Why bother?

Kendall Jane has been able to sit up on her own for a while now. She is also perfectly capable of holding her own bottle and feeding herself while watching television. But, honestly, when Saba and Nana are here why bother???

Twas the Night Before Christmas

The night before Kendall's FIRST Christmas. And it snowed! In Dallas, TX!

Mom, Danny and Corinna came over for dinner on Christmas Eve. It was a pretty relaxing evening ... at least compared to the next day it was! As you can see, Kendall's fascination with my wine glass continues.

There were some presents under the tree already so we let her check them out. And take the bows off of some.

Ralphie made himself comfortable on Dan's lap most of the evening.

And Ginger made herself comfortable on Corinna's lap.

And Pippin and Chris took a little snoozer in preparation for Christmas day!

Then ....... SANTA CAME and left presents!!!

Christmas 2009

In a nutshell, here is my Christmas schedule LAST YEAR:

10:30 AM - dragged my nearing 200 pound pregnant self out of bed because I has lost feeling in my nearing 50 pound feet and could no longer tolerate being horizontal.

11:30 AM- took bath because I could no longer tolerate being vertical.

Noon - became vertical again for a quick visit with Chris's poor parents who I'm pretty sure were mortified by my nothing short of miserable appearance, to say nothing of my general demeanor.

1:00 - went back to bed because my feet could no longer tolerate my body being vertical.

4:00 - got up because I had lost feeling in my feet.

6:00 - had yummy steak dinner but couldn't eat much because my stomach was residing in my throat.

7:00 - went back to bed because I could no longer tolerate being vertical.

2008 was probably the worst Christmas of my life. 2009 was the best Christmas of my life (so far). Kendall is the reason for both!

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Here is my Christmas THIS YEAR:

Woke up at 7:30 to a white Christmas! Kendall's first Christmas was a white Christmas. In Dallas, TX. Unbelievable. It was also her 33 year old father's first white Christmas. Also unbelievable.

Santa filled up everyone's stockings!

And an entire corner of the living room.

Kendall was immediately placed in her big gift from Santa (a "Pathfinder" Radio Flyer wagon). Wagons have come a looong way since the metal, tetanus-hazards of my childhood. The thing has actual seats that fold down, seat belts and cup holders.

"oooh, is this for me too???" Kendall very quickly grasped the idea of presents.

"ooooh! Presents came out of my stocking!"

This is the adorable stocking my mom made for Kendall. Apparently it was a tad bit of a pain but she had insisted on making Kendall's stocking so I didn't feel as guilty as I think I was supposed to feel when she complained.

The "Elmo" remote from Santa was a big hit. Off to a good start. I can now hear Elmo's obnoxiously unintelligible voice in my house (and in my head) 24/7.

The singing caterpillar rhyme book was also a hit. But I'm highly disappointed that the "I went to the Animal Fair" song stops before the monkey gets drunk!

Then it was quickly tossed aside for the next gift .... (bath toys).

"oh, look! Another one for ME!"

" ... but it's only a non-singing book ... back to the singing caterpillar."

The Bee Bop Band toy from Uncle Chip, Aunt Debbie, and cousins Lindsay and Landon was a HUGE hit! Possibly because a lot of the "instruments" can double as weapons with which to beat her dogs and parents.

"ooooh! PAPER! ....

.... perhaps I should eat it ...."

The Fisher Price barn got lots of attention as well! It has some REALLY cool fist sized animals that are great fun to try to feed to the (all too agreeable) dogs.

This is the aftermath of "Christmas 2009, Round 1." If you look closely, you can find a b

aby in there somewhere. Operation Living Room Clean Up I was commenced.

Santa Baby and Santa Mommy

Santa Baby and Santa Daddy

"Christmas 2009, Round 2" followed Kendall's first nap when Nana, Uncle Dan and Aunt Corinna came over. I don't have as many picture of this round because I was in the kitchen getting a Christmas brunch together, but rest assured that the end result of the living room "decor" was similar. Followed by Operation Living Room Clean Up II. I thi

nk I had vacuumed at least 4 times by 10AM.

Here is Kendall and Uncle Dan in the kitchen during Christmas Brunch, Round 1.

"Christmas 2009, Round 3" was hot on the heels of "Christmas 2009, Round 2" when Grandmother and Pops came over for Christmas Brunch, Round 2. Another flurry of paper, bows and toys magically appeared on the living room floor.

Grandmother and Pops brought a HUGE shiny gold sack with a stuffed monkey on the outside!

This adorable teddy bear (that dwarfs Kendall!) was inside the shiny bag.

She was most impressed by the nose that, come to find out, fits perfectly in her mouth and is fun to suck on. (???!!) Weird kid!

After "Christmas 2009, Round 3," Kendall took a TWO AND A HALF HOUR NAP! This is unheard of these days. It's a good thing too, because "Christmas 2009, Round 4" lasted a

good hour past her bedtime. I managed to relax in the tub for a few minutes before getting back to Operation Living Room Cleanup XVI, and cooking the sweet potato casserole. We then all descended upon my mom's house for an awesome dinner! Grandmother and Pops were extremely helpful and offered to pick up my dad from the airport on their way to mom's place for dinner. Kendall was a little trooper and kept up her cheery Christmas demeanor for a good hour past her bedtime (I'm sure the mega nap helped). Things got a bit chaotic so the picture taking was sporadic, but here are a few. I'm sure there are more on other cameras that I'll have to find.

Here are Kendall and Saba. This picture cracks me up b/c it looks like both of them are equally amused by the same thing (apparently directly behind me) but I have no idea what.

This is an adorable picture of Kendall and Grandmother!

And, finally, a family picture. This was BY FAR the most exhausting, yet wonderful, Christmas of my life, all thanks to the most exhausting, yet wonderful, addition to my life - Miss Kendall Jane. Merry First Christmas to my little girl!

I'm - too sexy for my pj's!

The Great and Powerful Electrical Outlet

I don't get it. What on Earth could possibly be so intriguing about electrical outlets? Why is my child drawn to every outlet in the house like a little magnet? Yes, I have them all child-proofed. Which is a good thing because this little girl is pulled toward any and every outlet that happens to be within a 20 foot radius by a force powerful enough to rival that of gravity.

As an aside: the "force" that sucks her toward theses outlets with lightning speed, does so with her belly still on the floor, so that when she's picked up, the amount of filth on my floors is painfully apparent. Note to self: start dressing the child in dirt/dog hair camouflaging colors.

But seriously, are babies born with an innate fascination with all things dangerous??

And here's the SECOND attempt at a visit with Santa ...

As you can see, the result was much the same as the first attempt! Perhaps Santa will be a friend next year?

As Promised ....

Nope. Most definitely NOT a Santa-fan yet! I feel bad about it, but it just had to be done! :)

16 days til CHRISTMAS!!!

Kendall's Christmas presents are all purchased, assembled, wrapped and awaiting placement under the tree! I was a bit OCD this year and began planning for Christmas slightly before Halloween. I admit it was a tad bit early because really all I have to do now is sit around with a nagging feeling that I should be preparing for Christmas, but it's already done! Her birthday presents are also purchased but not yet put together or wrapped. Have to save something to do after Christmas. We are enjoying our tree and other decorations and hopefully will have the outside decorations completed before December 25th. Hint hint, Daddy. I also starting singing along with holiday music in my car and at home just before Thanksgiving and am proud to say that I am not yet sick of it. But I can assure Chris that he will not have to endure this one day past the 26th.

Kendall continues to grow and is now officially wearing 18 month size clothing. She is commando crawling - mainly toward dog toys, electric cords, plants, the fireplace, and the Christmas tree. Her toys don't seem to be much worth the effort it takes to drag herself around but it's amazing how quickly she can book it over to something dangerous. She's taken a few steps while holding my hands but is still quite wobbly. She is eating more "big girl foods" now like cheese toast, cheerios, sweet potato pancakes, rice pasta, yogurt, veggie sticks, cheese and fruit bits and meats, if carefully hidden in something that is pleasing to her majesty's (rapidly growing picky) palate. I've also started letting her sample appropriate things from my plate. So far the only things she has choked on have been her own spit and water (knock on wood because I still live in terror of it).

We are going to the mall this afternoon and if the line isn't unbearably long, we will take the dreaded first picture with Santa Claus. There is also a neighborhood party this weekend where Santa will make and appearance so if it doesn't work out today, we'll try again on Sunday. I'll be extremely surprised if she does anything but scream when being held by a stranger who is, in addition to not being mommy, incredibly odd looking. But the screaming baby on Santa's lap is a traditional childhood picture that must be taken, so we will endure.

Here are a couple of pictures taken with my new phone of Kendall in front of the tree. The necessity of a new phone may well have something to do with the amount of baby slobber that accumulated on the old one. oops.

Apparently it is cold in my house so Chris felt the need to bundle Kendall up for her bottle-time. For the record, I do not think the child was cold and it should be mentioned that I took this picture wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Also, notice who is finally holding her own bottle .... although she would still prefer not to do so unless absolutely necessary.