Merry and Bright

Happy Holidays from our corner of the world.

Thankful early on a Friday

This week I am thankful for:

The arrival of my mother. She got to Cincinnati safe and sound and on time. She was slightly exhausted but overjoyed to be with her girls.

Having tried a new pork tenderloin recipe in the crock pot and succeeded. Even the husband said it was good - that's a helluva compliment.

Seeing my old lady cat act like a silly kitten while chasing a fuzzy red ball.

Not running out of tape while wrapping the gazillion gifts that will be shoved under our tree.

Vacuumed floors, clean bathrooms and almost done laundry.

Surviving a trip to the Cincinnati Zoo's "Festival of Lights" two days before Christmas with a toddler and Gramma Kathy in tow.

A tiny loaf of homemade bread dropped off by a fabulous neighbor.

Watching Addie cast a spell on Gramma - who suddenly is now being called Grammy. That makes me smile because that's what I called my Dad's mom when I was little.

Five newly covered throw pillows on the couch - I do love that sewing machine.

Seeing several toddlers, in addition to mine, at The Party Source as we stocked up on holiday libations.

The fact that I have about a week to prepare for the onslaught of NYE visitors....I will rest and be ready to rumble when my playmates arrive.

Most importantly, for my wonderful, entertaining family. That fabulous husband of mine. That precocious daughter of mine. Family who are here with me during the Christmas chaos, those who are far away, those who will be here Christmas Day, and those who will be here in a few weeks. This time of year always reminds me how very lucky I am for the family I have - both in my backyard and throughout the country.

Thankful Thursday

It's not quite midnight, so I can still squeeze in some thankfulness this Thursday.

This Thursday I am thankful for:

An unexpected night out at Playhouse in the Park to see Second City does Cincinnati: Pride and Porkopolis. It was chilly, and I stole my friend's husband's ticket, but the show was funny. Funny and child free.

Sugarcookies with crushed peppermint candy canes. Okay, they are NOT low carb, but they are delish and minty and sugary. Yum.

A neighbor who snowblowed my walks and driveway at the beginning of the week and lent me his snowblower for today's more impressive snow.

Returning Cinderella II and Cinderella III to Blockbuster. I could not take one more viewing of either movie.

Addie's recovery. Surgery was a bigger deal than I had thought and recovery has been more painful than I anticipated - but she's been a trouper and I've gotten more cuddles than ever.

Zima tomatoes - so sweet. So delicious. So orange. What a great new discovery.

The return of Maggie the Elf - she makes our mornings exciting and Addie knows she is being watched. And on occassion that knowledge make a difference.

Having another adorable picture of Addie and her very much still alive furry friend to add to the collection.

Christmas lights shining through snow - it makes me feel ready for season, even though I am not at all.

Getting my Christmas cards addressed, stamped and sent - one less holiday chore to complete.

Having slept through the night last night. Through the night, people! That hasn't happened since LAST Wednesday. Holla!

Trying a new hairdresser and loving the results. She trimmed Addie's hair nicely and gave mine some style. You know it must be a good hair cut when it gets two compliments from my always loving, but not all observant husband.

Getting Christmas cards in the mail - I love seeing all faces of friends and friends' children. It makes trudging out to the mailbox in the cold worth it.

Having a sister-in-law who heard the desperation in my voice and gave me a few hours to Christmas shop with out my mini-me in tow.

Finding this picture of Addie and her Aunt Kimmie on my camera two days after I was given the chance to escape and shop.

It's been a bit exhausting around here with all the middle-of-the-night ouchies and tears. With the extra pair of feet in our bed and the endless watching of animated movies. And the cold, the freaking cold, is ridiculous.

I am sure that I have funny anecdotes to share, but my brain is too fried to think of any right now.

So instead I will say this: A few weeks ago Addie said to Andy and I that we "never get to see Uncle Brian anymore". That made us sad - and I pretty sure it made Uncle Brian even more sad. Just to prove her wrong, Uncle Brian came over last week to watch the Bengals game and the weekend before he trekked through the snow to help us find the perfect Christmas tree.

Seeing them play in the snow brought a smile to my face then and again today as I was organizing photos on the computer (while trying to block out the insipid sounds of Max & Ruby).

Tonsillectomy

Last week I didn't write about the fact that Addie was having her tonsils and adenoids removed because, well, I wasn't convinced that she was. She was supposed to have surgery the first week in December, but of course had a lovely case of walking pneumonia. The pneumonia went away, but her phlegmy, gross cough hung around. I, foolishly, thought that her cough would prevent her from having her surgery.

I was wrong. Her pediatrician gave us the green light early in the week and the hospital staff seemed relatively unfazed by her hack.

An hour after arriving at Children's Hospital she was heading to the operating room, riding her "princess wagon" and waving to the surgeons and nurses as though she were royalty and they were her commoners.
She had no problem letting the nurses take her temperature, blood pressure and various other vital signs. She was excited to be wearing the hospital gown and no-slip socks and was looking forward to bubblegum flavored "sleepy air" and a wheel chair ride out to the car.

Andy and I went with her as she got put under - she was very busy telling the nurses and doctors about her favorite princesses and her trip to Disney World when her eyes went real wide and then she was out - somehow I managed not cry, although my entire chest was tight and breathing seemed a difficult task.

We headed out to the waiting room, with it's watered down coffee and anxious parents, and prepared for a long, tense hour. Luckily for us, twenty minutes later we were sitting with the surgeon being told everything was okay.

It took Addie about an hour to come out of recovery - at first awakening very unhappy, but then being enticed to sit up with the promise of a Sprite and a Popsicle. Less than four hours after walking into the hospital, we were driving away, minus one set of tonsils and one set of adenoids.

And since Thursday she and I have more or less been cooped up together - playing games, watching movies, doing crafts. Thankfully Andy took Thursday and Friday off to entertain us. She has logged a gazillion hours of cuddle time with both Andy and I, and I am pretty sure neither of us really need to see another animated movie again. It doesn't help that since coming home from the hospital she hasn't slept through the night and has come into our room crying because of the soreness in her throat.

Her favorite things to eat have been Popsicles, sherbert and macaroni and cheese. She is currently in her room pouting because I insisted she eat apple sauce and peaches. She got mad, stomped her feet and said "I only want sherbert!". Andy and I are pretty sure that the 10 days of recovery time are going to undo three years of solid parenting.

She isn't allowed to go back to 'normal' activities until Monday - no school, no craft class, no exercise class. It would be a massive understatement to say that both she and I are going a tad stir crazy.

I didn't realize how much pain she'd be in and didn't take seriously that recovery would be 7 to 10 days...but we're on day five and the bottle of Tylenol is almost gone and there are still plenty of tears and ouchies and general grouchiness (I think we both are feeling a bit grouchy) to go around.

Monday

The best way to spend frigid, gray Monday?

Playing on trains, with one of your best buds and getting to meet Santa.

Nothing gets better than that, my friends.

Out of the Mouth of my Babe 3

To get inside that little brain for just a few minutes would be, in my opinion, a total trip:

Mama? Where we going to lunch

To Sebastian's.

Where? I been there when I was a baby mom?

Just down the street babe, and you've been there before babe. We get gyros there.

It at the beach?

At the beach? No, hon, it's here.

But it's the crab's place right, mama?

Ha! No babe, it's not Ariel's friend's place, it's a restaurant in Cincinnati.

Oh, I did not know that.

Mama, what we doing today?

Today? We've got to run a bunch of errands.

Run errands?

Yep, we have a bunch to run.

Mama, we can't run errands. We have to drive them.

Hey Mama, see that ring?

What ring?

The sparkly one Dad gave you.

Yeah, what about it?

One day Daddy gonna give it me when he marries me.

MOM! Wake up! I gotta show you somptin! C'mere! Look!

Wow, look at that - snow. It's beautiful.

No, mama, it's not beautiful, it's magical.

Come on, Mom. Let's go get daddy - we'll make an Addie sandwich.

An Addie, sandwich eh?

No! An Addie hot dog. I'll be the dog you and daddy are the buns!!

Who's Saint Nick, Mom?

He's one of Santa's helpers and he comes to fill your stocking.

Does he fly? Does he use TinkerBell's dust? Is he a man?

I don't know, er I don't think so, and yes, he's a man. But he won't come tonight until you are sound asleep.

I have to be asleep and making loud noises for St. Nick to come?

No, honey, sound asleep means being all the way asleep, not sleeping and being noisy.

Oh, okay. I won't make lots of noises then!

This Thursday I am thankful for:

A wonderful trip to Akron last week to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. I am also thankful that at our celebration, the ladies won in Trivial Pursuit (not that I'm keeping score).

The dusting of snow that hit Cincinnati yesterday. It's easy to forget how beautiful snow looks until a three year old wakes you up and declares that it's "magical".

Making it to exercise class this week - it has hurt, but has reminded me that it's time to get off my arse.

A mother-in-law who is willing to teach an impatient student how to sew. By no means am I good, but I am getting better.

Addison's love of music. She likes to sing and dance and spin. She doesn't always have the words right (perhaps because I make up songs?) but she sings her songs with confidence and pizazz.

The knowledge that I have no out of town trips planned for at least the next two months. I have missed my home and my bed and my big soaky bathtub.

The return of Top Chef....I am so excited and don't even know who to cheer for, but I won't be missing an episode...and I won't be letting Michelle rob me of a win!! BRING. IT. ON.

Having a huge stack of chopped wood in the back yard. Yes, it stunk that it was delivered in the rain. Yes, it stunk to stack it in the rain. But the glow of the fireplace through out winter is worth it.

Holiday lights - they make the neighborhood, the city and my house look so warm and inviting. They also bring tons of excitement and joy to my little lady.

Deciding to join the neighborhood book club. I am not great about doing things with people I don't know well, but enjoyed the two hours spent (kind of) discussing the book that I actually finished.

My husband who does the lion's share of cooking and who knows when I need some time to myself. I am also thankful that his traveling should be over for a bit.

Being able to sit down, once a week or so, and think about the things I am thankful for. It is so easy for me to lose perspective or get frustrated or be grouchy and completely disregard all the things in my life that are wonderful.