Christmas Day

Christmas morning, Shelby woke up with a fever, runny nose and congestion.  She definitely didn't feel well.  She had not interest in gifts, or breakfast or anything.  She wanted her sippy cup and her Mama.   We snuggled on the couch, I gave her a bath and a cup and she went back to bed for almost a 4 hour nap.  Once she woke up she was feeling a little better.  A clean indication of how bad she felt can be seen in these photos-- especially  by the fact that she wore pigtails all day without protest.   Here are some photos from our Christmas morning...in the afternoon.  

 In the afternoon, Mr.D.'s parents Linda and Tom arrived.  We continued to play and relax.  I made a somewhat fabulous dinner of Wedge Salad ,  Pancetta Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Horesradish Whipped Cream,  Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls, and Apple Dumplings for dessert.  OH--and I HAVE to share this recipe with you which I had made in the early afternoon for an appetizer...Baked Feta.  I wish I had more time to take photos, but the day simply got away from me with all of the entertaining, the sick girl, the cooking and cleaning that had to be done.  I will try harder next year, or solicit more help in that area.

Here is a photo from dinner of Shelby's shirt after she had a lollipop.

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I know it's February 1st... but I am still blogging about Christmas Eve

Let's see.... Christmas Eve........

Shelby's Nonnie visited (my Mom).   We opened gift with her.  She got Shelby a Leap Frog Leap Pad which Shelby loves and will really be able to grow into for years.  We have friends with a 6 year old who loves his!

As tradition in our town, Santa came by on the fire truck.

Also, last year on Christmas Eve, Shelby moved into her high chair and started eating solid food.  This year, she moved out of her high chair and is now in a booster seat at the table.  We all love it SO much more! 

One gift that was in Shelby's stocking that she loved were these light up tooth brushes.

 She immediately had to call all of her friends on her light up toothbrush phone and tell them all about it! 

 This was Shelby's big gift from us.  

 The sandwich making lesson on top was from my friend Russell's mother.  She was so sweet to think of Shelby when I know she was having a hard Christmas herself.  

Mr. D.'s Parent's Linda and Tom bought Shelby the table and chairs.

  

We are working to convert the guest room into the playroom......this was our start. 

Hopefully by March I will have enough time to sit down and tell you all about Christmas Day, after Christmas, Mr. D., Shelby starting school and SO MUCH MORE!!! 

the dashing of my Christmas card vision

I had high hopes for the Christmas card this year... I mean after all last year I was able to pull this off---

Mind you with a 4 months old child who could not even stand and was wobbly at holding herself up.  Perfection.....

This year, my vision was a Little Drummer Girl theme...because after all, Shelby has developed a passion for drumming.  We definitely see percussion in her future.  This child drums on everything and can even keep a beat.   Here is a version of my vision... except I was hoping for a little more joy.

 

Here is the picture we went with in our Christmas card

Hmmmm.... maybe I should go ahead and start working on next year...................

Shelby at 17 months

It is hard to believe that Shelby is now 17 months old.  My, how she has changed!

Shelby has recently started school-- which you will have to wait to read about in a later post.
Here is a list of things about Shelby at 17 months!

* She continues to LOVE music.  In any capacity.  She loves pianos, cymbals, rhythm sticks, the triangle, drums--SHE LOVES DRUMS! She has started singing, though just melody not really words.  She can and will turn anything into a drum.

* She is very VERY independent.  She wants to do most everything for her self.  She 100% is a self feeder. She even has started helping to pull her clothes on herself.

* She sits at the table with us now and does a great job for the most part.   She hates a place mat and if we give her one she will quickly throw it and everything on top of it off of the table (we are working on that).

* She drinks from a straw cup now and is dabbling in drinking from a cup without a lid at all.

* She loves playing outside, climbing, swinging and running!

* She finds and loses words constantly.  She tries to repeat what we say ...when she wants to.  She has one phase that I just love-- she says "Hi Beauty".  Precious--- and maybe showing that she watches Beauty and the Beast more than we should allow.  This week her Heddo-- has turned into Hello... more like Hellllllllooo.  Her everyday words are (consistently used) Mama, Daddy, Brady, up, go, Hello, Hi, Beauty, yes, bye bye, and eat.  Like I said, other words come and go-- but these are the constants.  She talks non-stop, but her long conversations are mostly indecipherable.

* Her favorite foods are yogurt, cheese puffs, fruit, pureed fruit/veggies in a drinkable pouch, bread (in any form- crackers, toast, bagels, cereal, whatever).  She is still not a big meat eater but will eat some meats- when she wants to.

*She is always busy, and is a great sleeper.   She loves to stay busy and stays focused on task for a long period of time.  She is happiest when she is carrying around two items (can be anything) one in each hand.  When it is bed time we put her in bed and that's all she wrote.  She goes to sleep and sleeps through anything.  We are SO blessed with a great sleeper!

*She still has her passion for SHOES!

Santa

button books

Buttons are very special in my family.  So, when I saw these button books at my school's book fair I decided it was time to introduce a love of buttons to the next generation of girls.   They loved them!

accidentally artistic

While we were in the hotel in Atlanta, Shelby found my camera.   Some how it must have gotten banged and the lense didn't open all of the way when I snapped this picture--- but I think it is very artistic looking.