A lot has happened in the month or so since my last newsletter. The biggest two events being Christmas and Mommy and Daddy's first big trip without you. First things first - Christmas was a huge hit! You fully embraced the Christmas spirit this year - understanding the whole Santa thing and asking for a zillion presents. I think were all a little surprised when you jumped right up on Santa's lap and informed him you wanted a xylophone and drums. You insisted you were going to tell him whenever we prepped you but given last year's death grip on Mommy and your still pretty regular tendency to play shy with strangers . . . . I wasn't so sure you would talk to him. But you were the perfect little girl. I even think you took Santa by surprise - I'm not sure he is used to kids telling him what they want before he even asks!
Christmas itself was wonderful, relaxing. We got in all the Rinehart family traditions this year since it was our year home. We did Christmas Eve service at church - where you had everyone in stitches as you asked questions about the service and cheerfully asked why they didn't light your candle first. After church we did tea at Dotdot's house. That night we started our own family tradition by writing Santa a thank you note and leaving cookies and milk out for him and putting brussel sprouts on the porch for the reindeer. Christmas morning you were a little overwhelmed when Santa brought you all three gifts you asked for - drums, a xylophone and a Kai Lan house. At first you just stood there staring then as it dawned on you the smile grew and the drumming commenced.
The Santa and gifts part of Christmas is mastered and I think Christmas is officially one of your favorite days of the year. You have already started a list of what you want for Christmas next year. Now we just have to teach you that snow doesn't mean it is Christmas. We got a few flurries right before Christmas this year and your Daddy told you that meant it was officially Christmas. It has snowed twice since then and both times you have declared "It's snowing, that means it's Christmas again!" Come to think of it you seem to like both the winter holidays. On New Year's Eve Mommy and Daddy went to a party and Dotdot and Peepaw kept you. They got noise makers and streamers and hats and you were all prepped for a party with them - from what Dotdot says and the pictures she took you were quit the party animal!
The second big event of the last month or so came the day after your month birthday - Mommy and Daddy went on a week long cruise with some friends and left you for the week with Dotdot and Peepaw. I think everyone involved had a good time though I think everyone agrees a trip that long without you isn't likely to happen again any time soon. Mommy isn't leaving you for that long again unless forced to and I think Dotdot and Peepaw needed a vacation to recover from taking care of you for 9 days. You definitely kept them busy as you guys went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, you went to the dino exhibit in town, you went shopping and out to eat and to "nastics" - it was an action packed week for your grandparents. But, Dotdot did email me the day after we got back and said she missed you the first night you weren't there.
I will close with one funny story about what you are doing right now. This past weekend you watched Shrek for the first time. The next morning you apparently didn't want to go to Gretchen's so to avoid the pending meltdown Daddy threw you over his shoulder saying you were Princess Fiona and he was Shrek. Now you refuse to call him anything but Shrek. Whenever I refer to him as Daddy you say "You mean Shrek, Mommy?" Yesterday at the library you told Miss Libby your Daddy was Shrek and asked if she had any books about him. As always you keep us laughing!
All my love -
Mommy


