My Cute Christmas Card.

Who loves chocolate?

This is Kira staring at her dad...waiting...

For him to open her Advent calendar from Aunt Bernice....

And, really...if it wasn't obvious before. It's obvious now: this child loves chocolate.

The joys of noisy toys

So, anyone who doesn't have a child...doesn't really know this to the full extent. My mother-in-law gave Kira this toy...it's a puppet that's really soft...and noisy. Now, when Kira's in a kind of sleepy mood...she loves to cuddle with her dolls now and lay her head on soft things. But, when she's playing around which is most of the time...she loves to play with this toy. It's a goat that yodels.... You squeeze it's mouth and it sings a line at a time from that Sound of Music song "The lonely goatherd." Well, I don't mind it too much, but apparently it drove my babysitter bonkers. I send a diaper bag every day with Kira...with the basics, and usually a couple of her own toys. I never send too many because I don't want to lose track of them, and besides...my babysitter has a house full of toys. Well, I sent this goat puppet...and then a couple days later I remembered it had not been in her diaper bag. I asked my babysitter about it...and she immediately went and got it from where she had hidden it. Apparently her little daycare kids played with it ALL DAY LONG and she said she almost lost her mind. I laughed so hard. Anyways...Kira has learned how to squeeze the little goats mouth to make it sing. It's hilarious.

Two Peas in a Pod

Yes, we both love the camera. I've taught her well. Maybe she'll be a photographer when she's older? Or a model. But, she'll have to thin down a bit I think...her belly does stick out a bit too much right now. :) Kira has a runny nose...has had one for the last week or so. She's getting in her second set of molars. What?! I met another little girl the same age as her today that only has 2 little bottom teeth. Not my child...she has a ton, and she uses them well. She's eating anything and everything...and chewing it all up. She's such a ham. I love her.

She can almost escape

Kira can now reach the bottom of the door handle. She is constantly at the door. It's either because she likes the little sound it makes when she touches it...or she wants to escape. Either way, you can see how tall she's getting. And for the record, she is such a girl on the move it's rare I get the diaper back on her after I change her, let alone her pants...so yes, this is how my child is usually dressed on a daily basis at home. Mother of the year award for me: Best dressed baby.

Kira Loves Santa

We went to Becca's ward party tonight....just for something to do I guess, but mostly for Kira to see Santa. We wait in line, and the other little kids...the ones about Kira's size---are NOT excited to see Santa. They cry, or fuss, or grab for their moms. I tell my friend that I think Kira will be fine because she pretty much goes to anyone. She said that her niece is that way, but did not want to sit on Santa's lap. Sure enough...my cute baby girl sat nicely on Santa's lap and just looked at him. She was so adorable. I went to pick her up and she didn't even reach up for me like she has been lately. I had to bend down and remove her from his lap. I bet she gets good stuff this year from him--because he really liked her. :)

I love my friends

Kira and Becca listening to music

Michelle chatting on the phone

Kira eating an oreo

Umm...this is how I dress my child

Kira playing with diaper rash cream and tylenol bottle

So, yeah...the best kind of friends are the ones that can come over, and you don't have to entertain them. Or, they are the ones that know you're having a bad day and invite themselves over to keep you company. And, they are the type of friends that can see my upstairs (which is not even remotely clean on a regular basis.) They are the friends that will get what they want from the fridge, or the pantry. They are the ones who text to check in daily, or really, all day every day. They are the friends who can just come over and watch a movie from red box and be glad they are just hanging out....not always having to be somewhere or have something planned. It's hard sometimes with a baby to go and do things with everyone...because it's either a late night out, and I feel guilty asking someone to watch her late...or more so, I feel guilty leaving her with anyone but Kenny because I'm already away from her all day long every day when I'm working. It's also hard because she can't go to movies, and she only lasts so long at a party, or shopping, or really...anywhere. She's such a well behaved baby...but she is still only one. So, thank you to my friends who are just okay coming over to my boring house to eat dinner, and watch chic flicks...or the ones who don't care when I just show up and hang out with my little baby in tow. They are my life savers and keep me sane. :)