It's hard to believe another year has passed... especially when looking back at all that has happened! The biggest being Piper's arrival, of course. :) Tonight we had sundaes and watched Surf's Up with the girls. When the movie was over, we all chose a loud instrument to play from the music box and I poured sparkling apple cider into special stage prop plastic wine glasses. We counted down from 10 (at 7PM!) and then shouted "Happy New Year," made lots of noise and then gave each other hugs and kisses. Then, while we drank our cider, we toasted to some special memories from the year.

Besides being the last day of 2008, today was special for a couple of other reasons. First, Roxy slept in her bed ALL night last night without getting out which earned her a sticker on her chart (7 stickers = a trip to the toy store). And Dillen lost ANOTHER tooth. I completely missed blogging about the last one she lost about a week and a half ago - AFTER she already went to bed. It fell out in her sleep, woke her up and she came walking out with it in her hand. She looks like an adorable little jack-o-lantern now with the two lower, outer teeth missing and her signature gap between her two top teeth. Her tooth fairy has been great. Her fairy, Patinka, brought her a cupcake charm for her bracelet last time and left fairy dust all over the window sill, around her bed, and all the way to the kitchen since she left Dillen a note. Since Dillen lost the tooth after she had already fallen asleep, Dillen didn't think Patinka was going to come that night. But not only did she come, she said in her note that she KNEW Dillen was going to lose her tooth and had been waiting patiently outside at the window watching for it. ;) This time, she isn't leaving a note but she will leave an adorable little kitty charm in her tooth fairy box. Roxy is so excited for Dillen but I think mostly because she is envisioning her own future full of charms, fairy dust and gaps in her mouth where teeth should be. I am looking forward to the morning when Dillen opens the box that is tucked under her pillow. She believes strongly in Patinka just as she believes in Santa. And when I asked Dillen what she thought Patinka did with all of the teeth she collects, Dillen didn't hesitate when she said she is making a dress out of all of them. Huh.

I don't really have any New Year's resolutions (and I haven't made one in years since I never seem to stick to them anyway). But I would like to continue my weight loss from the pregnancy... I have already lost a whopping 53 pounds in 12 weeks and have 15 pounds left to go in order to fit back into all of my old clothes. The goal is 115 (but 110 would be ideal).

This coming year will take me into my 39th year of life, find me celebrating my 10 year anniversary with my wonderful husband and we will see our children turn 6, 4 and 1.

Wow.

Posted by Rebecca at 10:18 PM | Permalink

Despite the economy, our being deathly ill for a few days and having one-less week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, our celebrations and traditions continued on and we had a very enjoyable time.

Earlier on, we decorated our home and hung ornaments on the tree. With a little help from Sean, the girls were able to hang the high ones, too. And, with Grandma Barbara, we were able to take the girls to see Santa at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club which was great fun - decorating cookies, face painting, balloon making, storytelling by Mrs. Claus and a pre-gift from Santa. Dillen was quick to hop on Santa's lap to tell him what she wanted. Roxy was all set and ready until the LAST moment when she changed her mind and clung to me. From a good distance she yelled to Santa "I WANT A RUTHIE DOLL!!!" Piper had no clue what was going on and cooperated just fine for the picture. I need to scan the one the Club took since it was straight on... and pretty funny, really.

Traditional Christmas Eve was spent at my dad and stepmom's home with my brother, his wife and my niece and nephew. A great time was had by all. Dinner was delicious, the gifts were amazing (Sean and I received a grill for paninis and other wonderful things while the girls received Biscuit, the Furreal puppy friend). We enjoyed each other's company and were able to get the girls home at a decent hour for them to set out their personally decorated gingerbread cookies and milk for Santa. (Dillen insisted we warm the milk in the microwave because Santa was going to be cold.)

They BELIEVE. And because they do, waking up Christmas morning was another "best" year. Watching their faces light up when they saw their American Dolls that Santa had brought them (Ruthie and Kit) was priceless. Dillen, unlike last year, was pretty confident she was going to get what she wanted. She just knew she had been a good girl all year. However, she also liked to rub it in with Roxy telling her that since Roxy had been making many bad choices, she may just end up with coal. Roxy didn't care for that very much and arguments ensued. But I think deep down Roxy was probably a little nervous and so she was very relieved to see Santa came through for her, too.

The girls tore into their stockings and played with their dolls while we waited for my mom and stepdad to arrive. Once they did, we had a yummy breakfast and then opened gifts. There is something so special about having my mom and Jim here to watch the girls open their presents. It's been a tradition since Dillen was born and I hope it continues. It is no short distance for them to drive on Christmas morning... but I think they enjoy watching the girls as much as we do.

The girls received so many fun gifts to play with, they were pretty much set and in their new "toy zone" until we needed to leave for celebrations with Sean's mom. Her home is always perfectly dressed for the season with a warm cozy fire and decorations galore. We had a very nice time and we were able to get the annual family picture done before the rain started pouring again.

The decorations came down today... tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We will pop a bottle of apple cider bubbly just before the girls' bedtime (7PM) and yell a raucous HAPPY NEW YEAR before they hit the hay.

Pictures below are from our Christmas festivities. :)

Posted by Rebecca at 10:04 PM | Permalink

You do NOT want to come visit us today. Sean and I have been up all night... I am sure the girls are next. How do I even prepare for what is to most likely come their way.

Eeegads.

Wish me luck.

Posted by Rebecca at 4:49 AM | Permalink

Piper, being 9 weeks now, is very talkative and can hold our attention for a long period of time with her ideas about life and the world in which we live. Sean had a little conversation with her yesterday which was videotaped and Roxy had her own little conversation with her today which I captured with my little camera:

Posted by Rebecca at 9:44 PM | Permalink

Yesterday, we took the girls to the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter and adopted the most adorable little 10 week old kitten. See... we've had a few issues with our fish (as you know if you have seen the previous "Ode to Nemo and Blacky" video and on Saturday our lizard, Clueso, died. Dillen was a mess (truly) over the death of her lizard and sobbed for over an hour. Roxy cried as well but mostly just to be like her big sister and it wasn't from the heart. Piper just cried because she wasn't being held.

So, we decided that since we didn't have much luck with fish or reptiles, we would add to our family (since a new baby just wasn't enough) a cute little kitten.

Since Dillen got to name Piper, Roxy got to name the new kitten. She decided on "Bows." This was the name of another kitten at the shelter and I think she just liked it. Dillen wanted to name her Hallie so her official name is "Hallie Bows" but we call her Bows.

Sean got this cute picture of Dillen with Bows. She's kind of hard to see being all black. I will upload more another day.

Posted by Rebecca at 9:23 PM | Permalink

Sean competed in his first karate tournament on Saturday and placed 2nd in Board Breaking - competing against black belts. :) I was thoroughly impressed. I knew he could break through one board ONE way, but to break through two boards three different ways was downright crazy for someone who has been training for only 3 months. I thought we would be going to the hospital after his attempt but, instead, he walked away with a very large trophy:

Posted by Rebecca at 8:48 PM | Permalink

Oh my goodness... I am IN LOVE!!! Yesterday, when Piper awoke from sleep, I went over to her, rubbed her belly and said, "Well hello my little button." She immediately made eye contact with me and gave me the BIGGEST smile ever and started to quickly move her arms and legs. Since that moment she has been quick to flash adorable smiles. She had been smiling prior to yesterday but mostly little smirky ones or gas-relief ones. She did giggle in her sleep a little bit the day before yesterday while giving a little smile. But yesterday she gave me a hugely clear "I am smiling at you because you are you" kind of smile.

What happens when a baby "wakes up" for the first time? What happened during that sleep cycle yesterday that made her become more of a person all of a sudden? The developing human mind is an amazing thing and to watch it happen from birth for the third time is a privilege.

I tried desperately to capture "the smile" with my little digital today and did manage to get some cute ones - but nothing like what I have been so enjoying over the last 36 hours. I think I need the photog expert for that -- he'll be home tomorrow. ;)

Posted by Rebecca at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)