Blocks

Typical to most parents, Matt and I think we have the smartest, most talented baby around. Here's an example of our girl's skills. We got out a set of blocks a month ago that Eleanor got last year for Christmas but we put away since they were so small. I figured she could handle them now. Well a month of playing with them and this girl is building towers almost as tall as herself! We know, we know - she's a genius :)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We put up our Christmas tree (actually we put it up two weeks ago) and Eleanor just loves it. She doesn't mess with it, just points at it and says "tree". She has a couple favorite ornaments such as the Santa that plays Jingle Bells when squeezed. But besides that, she just admires it. We got the tree from my friend. We actually drove to White Pigeon and cut down a tree from Mike and Pam's front yard. We had their permission and paid for it of course :)

After decorating the tree and the rest of the house, Eleanor was wore out. She laid her blanket on the floor next to the tree and next thing we knew, she was out. It was the cutest!

Eleanor & Santa

Eleanor is completely fascinated by Santa right now. I think she picks up some of the excitement from the other kids at daycare. So we checked out a Santa book from the library this week. In it are two songs, Up on the Housetop and Jolly old Saint Nicholas. She really likes Up on the Housetop and if you know the song, the chorus goes:

Ho! Ho! Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho! Ho! Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop...
Click! Click! Click!
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

After the song, I asked her what Santa says and her answer then and even now after our persistent correction is "Click! Click! Click!" I'm sure she's the only kids around who thinks Santa says "Click! Click! Click!"

Then yesterday we went to the mall and Santa was there already. She stood outside the fence and waved and said hi and waved and said Santa. I had to let her sit on his lap and get a picture. When it was her turn to sit on his lap, she was all smiles as she ran and hopped towards him. She got a little scared and teary eyed for a second but we got a nice picture. She wouldn't speak to him while on his lap, but waved bye and said "Santa, Santa, Santa" as we left. She even blew him a kiss.

Kansas City

Eleanor and I left last Friday morning and flew to Kansas City to see Sven, Charity, Maddux and new 6-week-old Nash. We had a great time despite Nash's fussiness and Eleanor and Maddux's inability to play and share nicely. Actually there wasn't always fussiness and fighting and we were able to get outside for walks, play at the children's bookstore, have a great brunch at Nick & Jake's, and even watch an adult movie (North Country, nothing X rated. I just say adult because the majority of the time Backyardigans was in the DVD player).

Nash is a super cute little boy who is starting to smile. Eleanor loved him and kissed and hugged him whenever she could. But she didn't appreciate when here mama held him and she'd stand at my feet, arms outstretched, saying, "Mama, up".

It was great to see all of them and I'm sad thinking of how long it might be until we see them again. Hopefully they will be up for traveling sometime in the spring when our little baby arrives!

A Little Sister for Eleanor

Matt and I went in for an ultrasound last Thursday. The main reasoning for the ultrasound is to check out all the baby's parts with counting, measuring and locating. The baby looks great and my due date is still March 30th.

We were also able to see that our little baby is our little girl baby! Yes, Eleanor will have a little sister to play with and love. It's very excited and Matt is thrilled with the thought of being surrounded by females - I'm being serious. Can you blame him? We'd be thrilled either way of course, but already having such a sweet little girl really makes us anxious to see if the next one turns out to be just as sweet.