Cute Christmas Pictures

Anna's First Christmas

As I write, it is the 26th of December. The day after Christmas. And, like my dad, I'm experiencing some after-Christmas-blues. The time off with family is over. The gifts have been given. The food has been eaten. Anna's first Christmas will never happen again. Sigh. Anna must be experiencing a little case of the blues, too, because she is currently sleeping it off...she's been asleep now for 11.5 hours. (Yes, I've checked on her.) Here's the run down of our Christmas with the Banana.

Thursday: Nana & Big Pop (my parents) picked Anna up at 7:30 a.m. so that I could try a case. After said case was tried (and won), I got my hair cut, then met Joseph at home where we went to dinner and then came home and slept. See aforementioned hair:



Friday: I packed up and left for my parents' house. Joseph arrived a few hours later sick as a dog from some stuffing he'd eaten at a work holiday party. No more potluck for him!

Saturday: Dominoes were played, family was enjoyed, good food (i.e. ribs cooked on the Big Green Egg and this potato salad) was consumed. Later, I opened my gift - Beginner's Yoga Set - from Kim and Anna "gave" cousins Alex and Emily their gifts.

Sunday: We dressed Anna in her Sunday finest and went to church. She slept almost the whole time. Uncle Bill and I spent all afternoon beating everybody else at Dominoes. We'll see if Joseph pipes up at that comment. Hehe. My dad, Joseph and I did a little Christmas shopping in town, too. We didn't buy anything...well, my dad must have, but I didn't know about that until later.

Christmas Eve: We spent the day playing more games and eating good food and enjoying each other's company. Dad and Joseph prepared a turkey in the Big Green Egg. Mom played with Anna. I attempted to watch "Love Actually," but it was just too long. It is DVR'd, though, so maybe I can finish it at New Year's. In the evening, the extended family came over and we exchanged gifts. I had already opened my gift from Kim who drew my name, so I got to help Anna with her gifts. Cousin Olivia got her a Fisher Price Musical Barnyard. Anna LOVED it. Cousins Mark and Alma picked out an adorable stuffed Eyore for Anna. Aunt Brenda and Uncle Bill gave her a whole winter wardrobe of clothes. Anna was a perfect angel during the whole evening. Since she hadn't been sleeping too well in my care, we put her to sleep in mom and dad's room. We got a Christmas Eve gift of sleep! Ahhhh.

Christmas Day: Joseph and I awoke at 7:00 a.m. (with an alarm!) and found Anna already awake and fed in mom and dad's room. Sausage balls were in the oven baking, coffee was brewing, and Santa had been to see us! Very exciting stuff. Pictures can say what I can't, but I will say that Santa was very generous this year. And as much fun as the presents are, spending time with mom and dad and my extended family were the best gift of all. I am excited that I get to go back for New Year's. Somebody will be losing to me in Dominoes or Canasta!

After the gifts were exchanged and breakfast was eaten at my parents' house, we packed up the sleigh and headed to Joseph's parents' house where more family fun ensued. His mom and cousin Kathy had prepared an excellent meal for us to eat, and Anna got to hear stories about Uncle Ace from the man himself and his daughter. Hilarious. (Anna, I think your daddy is a little bit like Uncle Ace. What do you think?)

All in all, we enjoyed celebrating Christmas. Yay for the Baby Jesus who made it all possible! Yay for Anna who gave us the best Christmas ever....now, if we could just do it all again tomorrow.

Dear Fisher Price:

Thank you for manufacturing such a fun swing. It fills my day with joy and my nights with sleep.

Love,
Anna

Anna's First Night Away from Home

Sob. Big Pop and Nana arrived yesterday morning at 7:30 a.m. and carried my daughter back to my hometown, where she spent the night for the first time without me and Joseph. I say, "Sob," but it really wasn't that bad. I surprised myself. I missed her - sure. But, Joseph and I had dinner out and slept like, well, those babies who sleep all night. This blog is getting updated because I am not caring for a five-month-old baby girl. You get the point. Mommy time!!!

I, of course, called the grandparents regularly last night and this morning to get reports. Yesterday, it seems the Banana was a perfect angel. A "pleasant baby" is how my mom put it. She awoke, though, at 2:00 a.m. scared - I heard she was looking around at her surroundings like she was confused as to where she was. I did get sort of sad when I heard that, but a bottle of warm milk put her right back to sleep. And I'm sure Nana's rocking and cuddling helped a great deal.

At the home front, Joseph and I awoke this morning (well rested and ready for Christmas) only to discover that we had no baby to cuddle with or feed or change. Joseph's morning routine always involves feeding and changing Anna, then he plays with her for awhile until he has to get ready for work. He really enjoys that time with her, and it really is her best time of the day. We missed you, baby girl!

Christmas is coming...

Anna received her first wrapped Christmas present this week from her Auntie Em. At first, when presented with several wrapped boxes with bows, Anna cried. But I provided her with a quick bottle, and she was good to go for present unwrapping.

"Thank you for all the books, Auntie Em. Mommy and I love you!"

Every girl needs a pair of pink boots.

Dear Guy in the House Across the Street:

I saw you yesterday evening when the white stretch limo drove up to your house and picked up you and your three male friends, all dressed up in suits and ties. You were loudly boasting about how your other friends who couldn't make it were missing out. I assume they were "missing out" on the celebration of you kicking your wife and daughter out of your house. Am I right? Yeah, I thought so. Little "I'm getting a divorce" celebration, huh?

Well, next time, could you refrain from setting off your car alarm at 12:30 a.m. (3 times) and then wandering around in the darkness of the front yard with flashlights? I thought you and your friends were robbers, and I almost called 911. Also, your friend that laid on the car horn (after the car alarm incidents) and screamed, "They're not gonna take me to jail!" was very annoying and woke up my sleeping infant.

You totally win the "Worst Neighbor of the Year" Award. Just so you know.

Sincerely,
The Mama in the House on the Hill

Our girl is STRONG!

Waiting for Christmas

Ghostwriter here. Requesting permission to sleep.

Negative, Ghostwriter. The bed is full. You must finish your work. (Even though it is 2:58 a.m.) Blah. I really must manage my time better. This week and next week are gonna be bad.

Mom Jeans

Okay, ya'll, this post is going to be about me instead of Anna. This post is because of Anna, though, but I still love her (even though she made me too fat for my cute clothes).

We've all heard of the dreaded "Mom Jeans." Now, that I'm a mom, I live in fear every single time I put a pair of jeans on. My favorite Salt jeans no longer fit. My Joe's Jeans will likely never fit again. Gap's Long and Lean jeans used to be a staple in my denim wardrobe. Now, if they fit in the waist, they are saggy in the butt and thigh areas. I tried on some jeans at White House Black Market the other day while Mom and I were shopping. She offered to get them for me for Christmas, but I refused. Everything but my middle section was so cute in them... Sigh. Why is it that I can't get it together enough to be a stylish mama?

I just want some cute jeans that fit, Santa. I've been a good girl! ...Well, except for that Halloween candy and all those ribs that one day and those "couple" of slices of pizza...oh, and the brownies and the blueberry cake doughnuts and chocolate cupcakes with Nutella for icing... So yeah, except for that... Heh.

Miscellany

I should really be in bed right now as it is one minute until midnight and the kid is asleep, but the husband is up reading a book and I hate going to bed without him...I just end up watching television until he shows up. So - here I am.

Things are busy in the House of Anna. We decorated the living room for Christmas last night. I opted not to put the lights in the bushes in the front yard this year, though I threw a wreath on the front door. The tree inside is lit and full of Hallmark ornaments that date back to when I was a kid. As we decorated it, Anna and I discussed (okay...I discussed and she listened intently) the meaning of Christmas (i.e. the baby Jesus) and the history of the Christmas tree (some pagan tradition). Very important stuff. The living room floor shows off last night's decorating frenzy by displaying little green tree dandruff everywhere. Every single time I get ready to vacuum it up Anna goes to sleep. As much as I like a clean floor, I'm not gonna wake up Sleeping Beauty.

(Shhh! Don't tell my mom about the tree dandruff...must get it up before she and my dad come to visit in the morning.)

Today, I did a bit of work. I could tell you about it, but then I'd have to kill you. I put off some more work. The whole family went to Wal-Mart where we stocked up on the essentials (Diet Mountain Dew and brownie mix...duh!). Then, we came home and Joseph made black bean salsa while I bathed and fed the kiddo. And after that, I wrapped some Christmas presents and addressed Christmas cards while watching Big Fat Loser (NBC calls it The Biggest Loser). And I know that you are super excited to hear about what I did after that, but you'll just have to love the mystery that is Shannon. Ha!

Oh, I meant to write this down because it made me happy, and I know that it'll make me happy when I read it in the future. At church the other day, I introduced myself to a woman as I was walking out the door. Her response was, "You're welcome." For a split second, I thought to myself, "Did I not thank her for opening the door? Is this old lady really being sarcastic?" I must have looked confused because she repeated herself and changed her comment just a bit. She said, "You are welcome here." Her expression, her face, everything about her was...well...just so welcoming. And nice. I thought that was a very nice thing of her to say. It felt good to hear. And then the nice lady asked me if I was Irish and that made me laugh.

Okay. My midnight ramblings are over. Oh wait... Let me just ask. Is there anybody out there? Doesn't anybody have any comments? Comments are on my Christmas list!

Just like Alton Brown

Joseph and I have watched the Food Network for quite some time...since we got married, I guess. While we were in law school, we'd often stay up for the 10:00 p.m. showing of Iron Chef America. Lately, the two of us can't get enough of Alton Brown of Good Eats fame. I like to DVR all the Good Eats episodes that come on tv and watch them at 4:00 a.m. when Anna decides to beat the roosters up. The other day I watched one on pork chops. Mr. Brown made stuffed pork chops that looked amazing, and since my honey loves him some chops, I decided to give them a go. They were great! Don't just take my word...make them yourself with this recipe.

Here is a picture of the yummy stuffing. I meant to take a picture of the chops when they came off the grill, but our stomachs just couldn't hold off any longer.
While I was making the chops, little Anna had to fend for herself. It's rough being the kid around here! Here's the baby all grown up and feeding herself. (Mom, I put socks on her right after I took this picture, I promise. Ahem.)

Could it be a tooth???

I couldn't get a clear picture while holding the camera and trying to make Anna smile like Elvis. Maybe I'll attempt it again. Or maybe not. I think that Anna does not deserve such torture, especially if that bump I feel is indeed a tooth.

Lemme clean off the earwax...

Evidently, my vision is so bad that I can't tell the difference between my daughter's mouth and her ear at 3:00 a.m. I just couldn't figure out why that pacifier wasn't going in her mouth...until I realized I was poking it repeatedly in her EAR! Oops.

Remember, Remember...

The 1st of December.

Because...

Anna rolled over for the first time from her back to her tummy. It was neither a quick move nor a fluid motion, but it was a "roll over" just the same. Normally, I'd upload 17 pictures of Anna is each stage of her roll, but I left the requisite cord to transfer pictures from the camera to the computer at my parents' house. Bad mommy! Something tells me that when the grandparents hear that, they will be quick to deliver said cord to me so that they can see more pictures.

I also have pictures from Anna's first volunteer position. She sold Santa hats and jingle bell necklaces yesterday at a local Breakfast with Santa event that benefited the Children's Hospital. Her Auntie Em and I were merely Anna's keepers while Anna did all the work. She spent the entire morning all wrapped up in the Moby Wrap and seemed to love it! I have the pictures to prove it...too bad you can't see them!

Edited to add pictures. The cord was in my very large purse.