Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
In TWO days I will be TWO
I can hardly wait. . . I LOVE birthdays and mine is coming soon. I have been singing "Happy Happy to meeeeee" for weeks now. Mama is trying to help me make "two" with my fingers, but I have a hard time holding the other fingers down.
Mama says I will be a BIG girl when I am two and not a baby anymore. For the most part I am happy to be a big girl, but I think there may be some challenges to growing up. For instance, they keep talking about saying "bye bye" to Bobo!! Bobo?! Really guys?! But I do notice that most kids my age don't have pacifiers anymore. Only babies do. And boy- do I LOVE babies. I have a couple of new ones I got for Christmas and Mama is right, it's a lot of work being a mommy. I have to change them, feed them, and hold their bobos in place. I also take them for walks with my new doll stroller.
Christmas was lots of fun. My favorite gifts were the stroller, hello kitty bandaids and big girl underwear. I think that is going require some growing up to- no more diapers?! I love to go potty at my friends' houses. Yesterday, during a birthday party, I snuck off the Porter's potty, pulled down my pants and went pee pee. Mama found me and laughed. But my own potty is not as exciting to me yet.
I got to play with my ALL my cousins over the holidays and it was so much fun. I learned the magic word "mine." It makes me feel so powerful. Mama says that the magic word is "please." But I think that is kind of boring. I also had a blast looking at LOTS of christmas lights, making a gingerbread house, and opening presents!!
I continue to take on the world full force. I don't have any separation anxiety anymore. Except for church. For some reason, I HATE playing with the kids in the nursery. So I get to stay with Mom and Dad in the sanctuary.
I have also learned to cuddle more. I love snuggling up and reading books with mom and dad with the blankets piled high.
I also feel like I understand concepts more and more. I am learning about "sorry" and how to wait for something. The other day, Mama stopped suddenly in the car and said "Sorry Nori" and I said, "Sorry groceries" to all the bags that were rolling around in the back. Mama couldn't stop laughing. In fact,almost everyday I see her laughing at me.
She can't talk about me in front of me anymore because I totally get what's going on. They started spelling a lot, but they forget- I'm two!! My brain has so many more synapses than theirs combined- I will have them figured out in no time.
Speaking of brains, they are trying to teach me colors, numbers and letters, but I am not so interested. I figure I have the rest of my life to do that boring stuff. I am saving all my energy for PLAYING which I love to do. I like cooking with Mama in the kitchen(wearing my apron), climbing, rearranging, pretending, and most recently coloring!! Mama said that her Christmas cookies were a little crunchy this year because of all the egg shells I put in.
I don't discriminate with toys- I like them all. Trucks (especially dump trucks), doll babies, trains, and my new kitchen set.I also rode on a real Choo Choo train over Christmas! Wow! I loved it.
I like eating more over the past month. Especially because Mama and Daddy are eating with me usually. My favorite part is saying AMEN! and holding hands.
Before I go, I have to tell you about the most MAGICAL discovery I have made in the past month- television! Daddy lets me watch Elmo on Youtube in the morning when he does my hair. Mama is usually out jogging and as soon as she comes home we put it away so she'll never know. Daddy calls it the "Elmo Spa" because I get to wear my robe and get my hair and nails done.
Well, gotta go. Bye bye to the baby days and hello to being a 2 year old!!
Mama says I will be a BIG girl when I am two and not a baby anymore. For the most part I am happy to be a big girl, but I think there may be some challenges to growing up. For instance, they keep talking about saying "bye bye" to Bobo!! Bobo?! Really guys?! But I do notice that most kids my age don't have pacifiers anymore. Only babies do. And boy- do I LOVE babies. I have a couple of new ones I got for Christmas and Mama is right, it's a lot of work being a mommy. I have to change them, feed them, and hold their bobos in place. I also take them for walks with my new doll stroller.
Christmas was lots of fun. My favorite gifts were the stroller, hello kitty bandaids and big girl underwear. I think that is going require some growing up to- no more diapers?! I love to go potty at my friends' houses. Yesterday, during a birthday party, I snuck off the Porter's potty, pulled down my pants and went pee pee. Mama found me and laughed. But my own potty is not as exciting to me yet.
I got to play with my ALL my cousins over the holidays and it was so much fun. I learned the magic word "mine." It makes me feel so powerful. Mama says that the magic word is "please." But I think that is kind of boring. I also had a blast looking at LOTS of christmas lights, making a gingerbread house, and opening presents!!
I continue to take on the world full force. I don't have any separation anxiety anymore. Except for church. For some reason, I HATE playing with the kids in the nursery. So I get to stay with Mom and Dad in the sanctuary.
I have also learned to cuddle more. I love snuggling up and reading books with mom and dad with the blankets piled high.
I also feel like I understand concepts more and more. I am learning about "sorry" and how to wait for something. The other day, Mama stopped suddenly in the car and said "Sorry Nori" and I said, "Sorry groceries" to all the bags that were rolling around in the back. Mama couldn't stop laughing. In fact,almost everyday I see her laughing at me.
She can't talk about me in front of me anymore because I totally get what's going on. They started spelling a lot, but they forget- I'm two!! My brain has so many more synapses than theirs combined- I will have them figured out in no time.
Speaking of brains, they are trying to teach me colors, numbers and letters, but I am not so interested. I figure I have the rest of my life to do that boring stuff. I am saving all my energy for PLAYING which I love to do. I like cooking with Mama in the kitchen(wearing my apron), climbing, rearranging, pretending, and most recently coloring!! Mama said that her Christmas cookies were a little crunchy this year because of all the egg shells I put in.
I don't discriminate with toys- I like them all. Trucks (especially dump trucks), doll babies, trains, and my new kitchen set.I also rode on a real Choo Choo train over Christmas! Wow! I loved it.
I like eating more over the past month. Especially because Mama and Daddy are eating with me usually. My favorite part is saying AMEN! and holding hands.
Before I go, I have to tell you about the most MAGICAL discovery I have made in the past month- television! Daddy lets me watch Elmo on Youtube in the morning when he does my hair. Mama is usually out jogging and as soon as she comes home we put it away so she'll never know. Daddy calls it the "Elmo Spa" because I get to wear my robe and get my hair and nails done.
Well, gotta go. Bye bye to the baby days and hello to being a 2 year old!!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Happy Happy Jesus
It's the last week of Advent and we had another rainy Tuesday. We ended up back at the bookstore to play. I was still undecided about returning "Twas the Night Before Christmas." But this was my last chance, if I was going to do it.I couldn't find the receipt, so decided to bring it along and if they would take it back without one, it must be meant to be. When the owner agreed to exchange it, I felt suddenly pained in my heart- it was such a beautiful book!!: Sugar plums, reindeer, toys. . . sigh. Was I making the right decision? Too late now. The first book I picked, that wasn't nearly as well illustrated, was about the animals preparing for Jesus' birth. The chorus of their song was, "the One who made us has come to live with us." Tears streamed down my face. How can I talk of Santa, when God has chosen to live with us?
Since walking out of the store, my place of Advent transformation, I have felt a change of perspective. Instead of balancing the two stories of Santa and Jesus, I have released myself to just believe in the truth of Jesus. Now, I can think of many ways to bring Jesus into Christmas, especially without the pressure of perpetuating Santa. There is a sense that I may be causing Nori to miss out on some magic of childhood. But it's my hope that the magic of God among us warms her heart along with sugar plums dancing in her head.
So that is where my Advent journey has brought me, at least this year. Like the wisemen, ready to seek Him. This morning, we stopped to buy a cupcake for Jesus' birthday singing. Nori is obsessed with singing "Happy Birthday." (But she usually leaves out the birthday part- just Happy and the person's name.) She will be thrilled singing to him and carrying around her Baby Jesus on Christmas. Bye Bye Santa, you were good to me.
Since walking out of the store, my place of Advent transformation, I have felt a change of perspective. Instead of balancing the two stories of Santa and Jesus, I have released myself to just believe in the truth of Jesus. Now, I can think of many ways to bring Jesus into Christmas, especially without the pressure of perpetuating Santa. There is a sense that I may be causing Nori to miss out on some magic of childhood. But it's my hope that the magic of God among us warms her heart along with sugar plums dancing in her head.
So that is where my Advent journey has brought me, at least this year. Like the wisemen, ready to seek Him. This morning, we stopped to buy a cupcake for Jesus' birthday singing. Nori is obsessed with singing "Happy Birthday." (But she usually leaves out the birthday part- just Happy and the person's name.) She will be thrilled singing to him and carrying around her Baby Jesus on Christmas. Bye Bye Santa, you were good to me.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Jesus Plus
Okay, so there are still some big questions I have if I am going to teach Nori and truly practice Christmas in honor of Jesus.
First off, how to relate gift giving, cookies, parties- all the good ol' neutral traditions- to Jesus?
One friend shared with me how she taught the advent season to her kids. She said that Jesus is the self emptying gift from God to us. Advent, ie the Holidays, are a time to be present with each other as God is present to us as the human Jesus.
I love that Nori knows Jesus first as human. I would hate for her to think of Jesus as only a story or in the sky. But Jesus as human is clearly a God among us. A God that cares.
My friend said that buying/making a gift specific and sacrificially for another is sharing in God's desire to be specific and personal to us.
I can go with that. It is a season of presence. God's presence among us and us taking time to be with others (ie Holiday parties.) And of course I can't pass up the cliche- "presence is the presents."
So, gifts and parties are covered.
How about decorating? Last year, I led a small service on the solstice for a few friends. We stood in the dark, to recognize the dark and to accept what that brings, good and bad. We remembered why the church historically chose December 25 as Christmas: the earth begins to turn and the light comes closer. Jesus is the light.
December is cold and the "greening" of the house is to bring the reminder of life indoors.
And that's about as far as I've gotten. Still undecided re: the book I bought Nori, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
I guess there's still 17 days to decide.
First off, how to relate gift giving, cookies, parties- all the good ol' neutral traditions- to Jesus?
One friend shared with me how she taught the advent season to her kids. She said that Jesus is the self emptying gift from God to us. Advent, ie the Holidays, are a time to be present with each other as God is present to us as the human Jesus.
I love that Nori knows Jesus first as human. I would hate for her to think of Jesus as only a story or in the sky. But Jesus as human is clearly a God among us. A God that cares.
My friend said that buying/making a gift specific and sacrificially for another is sharing in God's desire to be specific and personal to us.
I can go with that. It is a season of presence. God's presence among us and us taking time to be with others (ie Holiday parties.) And of course I can't pass up the cliche- "presence is the presents."
So, gifts and parties are covered.
How about decorating? Last year, I led a small service on the solstice for a few friends. We stood in the dark, to recognize the dark and to accept what that brings, good and bad. We remembered why the church historically chose December 25 as Christmas: the earth begins to turn and the light comes closer. Jesus is the light.
December is cold and the "greening" of the house is to bring the reminder of life indoors.
And that's about as far as I've gotten. Still undecided re: the book I bought Nori, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
I guess there's still 17 days to decide.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Jesus or Santa? Part 2
It has been over a week since I last posted. I have had some interesting and thought provoking dialogues with friends concerning my Christmas dilemma, which although unresolved, seems to be evolving.
It is funny to see people's reaction to my proposal to take Jesus from Christmas. Some say we are to avoid the craziness of "Santa" (gifts, cards, cookies) and to simply wait in the darkness of Advent for the light of Jesus. I realize that I have a fear that will be boring and we will have to give up the fun of Santa. Most people insist you can do both- a mix of Santa and Jesus. But I still struggle- is this fair to Jesus? Is it fair to Nori?
A few significant events have also occurred. We got out the Christmas decorations. We don't have a lot, but I was surprised to see no Santas! We have 5 nativity sets, lots of ornaments collected through the years, candles and several decorative snowmen. (Maybe the snowman is the ideal Christmas symbol- not too religious nor too Santa?!) The only Santa propaganda was an ornament that I inherited from my Grandparents. Whew. I felt a sigh of relief. At least my Christmas decorating wasn't about to be stolen if I choose Jesus over Santa. The funny thing is that I never really thought about what we put around the house before, besides trying to keep it minimal.
Another surprising thing happened as we started to decorate: I told Nori about Jesus for the first time. Sure, we say grace as a family, but what does that mean to her 2 year old mind, besides the hearty AMENs! she likes to shout. I probably would have started this conversation with her soon, regardless of the season. But what a gift that her coming to age matched the advent season. AND that her introduction involved a baby that she can hold and look at, our human God.
I told her about Him and His parents and there they were- Mary, Joseph, and Jesus suddenly all over our house. There is little she loves more than babies, both real and her dolls- combing their hair, feeding them, burping them and of course nursing them. I Hope no guests catch her nursing baby Jesus, there is probably some general consent against that!
So, here in the second week of advent our home is full of the holy threesome that fits quite naturally into her small world of baby, Mama and Dada. She loves baby Jesus. She decidedly did NOT want to sit on Santa's lap, although he was way too skinny to be the real Santa anyway. So, for now, I guess she has chosen.
For now, santa remains the scary guy we tried to pawn her off on and my grandmother's small delicate ornament safely hidden at the top of the tree.
It is funny to see people's reaction to my proposal to take Jesus from Christmas. Some say we are to avoid the craziness of "Santa" (gifts, cards, cookies) and to simply wait in the darkness of Advent for the light of Jesus. I realize that I have a fear that will be boring and we will have to give up the fun of Santa. Most people insist you can do both- a mix of Santa and Jesus. But I still struggle- is this fair to Jesus? Is it fair to Nori?
A few significant events have also occurred. We got out the Christmas decorations. We don't have a lot, but I was surprised to see no Santas! We have 5 nativity sets, lots of ornaments collected through the years, candles and several decorative snowmen. (Maybe the snowman is the ideal Christmas symbol- not too religious nor too Santa?!) The only Santa propaganda was an ornament that I inherited from my Grandparents. Whew. I felt a sigh of relief. At least my Christmas decorating wasn't about to be stolen if I choose Jesus over Santa. The funny thing is that I never really thought about what we put around the house before, besides trying to keep it minimal.
Another surprising thing happened as we started to decorate: I told Nori about Jesus for the first time. Sure, we say grace as a family, but what does that mean to her 2 year old mind, besides the hearty AMENs! she likes to shout. I probably would have started this conversation with her soon, regardless of the season. But what a gift that her coming to age matched the advent season. AND that her introduction involved a baby that she can hold and look at, our human God.
I told her about Him and His parents and there they were- Mary, Joseph, and Jesus suddenly all over our house. There is little she loves more than babies, both real and her dolls- combing their hair, feeding them, burping them and of course nursing them. I Hope no guests catch her nursing baby Jesus, there is probably some general consent against that!
So, here in the second week of advent our home is full of the holy threesome that fits quite naturally into her small world of baby, Mama and Dada. She loves baby Jesus. She decidedly did NOT want to sit on Santa's lap, although he was way too skinny to be the real Santa anyway. So, for now, I guess she has chosen.
For now, santa remains the scary guy we tried to pawn her off on and my grandmother's small delicate ornament safely hidden at the top of the tree.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
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