Fabulous

Naomi is all about pretending these days - her princess dress is her favorite outfit, and she plays with pretend animals and babies all the time. Normally when you ask her what her baby's name is (or monkey's or bear's) the answer is Baby, or Monkey, or Bear. Yesterday was the first time she called a baby by an actual name (and it was "Kristen").

In this picture she is holding her baby, named "Fabulous". Yes, really.

Pacifiers are not Forever

Naomi has been growing up so much lately, in all these subtle ways - more talking, her imagination, how much she plays and does with us around the house. But, she hit a big milestone this past weekend, by giving up her pacifier.

I was super nervous about it, because she was very attached to it during sleeping times, and I am not ready to give up naptime! She wanted it other times, but we had limited it to naps and bedtime. Occasionally we'd tried naptime with out it, and it was a disaster.

But the weekend before I found a book called Pacifiers are not Forever, and she really liked it. It talked about being a big girl, that she could give it up, and gave some ideas of all the things you can do without a pacifier. We read the book for a week together, and talked about it. We picked a day to give it up, when we'd all be home together, and said goodbye. She was upset when she actually had to, but at bedtime and naptime the next days she only asked for it once. And she has occasionally since (and once tonight when she was really sad), but we just tell her that she gave it up, and she is big, and she says, "oh. yeah." With a smile. I am so proud of her!

A Joke

This morning, Naomi was sitting eating at her table with Mark, who was reading a magazine. She told Mark that the coffee table was the reading table, and that her table was the eating table. So he moved, and I sat and ate with her.

When Mark got his food, he sat on the couch again to eat. Naomi asked him to come sit at the eating table, that that was the reading table. Mark said, "But, I'm reading my cereal" and looked intently back and forth at his bowl, "see? I like the word raisin" and pointed at a raisin. Naomi was laughing at him.

When he came and sat down with us, Naomi copied him, looking intently at her toast as if she was reading it. "See," she said pointing, "I like the word sandwhich!"

Christmas #2 - New Mexico

From Colorado we drove to Ruiodoso, New Mexico to do Christmas with Mark's family. They were going to be there a whole week, but we spent the first couple of days before heading back to Texas and work.

We arrived on a Friday night, where it started snowing an hour and a half outside Ruiodoso. Then we made it halfway up the mountain (cause the condo was of course on top of a mountain) before our car decided it was too icy under the snow and refused to go up any more. So the only option (that Mark could see!) was to put all our warm clothes on, bundle up Naomi in the backpack carrier and hike what he said was just a 1/4-1/2 mile up the road (it was 1.3 miles). So we did - Mark's dad and brother-in-law Andrew walked halfway and met us, which made the whole thing much better! I wish I had a picture of our hike - it turned out really beautiful, but it was cold (19 degrees) and snowy. And it satisfied a dream of Mark's, I think. WOW.

We spent the next couple of days Christmas-ing, baking with the kids, and sledding. Then it was back to Texas.

Christmas in Colorado

We spent Chrstmas Day (and the few days before) in Colorado with my family. Naomi had some great time with her cousin Alvin (also 2) and with her Grandotdot and Granddaddy. We had a great time catching up, and doing lots of cooking! Mark spent a good deal of time working on Naomi's Christmas present -- the white wooden kitchen below. It is so beautiful, and Naomi loved it! We were up very late Christmas Eve finishing it (of course), but I am so proud. Naomi liked doing stockings and opening presents. And we found time to play in the snow in the backyard!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Naomi and her friend Ellaiden..