Christmas Comes Just Once a Year

Christmas this year was a little hard for me, I was distracted physically and emotionally with my pregnancy. But Shea was AMAZING, he had an abundance of Christmas Spirit this year that rubbed off on me when things got hard. He was so into Christmas Movies, Music, Cookies, Gifts, and Wrapping; he really made this Christmas and I am extremely grateful for that and so were the kids.

CHRISTMAS EVE

I wanted to make Christmas Eve special.

We did lots of Christmas prep, but we also played some Christmas games, had Christmas movies playing all day, had a special Christmas Eve Dinner, instead of acting out the Nativity (the kids were pretty much done) we talked about the Nativity story, and instead of writing down and placing our gifts in a special box under the tree we talked about what gifts we would give baby Jesus (mostly things we wanted... video games, pink things...).

I also worked on finishing up the Christmas Eve box and placing it under the tree.
After dinner the kids got to open the special Christmas Eve box.

Inside was Candy (pretty much the only thing they cared about), a New Ornament for each child to put on the tree (wise men this year), Christmas PJ's, one Christmas Story for each child, Hot Cocoa for everyone, and a Christmas Movie.

After opening the box they got dressed and put their ornaments up and Daddy read them their stories.

Afterwards we had hot cocoa and watched our special Christmas Movie.

Excitement ran high and so did tempers. I had a lot of expectations for the day and was disappointed and frustrated most of the day by the attitudes of the kids, and really struggled with keeping my cool. By the end of the day I had basically shut down and wanted to cancel the whole holiday. I was so grinchy I vented to Shea about how  ungrateful and terrible the next day would be.Fortunately a good nights sleep helped everyone a lot, and Christmas turned out to be the best yet.

CHRISTMAS DAY

It's true, "The stockings were hung 'on the wall' with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."
And "The children 'must have been' nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads."
Because in the morning they were excited and happy but content to be obedient and sweet, while Shea and I got ready. I guess it was a good thing Santa came because they sure proved how sweet they all could be.

After Dad prepped downstairs, we all anxiously ventured downstairs.

And everyone was elated with the Stockings...

 And Presents!

The kids were even excited to see that Dad (last night the kids had no interest) had left cookies and milk for Santa, and LOVED the note Santa left!

We all gathered in a circle and while Daddy videotaped opening presents around and around. The kids were amazingly patient and sweet with each other and we avoided any outbursts. It was perfect. And the kids were so grateful and happy!

They each got lots of fun new things and a special big present and a family tablet.

Favorite gift on Christmas Day, the Kitchen from Santa.

Favorite gift Christmas day, her "Gog" from Daddy. 

Favorite gift Christmas Day, his Castle from Santa.

Then the kids played with a few of their gifts while Mommy and Daddy made a special breakfast.

And every single one of us LOVED breakfast brunch. I made sure we all had some of our favorite foods so it was definitely a hit. Oranges, smoked sausage, hash browns, cinnamon rolls, bacon, and apple punch.

After our bellies were full we got some stocking treats,

And put Sydney down for nap and then Mom and Dad got started on opening and putting together all their gifts. Shea was so into it and I loved watching him work!

All morning we watched the 2nd and 3rd Santa Clause movies in the background. It was a perfect morning and afternoon.

Soon enough Sydney was up, and eager to play with all the new things that had been set up while she was sleeping. Fortunately everyone was a great sharer too!

That night we brought our favorite present to the Martin's and had fun sharing our Christmas mornings with each other and opening our own special gifts from the Martin's. Then we had Christmas Dinner and Dessert, Mint Chocolate Dessert. It was heavenly.

I have never been so happy on Christmas, it was a wonderful day.

Movies, Music and Christmas Lights. Is there anything better?

We have done the best yet with Christmas Movie watching. Every night we gather together after or during dinner to watch one. It has been so fun!

Sydney's addicted to the popcorn
that comes with our Movie watching.

We've been listening to A LOT of Christmas Music lately, my favorite is hearing Connor and Daddy singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" all around the house. I'm hoping to catch a video of those two singing it. It is both their favorite this year, considering Connor is out of front teeth this year.
We have listened to Christmas Music non-stop so we've also been hearing and singing:

"You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list
And checking it twice;
He's gonna find out
Who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!"

We'd like to think it is helping keep the kids in line but that is too big of a job ;)

On "Christmas Adam" or "Christmas Eve's Eve" or whatever, we went on a late Christmas Light Drive. I love doing this every year. We saw some amazing ones but we're also disappointed with so many unlit houses. Shea says he wants to live in a neighborhood like "Christmas With The Kranks", where you have to decorate and light up your house, so that everyone around us would do it and feel the magic of having that Christmas lit up home to drive up to every night. Sydney surprisingly LOVED it and screamed and ooooed and ahhhhed and shouted "Pretty" and pointed at the lights throughout the whole drive. Connor put up with it and wasn't all that impressed. Bella enjoyed it and commented on each lit house "WOW, that must of been a lot of hard work!", she fought hard to fight off sleep, but failed, adorably so though.

This is the first year we lit up our home and Shea did it all
 and promised it was only the start. So look out next year:)

I'm in love with Christmas. And trying hard to enjoy and savor it all, and not be too preoccupied with the after Christmas present we are getting in February ;)

32 WKS AND SHE WILL BE CALLED

My 32 Week Appointment Update:

All my vitals continue to be good.

At this office they do a 32 week ultrasound for growth, to check and adjust baby's due date if necessary. 

We loved seeing baby and the technician was very nice and did an extra internal exam as well (since I  had been spotting), everything looked good she said.

Then we saw Dr. Thomas, my favorite Dr yet. I've had to see a new Dr every visit, because they like to make sure you see everyone, because who knows who will be on call for your delivery.

She was extremely accommodating and understanding and friendly and excited for us.

I mentioned my beloved intense braxton hicks as of late, so I was told to take it easy. 

Dr Thomas had no problem with an inducement a week early (~Feb 8th), especially considering my fast labors. She then wrote a note on my chart so that there wouldn't be a problem scheduling it in the future.

She also was happy to write a note to have me checked for dilation and baby position at 35 weeks, when they do my GB Strep Test. (I was anxious to have this done because Shea is leaving for a week long business trip from the 18th to the 22nd, so basically the majority of my 36th week. I knew being checked would bring me a sense of security and preparedness, so I could let him leave.)

Lastly the Dr wanted to go over our ultrasound. She commented that baby was measuring on time for her date, but a little small for her head circumference and overall she was labeled SGA - Small Gestational Age. Baby was likely around 3 lbs which put her below average for her age. The Dr was confident that this was nothing to be worried about and probably just meant that I was going to have a small baby, like my other ones' have been. But routine procedure states that I had to see a Perinatal Specialist to check and verify baby's measurements.

Scheduling the Perinatal Specialist was a huge pain, considering it was the holidays. But somehow we got an appt scheduled two days later. Where they checked her and measured her thoroughly. And the Perinatal Specialist clearly thought our measurements from the first ultrasound were just off, because this baby was perfect and healthy and measuring in the 60th percentiles, probably closer to 4 - 4.5 lbs. If anything he commented that she may be on the short side, but definitely not SGA.

----------------------------------------------------------

And as for baby's name, we have decided after a little debate from Connor...

"Mommy when we have our next child can we name him Burpee?"
"Name her tiger?"
"Armor death?"

...that she will be named:

Piper Scarlet Stanger

I am in love with her name and even more in love with the fact that she is healthy and happy (if movement is an indication of mood, then she is ecstatic, all the time!).

Hopefully the holidays will make the time fly, because I am getting a little impatient even though we haven't even hit baby prep mode yet. 

We will leave January to that.

Dad's Christmas Cookies

Daddy has started a tradition making sugar cookies every year with the kids. 

They LOVE it!

And get more and more into it every year.

Over dramatic and being silly, as they plead for Mom
to stop the pictures so they can get back to baking with Daddy.

This year everyone even got to help with the icing and it was delicious.

Definitely the best sugar cookies Dad's made yet!

We almost ate the whole huge batch within a couple days, good thing Mom saved a couple for Santa :)

Happy Christmas and Happy Baking and Happy Eating!

Christmas Sunday

I wish I could say we all had on our Christmas outfits on Sunday and took a family photo but considering I didn't even get around to Christmas cards this year, our Christmas outfits were forgotten too. Maybe next year.

This year we just took it all in, and sat in the hall since it was so packed and SO HOT! (8 Months Prego Remember!)
I especially enjoyed the Christmas Relief Society Lesson, but poor Shea I don't think he got much out of Nursery with Sydney, she is quite the handful outside nursery and inside she's an angel as long as we don't leave... which then results in maniac wails and screams and cries, for as long as it takes us to return.

Either way Connor and Bella loved being spoiled in primary by their teachers.
And enjoying all their spoils after Church was even better!

To Santa

There is magical about writing letters to Santa and thinking and wishing and the imagination that goes into it all. We just made our Santa Lists this year they have been excited for them, since December began but I've struggled actually getting them done. So today we finally did it, with a little help.

This year I found a cute printable fill-in-the-blank Santa letter to help the kids fill out. 

They had a lot of fun, especially drawing the pictures of themselves and Santa. Even if their drawings were mainly abstract scribbles. Connor made sure he filled in that he had been "Nice" this year and it was hilarious and sweet that he was extremely concerned about Bella purposely, and with mischievous grin to toe, filling in "A Little Bit Naughty". He was so concerned in fact that he filled in "Nice", when she wasn't looking, because he didn't want her to get "no presents".

 When they were ready to write what they wanted Bella new right away, 

"A Necklace".

And Connor wanted,

"A PS3".

When I told him that Santa didn't bring game systems he out smarted me with,

"well last year he brought me the Sega".

So I had to give in and let him write what he wanted, but before he started he decided to change it,

"Actually I want an IPAD".

They couldn't think of anything else so the next day we sealed them up and ran to the mailbox to deliver them to Santa.

They were so excited, even Sydney, who had no idea what was going on and enjoyed crumpling the paper most of all.

In the middle of all the writing Bella announced "So let's talk about Santa, I hear he has buttons, my friends say that."

She kinda was obsessed with all the Santa and Christmas talk this year.

 

There is just something magical about Christmas ...

18+ Months

Sydney is our WILD one. I am sure I said the same thing about Connor at this age, but currently it is all, 150% Sydney. I am grateful she is a girl though, I can only imagine how wild things really could be with a boy this wild. 

What an angel, right?

UPDATE
Sydney is rocking 2T clothes and even some of Bella's outgrown and shrunk 3T. Since Bella's on the tiny side Sydney where's everything Bella grows out of directly after, which is a little tough when it is something she loves. She still is using Pampers Size 4 Cruisers which are still going strong and she never has any leaks or anything, which is nice. Sydney is a not quite as girly it seems, as she isn't really into dresses and bows unless Mom forces it and then other times she is all about the dolls and makeup playing. I love that Sydney is still a wonderful sleeper for nap and bed. She's our success story of never co sleeping. Although Daddy hates that she is not a cuddler because of it. Mommy hates that Sydney is now tall enough to manage doorknobs, makes life all the more eventful and messy.

At the 18 month well check she struggled with stranger danger and of course hated her shots. but donuts after made it all better. She is still doing wonderful and healthy and she measured in at :
Weight: 23 lbs 5 oz (53%)
Height: 31.5 inches (27%)

Her Sly Grin

LIKES
Socks, her most prized obsession! She loves picking them out each morning and taking them off and trying over and over again to put them on.
Thumb, yes thumb sucking toddler take two begins. Although since she is so active it is mainly sleep oriented.
She loves to climb, climbing up the oven door is her favorite, which makes cooking only doable when she is buckled into and fall and be chased and be wrestled with.
She likes to be loud (when talking or playing or banging cabinets) and scream when she doesn't get things her way right then right now.
She just figured out her new favorite game is hit or throw something hard at someone and run away laughing, despite time outs.
Emptying drawers.
Food, she loves to eat and is our best eater right now. She definitely can tell if were trying to feed her anything veggie like though.
Books.
Dancing and being silly with brother and sister.
She is fine with baths if their short ones. They aren't her favorite but she is definitely starting to like them.
Taking care of "baby"; feeding, kissing, wrapping, and carrying and her around.
Her sippy; which she had been rocking and using solely since she was a little over 16 months.
Belly Buttons, which she calls "button" she loves pointing everyone's out or her own

Caught in the act ... sneaking into Con's room

DISLIKES
She hates to cuddle or lay down with Mom or Dad, except very very rarely.
At least once a day Sydney goes into destructo mode. She is usually bored and tired and nothing will make her happy and she goes around the house pushing over the trash can, pulling chairs down, throwing things and more.
Time outs. Of course since she is getting older and bigger her mischief and her intentions all seem bigger and more dangerous, so we have started on mild time outs. Mainly for just hitting or outward defiance moods.
Being told no. Which she has now started using the come back, "No Way!" when she is told no. Which is kind of adorable because we love hearing her talk that we melt a little but are cautious to give her limits and be consistent, which I can say has been a lot easier the third time around.
Car seats.

SIBLINGS
Since Connor has started school her relationship with Connor has changed a lot, they don't play nearly as much together, since Con usually wiped after school and isn't always in the mood. But also she is no baby and she hates when Con tries to hold or snuggle with her most of the time. She is a more "let me do my thing" child. It is kind of sad that they are not as close currently but I am sure it is just a phase and they will all have phases where they are more into each other than others.
Bella and her have gotten a lot closer by being forced to center their lives and play time around each other instead of Connor. They have their moments of terror don't get me wrong and they cat fight like nobodys business. But they love each other and Sydney has eyes for no one else.

TALKING
I can't keep track of her and her talking she says new things each day. Some just sound like mumbled versions of "your welcome" and "watch me". Then sometimes her words and phrases are so clear we can barely keep up with it all. Our most absolutely favorite thing she does lately is singing her own rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", which we can only catch bits and pieces of, but about makes you die of sweetness.
Obviously she is a pro at all our names and trying to tell us all what to do. And she mimics words constantly, but she is really getting a hang of knowing lots and lots of words now and phrases and using them independently.

A few daily sayings:

Gog (Dog)

Woof

Oh Cool

Milk

Help

Cheese

One two

Done 

Nup (nope) 

Dink (drink)

Gone

Fun (funny)

Game

No/Yes

Boo boo

Hurt
Off/ On
Hit

Phone

I come?

I tired
Cheese

I stuck

Faffle (waffle)

There you go

Foot banging on the crib just to make sure
everyone knows she is awake or going to sleep ...