Santa Baby. . .

This has been the best Christmas I have had in a long time--I mean they are always fun and I enjoy being with family, but there is just something about seeing it through Zoey's eyes that adds new magic to it all. There are things about this season that will stay with me forever. Like watching Zoey figure out what to do with a present. Or sitting through Christmas Eve service singing and celebrating the meaning of Christmas while watching my mom fold the bulletin into a fortune teller to entertain Zoey. Or watching Zoey try to figure out the fine art of crawling--she is almost there.

Here is a recap of our holiday so far:

On my last day of work before vacation--Zoey and Tyler came to school to have lunch with me. It was so much fun having them there and everyone enjoyed seeing her.

Zoey was happy and smiling for over 2 hours! She is amazing.

Some of my students wanted to read to Zoey--she loved it!

I just thought this picture was so sweet.

On Thursday evening, we had the family over for our official Livingston Christmas--since Tyler, Zoey and I were traveling up to Grand Forks for Christmas Eve. It was so nice to just be all together.

Zoey and Nanna show one of Zoey's new skirts to the camera.

Tammy and Eric--how cute!

We got to Grand Forks on Friday. On Saturday, Grandpa decided that we couldn't let a Christmas go by without having Zoey visit Santa. So we went to the mall where Zoey tried to catch the eye of everyone who passed by.

Zoey and I are ready to go to Christmas Eve service with the family.

Zoey

Rob, Nicole, and their dog Misty.

Zoey with Nicole and her new cousin.

After church we all returned home to open up gifts. Zoey was ready to give unwrapping presents another go.

Zoey with a board book from my Godmother Pam.

One of my favorite moments this Christmas was finishing and giving Zoey the blanket I made for her. I started it when I found out I was pregnant with her and it has obviously taken awhile to complete. She has latched on to and has enjoyed playing with it in her crib.

On our last night in GF, we all went out to eat. Grandma and Zoey played with the coasters.

The Diagnosis. . .

Zoey woke up this morning with goop in her eyes and the same stuffy nose she has had forever. Talking to Grandma Nyhlen on the phone this morning, I mentioned the stuffy nose and she said to be on the look out for an ear infection. The goopy eyes never got better throughout the day, so we didn't waste anytime calling Nurse Nanna. She thought it sounded like pink eye. We then called the nurses line and they sent us to Urgent Care. I took Zoey to the Urgent Care Express--a new clinic very near our house. It was so slick--at least tonight there was no waiting and the staff was very helpful. It turns out, Zoey did have pink eye (nice job, Nanna!) AND an ear infection (nicely done, Grandma!) in both ears. Then the doctor sent the prescription to a machine in the waiting room. I put my credit card in and Zoey's prescriptions came out. It was so easy!

It was too bad that Zoey has been under the weather all weekend. She spent the morning with Nanna and Grandpa yesterday, while Tyler and I finished up some holiday shopping, but we had hoped to get her out to see Santa (just for a cute picture) and also to stop by our friends the Roesch's to welcome their newest bundle of joy, Henry, to the world. Of course, I am not about to bring a sick baby to see a newborn--we will have to set that meeting up some other time.

Well anyway. . .Zoey is home now, fed and playing. She will be ready for bed soon. Tyler and I are both very excited about our upsoming break from work, and we are all excited to spend Christmas with our family.

We'll post again soon!
Have a Good night!

I like Pears and love to eat in my alien saucer contraption. Let's see... which of these things do I push, turn, crank, chew, bang, grab, roll or ...

 

Let me sing you a song. . .

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birrrrrrrthday, Grandma Nyyyyyhlen!
Happy birthday. . .to. . .you!

Zoey says "59" is OK Grandpa!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Livingston! Hope you are staying warm, like me!

Here she is all bundled up and ready to go to daycare.--pretty happy for 6:45am if you ask me.

Zoey has been playing around with her sippy cup. It is more a toy than anything at the moment--but it is so funny to watch her drink water when she eats at her high chair. She lets it all go in her mouth and then it all dribbles out again.

So I had one of those very vivid dreams last night. I am guessing it orginated because I can't believe how fast Zoey is growing. (People warn you, but you just don't get it until you watch her grow.) So, in my dream Zoey, who was still 6 months old, was in her high chair and I looked over at her as she said, "May I be excused mother, I want to eat my salad later." In my dream I was shocked because, well first off--babies don't eat salad and second who was going to believe me that those were her first words. I woke up soon after. . . I was relieved to find Zoey growling in her crib this morning.