See ya' next year, Santa!

Elena just LOVED the holidays and believe it or not, stayed HEALTHY throughout. We rotated grandparent houses from Christmas Eve through New Year's Eve with a nice Christmas morning in our own house. We loved it all and are sad to see the time go so quickly. Elena really makes the holidays special and I can't imagine how much fun it will be next year. I think each grandma (Ga-ma) and grandpa (Papa) spoiled Elena as much as any kiddo has ever been spoiled. Our little stinker has the daunting task of deciding which fun thing to do at any given moment. Be it pounding on new drums, riding in a new wagon or coloring on a new art table, she is constantly busy and excited to do something fun.


She continues to love "J Bells" and talk about snowmen and "Atta" (Santa), but we are working to move ahead and try to 're-parent' this child who seems to have forgotten boundaries over the last week and a half (Gee-- I wonder why?). :)

Elena's vocabulary is amazing and she learns words and concepts so quickly that I can't keep up. The latest?

• She told me this morning that her shoes were, "Too big, Mama. OFF, please!"
• She pulls off her own pants and wants to poo-poo in the potty. But she hasn't done it yet. In due time.
• She has gotten her foot stuck in the crib a couple of times lately and when I go in, she says, "Stuck, Mama, stuck." It's so sweet and pitiful, I tear up. My baby.
• Lastly, she is putting herself in time out. It's awful, but admittedly and secretly, rather funny. She'll hit one of us (Very bad and annoying) and then say, "Time out LENA. Two minutes" and go sit in the corner. She does the same with her babies. We're currently seeking advice on how to end the game she's made of time out.

She remains our sweet little stink and as we enter 2008 and get asked DAILY when the next kiddo is comin' (wait and see...), we thank God for our family and these cherished moments.