December 27, 2009

Merry Christmas! I hope the holidays are treating everyone well. I know that they are not the easiest of times for a lot of people. I have ALWAYS loved this time of year (pretty much regardless of the circumstances - and I have had a doozy or two), but have to admit that I am finding it a bit challenging this year. Just dealing with the same stuff that I have been dealing with all year. Adjusting to life as a "fractured" family, or whatever, is particularly tough this time of year - especially for us, as really most of the important dates in our lives fall into about a month stretch. It is just so hard to be away from my daughter during some really special times. I just miss her so much and know that I am not part of a lot of really great memories she is making. That is just hard.

That being said, we've had some wonderful and memorable times in the past week or so also. And Julianna got to have no less than two birthday and two Christmas celebrations! Hey, there has to be some benefit to the whole "D word", right? Julianna really "got" the whole Santa thing this year and was just darling! My whole family was together for Christmas this year and Julianna reveled in all of the attention of her aunts, uncle, grandparents, and four-legged cousins! She was her usual mix of silly and sweet, and we had a wonderful time. The little birthday celebration we had here at the condo was pretty cute and a lot of fun too.

I took hundreds (and hundreds!) of pictures in the last week, so I truly have done some SERIOUS culling. But still, there are a ton of pics!

Birthday Pics





"Helping" Baby John unwrap the Christmas presents she got for him.




Snow White and the Dwarfs - She knows all 7!


Her Princess Cake!




Mama and her 3 year old!






Julianna was bringing little toys and things, like this bear, to Baby John all afternoon. She just ADORES him.


In her new tutu! She accessorized with snow boots! Please ignore the mess still on the table from the birthday party!


Now with crocs...



Snow Pics
We got a rare few inches of snow on Juianna's birthday.



Throwing a snowball.


Just cute!



Christmas Eve Pics:







Decorating our Gingerbread house.






With "Uncle Joey!" She adores him, but he is SUCH a teaser! He had her in tears because he held up a pair of plyers and threatened to pull one of her teeth! She did NOT think it was a bit funny! When I asked her hours later about Uncle Joey teasing her, she slapped her hand over her mouth. Hee!




Getting ready for Santa. She left him cookies and 9 carrots - one for each of the reindeer.


The note she pretty much dictated to me. She did NOT want him to come down the chimney, so we suggested he come through the door - for his own good, obviously!


Playing with the puppies and Auntie Fish.


Watching, and loving, the Grinch.


Looks like she got into Santa's cookies!


The children were nestled, all snug in their beds...

Christmas Morning:

I know it looks like a ton of presents, but there were 7 of us on Christmas morning!


Julianna's stocking. I think this was her favorite part! Some of the junk in the stocking is the stuff she played with the most. Figures...


Helping Auntie Stephanie unwrap a prezzie.


Laughing at Scruffy in her Snuggie! By the way, we ALL got snuggies, including Julianna and as evidenced here, the dogs!




One of my faves.





Some beautiful pics my sister took:

Julianna's Dance Class

Today the parents were allowed to sit in on Julianna's dance class. We were also able to take pictures and videos. I completely forgot about being able to do that (Just too much going on with her birthday and Christmas - sorry grandparents, I'm sure you would have enjoyed coming), but luckily I had my camera along and was able to take several little videos. In the first ones Julianna is wearing the multi-colored tutu, white tights, and braids. She eventually took the skirt/tutu thing off, so she is the one with legs up to her neck and a too small pink leotard! Really, it looked fine with the little tutu!!! Oh well. Still too cute!

















Now, don't you feel like you were at the class??!!

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Also my little girl is 3! Check out the below birthday post.

3 Years Old!!!

Tomorrow I will have a 3 year old!!! Oh dear. When you have a two year old you can still say, "I have a baby, she's 2". But 3 just doesn't sound like a baby anymore. I know I brag (and dote) on her all the time, but I can't let the occasion pass without saying that this child really is the joy and light of my life. She is so smart and beautiful and funny and kind and sensitive and affectionate. She is also a bit ornery and mischievous. And QUITE stubborn. I LOVE it! She is a little chatterbox, and as I've documented the last few months, just says the funniest, cutest, and most insightful things. She loves to sing and dance and laugh. She LOVES to play games, and baby dolls, and cook "like a chef" in her little kitchen. She loves books and words and can read many words on sight. She can actually sound out some basic words also. She has memorized a couple of books already and doesn't miss a word! Too funny! She's potty trained, sleeps in a "big girl" bed and, as a result, has pretty much given up naps. Every milestone is bittersweet. I am so proud of her, but also know it means she is growing up and getting a bit more independent with each one. I could go on for days and I still wouldn't do justice to my little girl. She is just such a blessing to me and her whole family. She is adored by so very many!

Happy Birthday Julianna! My love for you has no end.



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I know I am big time over due for an update. We have been SO busy and I have so many pictures to share. Hopefully, I will the chance to post them in the next couple of days. Otherwise, I am afraid they will get lost in the Birthday/Christmas shuffle. I also have a bunch of videos I took at her little dance class I want to share if I can figure it out again.

December 6, 2009

Julianna and I had a really nice week. It was cold and rainy a lot of it, but we had lots to do indoors, so not a big deal. We put up our tree and Christmas decorations, went to a Christmas Festival in Davidson, and a tree lighting/Santa visit at the library (this was outside in the cold and dark).

Wonder of wonders, Julianna sat on Santa's lap!!!! She even told him what she wanted for Christmas! I really thought she was going to back out last minute, especially after her little friend who is generally much more outgoing refused. The picture tells the whole story. She was nervous but never panicked. She is just getting to be such a BIG girl. (Btw, she totally wavers between wanting to grow up and be a "big lady" and wanting to "stay a wittle girl". I'm sure you can guess my vote!)

Oh, and my camera curse continues! Mimi, Poppy and I took Julianna to the Christmas festival downtown. There were TONS of people. They had a darling little live nativity and lots of live animals to pet. Well, I think someone took my camera right out of my coat pocket! One minute I was taking pictures of J petting the animals and the next minute I reached back into my pocket for my camera to take another picture and it was gone! We scoured the place (we hadn't moved ten feet in that amount of time), but it was no where to be found. Geez. I really do have the WORST luck with cameras. But I also guess the losing/stealing/breaking is a reflection of how much I use the thing. I pretty much never go anywhere without it. I guess if you use it all the time it is going to be more vulnerable to that stuff than if it stays in a drawer somewhere never getting used.

A few little Julianna tales from the week:

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Julianna is already trying to get us to take in stray pets! We were running around outside and a little gray kitten came right up to her and was rubbing all over her legs. Julianna decided we HAD to have this cat. I told we already had 2 cats and just absolutely could not have any more. She started to whimper and said, "But where is his family??" Oh that sweet child. I told her that was why we couldn't take him home - because his family would miss him! She seemed satisfied with this reasoning, but has mentioned the little gray cat about a million times.

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Me: Julianna, I have an itch. Could you scratch my back?
Julianna: I can't.
Me: Why?
Julianna: I'm VERY tired.

Hee! It was the first time I have ever heard those words uttered from that girl's mouth.

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I put up our tree while Julianna was at Ryan's (just the tree, I saved the ornaments for us to do together). It is a little pre-lit thing and Julianna was so excited when we got home. She ran right up to it and hugged it and said, "I love you, tree". So darling!

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We were sitting at a traffic light in the dark the other evening and the red light was reflecting on Julianna's face. I looked back and she was crossing her eyes trying to look at her nose and saying, "Look Mama, my nose is red just like Rudolph's!!!"

She will also sing the call and response version of the Rudolph song. It kills me when she says, "Like a lightbulb!", and Ryan taught her to say "Like match game" instead of "like monopoly". So cute!

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Our Santa was pretty impressive with real hair and beard!


Getting a treat from Santa.


Julianna and Riley.










Dancing to Christmas music!


Hanging ornaments.


Admiring the Christmas tree after dance class.