What a year!

2010 already over - how can it be?? Yes, I am sad to admit it is true that time flies by faster and faster the older you get. It was a great year, though - we adopted Sammy the 12-pound terror, took a much-needed family trip to Hawaii, work sent me to Richmond, New York, London and LA, Lily and I took our first mama-daughter road trip, we found out we're having a baby boy (!!!!!) and Lily continued to delight and amaze us with her infectious laugh and bottomless well of observations. What better way to end the year but to share some of her insights?

- On finding something broken/spilled/squashed or not-quite-right...like Sammy running through the house with one leg hanging out of his tiny fleece coat: "it wasn't meeeee" delivered in a sing-song voice or a resolute "IIIII didn't do it!"

- First thing in the morning: "Mommy, Mommy, can we cuddle?" followed by "I'm getting something to eat" followed by a Lily reappearing in our bed with a giant carrot from the fridge. Yes, she will eat the entire thing...which works nicely for me as the amount of crunching required to consume such a large root vegetable allows at least 15 more minutes of napping

- On the occasion of being one of the last kids picked up from school: "Mama - you took a LONG time!"

- Apropos of nothing any of us can discern: "WHAT'S THAT SMELL? Ah-ah-ah-CHOOO!"

- When winning a game: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" (we're working on her being a gracious winner)

- Observation on the giant grim reaper that is erected in Greenwood every Halloween (and lasts till December): "I think the Grim Reaper is nice - he speaks Spanish and gives presents like Santa, but is different"

- Regarding less-than-pristine snow: "Snowmen make snow dirty with their butts"

- On healthy eating: "I like salad. I think it's awesome"

- On the occasion I burned the heck out of my leg with boiling water: "Poor little leg!" followed by her bringing me one of her old birthday cards, a stuffed dog and asking Daddy to make me cocoa

- In response to my mentioning the smelly state of Sammy: "Yeah, we have a stinky dog. We should go pick out a new one"

- Reaction to my asking for help smooshing a crust into the pan: "I don't want to get my beautiful hands dirty!!"

- When getting caught eating extra treats: "I'm sneaky with the gingerbread house!" (delivered with a grin and a distinct level of pride)

- Pointing out a family of snow people: "Look! Mommy snowman, daddy snowman and HEY! I don't have any eyebrows!"

- Directing me on how to properly hang our stockings: "I want my stocking on the "Y" because that's how my name ends"

- When pretending to be our waitress: Me - "What's good?" Lily - "Mac-n-Cheese" Me - "Is it delicious?" Lily - "It has peperoni!" Chris - "Are there any specials?" Lily - "We have cookies and gingers" Chris - "And how are the gingers prepared?" Lily - "Um....they're frosted!"

- When feeling the need to verify a statement: "Really, truly???"

- Again in the morning, when coming into our room for a cuddle: "I want to bring something for the baby and something for me" followed by her tossing a few things on the bed, grabbing the flat sheet to hoist herself up, then tucking a blanket around my belly and snuggling in with a blankey for herself. Seriously sweetest kid ever

- Regarding the baby in general: "Does he like tickles? (followed by tickling my belly) Can he hear me? What is the baby doing right now?"

- On sharing the news: "My mommy has a baby in her belly and it's gonna be THIS BIG" accompanied by large arm circle in front of her wee body

- On skipping the advent calendar one day: "I'm going to open TWO doors tomorrow and then I will have ONE left!" Why yes, that WAS a math problem she just solved! Daddy has been working with her on this

- Anytime, day or night: "Let's play a game" This can be an actual game, or one that she has spontaneously made up...more often the latter and can be anything from one of her beloved puzzles, to play-acting, to dancing, to her directing us that she will say/do X and what our appropriate response should be, to hide and seek (with hiding be as simple as her covering her face while we feign confusion)...you name it, she's come up with it

- On zerberts: "THWPTHSSS" I don't know how to write the sound, but man does she love to give them!!

- On taking her to see the Santa at Swanson's after a failed attempt at Northgate (she wouldn't get near him, but opted to instead call out her request for a Barbie "with wings and a tail" from a safe distance of 4 feet): "That's not the real Santa!" Busted - I had to explain the Northgate one is real, and the Swanson's one a helper...which she then proceeded to tell all the other children

- And finally, not a quote, just a matter of pride....for the second year in a row we took her to play miniature golf on New Year's Weekend...and she got a HOLE IN ONE on a rather challenging hole...and then later in the weekend came within 20 points of beating daddy in Wii bowling. Um...yeah...she is a rock star!

So yes, overall 2010 was a great year and one that we will remember fondly. We are incredibly blessed and can't wait to see what 2011 brings. One thing is for sure - there will be plenty of blog fodder I'll be sharing. Stay tuned!