MADE IT!

This was hands-down the busiest December we've ever had. Seriously - it was madness. The first weekend of the month Lisa and Dana flew up with Quincy and Nolan and eloped, the next weekend was Arc Ballet's Nutcracker (five performances worth), then another overnight business trip, followed by a weekend in Arizona to see the Lowe clan, and then Christmas. So yeah, I think I've earned the right to put my header in all caps.

Hitting on the highlights...Lily *loves* her new cousins. After they left town she asked about them repeatedly for the next week and cannot wait to see them again. I'm thrilled to have them in the family - not only are they sweet kids, they really took to Lily and Matteo - I never would have guessed a 10-year-old boy would vie for the honor of holding a baby! The Nutcracker also went well. Truthfully Lily was on stage for maybe 90 seconds with a second "performance" at the end when the little ones took their bow. She was definitely ready for it to be over by the last show, but overall she loved having people come see her, the costumes, and especially the girl who played Clara. I wanted to hug her myself when Lily presented her with a picture and she thanked Lily, squeezed her, and said to come find her if Lily got nervous or scared. Of course Sunday fried chicken at Hi-Life when it was all over didn't hurt, either.

I normally shy away from any travel during the holidays, so was happy as can be that Arizona went off without a hitch. Easy security lines, Matteo and Lily handled the flight like champs, Lily didn't go too nuts asking for things from Grandma's house (did I mention her new shtick is to go into people's homes and ask for their possessions? Something to work on in 2012), and Grandma was very good natured about Lily's newly invented game - picking grapefruit and tossing them into the pool.

Once home, it was time for all our Christmas traditions....Christmas Eve day I took Lily to see Arthur Christmas and at night we went to church and sang Silent Night by candlelight (my favorite), decorated cookies for Santa and walked around Olympic Manor (it was completely clear and I swear more neighbors than ever lit up their homes). We decided to try a bit of Ferber that night as well....strange timing, I'll admit, but when you hit the sleep wall, you hit the sleep wall. Wasn't too bad, and little man slept from 9-ish till 5:10am. Of course Lily was on heightened alert, so the fussing that she would normally sleep through woke her right up and by 6am everything was unwrapped and cleaned up. Despite the early start, Lily rallied throughout the day, found energy for multiple costume changes and hooping, and was still in good spirits by the time Uncle Tommy, Auntie Mary, G and Marion came for meatloaf and buche de noel (I love traditions!). She and Matteo were both conked out by 8, leaving Chris and I to watch Trading Places in peace. And the best Christmas gift of all? Apparently that one night of Ferber was all it took....little dude has been sleeping from 8ish until between 5 and 7 every night since. Um, yeah, had we known....or maybe we can just consider it a Christmas miracle and leave it at that.

And to wrap up the year, a few quotables and notables...

Lily: My legs are cheesing out Me: What does that mean? Lily: They are full of cheese!

Matteo: Is now rolling ALL OVER THE PLACE. It's actually pretty amazing how he can cover a room with only the power of the roll

Lily at bedtime: Will you sit with me? Me: Not tonight, but I will come check on you later Lily:Ok, just try your best

Matteo: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....or at least that's what it sounds like he's saying

Lily eating a cinnamon candy: It tastes like cinnamon! Oh, oh - it's hot! I need some water!...I picked the wrong candy

Matteo: Head fuzz now quite thick, he is sporting a natural faux-hawk

Lily, watching an infomercial for some butt excerciser: Mama, you bend like that or your butt gets fat Me: Oh, ok, I better start doing lots of those Lily, patting my backside: No, no, your butt is fine (wow, my kid loves me!)

Matteo: Self-binking! He's been playing with the binkie and knawing on parts of it for a while, but this month he truly figured out how to get it right....95% of the time

Lily: Buenos tardes! That means Spanish

Matteo: BLAH BLAH!

Me, before the first Nutcracker performance: Are you ready for tonight? Lily: I'm ready for anything!

Hear that 2012? BRING IT!