Thursday, January 8, 2009

An Epic Update

Dear Lil Lovey,

I haven't written for awhile, the holidays are always a busy time of year. I baked my heart out. All the gifts I gave were homemade. Daddy helped bag, box and ship things out. I will be happy if I never see another beater bar, stick of butter or cookie sheet again.

We decided not to buy gifts for each other this year. It's been a tough year financially, in the winter time, the electric bill kills us. A $300.00 power bill, on top of rent, water and cable made December a tight month. We have everything we need, a home, food and an abundance of love. Every day is like Christmas, Daddy comes home almost weekly with a new gift for you. A new baby Einstein DVD, Elmo Live a new Elmo DVD. We did splurge and bought you a play deluxe dream kitchen. It's a little too advanced for you now but you'll grow into it. It took Daddy about an hour and a half to put it together for you.

Daddy went out on Christmas Eve to pick up dinner because I was sick of cooking and baking. He was gone a long time and I got worried. When he arrived home, he said he stopped at Walmart. I thought he was crazy, to stop at Walmart on Christmas Eve. What did he possibly need to fight the crowds? He said he picked up something for you. I said you have tons of toys, enough formula and diapers. He said he bought something you needed. I guessed socks. There are mornings I am packing your diaper bag for the sitter and go into a frenzy because I can't find matching socks, I swear the dryer eats them. He acted shocked. How did I know he got you socks? I told him I hoped he bought 12-18 month old socks because you have Sasquatch feet. He looked disappointed. He said he thought he bought 9-12 month, I better go to the car and check. When I peeked into the bag in the car, what did I find? A portable DVD player. He knows you well, now you'll be able to watch "Down, Down, Baby Elmo does Karate" on the go. Next year, you'll probably own your own laptop.

Christmas Day was a busy day too. We went to two places, MawMaw's and Daddy's parents. On the way to MawMaw's you fell asleep and I had to wake you up when we arrived. You had on your crabby panties at first and gave MawMaw the scrunched up sassy face.
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You quickly got over your interrupted nap when you saw the spread MawMaw made for you. Ham, a fried turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, deviled eggs. You didn't understand Christmas or presents this year but the feasting was the highlight of your day. You are a chow hound, girl. You will sit in your highchair and pick at food for over 30 minutes per meal. After you stuffed yourself with MawMaw's Christmas goodness, you got some lovin' and were ready for a turkey induced coma.
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When you awoke, we had the kitchen cleaned up and your cousins had opened all their presents. Your pile awaited you.
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Like I said, you didn't understand the gift part. Your cousin Emma did and she was dying to "help" open your presents.
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Daddy brought in his present and set you up with Elmo's Holiday DVD. You and Emma were in a trance.
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He probably should have waited to turn on Elmo's Christmas because you had a melt down when I took you away to get pictures of you with your cousins in front of the tree. In the first picture, you could still see Elmo, in the second he was out of view. Elmo withdraw.

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After our food digested, we headed to Daddy's parents. Once again, there was more food. You tried black eyed peas for the first time. We were still stuffed from the first round. Not you, my growing girl. You cleared another plate of peas, ham and creamed potatoes. Daddy's family got you more gifts. You got jealous when he was playing a rock band game with his sister. He was playing the guitar and wasn't playing attention to you so you crawled over, climbed up his leg and tried to pull his pants down. Once again, you loved the food at Karen's the most. A close second was the family dog, Duke. You have seen dogs on baby Einstein but you were fascinated by a real, live one.
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The car was stuffed full of gifts and we headed home after a long day. You probably weighed about two more pounds by the time we got home.

You still love you bath. I think you will be a little swimmer. This summer, I think we'll do a water babies class at the local pool, I have a feeling you'll love it. You aren't scared of getting splashed or water in your face. You actually will put your entire mouth over the spigot and spray water all over the mirror. You still only have two teeth, Mom says the longer it takes to get them, the better teeth you will have. I don't know about that but you are a drool machine. Since you have been teething forever, you still put everything in your mouth. The spigot, the remotes, pretty much anything that isn't nailed down.
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On warm days, we will take you outside on the porch. You hate your hat. You pull it off every time I make you wear it. You are still pretty bald so you must wear a hat in the winter. The other afternoon you kept pulling off your hat outside. Daddy took your hand away from the hat and said, "No, Chloe, leave your hat on." You looked at him and gave him the scrunched up ugly face and breathed real hard, flaring your nostrils. Your secret is out, we know that you know the word "No". The hard part is enforcing it. We laughed when you got your attitude.

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You are turning into a night owl. I used to put you to bed at 6:30pm with no problems. The past several nights, you have wanted to stay up with us until 8pm. We took you in bed with us two nights ago. When we turned off the lights, you sat up like a little prairie dog and took in your surroundings. You knew this wasn't your room and kept looking out the window at the headlights passing by. I think you are going through a separation anxiety phase, you don't want to be left alone or left out.

Or maybe you think you missing out on some good food. If you are almost asleep and hear pots and pans clinking in the kitchen you'll stir as if to say, "What are you eating without me?" Last night, you got your first slice of pizza. You devoured it. Your eyes got wide as the slices of pepperoni from excitement. Good-bye Gerber, the days of jarred baby food are now over.

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Finally, I hope you know how much you are loved. If I have a hard, tiring day, I feel energized driving to the sitter's to pick you up. It's my favorite part of the day, going to bring you home. When you see me and kick your little legs with glee, it melts my heart. I never will stop feeling excited to see your beautiful eyes shine or hug your little body and smell your fuzzy baby hair.

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All my heart,
Mama

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