A Very Prairie Christmas

We had a very merry little Christmas.  We had plans for all of us to go to Christmas Eve Candle Light service, but Annabel hadn't been feeling well and seemed to be not doing great right before 6 o'clock.  I went by myself, as I had to read a poem and, unlike most Sundays, I didn't get emotional once!  I sat by a single lady so I wasn't completely surrounded by large families, but it was definitely a first to go to a Christmas Eve service solo.  Eric and Annabel were able to call June and discuss her family's recent holiday gathering. When I returned we were able to Skype with my parents as Annabel opened her presents sent by them, including her favorite--a little Lightning McQueen car.

Annabel was really fun this year, as she really seemed to "get" the Santa idea.  (She can identify baby Jesus and she thinks the Pastor is adult Jesus, so we got the messages across the best we could). Christmas morning she walked out to the tree, paused, looked at the partially eaten cookie left for Santa and the chewed carrot stick, and stood with a grin.  She removed the sheet from the play kitchen and got a bit hyper.   She then said, "where'd all those red presents come from?"  She noticed right away that Lightning and Mater were on the wrapping paper.  Recently Eric said something about going to play with the kitchen and she said, "no, Santa brought that kitchen for ME." 

She has used the phone on the kitchen to 'call' all her favorite engines.  We've had many conversations with Thomas, Henry, Emily, Percy, and James.

Last minute, a friend graciously picked up this easel for Santa during his trip to Edmonton.  She has been using it a lot.  I'm glad to have a few more toys that can spark imagination and role play to keep Annabel busy this winter, especially when I attend to the new baby.  

It was wonderful to attend a nice dinner with our pastor's family. 

Our day care is closed this week, so Eric has been having some good days with Annabel while I've been at work.  They've enjoyed lunch out, a trip to Target, a library story time and indoor playgrounds.  My last day of work is this Friday.  At my last appointment, we decided to go ahead with an elective c-section, as Annabel's birth was such a long labor and there was no specific reason why I didn't progress.  My doctor let me debate on my options, so I spoke with a lot of friends and read a lot.  When I told her my decision, she said she truly feels I'm making the right decision as she (and I) have a feeling I may end up doing a c-section anyway.  January 12th at 1:30 is the set time.  Now, I'm just hoping to make it that far, as it's only four days prior to my due date.  I went into labor with Annabel 8 days early, she was born 5 days early.  If I go early, they just won't let me wait and will take me to the operating room, but now that it's organized, it would be nice to stay that way.  It should work great to have Annabel go to her regular day care, have a baby, and have Eric go pick her up!   

Eric and Annabel put the bassinet together while I was resting. Next, we hope to find the sheets and get out a few neutral colored outfits from the bins in the garage.  We don't have a nursery ready (or a bag packed, or car seat ready, etc., etc.) as we have a spare room set-up now, but we can work on that later and transition Annabel into a more big girl room after the baby grows too large for the bassinet.  

Annabel has fleeting moments where she seems interested in the tiny baby in mommy's tummy.  Just the other night, she was showing more interest than normal by rubbing, kissing, and hugging my stomach. So sweet.    

We are working on some name choices.  It's just as difficult as last time.  Annabel goes back and forth between boy or girl, but usually still says we should name the baby Percy.  Lately she's also said Rosie.  (both characters from Thomas...go figure).  Happy New Year!! 

Preparing: Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!!!!  We are excited!!  Despite colds all around, Eric's lasting for weeks now and Annabel adding in some teething pain today, we are preparing.   After a couple fairly sleepless nights, we all slept well last night, but Annabel must be catching up as she has slept all morning.  It has allowed Eric and I to at least clean the house to enjoy a relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Tonight I am reading a poem at the Christmas Eve candle light service.  They wanted a pregnant woman to read it.  I was joking that I guess they just want me for my body and not my skills!!  We plan to Skype with my parents after church so Annabel can open her gifts sent by them and then do our own openings in the morning.  Our pastor has invited us over for Christmas Day supper. He has kids our age who have kids Annabel's age, so it has been nice getting to know their family.  No traveling this year for us, as we realize we don't have a million dollars if we had to deliver in the U.S. 

I've never done yoga at home, so I have no idea where she learned this, unless it's instinct.  Or, she learned it at day care.....which seems to be my answer for everything she does lately.  

Ready for a coworker friend's Christmas party.  Eric stayed home ill, but Annabel was telling him "We're going to a party; they have a kitchen."  She was so excited and had to go back twice to give Eric goodbye hugs.  

She played with their awesome kitchen for hours and hours.  It made for a nice evening of visiting for me too.  It's an impressive homemade-by-dad kids' kitchen, which he said he's pretty sure he'd have to charge $8,000.00 if he adds up all the labor hours.  Funny.  We had already planned to get Annabel one for Christmas, so based on her enjoyment at the party, it's safe to say she will like it.  The reviews on the one we bought (on bestbuy.ca of all places) says 'do not wait to assemble on Christmas Eve.  What do you think Eric is doing right now?   

Annabel was home for an entire week from day care due to Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease, with Eric and I taking turns staying home.  Luckily the disease didn't seem to bother her much so we kept busy during the days baking (only for us!), painting, and playing outside.  But after 7-10 days of quarantine, we were ready to leave the house.

Her face took the brunt, with not many markings on her hands or feet.  I think at least 4 out of the 8 at day care got it (and one parent)!  

Cranking popcorn.

Annabel really loved decorating the trees.  We have our big one and two little ones.  She calls the big one Daddy's tree and she and I each have a little one.  She claimed this one and did this star idea on her own.  It's an ornament and I would have never thought to put it on the top like that.  So creative! She had to go get her #1 possession, her stool, to help -- "First, I need to get my stool."  After work and in the mornings on weekends, she runs to each one, not exactly with our approval, to plug them in.... just slightly enough to get the juices flowing.  She has since put a few presents that she knows are for her under her tree and one for me under mine. I'm so excited for Christmas!   

We have loved having a big real tree this year.  We had one a couple years in Illinois when I had to work Christmases, but not lately since we've traveled for Christmas.  

A little bump on the chin from falling off a chair.  Playing with her favorites in our bed. 

The other night I said "It's almost bedtime."  Annabel responded, "It's almost Christmas time."  I said, "it is and what does that mean"  She said, "Santa's at mall."  She must have heard us talk about going because we hadn't seen Santa at the mall yet.  She wanted mom to sit with her, but she high-fived him at the end.  She didn't want tell Santa her wish list, but earlier she said she was going to ask for a new car.  And so it begins!

 

It's been a bit mind-boggling preparing for Christmas and baby this season, but we are getting excited for all.  

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends.  We are sad to miss all of the gatherings this year, but, as you can see, have a lot to be thankful this year.  Love to you all!!

"I Thomas"

Since Halloween was the last holiday we celebrated, I don't even feel like this post is too late.   Well, maybe a little..... Actually, I still have a couple summer posts that I don't want to ignore, so those may be considered waaaay late.  

We unfortunately did not celebrate American Thanksgiving this year as it was a normal work week and would just be us anyway.  We had leftover chili.  The very, very chilly temperatures (-40 C/-40F with windchill) forced us to stay home, even though we were getting a little stir crazy.  We did venture out for an hour to drive though the beautiful lighted Forestry Farm, but the roads were icy at intersections and we were glad to return right home. Since then, however, we have had unusually mild (40s F) temperatures.

Annabel enjoyed her first time trick-or-treating.  I had checked out books at the library to prepare her for the concept.  We really enjoyed it too.

Eric was getting giddy while making it.  I was about ready to sign him up for a craft class to allow him creative escape in his life. 

We had a great time making her costume.  At one point we thought we would also dress up as engines, but when it was pushing past midnight, we were thankful we had changed our minds.

It as a rush after work and day care to get a little bite of food, then get out the door to trick-or-treat before it got too late.  Annabel had a moment where she didn't want to go or be Thomas.  I thought Eric was going to cry.  At the first house she was really shy, but then it was like she just got it, stepped into her costume, and off she went.  When a person would walk by, she would say "I Thomas."  

She was so cute knocking, opening her bag and saying "Trick-or-Treat" and "thank you."  

Her costume got a bit heavy in the front and we ended up carrying her door to door towards the end.  We went to about 15 houses total. 

It must be a natural reaction to organize candy.  I remember doing it every year, but not sure if I did it at age two.....

This fall, Annabel also fell down the stairs and happened to land directly on her shoulder, fracturing her clavicle.  They called it a green stick fracture where it isn't a complete break in the bone, only a crack in the top.  She denied pain when asked, but was quite irritable at times.  She wore her sling only one day and then self-limited for 2-3 weeks and it healed. 

For our anniversary, we had a picnic by the river.