Daddy's Hat and More Ribbon Ravaging

Norah's always had a thing for Daddy's clothes. Even when she was just a couple of months old, she found Daddy's shoes, hats, and even dirty socks far more interesting than her own toys. Last night, she finally figured out what to do with Daddy's hat.

Granted, it doesn't exactly go with her outfit, but she definitely knew it was supposed to be worn on her head. (She was quite proud of herself for this little revelation.)




Also, as you can see, she still hasn't lost her affinity for her favorite game. When Daddy's hat kept sliding down over her face, she just took the opportunity to play a quick game of peek-a-boo (aka "Pea-Pie" to the Gilmore Clan, "Peeky Boo" to Grandmother, and "Where's Norah?", to the rest of us)

I especially love the first photo because it so clearly captures her little fangs, which, we believe, will soon be joined by her two front teeth---just in time for Christmas. (Must be all that Christmas music I've been exposing her to--she's quite familiar with Nat King Cole's "All I Want for Christmas" by now) She's been having a time cutting them, but it seems that both have finally broken through, and will bring her total teeth-count up to a whopping 6. She also went in for a weight-check last week and tipped the scales at 16 lbs. We're still growing!


In other news, I don't want to call any names, but someone has definitely inherited her Daddy and Uncle Grant's philosophy ("Let's crack 'em open!") when it comes to Christmas presents. The ribbon ravaging has yet to cease. In fact, I have caught her opening the same package (removing tape and pulling at the paper) three times! AA may just have to let Norah have that one, because she's determined that it is hers to open. I even caught her red-handed strategically un-tieing bows on all of the presents within arms reach--look at that guilty look on her face, and note the unfurled ribbon just behind her right shoulder! Only 6 more days, kid, hang in there! (We are gonna have so much fun Christmas morning!)

13 Ornaments on Our Tree

In effort to possibly snag a few more votes for Local Girl's tree decorating contest, and because I think people enjoy looking at other people's ornaments, but might feel awkward staring ...this week's T-13 is a closer look at the Robinson County Christmas tree--13 of my Favorite Ornaments! In no particular order, here they are...





1. Pick-up Truck with a Christmas tree in back.-- This one I bought for Jason, to commemorate the year he started working at Texas Truck Riggins.









2. Crystal Snowflake--This was a gift from Bob & Myrt Davidson. They brought it back from Thailand. I love the way the crystal glistens when it catches the lights on the tree!









3. New Home--Jason's gift to me the year we bought our first house (which we're still living in and loving). I love the little dangling key, and that it has the year on the bottom.









4. Texas Snowman--I found this little guy on a trip to Kema with Karen & Shane. We ate at this fun little hibatchi restaurant , and then went shopping at the strip in Kema. I was overjoyed to find a Christmas Ornament shop...did I mention it was July?








5. Rubber Ducky--newly added this year (thanks, Pat & Andress!) to commemorate Norah's "Ducky Phase".











6. Knit Snowman--this is a bad photo, but this entire snowman is knit (except for the little buttons, obviously). I found him at JoAnn's 75% off---you can't beat that, plus, I learned to knit this year!








7. Hunter Santa--Complete with rifle, camo, and hunting boots. I gave this one to Jason the year he bagged his first deer.










8. Baby Jesus-- One of Norah's favorites. I have an entire felt Nativity set that I hung on the bottom branches of the tree because they're the most baby-friendly. But, Norah keeps going back to baby Jesus. I keep telling her who he is everytime she touches him.







9. Fisherman S'more -- one of the cutest S'more ornaments I'd seen...and Jason is an avid fisherman (when he's not disc golfing or shooting things), so I had to have it. Love his trucker hat and little fishing pole!








10. Lois Nicole Baby Crib- Gramps' 2006 contribution to Norah's ornament collection. It's a mite fancier than Norah's actual crib, but it sure is sweet, and the detail-work is amazing!









11. Tent with campfire-- We bought this one on a year that we did a good bit of camping with friends. Believe it or not, I actually like tent-camping!









12. Golden Aspen Leaf-- A gift from Grant & Paige. I love this ornament because everytime I take it out of the box, it reminds me of all the wonderful "Colorado Christmases" we shared.









13. And what Christmas tree would be complete without the Christmas Pickle!? This was a gift from our friends, Zach & Meg, who had a pickle on their tree. The tradition is to hide the pickle somewhere on the tree on Christmas Eve, then the first person to spot it Christmas morning gets to open the first gift (and they get ot hide the pickle the next year!) Now you wish you had one too, right?

A Meme About Me

Ok, so I'm a little late, but Local Girl tagged me over a week ago to participate in this meme, so here goes!

And for those of you, who, like myself are fairly new to "blog world", here is what Mr. Webster had to say to me on the topic of what in the world a meme is:
Word: meme
Pronunciation: 'mEm
Function: noun
Definition: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
(Thursday 13 is another form of meme...end of vocabulary enrichment lesson for today)

A Meme About Me

I am: a Christian
I want: more kids, someday
I have: my Dad's webbed toes
I wish: for world peace---seriously
I hate: brusselsprouts
I miss: my sister, who moved to Austin...but she's coming to visit tomorrow!
I hear: the dishwasher
I wonder: how the Harry Potter series will end
I regret: not blogging the first 3 months of Norah's life
I am not: good at Math
I dance: very, very badly (and only when I think no one's watching)
I sing: all the time!
I cry: occassionally
I am not always: patient
I make with my hands: quilts, cakes, Christmas stockings, breakfast, lunch, and dinner
I journal: via my blog
I confuse: pink and yellow lemonade...which is the kind Jason likes?
I need: to finish my Christmas shopping
I should: start a load of laundry
I start: my day when Norah wakes up
I finish: most of what I start
I will tag: Karen, Lyneil, and Sheri

A Mischievous Christmas Elf

Only 12 days til Christmas, and Norah is being such a good girl--she's sure to make Santa's nice list. She hasn't bothered the tree. She's sleeping through the night. She's napping like she should. You'd think she wouldnt' have anything to worry about.

I guess she didn't think so, though. It appears that Norah, in an attempt to win Santa's favor (and thereby clinch her rightful position on the "Nice List"), has taken it upon herself to do her part to save Santa a little time and money this year.




You see, Norah has paid very careful attention as Mommy has wrapped every gift under our tree. She knows that each package must have a bow (this is mommy's own rule, and is in no way a reflection of what rules mommy feels other gift-givers are required to adhear to). Wait a minute...what's that...there are 2 packages out of place (OCD Mommy would never have put those presents there---they should be neatly propped with the others under the tree!) And what's this!? Neither package has a ribbon! Something is terribly amiss.

Or perhaps, this is just Norah's gift to Santa this year. Maybe she figured there were enough ribbons and bows under our tree, so she decided to untie a couple to leave for Santa to add to HIS gifts.


Well, Mommy shouldn't jump to conclusions. After all, there are all sorts of things that could have happened to those ribbonss. Maybe Daddy needed new shoe laces this morning and thought he'd opt for something a little more festive than usual. Or maybe they just fell off the packages...but if that were the case, why is one of the ribbons missing completely...and Where is Norah?



I rest my case. But I guess, in her defense...it does match her outfit, nicely!

In other news, Local Girl is hosting a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. If you're so inclined, click on over to comment to cast your vote for Robinson County...and you can vote once EACH DAY, so feel free to flood the votes...we're hoping to do better at this contest than we fared in the Halloween Costume Contest, so help us snag one of those Amazon gift certificates!

An Early Christmas Surprise

Last week, we got a pleasant surprise when my cousin, Patrick called and said that he and his wife, Andress, had a surprise for Norah and wanted to drop by. Before we know it, Pat & Andress were standing outside our front door, with their pooch, Sadie (sorry, Scott & Sara--yours isn't the only one we know anymore), and a lovely gold-wrapped package.




We opened the package to reveal a super-cute rubber ducky Christmas tree ornament! It was such a thoughtful gift! Anyone who knows Norah well, knows that she's going through a major ducky phase. She currently has 3 in the bathtub, and she can distinguish between them! (If I ask her "Where's baby ducky?" She'll either point, or hand me the tiniest one. She's a genius, this child!)

While the ornament was shiny, and Norah immediately wanted to put it in her mouth (similar treatment to what her bathtub duckies daily receive), the most exciting part of our visitors, in Norah's eyes, was the presence of Sadie. Norah chased Sadie all over the livingroom. She bopped her on the head (think "Little Bunny Foo-Foo") several times, and Andress finally intervened (with our blessing) when Norah grabbed a fist-full of Sadie's fur and started to tug. Needless to say, Sadie did not share Norah's enthusiasm at their first meeting.

Sadie did, however, get her revenge. She quickly discovered a means of defense that was quite effective against our wee babe. (Let's just say she's from the "Kill them with Kindness" school of thought.) Sadie gave Norah a big, slobbery kiss on the cheek, and as you can see from the photo, Norah was less than amused at this display of doggie affection. It still wasn't enough to deter her from pawing at the Pomeranian pup, but at least it seemed to level the playing field. It was a fun night, and a very thoughtful surprise. Thanks, Patrick & Andress!

13 Upbeat Christmas Favorites

Ok, so its a little late, but it IS still Thursday! As promised, here is Part II to my "Favorite Christmas Music Picks". This week I'll highlight some of my favorite upbeat Christmas tunes. Feel free to add yours too...it might make the cut for my 2006 Christmas CD!

1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Mariah Carey) Great toe-tappin' tune! (And I'd be lying if I didn't admit to occassionally dancing around the house to it when no one's watching.)
   
2. "Baby, Please Come Home" (Bon Jovi, baby) "They're sing-in' deck the halls...but it's not like Christmas at all..."
   
3. "Christmas Eve, Sarajevo" (Trans Siberian Orchestra)--it might sound tame, but don't let the "Orchestra" part of the name fool you--this heavy metal version of "Carol of the Bells" rocks out! (It's one of Jason's and my favorites!)
4. "Mister Santa" (Amy Grant)--cute little ditty to the tune of "Mister Sandman"
   
5. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" (Sarah McLachlin & The Bare Naked Ladies--ironically, an all-male group)
6. "Little Drummer Boy" (Jars of Clay)--I LOVE this song, and I think this is my favorite version, of all-time!!
7. "Hey Santa!" (Wilson-Phillips)--yes, that's right. I just said Wilson-Phillips. You know you used to listen to them.
8. "O, Holy Night" (N-Sync) Ok, before you go taking away the other half of my cool points (you know, the ones that I didn't already lose for admitting to liking a Wilson Phillips song), you'd better listen to N-Sync's acapella version of O, Holy Night. Besides, I'm a CofC girl--I had to have at least one acapella song on my list for posterity's sake!
9. "Last Christmas, I Gave You My Heart" (Jimmy Eat World)
   
10. "Step Into Christmas" (Elton John)--Who could help but love a song that begins, "Welcome to my Christmas Song"?
11. "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" (Travis Tritt)
    
12. "It's Christmas Time" (Band Aid) "Don't ya know that its Christmas...time again, I'm happy for you. You know it comes and goes so let's pretend that it'll last all year."
13. "Simply Havin' A Wonderful Christmas Time" (Paul McCartney)--Alright, Manda, I'll admit, I kinda like it a little bit, too....but mostly because I always picture my sis singing it to me.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

It's up! (Finally!) Friday night, Amanda and Jonathan came over and watched...uh...I mean "helped" us put up the tree. (Actually, Jonathan did, at least help Jason lug the 9-foot monster down from the attic and assemble it. )

Norah played contentedly by the fireplace, seemingly uninterested in all the tree-trimming hoopla...but once it was up, decorated, and the lights were turned on, she was awestruck.

Since then, she's been pretty good about leaving the tree alone (I've been nervous for a month or so about how she would fare with the tree--would she pull it over on herself? Would she try to eat the ornaments? Would she attempt to summit its peak?) I did sneak up on her today to find her standing beside the tree with her little index finger extended, as if preparing to gingerly touch it.

I had to laugh at this, because Norah's Bible class teacher has told us several times that she is one of the best students when it comes to "touching with one finger" (a few of their visual aids are fragile, and they instruct the babies to "touch with only one finger") I thought it was a priceless picture, and I love the look on her face ("Mother, may I?").

The tree pretty well looks the same as every other year (with the exception of a new ornament from Gramps to add to Norah's collection). We have, however, added a few new decorations to the house--holly garlands over our big windows in the living and dining rooms, and a new red berries wreath for the front door.

I'm still working on Norah's stocking, but I'll try to post a photo of it hanging from the mantle with Jason's and mine as soon as its finished. Hope you had a great weekend, and all you bloggers--I'd love to see photos of your Christmas tree/decorations, so get to posting!