Christmas Eve

A BIG Box...what could it be? Let's "Open!" it to find out!Ooh, a lion! "Roar," and "it's soft," Lydia said.

Thanks, Uncle Tom. She loves riding it.

Here are almost all the Bolgert cousins after dinner and presents, but before the carolling.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Ben, Julie & Lydia

** OUTTAKES **

Children's Discovery Museum

We spent Saturday morning at the Children's Discovery Museum in uptown Normal. It's "three floors of hands-on play experiences that inspire the love of learning!" Well, if they had only two exhibits on one floor, I think Lydia would have been just as thrilled, as long those two were Water Works and Paint Wall. These had her fully engaged for a long time, and might I add, Daddy may have enjoyed playing with the hydraulics just as much, as did Mommy with the painting. The Fresh Market was also a hit as Lydia could assemble a deli sandwich and collect fruit in her basket. It'll be interesting to see what engages her most if we go back in a year or two.

Christmas Crafts

We let Lydia help decorate the gingerbread house this year. I was a little anxious about the mess that she was making at first, but then it turned out to be really fun with her help. She sprinkled balls on the roof and placed gummies at odd spots on the siding.

This morning was really the first time I had her do a little craft. She enjoyed carefully applying a dot of glue to the tree,

and then placing a cute ribbon piece.

After each little decoration was applied, she would exclaim, "I did it!"

I think she learned that from Dora.

Oh, she was so proud of herself, and I'm so proud of her too!

St. Nicholas Day

Tree decorated.

Angel overlooks.

Stockings hung.

Presents received.

Big Girl Bed

Lydia instantly loved her new big bed...

there's more room for her to jump around!

Santa 2011

She warmed up to Santa enough to give a hint of a smile! :)

Sllurp!

A favorite of mine this time of year is a bowl of soup. This day, Lydia had to have my bowl and spoon for a slurp:

She now associates soup with slurping. If I say soup, she slurps with a smile.

Helping that noodle into her mouth.

Now how is she going to get all that broth?

Aha.

Yes, you're a cute one, Lydia.

Happy Thanksgving

Haven't been able to post much when Lydia's nap time is Mommy's nap time too...but anyway...sometimes an Elmo DVD is a godsend.

Last weekend Lydia got an impromptu visit with the Pulley side of the family in Shenandoah, IA. Great-Grandpa Pulley passed away; I'm glad he and Lydia got to know each other for the two years that they did. Lydia was a big beacon of happiness and life to the family during the visit. Although, if we could have arranged it some other way, I would not have taken her to the visitation...!

A few days later we celebrated Thanksgiving. Lydia wasn't eager to wear her cute matching apron from Grandma Jan, but she did want to see what the big deal was with the turkey.

The next day we put away the pumpkins, and took out all things Christmas! Yeah for Christmas! True to Lydia's love of babies, her favorite thing is the Baby Jesus from the Little People nativity scene...figures. Oh, and she thinks the angel on top of the tree is a doll for her to play with. She tries to jump up in the air to reach it and keeps pointing at it!

Preparations

With less than four months to go, preparations are under way in the baby's room.

This weekend, Grandma Jan and I sewed new curtains, in less than three hours no less!

Next, Ben will have to paint the room a less boyish blue, which might mean a shade or so lighter than what it is now. There's enough pink in the curtains that we don't want to put pink paint on the walls and risk going into pink overload.

12/11/11 The walls are a successful sky blue; and the color scheme is settling in as pink & chocolate brown & blue. I'm beginning to like it!

While at Grandma Jan's, Kailyn demonstrated her piano skills to Lydia.
And Lydia had the most fun with two yellow balloons! Joy comes so easily to toddlers.

More on the list before baby #2 comes: potty training and transitioning to big bed!

Thankful

It's that designated time of the year to be thankful, and for me, it's easy to be. I'm so thankful that I can stay home most of the time and bond with my precious girl while she's little. We share stories, keep secrets, go shopping, do each other's hair, have fun. I adore her little hands and the fine skill level she's attaining with them. She's fascinated with little items. She invites tickling, cooks in her kitchen, rocks and comforts her baby, even changes her baby's diaper, copies my words. And then occasionally I can hand her off to a consistent loving home daycare while I go to work with friendly people and mostly kind bosses. I have a loving and helpful husband. He'll take care of Lydia on Monday nights while I play with the Pops Orchestra. I get to be around and learn from other mom like me at MOPS every other Friday morning. And then in March, I'll get to experience the blessing of another itty bitty girl.

Note: this is not even nearly a complete listing of things I'm thankful for.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Here's my costume!

Handing out treats. We visited two neighbors, then came home to eat dinner and hand out.

Got my own pop and play-doh!

Grandma Linda shows Lydia a book.

Getting a Halloween treat from her godparents

Playing with the glass door, "I see you."

Grandma gets Lydia to eat broccoli.

Our goofy pumpkin.

This is how we Dribble

Daddy gave Lydia a dibbling lesson on one of those gorgeous Indian Summer days two weeks ago.

And Mommy taught Lydia the joy of playing with leaves.

"Aa-pull"

Lydia had the best apples ever at Nieman Markets.

She couldn't stop eating them: McIntosh, Empires, Golden Delicious, you name it!

Look, a plane!

...and back to eating an apple...ooh, this one's a little tart.

We love the "aa-pull" orchard!

Potty

Lydia's using the potty,

and a little too much toilet paper!

My Baby & Me

Almost every morning, we go outside to give Baby a walk in the stroller. Lydia makes sure she is seated properly, and then away we go. It freaks me out a little bit that Lydia has her baby, because she talks about her baby, and I think, "no, you're the baby!"

We went to the swing, and Lydia didn't want to swing herself at all! She just wanted to push Baby!

Lydia will take Baby everywhere, including the highchair, where sometimes she'll try to feed her. Baby gets her clothes washed too.