Ramblings at 3 AM

Poor little Natalie baby has a cold. It's pretty nasty, and it's the first time she's ever been sick. Two nights ago she was up ALL night long and had a really hard time breathing whenever we'd lay her down. Last night she was super tired, and konked out all night. Tonight, I don't really know what's going on, but I have been going back in there and soothing her and holding her for the past two hours. So while I'm waiting for her to hopefully fall back asleep, I of course figured I needed to be productive if I EVER want to catch up on my blog!

So. . . here's some lovely 3 AM random thoughts and cute pictures from the past few months:

*Now that we're staying at my parents house in San Diego for the holidays (yes, lots of pictures and details to come about the trip. . . and about Thanksgiving and all the fun stuff we did), I actually have lots of time to blog again! Except my parents have the slowest internet connection on the planet and it takes about a year for pictures to upload onto the blog. Irony?

*We decorated my parents' Christmas tree tonight, and had delicious homemade eggnog! It was a lot of fun, but I really missed all of my special ornaments that are still in their box at my house. It's been the first year EVER that they haven't all been put on a tree. I'm sure they're feeling lonely and sad. I miss you, ornaments! I promise to make it up to you next year!

*Two things that really DO make little kids happy are:

1. McDonald's Happy Meals. Gosh, those are appropriately named! Kirsten was eating one a few weeks ago and said, mid-bite, "I'm SO happy now!"

2. Chuck E. Cheese. I think Kirsten's heaven would consist of a giant Chuck E. Cheese where she could play by herself (no other kids would be there, of course) while eating Happy Meals.

*Have I ever written about my fear of large birds? Yeah, in general I don't like them. I'm fine with looking at them, but if they try to get close to me I freak out a little bit. This fear goes towards roosters, chickens, geese, and turkeys. Especially geese! Kirsten is much more brave than I am. Look how close this goose got to her, and she didn't even flinch!

*Stephen was amazed today by how our seemingly small purchases at Target added up to $100. I said, "See? Now you know how it goes! It's tough to avoid that at Target!"

*I absolutely WILL mail out my Christmas cards tomorrow! I'll spend the whole morning addressing them and get them to the post office as early as I can. I ordered super cute return address labels for $3 from Vista Print. . . and then couldn't find them anywhere before our flight, so I didn't get to bring them. I hate to think about writing my return address out by hand over and over and over again. . .

*I was glad to see I had a couple of other friends in Seattle who had Christmas wreaths and decorations by their front doors, next to really old Halloween pumpkins. We're not the only ones! I kept reminding Stephen to throw those things out. . . and guess what? Yeah, they're still there. For our entire three week vacation. Gross!

*We took Kirsten bowling for the first time last month, and she was a little overwhelmed by the weight of the balls. But can't I pick them up and throw every single one like I do at the toy store?

*So two years old is a little young to be bowling, we figured out.

*She still had a great time! Uncle Chance was there to provide plenty of distraction and entertainment.

*Natalie had her first bowling experience too. It's quite a bit easier with a baby than a toddler!

*My parents have such a BIG house! I mean, seriously big. It makes our townhouse feel miniscule in comparison. Kirsten loves having so many places to run around and play.

*Learning how to crawl takes a LONG time. Natalie is still so close, but not there yet. Go, Natalie! Crawl. . . soon!!!

*Learning to eat, on the other hand, is much easier. You know she really loves a food when she opens her mouth before you've gotten the food on the spoon again. Yummy carrots!

*Natalie's top two teeth are starting to poke through! Her bottom two are already there, and the top two are ready to join them!

*We ate at the Old Town Mexican Cafe on Saturday night, for the first REAL Mexican food I've had in a very long time. As always, it was heavenly! Then lunch at Rubio's today. I have such a Rubio's addiction. . . maybe it's a good thing they don't have any in Seattle. (Nah, it's not a good thing. Come to Seattle, please!)

*Apparently you're never too old to sit in the infant car seat. She was doing this at church a few weeks ago too!

*Kirsten's smiles are SO infectious. When she's smiling and laughing, I can't help but smile and laugh right along with her! She also thinks it's really funny now when she toots. I guess bathroom humor starts around two and a half years old.

Lessons Learned from the Seattle Children's Museum:

1. How to brush our teeth?

2. How tall Big Bird REALLY is!

3. It's fun to throw groceries into our friend's shopping cart. Especially when we don't have to pay for them!

4. Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? (I guess the door to Sesame Street is locked).

5. "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable."

(Okay, we might not have learned that. But I enjoyed that quote from Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher. Something to think about!)

*It sounds like Natalie fell asleep again. Bed, I'm coming for you! Even though I miss my own bed. . . and my kitties who sleep with me. . . and it's only been two nights!

*Does anybody else dread wrapping presents? I have a bunch of them to wrap before Christmas, and I'm just awful at wrapping! I love to watch people open gifts from me, and I love to open wrapped gifts myself, I just wish I had someone who volunteered to wrap all of mine for me! Where's an elf when you need one?