It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

We are two days away from the official end of the holiday season, and I could not have asked for better memories!  Not only was it Lauren's first Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it was our first Thanksgiving and Christmas with a child.  And experiencing the holidays through the eyes of a baby is so much more fun than as a 30ish old adult.

We spent this Thanksgiving at my parents house.  Every year we alternate between the Pali household and the Fisher household, but both families always spend Thanksgiving dinner together.  It was a great 4 day weekend and L'ie Bear got her first introduction to our oftentimes chaotic but always entertaining family dinners.  She even got to enjoy some of the "big people" food.  Her favorites included green bean casserole and sweet potatoes.  In order to limited her sugar intake, I volunteered to eat the marshmallows off of her sweet potatoes (it's a tough job, but someone had to do it).

Second to the actual Thanksgiving Dinner, my other favorite moment that weekend was when L'ie discovered the Pali Family Bell!  My mom managed to bring the dinner bell from her childhood home in Illinois to Salisbury and it proudly stands in the backyard.  We do not ring the bell very often, since it is quite loud, but we couldn't resist when the Bear saw it!  Unfortunately, she was not impressed with the actual bell, but she sure did love the pull chain.

The Bear is not quite sure about this family dinner.

But once she got food, she started to enjoy herself.

The Pali Family Bell!!

Yum.  Metal!

Family photo from Thanksgiving

Finally, it was Christmas time.  We stayed with the Fishers this year, but celebrated with the Palis on Christmas Eve.  Ever since I can remember, my sister and I would always sit at the top of the steps on Christmas morning and beg to come down and see what Santa left us.  After my dad was satisfied that all of the cameras were ready to go, my mom would yell up and tell us to come on down.  We would run down the stairs, round the corner and immediately find stockings overflowing with little goodies and our big gift from Santa set up by the fireplace.  My sister and I have continued that tradition every year (complete with begging), and this was the FIRST year that I was able to stay downstairs.  Now L'ie Bear takes my place at the top of the steps.

Waiting to come down the stairs!

The Pali Christmas tree

We spent the afternoon opening gifts and then headed to church.  This year, L'ie was asked to play the role of Baby Jesus during the service, and she stole the show.  She smiled and cooed on cue and looked adorable in her costume.  She definitely has some of Grandpa Pali's genes and perhaps a career in acting is in her future.

On Christmas morning, we enjoyed some more stockings and gifts at the Fisher house.  Santa definitely stopped by during the night and L'ie made out very well!  She even got to spend some quality time with her Great Grandmother.

Checking out what Santa brought!

The Bear with some of her gifts

Playing with her Great Grandmother

Opening presents with the Bear takes a while, but we managed to get everything cleaned up in time for another chaotic and entertaining dinner with the Palis.  And we ended the evening with a competitive game between children and parents.  I am happy to report that the children beat the parents this time around, but I am sure there will be a rematch soon!!

This has always been my favorite time of the year.  I can never get enough of the sappy Christmas music, holiday decorations (although my OCD comes out when I see too many lights or disorganized light displays), holiday cookies, and just the overall happy attitudes everyone seems to have this time of year.  There are so many traditions I am looking forward to both continuing and starting with L'ie Bear as she gets older, and I just hope that she enjoys this holiday as much as I do.

And You Can Tell Everybody...This Is Your Song!

In true Pali fashion, I have been singing to L'ie Bear and she seems to enjoy it.  The singing usually gets a good laugh, and I try not to take it personally.  I would do anything for a good laugh and I am sure she is laughing at the cute lyrics and not at my singing voice.  Although I do not really remember my parents singing to me as an infant, I do remember singing to my younger sister, Sarah.  Our dad loved to make up his own songs and we still remember a few of them after all of these years.

Before L'ie Bear was born, we decided to switch my name (or my sister's name) for L'ie in one of my dad's songs.  Once we realized it still worked, I sang it to her while she was in the womb and now I sing it to her whenever she gets fussy.  I hope that in the future, she will learn the words and sing it to a little brother or sister.  But I am getting ahead of myself...

After I felt certain that L'ie could stand my singing voice, there were many attempts at creating new songs.   One day, I was getting L'ie ready for bed.  I was changing her diaper and her mobile was rocking "Rock-a-bye Baby".  I started singing along and came up with what I call her Bedtime Song.  In the song, Li'ie meets up with Clark the Bear and heads off to Dreamland.  Hmmm....ok, this may need a little explanation.

Growing up, my dad always told us that we had to go to bed at a certain time so that we could catch the next Dream Train, which would whisk us away to Dreamland.  Children were lucky because they got to take a fun-filled earlier train.  The boring grown-ups had to take a later train.  At the end of a Dreamland adventure, the train would bring us back to our beds, and we would wake up in the morning.  As a child, I never wanted to miss the early Dream Train.

I was lucky enough to grow up with my dad's crazy and wonderful bedtime stories.  Dreamland was only one of many memorable stories.  He also created the Snow Elf, a tiny (almost invisible) elf, who worked for Santa and was sent to every child's home.  He would move from branch to branch on the Christmas tree and would keep an eye to see who was naughty and who was nice.  And if you were like us, without a fireplace, the snow elf was small enough to slide in under any door and he would make sure the front door was unlocked for Santa on Christmas Eve.   I know, this story sounds similar to another famous elf, created in 2005.  But I am getting ahead of myself again...

I have decided it is never too early to introduce L'ie to Dreamland.  As we walk up the stairs to her room, the Dream Train can be heard chugging in the distance.  She loves to hear me making soft chugging sounds and then toot tooting like a train's horn.  By the time we get to her room, she knows that it is almost bedtime.

But bedtime is not complete without a snuggle from Clark the Bear!!  Although we still have hopes that she will grow up to be a fellow Cubs fan, her San Francisco family wasted no time in introducing her to the Giants.  They gave L'ie a stuffed Giants bear and she immediately fell in love.  When we realized she would not fall asleep without him, we decided to name him after one of Great Aunt SA's favorite player, Will Clark.

L'ie Bear with Clark the Bear!

Below L'ie Bear and Clark the Bear, make an appearance in videos showcasing these two wonderful songs.  In full disclosure, despite what the Bear might think, my singing voice is not very good.  So listen at your own risk!!

Grandpa Pali's Song

Bedtime Song

     

9 Month Baby!

It has been 9 months since L'ie Bear has entered our lives and I would not change a thing.  She is such an alert, observant and happy baby.   

As of this afternoon:

1.  L'ie now weighs 16 lbs 10 oz and is 27.75 inches long.
2.  L'ie has two bottom teeth and three teeth coming in on the top.
3.  L'ie can sit up on her own and is more than content to sit on the floor and play with her toys.
4.  L'ie has begun to clap, and loves to clap when she eats something really good.
5.  L'ie has begun to point at things.  So far, her favorite things to point at are ceiling fans and lights.
6.  L'ie has begun to say "Ma ma ma ma ma" and "Da da da da da" on a regular basis.
7.  L'ie has begun munching on more table foods.  She is quite the eater and loves trying new foods.

The Bear has not started crawling yet, and if she is anything like her mother, it will be a while before we celebrate that milestone.  She has no desire to be on her tummy, and quickly rolls over during "tummy time". Also, if there is a toy out of her reach, she will stretch to try and grasp it, and then she will either pick a closer toy to play with or give up and take a nap.  But we are ok with letting her crawl whenever she is ready, and have been enjoying the other changes she has undergone.

The Bear at 1 Month

The Bear at 9 Months

We are very lucky to have such an easy and sweet baby!  Happy 9 month birthday, L'ie Bear!  We love you and are excited that you are now three quarters of the way to cake!!