Thursday, December 27, 2007

Christmas Wrap-up

This post is dedicated to our busy Christmas week, but there are a few random non-Christmas related items included. For example, Lucy loves laundry baskets. In fact, they've become quite the obsession. She loves to put random items in them, including herself. Here she is watching television from the comfort of her own laundry basket.


Now, posing in her laundry basket...


This past Sunday Eli and Pari had their baby blessings. Afterwards the whole Khamphakdy/Smith/Bidney/Clarkson gang headed over the Adam and Vadsana's for lunch. Lucy is definitely becoming more social and interactive. It is an understatement to say that she loves her cousins.


All of the kids were in their Sunday finest, so I decided to snap some pictures. The photo shoot turned into an all out wrestling match. Maly and Alison are so good to Lucy. They never play too rough, and they are kind enough to let her beat them up. As demonstrated below, I never got a "money shot" of the three of them. They are too fast for an old broad like me.







Lucy hasn't learned yet that biting isn't proper greeting etiquiette... I believe we left with Alison's face still intact.


Alison, Pari, and Maly. Don't I have the most precious nieces? Okay, maybe I'm a little biased, but they are pretty darn sweet.


Pari Jun all dressed up and ready for her close up!


Mr. Eli and Miss Pari. I didn't get it when I was younger, but I see now why older people walk around with their thumb and pointer finger permanently squeezed together. Check out the cheeks between them. I can't help it, I want to pinch.


We spent Christmas day with the family. It was a wonderful typical Christmas; good food, good times, lots of presents, and more good food. I think I may have split my intestines eating too much, but it was worth it. Alison and Maly posing with thier baby dolls, Rose and Alexandria. Lucy's Grandma J got these for them and they were the "it" toy that day.


Papa and his two youngest grandbabies. Lucy not only loved all of the toys Pari received this year, she also loved smacking Pari's bald head. I think her arm might be blocking her face, but you may be able to see how she is thoroughly enjoying inflicting pain. I'm scared for March to get here.


Grandparents, sheesh... What better way to discipline a bad baby than to love it to death? Doesn't Lucy look remorseful after beating her cousin like bongos?


It's a good thing that babies don't have the best long term memories. Five minutes later and all is forgiven and forgetten.


The men on their second board game of the day. (L-R) Charles, Art, Adam, Eric and Uncle Fred.


Lucy and Maly playing so nicely...


Lucy attacking Maly...


Just last night Charles was remarking on how funny it is everyone has adapted to Lucy way of saying hello. Instead of vocalizing the word "hello" or waving, she will press her forehead against the person's forehead that she is greeting. It's strange, but it's caught on.


This is new. I'm assuming that this must mean "goodbye".


Lucy gave Charles and I the best Christmas gift we have ever received. She made it at school and it is so absolutely precious. I can't believe how much I love a hunk of clay, but I suppose that's what happens when you become a parent.




On a non-Christmas note, Lucy is becoming such a big girl. As you all know, she is the pickiest little eater on the planet. I offer her new things and healthy things, but she never wants them. Even food that she loved months before can set off her gag reflex. The good thing is, she understands meal time is for eating and we have a pretty good routine down. Breakfast is a bottle of Pediasure and small bowl of Cheerios in bed. I turn on the same movie every morning and she occupies herself for at least a half and hour. She's become so independent, and I'm loving not monitoring her every second she has food in front of her. This morning she decided to branch out and ate almost an entire banana nut muffin. I was in shock and I'm sure it was just a fluke, but maybe, just possibly her wee little taste buds are maturing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping lunch goes just as well.


On another non-Christmas note, #2 is doing well and so is Mom. I am growing so much faster than I was with Lucy. I don't have a picture, but maybe next post. I'm already up 25 lbs. Keep in mind too that I have a little over 12 weeks left. So, much for trying to stay under 40 lbs (sigh...). At our last ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, she was just around two pounds. She is incredibly active. I can hardly get a good night's sleep anymore because she is always on the move . Just laying my hand on my stomach I can make out certain body parts. I know I've been through this before, but even the second time it seems so surreal that there is a little human growing and moving inside of me. We've also honed in on a name, and no, we aren't sharing. The story on how this came to pass is funny (in my words) and tragic (if you ask my sister). Maybe after she's born and her name is legally established I'll share, but until then, we'll just keep you guessing!

I have my next OB appointment in a week and they will be checking for gestational diabetes. I was borderline the first time around with Lucy and ended up having to take the three hour glucose tolerance test just to find out I didn't have it. I don't have the luxury of waiting around the office for three hours this time, so wish me luck my numbers come in low.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Holiday Parties

Yesterday was Lucy's 2nd Annual Christmas Party with her playgroup. The adults traded cookies and the kids exchanged their Secret Santa gifts. By 10:30 AM Lucy and I were both in a sugar coma from all of the tasty treats. Oh, so much good food and not enough room in the ole' tank. Still, being the trooper that I am, I managed to cram as many cookies as I could in the small space that was once my cavernous stomach. I can proudly say that I successfully finished the entire plate of goodies by 9 o' clock this morning (if you don't count the one sugar cookie Charles took to work, and the crumbs that I was too lazy to lick off the plate). Nothing like starting the day with a surge of insulin in the blood!

Lucy's hair is getting so long. Charles and I like to comb her pretty little rat tail after a bath. Anyway, here she is with her first official pigtails. I tried to get a better picture, but the camera is to Lucy what kryptonite is to Superman, as later demonstrated in the post.


See, staring in fear at the mass of flashes pointed in her direction. This is the best group picture I had of all of the kiddos. I can't believe how much they've all changed in one short year. We have a new addition in the bumbo, little Luke. By next year's party there will be at least two more babies in attendance, mine and Megan's (due in June). I can't wait. The more the merrier!


I'm no baby doctor nor do I claim to be a baby whisperer, but I think this was Lucy's way of communicating she's done with the photo session...


Mommies and babies, err toddlers. (L-R) Jen and Preston, Emily and Mallory, Nanthida and Lucy, Lacy and Ethan, Melana with Zack and Luke, Megan and Oliver


Lucy and Mommy in front of the pretty tree. Lucy has found that her sister makes a nice seat and/or pillow. One thing she has yet to comprehend is that there is a baby in there. Although, sometimes I think she understands; she just chooses not to acknowledge the impending arrival of competition.


Opening up her gift from her Secret Santa, Preston. I don't think at this point she realized that the ribbon wasn't the present.


A baby doll! It's the perfect size for her little frame. She's already carrying it around everywhere. Yesterday after we left to run errands, she HAD to have her baby with her at all times.


A puzzle! Lucy loves, loves, loves puzzles. Mommy, not so much. It's probably because her favorite things to do is take all of the pieces out and hand them to me to put in (over and over again) or hide the piece and laugh while I struggle to find them.


And a book! She couldn't wait to read it. She loved all of her gifts. What a spoiled little girl. Thank you Preston and Jen.


A particularly special treat for all of you loyal blog readers, Charles and I cleaned up at his work holiday bash. Last Friday, we joined about fifty of this co-workers and their spouses at the Uptown Theatre for drinks, dinner, and dancing (not to mention Guitar Hero, karaoke, and an Elephant Gift exchange). Lucy stayed overnight with her Grandma so Charles and I made it home by 10:30 where we promptly and quite literally fell into bed. At least he made it into his pajamas. I woke up at 3 AM, still in my dress and coat on top of the covers.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Happy Hollandaise!

Just want to wish everybody a happy and safe holiday season. For a personalized gift from us, please print out the picture below and write "To: (your name here)" on the top. Enjoy!