Home Again

We made it back from the Winter Wonderland that is Minnesota after a memorable holiday week spent with family. As always, it was hard to say goodbye. We had the best time decorating cookies, eating - eating - eating, being spoiled by Santa, finding after-Christmas bargains (like $23 jeans, if you can believe that!), watching Sara W-A-L-K, playing in the snow, listening to G-pa Todd's band, relaxing, laughing, and just being together. I'd love to share pictures with you, but that will have to wait because I left my camera in MN. My mom is shipping it to me tomorrow; when it arrives, I'll post some highlights.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I couldn't believe it when I heard that even those of you here in North Texas enjoyed a White Christmas. There's just nothing like the magic of it. Now it's time to put away our decorations and work on our resolutions. My list is currently very long, so I'm going to have to be realistic and pare it down to just a few attainable ones (which, by this time next year, will probably have completely evaporated from my memory anyway). Tomorrow night we're going to our first kid-friendly New Year's party. Sara doesn't care about the festivities this year, but I like the idea of spending future NYE's as a family (at least until she's too cool for us -- then we'll be on our own again). Can you believe that another decade is almost over? My mom, sister, and I were laughing yesterday as we talked about the hysteria that surrounded the changing millennium, and how we were all sure that the end was upon us. Ten years later, I truly feel like I'm in a place where life is really just beginning. Cheers to auld lang syne!

Santa Was Here!

Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Sara wasn't sure what to make of all of Santa's whiskers, but she let him hold her and she didn't shed a tear. I think she must know he's got goodies in store for her!

Christmas Bells are Ringing

It looks like a White Christmas is in store for us in MN this year. We leave on Wednesday morning to spend the holidays with my family. Tonight I told Steve that I want to get the bathrooms and floors cleaned before we leave. His response was, "Why would you want to clean if we're going to be gone?" I know that every woman reading this posts knows the obvious answer to his senseless question: we want to come home to a clean house, not one that needs cleaning. Even six and a half years into our marriage, I'm still amazed at times by how very different our two little universes really are. Anyway, the bathrooms are now clean. And my sometimes-from-another-planet-yet-at-all-times-beloved husband is doing laundry, without having been prompted!

Sara and I were at the doctor this evening on an originally unplanned visit. When we were there last week for her 12 month check-up, the pediatrician said that her ear infection from a few weeks ago had gone, but that some fluid remained. We made an appointment to check back in with him after the first of the year. However, in the past couple of days, Sara just hasn't been acting like herself, and she woke up from a nap today with a bright red right ear. Sure enough, it's infected again. More pink medicine for my baby girl. I'm just so glad we decided to see the doctor today ... before the ear got worse, before we made it to MN, before we were stuck on a holiday weekend with few options for care, etc.

Yesterday we had an early Christmas celebration with the TX Brittains. I actually took some pictures ... and a few actually turned out! We had a good time visiting, eating, watching (napping through) football, and relaxing.

Presents!

Sara with G & G B. She wasn't originally wearing this red dress, but when she opened her presents and saw it, she just would not put it down. Of all the things she got, she was completely in love with her red dress, so I decided to just put it on her! By the way, don't her chubby thighs look so adorable in tights?!

Sara and Uncle Mark. Would you agree that it's ridiculous that this is only the second picture I have of them together? The first was from the hospital on the day she was born. We were way overdue.

The Brittain Three, ready to dig in!

P.S. Noticing the red marks on Sara's little face? She fell right into a door frame earlier in the day. And later in the evening, she managed to obtain her first fat lip (complete with blood) on the coffee table. Everyone needs a few battle scars, I guess. For the record, all spots are virtually unnoticeable today!

this & that

Sara and I recently returned from our second trip of the day to Target. I thought we'd gotten everything we needed on our first trip, but, as luck would have it, we found even more things we needed on our second trip. My sweet girl had one of those days when she just cried a lot for no apparent reason (this actually prompted the second Target trip because, well, Target always makes me feel better). While it was frustrating at times, I finally came to the conclusion that Sara is, after all, a girl, and sometimes girls just cry all day for no reason. I further reminded myself that she's only one, and that this whole crying-because-I-want-to bit isn't going away anytime soon. Actually, it's probably never going away.

Now Sara is sleeping, and I'm relaxing with a glass of Cab Sav and sort of paying attention to the Cowboys game. They are supposed to lose miserably tonight to the Saints, but Miles Austin just scored in the opening drive! *Update: Marion Barber, my MN boy, just scored, too. Yes, Jerry Jones, there is a Santa Claus.

There's a large pot of eggs boiling away on the stove because I'm in charge of bringing deviled eggs to tomorrow's Brittain family Christmas celebration, and my house is beginning to reek of ... duh, boiled eggs. Steve will probably eat at least half of the eggs, so I may make the decision to leave him out in the cold tomorrow night. We'll see.

I'm fairly certain that all of our Christmas shopping is done. I don't like the fact that I always look so forward to Christmas, but I spend most the season stressing out about shopping and finding the perfect gifts. I know of a few families this year who decided that instead of spending lots of money on each other, they'd spend their money sponsoring needy children and families. At school yesterday I was having a conversation with my principal and a counselor about the number of students who'd be leaving campus and going home to no Christmas this year. I was never that child, and - God-willing - my children never will be. I'm feeling very conflicted this year about all of those who simply live without. In a year when, in my own home, money has been tighter than usual, I can only think about how blessed I am. The Whos down in Whoville celebrated without packages, boxes, or bags ... maybe next year we will, too.

Moving on to something much less heart-wrenching but no less important, I've decided to grow out my hair. While I've enjoyed my short, trendy 'do, I think I miss my longer hair. I guess I'll find out. I'm just feeling ready for it to be longish again. In fact, I'm so ready that I'm tempted to start taking pre-natal vitamins (supplemented with birth control pills, mind you) just for their quick-hair-growing perk. I know that my hair is not something you all probably think about often, but I'm writing it here so I can be held accountable. I'm going to have to endure some very rough, awkward periods in order to attain my goal. If you catch me saying, "I can't do it, I'm just going to chop it all off," or something to that effect, please stop me immediately and refer me to this post.

It's about time for me to go peel some eggs and then settle in with my new book club book, but before I do, I want to share with you Sara's latest. I'd always wondered how babies actually found themselves in the dishwasher. To my amazement, I've realized it must be some sort of innate talent. The other morning, Sara simply gave herself the slightest of all boosts and, viola, there she was in (on?) the dishwasher. Then, of course, I had to take the obligatory kid/dishwasher picture:

Party Pics!

When I talked to my mom the other day, she asked if I thought Sara knew whether it was a special day. While she's obviously too young to understand the concept of birthdays, I think she knew the day was all about her, which is exactly how birthdays should be, if you ask me!

Here she is at school last Friday. Apparently all of the kids danced and clapped when they sang "Happy Birthday." In fact, the song was such a hit among the kiddos that they had to sing it multiple times, according to Sara's teachers! I'm so glad they took pictures of Sara at school because I realized Friday afternoon that it hadn't even crossed my mind to do so that morning. What was I thinking? Picture-taking remains on my growth-area list.
On Saturday we had a small party at our house. All of the kids in attendance (besides Sara, of course), were boys. Steve ended up pulling out a bunch of his 1980's action figures, which turned out to be a huge hit. (By the way ... perfect example of why it's important to keep things forever, right? Like that sweater I haven't worn in years, but just might decide to so; I simply can't get rid of it ... you all know what I mean. Did you ever think action figures could provide such justification?)

Sara paid some attention to her presents, though the best part of opening them for her was wading through the tissue paper (and eating some of it).

Even after people tried to persuade me to give Sara her own cake rather than just a measly cupcake, I stuck to my original idea of allowing her one homemade cupcake. As it turns out, she wasn't too thrilled with it anyway. She immediately decided against the frosting, flipped the cupcake over, and took a few bites of the cake part. Before long, though, and without much mess to show for it, Sara wanted to get out of her chair and mingle with her party friends. I am actually not too surprised that she didn't love her sweet treat ... we're salt people here. We just are. After passing - for the most part - on the cupcake, she headed straight for the Goldfish. See? Salt.

Here's our little party family. Even though you can't tell in this picture (or maybe you can), Steve and I were just as exhausted as Sara after the festivities. She got to nap; we got to clean. I guess that's what my mom might call poetic justice. Small price to pay for a very happy birthday.Thanks, Gabi, for taking pictures for us!

To the Birthday Girl

Dear Sweet Sara,

A year ago today, as people all over the world were sitting in traffic, making a morning run to Starbucks, boarding planes, and going about their normal business on a normal day, for just a brief moment, my world stood completely still. The doctor held you over the blue sheet in the operating room and you let out a short cry; you had arrived. My daughter had arrived.

The nurses had you over on one end of the operating room where they were weighing you, measuring you, and giving you a once-over. Dad ran back and forth between the two of us, giving me periodic updates before the two of you left with the nurses and headed to the nursery with the other newest arrivals. While the combination of drugs and adrenaline kept me, unfortunately, from remembering every detail from the operating room, I will forever cherish the moment Dad briefly left your side to run to me and say, "Katie, she's perfect." More beautiful words have never been spoken, and I will remember that moment for as long as I live.

In my eyes, Sweet Girl, you are as perfect today as you were a year ago. You have given my life incredible purpose and meaning, and I love you so, so much. There is nothing you could ever do that would compromise the depths of my love for you. I will love you when you color on the walls, and when you throw a tantrum in the toy aisle. I will love you when you get in trouble at school, and when you slam your bedroom door. I will love you when you date the wrong boy, and when you wear something you are not even supposed to own. I will love you through your highs and lows. I will love you when you're not even sure you love me. I will love you, Sara, with every ounce of my being until the end of time and then some.

I thank God for you everyday. Sometimes it's still hard to believe that you're mine, and that I am the lucky one who was chosen to raise you, teach you, and hold you. This past year has been the best of my life, and I know that for as long as I have you, each year from now on will be just as beautiful. You are my sunshine.

Happy 1st Birthday, my beautiful Sara Noel.

Love Always,
Mom
xoxo

Double Trouble

Soul Food

You know those people in your life whose presence can completely revitalize you? For me, those people are my college friends. We all met this weekend in KCMO for another friend's wedding. Our visit lasted roughly 24 hours, and we had the very best time. When we're together, I laugh hard, maybe cry a little, and really just feel as though my soul has been heartily fed. I love, love, love these girls -- and I love the fact that we can always just be us when we're together. Case in point: we had to take this dorky banister picture at Craig and Lisa's house!
Can you believe it's Birthday Week at our house?! Right now Sara enjoys playing with the magnet letters on the fridge, pointing at everything she sees (and doing the "no-no" finger point/shake), using her sign-language to say "more" and "all done", walking with the help of furniture, looking at the Christmas tree, brushing her teeth, and dancing. She also loves going to school and has recently started throwing fits when it's time to go home. Her favorite friend at school is Will, and her favorite teacher is Ms. Rekha. I'm thrilled that she's so happy at school; almost daily we discover something new she's learned, and it's just so fun to see her developing socially and intellectually. I guess the only bad part about it is just that she's growing so ... fast. (You all told me it would happen that way!)

Stay tuned this week for more Big Birthday Girl updates!

Steppin' Out

It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is just three weeks away. Between Sara's birthday and the holidays, my to-do list keeps growing and my time within which to-do is dwindling. Last weekend we were in MN for my 10-year high school reunion. It was fun to catch up with friends and gossip about what had become of certain people. You can't judge me for the latter part; you know you did the same thing at your reunion (or you will in the future). That's just the way it is.

On Saturday I'm flying to KCMO sans hubby and child for a college friend's wedding. I missed out on the rendezvous with my Alpha Gam sisters last year because I was very, very pregnant, and I c-a-n-n-o-t wait to catch up with them this weekend.

Mother Nature must have known that I need a little winter to go along with my Christmas season because yesterday she made it snow in North Texas. And she's supposed to do it again tomorrow! Yesterday's flakes didn't stick for long, but they were big and thick and so beautiful. My students were appalled that we had the audacity to make them go to class. I'd have been just as happy to send everyone home, but I don't get to make those kinds of decisions.

While we've been busy with travel, work, and ... well, life, Sara has been busy working on some tricks of her own. Here she is steppin' out (with a little help from a friend)!