Our Christmas Wish List for 2011...

Here's my follow up to our Christmas Post. I wanted to write down my reflections for our holiday next year so that we can hold onto some of the lessons of 2010.

1. Do stay home for the holidays again. Much as we love our families, there is something very sacred about creating our traditions here at home and the peace of not traveling that time of year.

2. Don't go to see Santa again. I could never really get behind this tradition but when I saw Eva's reaction to Santa it really confirmed for me why I think it's such a crazy set up to put our baby in the hand of a bearded stranger that she's never seen before. I love the crying Santa photos but I just can't do it again...

3. Do make Christmas cookies again. Eva adored making cookies with me and she seemed to get that it was a special treat. We hand delivered the cookies to neighbors which also felt really good to do with her.

4. Do go to the Children's Mass again but go an hour early. We know this lesson already but it really hit home to us when we arrived fifteen minutes before mass started this year and had no seats.

5. Don't bother going to the Garden of Lights again. This one cracked me up. I was so excited to take Eva to the botanical gardens that are lit up with a half a million lights in stunning visual displays. Eva was so over it in about two seconds flat. She just wanted to be free and explore, which wasn't possible with the number of visitors in the garden. So, we left after a lot of fussing. But get this: when we drove through our neighborhood she oohed and ahhhed as we past all of the holiday light displays like she was at the Taj Mahal. Go figure...

6. Do less. We were invited to a lot more parties than usual because of our little one. While the invites are always thrilling, our holiday energy started to wane quickly. We promised ourselves that we would do just a few gatherings that really mean a lot to us next year. It's that lesson that I continually re-learn: less is more. Amen.

7. Do order holiday cards before Thanksgiving. I love the holiday card tradition, especially now that we have Eva to show off with the lovely photo cards! I don't want to lose this tradition but I found it harder to get done with a busy toddler. My time is just not my own anymore so everything takes more planning time.

8. Do shop for gifts well in advance. And don't bring Eva. I tried Christmas shopping with her the one day I wasn't sick and after an epic meltdown at Nordstrom's Rack I was reminded why I never bring her along. I love my girl but my goodness she puts up a huge fuss in the stroller! It's just not worth it. That's why I usually don't do it. Holidays should be no exception even if I'm pressed for time.

9. Do a computer and phone fast on Christmas Day. I read this idea in one of my favorite mommy blogs and I think it's brilliant. I love the idea of completely unplugging for a day and playing board games and just enjoying one another's company for the day.

10. Do plan an elegant but simple dinner. We tend to get carried away in the entertaining department but food prep, as glorious as it is, can get out of hand and distract us from what is most important. And that is each other and the message of Christmas.

The Christmas Spirt Prevails...

The holiday season didn't start off well at the Walker household. I caught an upper respiratory virus that lingered for weeks. Eventually, it turned into pneumonia. I finally kicked the dang thing to the curb only to be hit again with a two by four with a stomach flu virus on Monday. At that point, I raised the white flag of surrender for Christmas and declared that what was done was done and it just had to be enough. My zeal for to do lists and checks in the box is legendary so you can imagine my struggle with letting so much go, especially for Eva's first Christmas. But you know what? It was more than enough. In fact, dare I say that it was perfect? It's a good lesson that we put these expectations on ourselves and we can( and probably should) be more intentional about how we spend our time during a month when we are being pushed and pulled in so many different directions.

We spent the entire day at home while Eva skyped with her Midwestern families. Later, we enjoyed a wonderful meal. One of the things I noted about Eva is that she was not overwhelmed by the gifts. Instead, she really enjoyed and played with what she had, which, again, was just enough. She was also calm and collected throughout the day and didn't show any signs of being overstimulated. It was really a joy to behold and I do want to embrace this memory and remember what this Christmas felt like so that we don't get caught up in the Christmas current next year. Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Evaspeak

Eva's burgeoning vocabulary continues to astound us. She's a verbal machine these days with her non stop chatter. She's saying full sentences, singing songs. I'm taking a moment to get some of the words that she has created before she masters the English language.

Moppies: I love to bake, and Eva loves to eat my creations. One of her first words was "moppy," which is her word for muffin. She obsesses over "pumpky moppies," and croons for them until I grab my apron and wire whip and start mixing away.

Hummy: Toddlers go through phases with foods but "hummy" never gets old in our toddler's book. She would seriously eat hummus and crackers for every meal if she could. It's out of hand. She calls anything that remotely looks like hummus "hummy" too. She broke my heart the other day, however, and called it by its true name. I vowed never to correct her again. I curse the teacher in me that has to model the correct word!

Mommy Do See, Daddy Do See: This one took us a while to figure out. Basically, whenever she wants to see one of us, or just sees us, she says "Mommy do see" and/or "Daddy do see." I think that she took the logic of my incessant prompting (again, the teacher in me) "Eva, do you see the truck?" and flipped it to a declarative sentence indicating what she wants or what she sees. It makes total sense, doesn't it? Talk about making your heart melt. Every time she says it, or I hear her say this phrase about one or both of us, it makes me weak in the knees. For the record, it is her preference that we are both in the same room with her all the time. );

Mahma: Jeff's mom, Grandma Kennan, made quite an impression on Eva during her visit in Cleveland. Eva asks about "mahma" all the time. Just about every time I open the computer screen she exclaims "mahma" (which means that she thinks we are going to Skype) or "babies" (blogs, facebook photos of our baby friends). To her the computer is a worm hole to friends and relatives. She loves her "mahma" and can't get enough of her.

Nosnow. Again, this is another Cleveland creation. Eva saw her first snowfall in Cleveland and parroted back "nosnow." Whenever we correct her she looks at us like we are crazy and says "nosnow" again. She does the same thing with airport. Whenever she hears an airplane, she points up to the sky and says "airport, way up high." I correct her and say, "yes, Eva, that is a plane in the air, just like the ones that you saw at the airport. " But she looks at me like I'm a crazy mama (I'm starting to get accustomed to this feeling) and then she says with greater intensity, "airport, way up high." What really kills me is that she loves to play "airport" with me even though it's actually airplane. What's a momma to do but love the girl and her budding language skills!

Winter Wonderland in Seattle

A blanket of white snow appeared on our lawn on Monday and it stayed for a week, which is unusual in Seattle. If we get snow at all, it's usually just a dusting of snow and it melts away as quickly as it came. But not Monday. We had below zero temperatures and the six inches of white stuff stayed with us until Sunday. Jeff's work was closed this week due to the weather so we had daddy home all week long. This was such a blessing because I was sick in bed with the flu for most of the Thanksgiving holiday. I finally got the virus that Eva's been sporting like a champ for the last month. Jeff got it too on Monday so we were a sad, pathetic crew.

When the snow appeared, we all bundled up and enjoyed our time outdoors despite our colds. It was Eva's first snowfall and we wanted to experience it with her. She was completely mesmerized by the snow and kept saying "nosnow " all day as she watched the snow fall from our couch that serves as her perch to the world. We aren't sure where she got that phrase. Typical school teacher, I kept correcting her and said, "No, Eva. It's snow. Not nosnow." She just kept looking at me like I was a crazy mamma and said "Nosnow" again with the same intensity and degree of certainty. So, "nosnow," you were lovely. We hope to see you again in these parts!

Learning the Alphabet with Daddy

Eva's sporting' a new do, and she's learning the alphabet with the new magnetic letters that Jeff bought the other day. Right now she loves taking them down more than putting them back up. She seems to recognize her name, and loves to say the alphabet song with some help. I love watching her do her little dance when she gets excited! Go Eva!

Seattle Art Museum Visit

We try to have family day every Sunday and do some fun excursion together. This Sunday we chose to go to the Seattle Art Museum to see the Picasso exhibit with Eva. HA! Quite a large undertaking for a seventeen month old, no? Honestly, we went in to renew our membership and check out their newly remodeled kid's section. Let's just say that it's pretty obvious that they didn't consult anyone with children when designing it! Eva was pretty happy with all of the artist easels and toys. Her favorite part of the museum by far was the car exhibit by Cai Guo-Qiang.

According to the museum's website, "Inopportune: Stage On" consists of nine identical white cars outfitted with pulsing colored lights. Suspended from the ceiling of the museum, the cars are composed to create a rising and falling that suggests a repeating cinematic loop, arrested in time and space. Eva was entranced by the pulsating colored lights and the image of the nine cards suspended in the air. She ran through the exhibit space and shouted "car-car-car-carhhhhrrrrr....." at the top of her longs and with a Boston cabbie accent. I wish I could have captured the moment on film but she was just too fast. I love to try and imagine what's going through her mind when she sees an image like that. Cars? In the sky? Oh my!

Eva's First Boy Friend

Eva first met Lochland at Stroller Strides, and they have been best buddies ever since. I love watching babies and observing their little personalities play off their baby counterparts. When Loch and Eva first met it was as if she had been waiting for someone who spoke her language and saw the world in the way that she does. They are both super active, curious, highly verbal little mover and shakers. Together they find trouble before you can get to the letter T! It is so adorable to see them play and giggle and chase after each other. Loch likes to ride along in Eva's Charriot Stroller. Like brother and sister, they share snack, water bottles, even moms. Loch's mom, Nina, was the first person that Eva ever went to on her own. Eva's pretty particular about who she goes to. Mom and Dad are pretty much the only people she lets hold her but Nina worked her way into my little girl's heart.
We are smitten with our Loch and Nina. I look forward to many years of play dates, lost sippy cups, and adventures to be had with Loch-a-Doodle Do.

Our Little Bumble Bee

We started celebrating Halloween early by going to our neighborhood's Green Halloween Festival. Eva had a great time seeing all of the kids in their costumes. She even got the hang of the trick or treat tradition though no candy was passed out here. Instead, we got healthy snacks like Cliff Bar Fruit Roll Ups, Granola Bars, and other snacks. We are seriously set for snack for about a week!

First Day of School at Bellevue College Parent Education Program

Eva had her first day of school at the Bellevue College Parent Education program a few weeks ago. I talked up the program quite a bit before we went so she definitely knew that she was going to something pretty special. You can tell in the progression of shots that she warmed up pretty quickly to her surroundings. She absolutely loves going to "school" and enjoys exploring all of the exploratory play stations when we go. I love it because I get to enjoy her without worrying about disciplining her too much. Everything is safe in this zone; no computers, I-Phones, cookbooks, or dishwashers to tinker with. I don't have to continually redirect her to play with her toys. It's all new and stimulating to her in this environment. Eva also adores watching and interacting with the other kids her age. We go to "school" every Monday from 10:00-12:00 noon. I love the parent education component too. I get the opportunity to learn ways to be a better mom to my little one.

16 Month Appointment!

Eva had her sixteen month appointment and shots last week. She was a champ for the shots, and the doctor was incredibly impressed with her vocabulary and cognitive skills. Of course, we are bursting with pride about our girls' smarts. Here's the stats from the appointment. She weighed in at 25 pounds, 5 ounces, 80%. Her height is 32 and a half inches, 95%. Her head measured in at 19 inches, 97%.

Am I a Husker or a Husky???

We were thrilled to welcome my brothers, Tim and Craig, and their respective wives, Joan and Sandy, to the Pacific Northwest for the UW/NE game at Husky Stadium. Since Jeff works at UW we played up the rivalry by dressing Eva in Husky gear to great them. On game day Eva strutted around in her Husker cheerleading outfit that Grandma McGill gave her. Papa tried to get Eva to keep her Husky hat on but she kept taking it off. Eva's wardrobe foreshadowed the results of the game. The Cornhuskers absolutely grinded the Huskies on their home turf. I have to admit, I tried to root for the Huskies since that's where our paycheck comes from. However, once I heard "Go Big Red" in the stands my heart took over. I looked like a confused fan with my Husky gear on while I passionately cheered for the Huskers.

We had a great time touring around Seattle too. Eva loved all of the attention and fussing that she received from her Aunts and Uncles. We just wish that we didn't live so far away. Jeff and I hope to make it to Memorial Stadium next September for the game.

"Happy"

Eva has been quite the party girl lately. This summer has been an action packed season packed with birthday parties, BBQ's, and a host of other celebrations. I usually try to prep Eva for what is to come to develop her vocabulary in addition to setting clear expectations for behavior, etc. She's on to one pattern, and that's birthday parties. She has come to associate the cake with "happy" and says the word over and over again. It's really quite endearing. Every time we tell her she's going to a party she says "happy." It makes me smile every time. We all want our kids to be happy, no?

Abrahamson Larkins Visit! Trip to the Zoo...

Our good friends, Tim and Adelpha, came to visit last weekend with their two boys, Noah and Eli. We had such a good time hanging out with them and filled our days going to the zoo, kayaking, hiking, and other adventures. We were sad to see them leave but look forward to seeing them again in San Diego in June.

BBQ at Joe and Julie's House

Stroller Strides with Dads Day

My new recent obsession is Stroller Strides. Since I started the SAHM thing, it has been surprisingly hard to incorporate workouts into our daily routine. Eva throws an absolute fit every time that I take her to our gym. They have a fifteen to twenty minute limit on crying and she pretty much maxes it out just about every time we go. Imagine how hard it is to get motivated enough to go to the gym, pack up your baby, and then have them page you within fifteen minutes on the treadmill. I got more exercise walking up the stairs to drop her off! Clearly, the 24 Hour Fitness Kids' Club wasn't working for us. My next plan of attack was to work out at night when Jeff got home. That didn't work either. We get so little time together as it is. I gave it a go for a month and a half and finally called it quits after I saw how it affected our quality of life.

About that time, Eva changed her nap schedule to one midday nap, and all of my baby classes ended. This freed me to explore other options, which is when I decided to check out Stroller Strides. It's really quite the dream scenario. The group meets about a block from my house and the work out is absolutely killer. It's all the things that I would rarely do on my own like pushups, squats, crunches, sprinting, etc. I do fine running, cycling, and swimming on my own but I really need someone to push me to do this kind of work out. I love the fact that it is outside, and oftentimes we end at a park where we have an informal playdate. The women are incredibly supportive of each other and understanding of the inevitable issues that come along with this sort of hybrid workout.

Now, I know what you are probably thinking: "Oh, good, you finally found something where Eva doesn't throw a fit anymore!" Make no mistake: Eva wails the entire time that I am out of her sight. But the difference is that the women and trainer know that it's all a part of the process. They assure me that Eva will get better over time and they even share their own war stories. While I am modeling for Eva what a fit, healthy mama does, our trainer, Tracy, wheels her around to see me or sings a nursery rhyme to Eva and the other babies. I'm incredibly grateful to have finally found something that seems to be working for both of us. I look forward to more adventures with this group and the fitness dividends that will come from it.

A final note: the Dads joined us today and Jeff was shocked by the intensity of the workout. He had his heart rate monitor on and burned 600 calories. The photos above are of the moms, dads, and babies/kids enjoying the post workout high together in the sunshine.

The Weekend with Daddy

My best friend from college, Jessica, surprised me with a last minute trip to Seattle. We are famous for our "Adventure Diva" weekends. This was our first "Adventure Diva" weekend since I have had Eva. It was also the first time that I had a break away from her since she was born. I was away for a week in January for our National Sales Meeting, but anyone who has attended NSM can vouch for me and say that it is the furthest thing from a break, especially if you are a new mamma trying to pump every few hours! Let's just say this was a well earned break. Jessica and I had an incredible time relaxing at the Chrysalis Inn in Bellingham, a hotel that I used to frequent for work travel. We luxuriated one day with a massage followed by an incredible dinner. And, as luck would have it, we hit the one night in Bellingham where there was salsa dancing just a few blocks away! The next day we spent relaxing in our room and capped off the night with a cruise on a sailboat to watch the fireworks. Heavenly, divine are words that come to mind.

While Mama was kickin' it at the spa, Daddy had his own adventures with Eva. He's always wanted a rough and tumble girl and he sure put that theory in action while I was gone! Eva went hiking, swimming at Pine Lake, and also hit a few playgrounds as well. The pictures tell a better story.

Our Spirited Lassie

So, Eva's spirited nature is well documented in our blog. Our latest adventure with Eva has been cycling. However, she is not crazy about riding in the bike carrier and even less crazy about wearing her helmet. We have succumbed to her dislikes for a good year now by limiting the amount of time spent in cars, airplanes, strollers, and carriers. But, Jeff and I have decided that we would like our active lifestyle back so we are doing a version of sleep training in the bike carrier and jogging stroller. I started with twenty minutes, worked up to thirty, this week forty. I hope to work out for an entire hour by the end of the month. While Eva's in the Charriott, she can have her fill of Cherrios and yes, even the previously banned Pirate Booty which reappeared on the planet for this special task. Wish us luck!