hot as I watched my daughter gleefully run all over the court while everyone laughed. :) It was pretty funny, though.


Here's Emma mid-run. She ran back in forth in front of bleachers. Never getting tired.
 

See Trisha down at the end? She and Maggie got smart and each stood at one end to catch her.
 
 
 

At School

Wednesday I took the Emma and Mackenzie to see Michael at school. And while I don't have a picture of them with their Dad, I do have pictures of Mackenzie with some of girls we've gotten to know well.



Maggie
 

Mackenzie
 

Martha
 

Megan and Erin
 

Tree Time

Before I get to the Christmas tree, I have to share this picture of Emma. We think it's just hilarious how she sleeps with her butt up in the air. Something she's been doing for a long time actually. I have no idea how it's comfortable, but i guess she thinks it is.

 

Wednesday night we went and got our tree. Holy cow, it was cold. It was the fastes tree picking ever. I had Mackenzie all bundled up in her red snow suit that Erin, a student of Michael's, got her. She still didn't like being out there though!
 
 
 

 

Friday night we decorated the tree. Emma definitely enjoyed this. She first tried to help Michael with the lights, then she was my assistant, handing me ornaments - faster than I could hang them. Her favortie thing though, is the train. She loves it. Mackenzie just hung out in her bouncy seat watching, perfectly content.
 
 
 

Baby Got Back

Have you seen this yet? They were on Ellen today - Hilarious! If only Michael and I would have thought of this....

First Dance

4 weeks old

Mackenzie is 4 weeks old as of yesterday. The last four weeks have flown by, that's for sure. She is such a good baby. I'm seriously blessed with happy, non-crying babies. I'm telling ya, that's my reward for having awful pregnancies. And it's why I'll eventually end up pregnant again - the babies are so good, I forget how awful the 9 months of puking really is!

 

Emma has been coloring in the bathtub. She loves it. She covers the whole tub. And herself. And two nights ago when I took these pictures, she decided to "swim." I saw her put her Elmo bath toy face down, and she said "Elmo Swimmin'" then she lay down on her stomach and swam as well. My best guess is Dora was swimming recently and she remembered it. Because she hasn't been in a pool since August, and even then she didn't "swim" like that. She also stuck her face in the water then popped up and said "Drink the water!" Um, no, Emma. Please don't drink the red crayon colored water!
 
 

Big Girl Bed - Part 2

A short while ago I heard a thump. My first thought was Emma fell out of bed somehow. I went upstairs and stood by the door but didn't hear anything. I slowly opened it and hit something. Or someone. Emma. Laying on the floor by the door. Me hitting her caused her to hit her Leapfrog music table thing which then caused her to say "Piano!" She then ran out the door, said "Downstairs?" and tried to go play. It was hysterical. And she's now back in bed.

Apparently, I jinxed myself with the last post.

Big Girl Bed

She is sleeping in her big girl bed.

 

the first night was Friday. I took this picture Monday night. Now for some strange reason, she still wants to nap in her crib. But she sleeps straight through the night in her bed. And except for the first night, she stays in once we put her in there. Yesterday morning, I was asleep on the couch about 8:30 when I heard a giggle. I looked up, and there was Emma coming down the stairs with a big grin on her face. It was hysterical. Last night, we kept the door shut. :)

She's also starting to put words together which is so cool. Some common ones: Change Diaper. Mommy Coat. Buckle Seat. Dirty Diaper. Poop Diaper. Eat Lunch. Chocolate Milk. Daddy Home.

Did I mention how cool this is?

A few days worth of pictures

Thanksgiving was great. We stayed home. We only left the house to go to Cracker Barrel. Yes, that's right. We ate out on Thanksgiving. I did not cook. And I'm okay with that. :) We could've gone to my sister's house. And as much as I would've loved to see my family, it just sounded much better in theory than in reality. I didn't feel like getting everyone ready, making a dish, driving out there, etc. It was much more relaxing this way. And our meal at good ole Cracker Barrel was quite good, thank you very much. Our friends who live across the street from us came over that evening though and brought apple pie, so we weren't completely without company on Turkey Day.

Marty, Abby and Claire came over last night and Abby took this picture. First family picture since coming home from the hospital. Still having trouble getting Emma to smile for the camera/sit still. At least she's looking in the one and doesn't have her finger in her nose. Aaah, gotta love toddlers!
 

The girls on Thanksgiving. Mackenzie so was not happy! But Emma was!
 

Watching the parade. Emma loved it. When the Rockettes came on, she even tried kicking with them. Let's just say she needs more practice. Ha ha!
 

And from last Saturday - Go Buckeyes!!!
 

little copy cat

It's begun. Emma's copies everything we say. Not just words, but short sentences, too. And she's got a really good memory, so it doesn't even have to be right after you say it, she can retain it for later. Example:

Yesterday I took something out of the freezer and something else fell out and hit the floor. I never even said a word because as soon as it hit, I heard this:

"Oh, shoot."

Apparently, she doesn't just remember, she knows when to use it to.

Go Steelers

Michael went on a little shopping spree Saturday afternoon and came home with this Ben Roethlisberger jersey as well as an OSU jersey and sweatshirt for Emma and two OSU outfits for Mackenzie. Of course after OSU lost (very, very sad day in our house) he threatened to return them. And of course we're not. But the Steelers had a good day, beating the Brownies. I was pulling for the Browns, I thought they could do it but, nope, they didn't. Lost game number 9 to the Steelers.

 
 

Here's Mackenzie this past Thursday, one week old. So cute. And such a good baby. Except between 1:30 - 3:30 am, when apparently she likes to be awake. At least she's not crying. But for someone like me who can't fall asleep real quickly, it sucks. I was up from 1:30 to 6 am today b/c when she fell asleep at 3:30 I was wide awake. So I finished watching The Departed.
 
 

Speaking of The Departed. Have you seen it? SO GOOD! Horrible language, but what an awesome movie. I was so nervous the whole time that Leonardo DiCaprio's character was going to get found out, was totally caught up in it and completely surprised at the ending! But I'm left with so many questions! I hope they come out with a DVD full of deleted scenes and commentary. Because this one had neither.