Oh, Where do the Days Go??

So, it's December and I haven't blogged since October. Hence the title, "where do the days go!?" Lately, they are being spent entertaining a now 3 year old and almost 18 month old inside because our Ohio weather makes it impossible to spend too long outside.

Despite our busy days, playing, pre schooling, running to ballet & art class and keeping two kids alive and fed, I would normally have nap time to catch my breath and occasionally blog. However, for the past 3 months I've had the flu. The longest flu of my life. The doctor called it....morning sickness! Yep, I'm officially baking surprise number 2 (baby number 3, but "surprise" baby #2, if that makes sense:) We are nervous, but thrilled and I have been so sick with this munchkin. Thankfully, as  I near the end of the 4th month, I am finally able to get through a day without the yucks. And I'm also now in the market for a new blog name....all suggestions welcome. :)

Life didn't stop, though, and we had a blast planning, decorating and celebrating Ailey's 3rd Birthday with a "Frozen" themed birthday party. This little girl is 3 going on 13. She is my buddy and such a stinker. Lately, she's been using her creativity to think up reasons to get out of bed at night. Some of my favorites are, "Mom, I need help with my sock" - as it hangs off her toes, or "Dad, can you clip my nails?" Oh that girl! She loves imaginative play, especially playing princesses. The two girls will dress up as princesses and lay down to "sleep" and ask me (prince charming, of course) to kiss them to wake them up from their slumber! Haha! She is such a good big sister and looks out for poor Callie almost too much sometimes. She shares with her, calls her "sweetheart", and will sing Callie's favorite song "Twinkle, Twinkle" as soon as she cries for any reason.  She's sure that mommy is having a brother for her because, "I already have a sister mom, her name's Callie, remember!?" We're working hard on letter identification and she's got about 6 of them down. I have to remind myself daily of the things I used to tell past parents of students. It's different when it's your own kid! I just thought for sure she'd pick it all up the first afternoon I introduced it...yes, I was that naive.

On to other things, we decided to try an Advent Calendar this year. Our calendar is filled with Holiday Activities to do each day. So far, we've made Christmas crafts, watched a local light show, saw the lights at the zoo, went to a story time with Santa at the Library (where A told Santa not to be hurt that C was screaming bloody murder, it was just because he looked like a monster with that beard), picked out new ornaments and are soon headed to see a Live Nativity scene at a local church. I'm very much looking forward to this one and hoping it leads itself to some good conversations about the real reason for the Christmas season. We have some great activities coming up in the last 10 days before Christmas!!! So my plan is to be back soon to share more of those!! I love this time of year and have loved it even more being home everyday with my sweet kiddos and having more time to listen to Christmas music and enjoy the tree!