Good times and changing times...

 

Where to start?  Thanksgiving should work.  Good times as always.  How can it not be with plenty of food and good company.   We celebrated with Nana and Granddaddy this year.   Everyone had a good time, and there were no explosions or fires from the turkey frying, which is always a plus.  Unfortunately, like her birthday, Thanksgiving was not one of Miss Riley's finest days.   After her "nap", for lack of a better word, she was extremely cranky for the better part of the afternoon.  But that's OK...all divas have their cranky moments of course. 

Since then, the countdown to Jackson has officially been on.  What a bag of emotions these last few weeks have been.  On the one hand, it's hard to imagine loving anyone or anything as much as we love her.   On the other hand, we know we'll do just that very thing as soon as he arrives.  In a couple of years, she is going to thank us for removing her from the absolute center of the universe because she will have gained a play pal and best friend for life...even when he's annoying her as I am sure all little brothers will do to big sisters at some point.   But still...the center of our world is about to be split and shared, and with 12 hours or so to go, that's still very hard to imagine.  

Last weekend we had quite a momentous journey to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live!  I am not sure what this says for us, but that was seriously some of the best live entertainment I have seen in years.  All kidding aside, it was amazing to watch her absolutely stunned reaction to seeing DJ Lance Rock jump out of the screen after having watched him on TV for the past year.  Then seeing Muno and the rest of the gang come out had to be crazy for her.  I know for sure it was for Mommy and I.  She enjoyed it for a while, but eventually began to lose interest and was ready to go.  We ended up leaving 10 or so minutes before the show ended, but not before the highlight...we got to get up close and actually touch Brobee and Toodee.  Yes, I do realize that if anyone else is reading this they are asking 1.  Who is Brobee and Toodee and 2.  That was really a highlight?   But yes, it was.  Even for Dad :)  Sadly, Muno was too nimble working his way through the crowd, so we could not make it over to him. 

Unfortunately the picture above is the only one we have from the Gabba show due to us being silly and folling the rules of no cameras.  Never again!  :)  But the one picture of her below after the show should speak volumes about the day she had.

(sporting her new Foofa shirt)

(feeding her new Muno doll after the show)

Some random thoughts on a few things she loves to do these days...playing drive-thru is one.  She loves to open the window of her play house and pretend she's running a drive-thru.  I get offered fries fries (french fries), food (yes, just food), and coke.  Like any good restaurateur, she tells me I have to wait "just a little bit".   She still loves chocolate more than life, mommy, or daddy.  She loves to run around the house with the draw string from a sweatshirt while the cat chases her.  That is fun to watch.  And she absolutely loves to dance.  Anywhere.  Anytime.  If the music is right, of course.  

On to Christmas preparations.  What a warm run-up to Christmas this year has been.   The lights went up outside for the first time with me in short sleeves.  Of course, we did put them up the week before Thanksgiving this year, so that didn't hurt matters on the weather front at all.   Riley was introduced to Santa this year, partly from our inflatable Santa who she really liked, and partly from her shows...Olivia, Team Umizoomi, and Mickey Mouse.   All of which lead us to the real thing, finally.  We had attempted to meet Santa twice, and had basically given up hope.  The first time we were standing in line with a bone-chilling wind, so we decided it wasn't worth it.   The second time we actually made it into Santa's workshop to see him...but before we could make it to him the camera malfunctioned.  The 10 or so minute delay spelled doom, as from there she lost all interest and proceeded in rapid fashion to melt-down mode.   So we exited stage right and gave up again.

Finally today we had a successful, even though it was unexpected, mission.  We went up so that she could see the cats at Petsmart (one of her favorite journeys), and dance around the huge Christmas tree again.  As luck would have it, Santa was opening for business 30 minutes after we got there, so we kicked around in the play area until it got closer to opening time.  With 10 minutes or so to go, the doors opened, and it was Santa himself opening the door.  Riley saw him and screamed "Saaanttaaaaa!" and was immediately ready for a visit.  She met him at the door and we were second in line.  FINALLY.  So as I am holding her, she starts sliding into melt-down mode again...except this time it was because she wanted to see him, not leave.   Luckily with only one kid in front of us, we didn't have to wait long.  She found her spot on his knee, and after a moment of shyness, warmed right up and loved it.  Success!

 So our last day as a family of three was spent with a lot of fun and memories to be held.   Putting her down to bed for the last time with just us three was very emotional for us, but we are thankful that we will now have been blessed with two.   It has been a wonderful two years and the years ahead a family of four should be nothing short of eventful, hectic, fun, and down right crazy.  We are looking forward to it (Riley as well, even if she does not yet know it).   What a day tomorrow will be.  :)