New Toys

Two of Laine's favorite new items from Christmas are her new tent and her bath toy faucet.

Peeking out at Daddy!

One evening, I heard Jayson calling to me from the family room. I went downstairs and discovered his bottom-half sticking out of Laine's tunnel. He needed my assistance to get out--but I couldn't resist snapping a photo first!

Laine spanking Daddy for being naughty.

We can barely get Laine out of the tub these days. She actually swatted Jayson's hands away when he tried to get her out after 45 minutes! Her feet are so wrinkled once we pull her out, fussing! She LOVES her faucet toy (a pump that recirculates the water) and even sneaks in the bathroom in the middle of the day to try and play with it!

Holiday Lights

Jayson got home early one evening and we decided it was the perfect opportunity to drive around and show Laine some of the neighborhood Christmas lights. I made some mulled cider for Jayson and I and Laine had her sippy cup and snacks. She was already cozy in her pajamas and tucked in with a blanket, and found her thumb immediately. (No surprise there!)

There is one house across the main road in Sammamish that has epic lights--60,000 or so. We headed there first, and it didn't disappoint Laine!

The left side of their driveway...

Look Mommy and Daddy!

The right side (this does not do it justice).

We did a triple drive-by since Laine enjoyed it so much. Aaaaactually--the REAL reason we like this neighborhood so much is below.

I COVET this house. I've been known to drive by it at other times of the year as well!

It's the lights, it's the wreaths, it's the style of the house. If this ever goes up for sale, I might just buy it. If it comes to it, I may just have to buy some land and build a recreation (with the neighbors slightly further away). Cape Cod House, you will be MINE! Mwah ha ha ha!

Christmas with the Buechlers

After a failed attempt at attending Christmas Eve service (we went 40 minutes early and there wasn't even standing room!) we headed back to the Buechler's to spend our evening there. Laine was very excited to spend the night at her Grandma and Grandpa B.'s for the first time!

Touching the bell ornament.

Good thing we didn't stay at the church service...the thumb was already in the mouth!

Auntie and her niece.

Grandma and Grandpa decided Laine should open one gift Christmas Eve so that she could enjoy it right away. As soon as the box came out, Laine just KNEW it was for her. She was very involved in opening it and taking things out...

And when it was all put together it was a perfect sized chair for our little peanut! It took her a bit to figure out how to get in and out easily, but she is now an expert and is constantly climbing in and sliding out.

Surrounded by toys. Some old, some new.

On Christmas morning, we all got our coffee ready and opened stockings. Laine was in a great mood, which we were surprised about, as she had had a rough night (much like her first night at Grandma and Grandpa Good's). She woke at 11ish and cried and cried. We were in the same room as her and just lay there, hoping she would go back to sleep. A minute or so later, we got up and rocked her. And rocked. And rocked. Each time we tried to put her down, she bawled. Finally, Jayson brought her into the bed with us, which we'd never done. Now we know why! You know on TV shows and in the movies how the child in bed with his/her parents lays sideways, upside down, with the feet in their face, elbows in the ribs, on top of the parents, etc? Well that's exactly what happened. Neither of us got any sleep and Laine pretty much just dozed.

At any rate, she seemed well rested the following morning, and was ready to open her gifts! Granny and Auntie were there (of course) and Shirley came over as well.

In her Christmas pajamas.

Pushing puppydog in her new stroller.

Learning how to give Baby Stella her pacifier.

In her Santa dress from Grandma and Grandpa B.

The Buechler's had invited my parents over for Christmas dinner, so we all spent the afternoon together. It was so nice, as it was my parent's last chance to see Laine before they headed back to Arizona for a few months. We had a delicious dinner of turkey and all the fixin's.

Grandpa B. - always has his eye on his sweetie!

Laine was exhausted and we headed home right after dinner, full bellies and fun memories with us!

Santa Claus: Not a Fan

Christmas at the Goods

Friday night the 17th was "Christmas Eve" in Gig Harbor. We had a traditional Good Christmas Eve, minus church service, of course. (And, in recent years we've had clam chowder instead of oyster stew...a change I'm sorry to say I instigated.)
The next morning, as is Good family tradition, we opened stockings first thing, and then ate breakfast...and cleaned up the kitchen, and got dressed for the day. (All before opening presents.) As a child this was sometimes maddening, but as I got to be ten or eleven, I realized it built up the anticipation even more and I grew to love it. You could SEE all the presents under the tree and just wait and wonder. The excitement of the day lasted longer. I hope to do this with Laine, too.

We opened a few presents of Laine's and then she played a bit...and before we knew it, it was naptime. Naptime came a little earlier, due to the fact that the night we arrived was rough. Laine was in such a great mood that we kept her up until 9ish. She woke at 1:30 and cried and cried. I rocked her for about an hour and a half, as each time I tried to put her in the crib she resisted. My dad relieved me and was finally able to get her down some time after...but then she woke again less than an hour later and Jayson took the next shift. He rocked her and then once he realized she was not going to get back in the crib, he took her downstairs and slept with her in the recliner (she slept, he dozed). No one got much sleep that night...and my dad and Jayson were getting up early to go to Rotary!

Once Laine went down for her nap, we opened our presents, as she wasn't too interested in what was going on. She had been much more involved in walking around and around the dining room/hallway/family room circuit, and running the length of the kitchen + laundry room.

Playing with her ducky walker.

Taking a break from opening presents to
wrestle with an old bear of Mommy's.

Tickle Me Elmo!

While Laine was a little afraid of Elmo and his movement at first, she gave him lots of kisses and hugs when he wasn't busy giggling and wiggling. (She loves him now!)

Another break from presents to rock in Mommy's old rocking
chair. (Or really, attempting to stand up in...)

Daddy playing with Laine's new toys.

Busy playing with Potsy, her new talking pot.

After a delicious dinner of standing rib roast, party potatoes and peppermint ice cream, we spent a relaxing evening together. The next day we enjoyed a nice walk in the harbor and headed out around the time Laine would nap. She fell asleep quickly! What a wonderful "Christmas" we had--such special memories!

Exhausted after leaving Grandma and Grandpa's--Laine was
asleep before we got to Tacoma Boys!

Zoolights

The weekend before Christmas, we headed down to my parents to have an early celebration. First on the list of events was a trip to Point Defiance Zoo's Zoolights. It was a cold night but we bundled Laine up in her "fur" coat from Grandma and Grandpa Good and strolled the zoo, sipping hot cocoa. Laine enjoyed all the lights and took a ride on the carousel. There were just a few animal exhibits open, one of which was part of the aquarium--which she LOVED. She kept pointing and exclaiming with excitement. A fun night was had by all!