Christmas to Christmas

I love side-by-side comparisons. Last Christmas I was almost 32 weeks pregnant. This Christmas I was chasing a ten-month-old. Next Christmas I'll be painting and cutting snowflakes with a toddler. So much changes in just a year's time!

This Christmas wasn't what I had hoped it would be. The idea of becoming a parent filled me with ideas of crafts and seeing the holiday through a child's eyes. I failed to remember that the glitter and excitement of Christmas are completely lost on a ten-month-old. The tree was interesting for only a few days. Scrunching wrapping paper brought her more holiday cheer than the anticipation of opening a gift. She doesn't have the attention span to watch Frosty the Snowman. Also, I was in a rotten mood in the morning. I regret it, and I'd take it back if I could. I was up with her in the wee hours of the morning, and sleep deprivation is torture in my book. I napped while she napped and was a much better human being afterward. If I'm being honest, I was really sad to not be with my family too. My sister and brother have never held Presley. (Editor's Note: I can barely type that without crying.) My relatives have never met her. Holidays alone are already hard, but throw in a baby, and I'm the bawling emoji face. But! ... Yes, there is a "but" ... It was still a sweet Christmas! I've been really busy with work, so I was very thankful to have time off to just relax at home with my peeps. ;)

We agreed that Christmas will be different next year, because Presley will have a better understanding of it all and will want to join in the fun.

Where ever you are, whatever you celebrate, who ever you spent time with -- I hope it was wonderful.

Sweet P: 10 Months

15 Things About Presley

1. Her 10-Month photo is sooooo Presley: missing her right sock, grinning ear to ear, rocking herself in the chair, bed head, and sticker on the chair because she kept pulling it off her shirt to eat.
2. We are all about applause and high fives these days!
3. She can point out everyone's noses, including Mr. Bear's. It's fun to play the "Where is ____'s nose?" game.
4. She shakes her head when she doesn't want to do what we ask her to do. It is so funny, though I know that will wear off as she gets older. ;)
5. She stretched out of her size 9 months clothes as quickly as she grew into them.
6. Her balance is on point! She'll let go to clap her hands and inspect whatever toy she is holding at the time. On Christmas Day, she was standing on her own for 20 seconds at a time!
7. Amelie and Boone are letting her closer and closer to them. She smiles so brightly when they are near.
8. She received a little pink couch as a Christmas gift, and she loves it! She looks so pleased with herself whenever she sits her cute little tush down.
9. My latest phrase for her is "No feet in the seat, please." She is always pushing things together to climb on top of them. The pink couch is the newest addition.
10. We had about three weeks of sleep regression, but she handled it pretty well. Mommy and Daddy did too.
11. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She has a fully committed smile! Smile big, or don't smile at all.
12. She likes the "Clean Up" song -- probably because she watches Mommy and Daddy clean up while she doesn't lift a finger. (She's playing us like a fiddle.)
13. We go back and forth mimicking each other's sounds and gestures. 
14. She zooms around the house with her walker. Let's hope she doesn't make road kill of the cats!
15. The most notable observation of the last month is how much deeper her thought process has become. She takes time to figure out how to re-position her walker just the way she wants it. She watches me hold up her toy phone to my ear and then tries to do the same. She taps different objects together to hear the different sounds each of them make. She watches our lips when we make silly sounds. It is exciting to watch her think, analyze, and tinker.

How quickly you are growing. We can hardly keep up with you, sweet girl! You are like one million sun beams captured in a jar. We love you!

Merry Everything

Many great things happened for us in 2015, but of course, the greatest gift was the arrival of Presley Noel on February 22nd. We hope your year was as wonderful and magical as ours! Merry Christmas! Cheers to 2016!