We live a clean life. Really!

A few days ago my father-in-law arrived toting a two-foot-tall nutcracker as a Christmas gift for Liam. Apparently he's starting a new tradition in which every year Liam will receive a new nutcracker. What we're going to do with an entire town's worth of these decorations, I'm not sure, but that's an issue for another day.

At any rate, it didn't take Liam long to figure out how to use his nutcracker, and was running around cracking different nuts and acorns with his new treasure. And all the while he kept saying, "Do crack! Baby do more crack!" It was very cute, actually.

We were still laughing about the whole thing two days later at the local diner, where, while we were waiting for a table, Liam spied several smaller version of his nutcracker decorating the cashier's desk. And started shrieking, "Crack! Baby needs crack! Baby wants to do crack!"

I hope no one reported us to the authorities.

Tired Kiddo

Liam is a big fan of the Sandra Boynton kids' books, particularly one entitled Pajama Time. At any rate, this is what I heard from the back of the car as Liam and I were running errands today.

"Baby tired"

"Come, Mommy, Baby tired. Guess not. Come, Mommy? Nopey-Dokey, Mommy drive. Oh, yeah, Mommy drive car. Ahhh, Oh, yeah...

Is 'Jama Time..

Oh, yeah..

Come, Mommy, Baby tired!!! No?? Mommy drive?? Ah....

Is 'Jama Time!!

Yup, yeah, is 'Jama Time!

Some fuzzy, some not!

Oh, yeah, is 'Jama Time!!"

Love those toddler songfests at 9:00 in the morning!!

Slow Down - Tis the Season for Stress

I've left my blog sitting for over a week now what with the onslaught of holiday preparations added to the usual nuttiness that is our home. I've got a few ideas I'd like to blog, but with worrying about what gifts need to go to which state, which ferrets need distemper shots, getting Casey his Bordatella vaccine because apparently we will be going to Florida to be with Uncle Bob and the rest of the family for Christmas, etc., my mind is a running list of things to do, and honestly, I hate it when that happens.

But yesterday, Liam showed me that all of the above really is not the big deal I'm making it out to be. We were outside and noticed that our neighbor, Frank, had put all sorts of decorations in his yard. We went over and spent a good half-hour exploring trains, reindeer, wrapped package, trains, a Christmas tree, oh, and did I mention Liam really likes the trains? A half-hour of running commentary from Liam, "Come, Mommy! Touch 'nowman!", and "Come, Mommy! Touch tree!", and "Come, Mommy! Crawl under reindeer wif Baby!" It was absolutely wonderful to see the excitement on Liam's face as he explored each new decoration. This is all new to him, this Christmas stuff. Christmas is new and magical to him. Watching him makes me realize I need to take a deep breath, slow down, and understand that the wonder of Christmas is right on front of me in the form of my son. Somehow the holiday is looking new and magical to me, too.