Belated Christmas Pics

Amber may be new, but she knows how to get in good with the Fat Man.

Chloe's favorite was her new Dora kitchen... way to go, Santa!

The Red-Nosed Big Sister

This year's White Christmas dress (thank you, Aunt Diane)

Ok, so not everyone is a fan.

Mommy Post: My Girls

Wow. I can't believe that my little one is a week old. I feel like the week just slipped away from me when I wasn't looking. Here she is on Sunday, her one week "birthday day" (in Chloe-speak). Look at her. She is the most precious thing. And (knock wood) so far, such a good baby! When my friend Candace first met Chloe, she said, "Uh-oh - this is a Sucker Baby... she'll sucker you right into more!" (It's worth noting that Candace hasn't seen a more grown-up Chloe throw a temper tantrum. LOL). But, I think I have two Sucker Babies.

Just look at her. You can just see how soft her hair is and how she looks so peaceful. She looks like her ultrasound - she really and truly does. So precious.

Wow again, because look at my Big Girl! She was inside me once. I can't even believe it. She has so quickly become her own person with her own opinions and her own thoughts that it's sometimes hard to remember that she once existed solely within my body. Look at her with her beautiful smile and perfect posture (so unlike Mommy) and her gorgeous curls. Can you believe that Ed and I made her?! Because I can't. It often feels to me that I went to one of those pricey doll stores and bought her.

You know, I posted the other day that it's hard being a Mommy to two girls (precious and perfect though they are), but so what? I'm in one of those moments when I think, "So f-in what? It's hard. Get over it... because it's the best thing you've ever done or will ever do in this life."

Of course, one is at day care and one is asleep.

LMAO

Amber Post: I Like to Sleep

As far as I can figure, there's a Curvy One that calls herself "Mommy," a Non-Curvy One that calls himself "Daddy," and a Small Loud One that calls herself "Chloe." I like them all in their own way, but the Non-Curvy One has no pillows for me to sleep on and the Loud One does not really promote sleep. And at this stage of the game, I won't lie - the sleep is probably my favorite thing.

Then, on Saturday, two more showed up - a Tall One calling himself "Pop-Pop" and a Bubbly One calling herself "Mom-Mom."

Like the Curvy One, the Bubbly One also promotes good sleep. She can come back anytime.

The Bubbly One is also really smart - she knows that the Loud One can be tamed with presents:

That's it for me - I'm going back to sleep.

Chloe Post: Good God, It's Hard to Get Face Time Around Here

Man. I mean, yeah. She's cute. I get it. But, man. I am trying very hard to be a good girl and help Mommy and Daddy, but that kid needs something ALL.THE.TIME. And I need attention, too!

So, I was really happy that Mommy came sans Amber to my Christmas pageant on Friday. All the classes performed different songs and I was having a great time dancing to "Frosty the Snowman" and throwing my snow... and then I saw Mommy smiling at me and I stopped to say, "HI, MOMMY" so that everyone could see that she was there to support me. I was such a big girl and Mommy was so proud that I finished my dance and then went off with my class without crying for her. Unlike some of my fellow school mates who will remain nameless.

Do you see Miss Ashley there in the corner of the photo? Hee hee hee

Miss Mel and I love to dance together!

"Hi, Mommy!"

Victory! Our dance is complete!

Mommy Post: Amber is One Week Old Today

Well, the camera cord is upstairs, the computer is upstairs, I am upstairs. The camera is downstairs. That's the perfect metaphor anyway. LOL

Amber Katherine is a week old today and we are all completely enchanted by her - even Chloe... except when she's throwing a fit because I don't have a shovel for her. Or throwing a fit because Ed and I canNOT handle another episode of anything from NickJr. Or throwing a fit because a piece of lint rolled across the floor. Or whatever.

I am totally addicted to both of my girls - I can't remember what it was like before we had Amber (or at least had the promise of her when I was pregnant), but I tell you this with all honesty:

This shit is harder than grad school.

And I just want to put that out there and say it because I don't think we say things like that enough. I am totally in love with both of them and cannot imagine my life differently. But, I cried 4 times on Wednesday. The good news, of course, is that I haven't cried since then. :-)

Seriously, it's a freakin' madhouse around here... but, we're all really happy amidst the chaos. And when I can finally coordinate the camera, cord, computer and blogger in the same room at the same time, I will upload more photos. But, let's be honest. It won't be today.

P.S. I baked about 8 dozen Christmas cookies yesterday and tackled holiday shopping at Acme today. I rule. Except when the lady asked me how I wanted the dried beef sliced and I told her I didn't care and she asked again (trying to be helpful and clarify) and I loudly declared, "I HAD A BABY A WEEK AGO. THEY WILL EAT WHAT I GIVE THEM."

heh. lol

Amber's Arrival

Amber Katherine
Born Sunday, December 12, 2010, 2.38pm
7 lbs, 4 oz, 20 inches

I'm too tired to caption.

"Amber, ELEPHANT"

The other day, Chloe found an elephant toy in her room from when she was little(r). It's a stuffed animal, made by Lamaze toy company and while it's fine for her to play with, it was developmentally designed for a younger kid. She liked it a lot when she was a baby, so maybe that's what drew her attention to it. Anyway, this morning, she was walking around with it and showing it to me and saying, "My elephant." I said, "Yes, Chloe, that is your elephant... hey, do you think you might share your elephant with Amber?"

C: "Yes, Mommy."

H: "That is so nice of you, Chloe! Sharing is nice."

Chloe then grabbed at my turtleneck and started pulling.

C: "Pull up, Mommy, pull up!"

(That is what she says when she wants to converse with Amber or give her a kiss or something.)

So, I bared my tum and she thrust the elephant forward and said, "Amber, ELEPHANT."

I was trying so hard not to laugh and all I could come up with was this: "That is so nice, Chloe... it might work better when Amber is out though, right? It will be better when she's out so we can play with her. I mean, come on Amber, get out!"

C: "Get OUT, Amber!"

I couldn't agree more. LOL

Chloe Post: Conversing with the Fat Man

I.Love.Santa. A lot.

The day after Thanksgiving, Mommy and Mom-Mom took me to see Santa so I could tell him that I have been a good girl all year long and so I could explain how much I enjoy Dora and Diego.

I was such a good girl and so polite that Santa gave me these cool antlers to wear. They rock.

Mainly, I liked hanging out with Mommy and Mom-Mom. We always have so much fun! We went window shopping, enjoyed some Starbucks and then we got crafting supplies at Target. Very cool!

Chloe Post: Holiday Decor

I am such a good helper! I have been helping Mommy with all of our Christmas decorations... the only thing that confused me is why she and Daddy made me take this off my foot so they could hang it on the mantle... they said it was a stocking, after all! They make no sense at all.

Mommy said she is "seriously nesting" and we had the Christmas tree up by Wednesday night and the village up by 9.30am Thursday morning. I helped with the snow. I am "heavy-handed with the snow" according to Mommy. Whatevs.

Chloe Post: Thanksgiving with Aunt Diane and Uncle John

Mommy and Daddy and I had so much fun with my godparents, Aunt Diane and Uncle John, for Thanksgiving! I played with their cats, we colored and we ate yummy food. My favorite was the Pumpkin Velvet soup - it was just as good as it was last year!

Here I am with Aunt Diane - don't we look pretty?

I should mention that homemade cranberry sauce is my other favorite... However, using a spoon was really too limited. It was easier to shovel it into my mouth with 2 hands. Thankfully, everyone found this adorable. Not that it would have stopped me if they didn't.

After all that sugar, I was very EXCITED. The whole way home, I sang, "Shake shake shake a body. Shake a body. Shake shake shake."

Mommy and Daddy said I was too much. But, I think I am just enough. :-)