Matilda's Gifting List

We are busy making lists around here, trying to tackle all the holiday tasks and head off some panicking in 3-4 weeks. Yesterday over lunch I was talking with Matilda about what items she might like to buy for people. At first she was just claiming she wanted to get everyone chocolate and candy canes. That is all nice and good, but I tried to explain to her how you think of what someone else likes when choosing a gift for them, not just what you want. Here's what she came up with, all on her own:

Great Grandma Mary: a wooden giraffe

Great Grandpa Fred: a golf ball and a golf tee

Uncle Gordie: cheetos

Aunt Lori: chocolates

Grandma Kathy: a new horse riding helmet

G-pop: 1 more pug (this is my favorite answer)

Uncle Brian: (you guessed it) smoked salmon

Aunt Gia: a bird cage (I have no explanation for the reasoning there, when pressed Matilda didn't either)

Mama: cheese

Porter: beans

Daddy: pepperoncinis

Sick Time = TV Time

Porter & I are both a bit under the weather today, which had Matilda terribly excited this morning. One day, a few weeks back, when Porter was taking a nap in the afternoon and I was feeling sick/exhausted, I put a movie on for Matilda to watch while I napped on the couch. Apparently I set quite the precedent with that desperate-parenting move. This morning all Matilda could talk about was how I would nap and she would be fine watching her videos. I even heard her telling Porter how if he was feeling better then he could just watch videos with her while Mama napped. As it turned out, Porter napped super early while she had gymnastics class so I took my nap while Tim was on dinner/bath/nighttime jam session/bedtime story duty and Matilda never got that video, poor gal. I guess she can just hope we'll still be snotty and cough-y tomorrow.

Petrified Lizard

Playing at his great grandma and grandpa's in Arizona yesterday, Porter found himself quite a prize. As he picked it up in the yard, Tim was thinking how strange it was they had a toy lizard laying around. By the time Tim realized it wasn't like one of the numerous plastic replicas we have strewn around our place but a real deal dead lizard, Porter had snatched it up. When I saw them walk around the side of the house it looked to me like Porter was holding a lizard. I was so confused and couldn't fathom why it would tolerate being held.

P & M were both really fascinated with the specimen and gave it a good looking over, followed by a good hand scrubbing! And I can't tell you how extremely upset the poor boy was when he finally had to part with his little friend!

One Holiday Down

Now that we are past Thanksgiving I think I have to stop ignoring the holiday music blaring from all the stores and start getting cheery. We still haven't really sorted out what we are doing yet for the holidays but have finally bought some plane tickets. We'll be heading to NY for the holidays hoping for lots of family fun and cookie eating there. Tonight on the long drive from Tucson to the CA border Tim and I also talked about our annual Dirty Santa party and I am pretty excited for that. I think we may need to rent out some big Armenian hall in the neighborhood though to fit all the folks we want to invite. Dirty Santa-ers, get your thinking caps on, the countdown to stealing is ticking.

Turtle and Turkey

Today Matilda found the perfect mock turtle costume at the Desert Museum.We also found perfect salsa at lunch with Grama and Grampa.

We also managed to squeeze a little Black Friday shopping in without any chaos or hassle. All the deals we wanted were still available even though we waltzed into the stores after 11 a.m. In case you haven't had enough turkey, here are those cupcakes. Mini-cupcakes for heads, candy corn tails and fruit by the foot waddles - pretty impressive.

Road Tripping

We arrived in Tucson for turkey this afternoon after an overnight stop at the CA/AZ border. The kids all did fine on the trip with snacks/books/truck spotting/singing. All of us stuffed ourselves with the extended clan on traditional (and not so traditional) goodies including turkey-turkey, deep-fried turkey and turkey cupcakes. Now Porter is up to his late-night antics as he had a too-late nap and is all hopped up on snacks. Tomorrow: off to the desert museum to chase lizards and javelinas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We went to an awesome celebration at Matilda's school this afternoon complete with a holiday song performed by the munchkins and tiny little plates with tiny portions of a full traditional meal.

Porter couldn't be bothered to eat any food but instead busied himself with inventorying the balls and fire trucks, kissing the bunny (really! on the nose!) and trying out every riding toy.

He's just trying to make certain we have a reliable ride to AZ tonight.

Happy turkey day everyone!

Send Good Cheer

It is early in the holiday week yet, but I am very thankful for my brother and Gia being in Michigan tonight. Mom has been back in the hospital the past few days but her doctors are promising she'll go home in time for a Brian-cooked turkey. Channel your extra happy thoughts her way please to boost Mom over this hump.

Gender Confusion

Porter has been sporting this ladybug dress a lot recently (calling himself "ant" which is his word for any bug). He is also quite prone to request barrettes when Matilda is getting some. All together it is a that look left the cable guy a bit confused about where was the son we kept referring to.

As if to clear up the misunderstanding Porter spent most of the afternoon also wearing his helmet and "riding his motorcycle."

Prioritizing

Matilda ate this lunch 1 food item at a time:

1. Anchovies (lunch of champions, always gone from her plate first)

2. Pickles (more salt, please)

3. Carrots

4. Pita chips

5. Iceberg (?)

6. Cucumbers (not shown)

7. A few grapes and pear slices

Her treat out that night was a bit more colorful.

It's hard to say if she finished the M&Ms first or the gummy worms; it was all so fast and frenzied! We don't go very often so when we do it is awesome to let her choose whatever concoction she wants. It always involves chocolate yogurt but this visit she was thrilled to discover they had peppermint too, another favorite.

Words of Wisdom from My Corporate Friends

Each week I still get a little emailed blurb about "Your Child this Week" with advice, what to expect, etc. This is what I got today to mark Porter's 19 month mark:

When you're out and about, your toddler's favorite pastime may be running away from you as fast as he can, squealing in delight as you rush to catch up. He's oblivious to danger, so you'll need to be extra watchful of cars, bicycles, and dogs if you take him for a walk outdoors. Keeping him strapped into a stroller is safest, of course, but that's not always where he wants to be.

Maybe life would be a lot easier if I kept him buckled in but probably not as entertaining.

Clean Teeth

Porter & I took Matilda in for a good tooth scrubbing on Friday. She loves to practice brushing on this dinosaur!

Porter, however, was a bit freaked out by it, especially when I talked for the puppet. After I stopped talking though he was friendly again with the dino.

I also had a hard time getting him to try on the dinosaur's cowboy hat. I think zebra pattern is not in Porter's style handbook.

Blogging from my cellphone because AT&T came by today to "fix" our internet. Please standby until Monday.

Blog as Baby Book: Potty

3...2..1... and we have pee-pee in the potty! Exciting events around here tonight at bath time. Matilda was almost as excited as we were and let out a big "hip hip hooray!" immediately. Porter seemed perplexed by it. I know it is a long road till we are diaper-free, but an fun milestone regardless. Better than pee-pee on the carpet. It is especially funny because Porter started referring to himself as "baby" today.