Just Add Water?

Since she returned home on Saturday afternoon, Alexa has been making up for lost time with her Christmas gifts.  I cannot believe how self-entertained she has been with her new toys (although I will admit I did talk her out of playing tennis...I pictured balls ricocheting off my belly).  Each day she's also wanted to sample one of the mixes for her Easy Bake Oven - - the sight of them in the pantry is pure temptation to make them.

Tonight we discovered the Easy Bake Oven has its limitations.  Alexa was excited to make pizza using one of the mixes she received with the oven.  I was expecting a Chef Boyardee-like pizza, simple with grated parmesan as the cheese topping.  However, when we opened the mix, we discovered everything was packaged as a powder and required water to make the component.  Just add water for cheese?  Eek.  Regardless of the texture and smell, Alexa was insistent upon making the pizzas in her beloved oven, and we followed the recipe verbatim.  After 12 minutes of baking time (+ another five of cooling), the pizzas were ready, and she was ecstatic to have the first bite.  Her face was priceless, as she couldn't even stomach one of the microscopic pizzas.  Looks like we won't be buying the pizza mix again.  I think her hope of making me dinner in the Easy Bake Oven is a thing of the past, as the "magical" purple oven seems to do a better job with desserts.

Maybe when I pick her up from school tomorrow we can squeeze in a quick game of tennis - the thought of the 'just add water' cheese has turned me off from the Easy Bake for a few days. :)

Baking away with her Easy Bake....
Much better luck with the pink sugar cookies and lemon frosting.

Repeat Christmas (sort of)

My hiatus is over, as Damon and Alexa arrived home today, and not a moment too soon...I missed those two!  I eagerly left the office to pick them up from the light rail station (easier than the airport & Alexa loves to take the train) as their arrival time approached.  Alexa's at the age where she gives the best greetings - as soon as she saw me standing by the car outside of the light rail terminal, she screamed, "Mommy!" and ditched her suitcase to come running to me.  You would have thought that I hadn't seen her in weeks rather than just three days.  Needless to say, she made my day.

I discovered one of the benefits of cutting Christmas morning a bit short - - when Alexa came home this afternoon, it was like it Christmas morning all over again...just without the wrapping paper.  After showing me the gifts she received in Fresno, she excitedly rediscovered her presents from Santa that I had organized (I took advantage of the downtime and bought the perfect storage containers for all of the tiny pieces) while she was away.  For the next couple of hours, she was engaged with her Calico Critters and My Little Ponies.  It was only when she started to get tired - the past few days were chock-full of activity - that she put the toys away and asked me to sit with her on the couch.  Within minutes she was sound asleep, resting her head on my ever-growing belly.  Ahh....it's good to have my little girl back home.

I'm sure tomorrow will be jam-packed with the activities she didn't get to do today - - baking with the Easy Bake Oven, creating masterpieces with her WikkiStix and a much-anticipated tennis game (she wants to be like Serena).  Hopefully she'll go easy on me, especially on the tennis court.  I'm not sure how agile I am these days. :)

Today was like a repeat of Christmas morning
....sans pj's and wrapping paper.

Changing Gears

After a few days of solo time, I am ready for Damon and Alexa to return home tomorrow.  Between work and tasks around the house, I have been able to accomplish a lot in the past few days, but I definitely miss my pint-sized sidekick.  Thankfully we have had plenty of FaceTime chats, but both of us are looking forward to our reunion tomorrow.

Alexa had a great day today, as Papa Hovey took Alexa and her cousin Luke to the Fresno Zoo.  My father-in-law was kind enough to send me some video clips of Alexa enjoying her time at the zoo, feeding the giraffes and goats.  Alexa's a seasoned pro at giraffe feedings, and seeing the videos brought back great memories of our personalized giraffe encounters at the Phoenix Zoo and St. Louis Zoo last year.  I look forward to having similar experiences with Baby #3, as there's no doubt that she will grow up with a special place in her heart for these majestic animals.

Speaking of Baby #3, now that Christmas has passed, there's been a marked shift in the mindsets of Damon and myself to start preparing for our upcoming arrival.  I called Damon today, and he called me back within 15 seconds, worried that something was wrong.  Yes, we have definitely entered 'baby watch' mode :)  I'm just hoping she pays attention to her due date (January 24th), as I need every day within the next four weeks to prepare for her arrival and my maternity leave at work!

The trio at the zoo today....quite the snowman family!

Decorative Touch

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Whew - - what a couple of days.  I was lax about updating the blog (busy + tired), so here's a quick recap of the past few days.

We did a pretty nice job of spacing out the Christmas festivities, but Alexa was a constant ball of activity and excitement since school let out on Friday afternoon.  Her energy level is touch to match, especially at nine-months pregnant.  I will admit I let her watch an extra tv show on Monday just so I could snag a quick 30 minute nap.

On Christmas Eve morning, Alexa had a bundle of presents waiting under the tree for her when she woke up, as I had decided it would be the perfect opportunity for her to open the presents from my side of the family.  Alexa was beyond excited to receive an Easy-Bake Oven, even declaring that she will be giving me the day off and taking over dinner duties.  I was ecstatic to hear that until I looked at the size of the Easy Bake pan....I think it would take hours to make a substantial dinner using the 2.5"x3.5" baking pan.  There went my Christmas wish - lol :)

I had to go to the hospital for a fetal monitoring appointment in the morning (this little girl is measuring small, exactly as Alexa did), and by the time I returned home, Alexa and I had to get ready for the matinee performance of The Nutcracker.  The ballet was beautiful, with elaborate sets and costumes, and Alexa thought the sight of boys wearing tights was hilarious.  So much for culture!  We were planning to cap our Christmas Eve with a visit to Damon for dinner at the restaurant, but a late lunch unfortunately changed those plans.  Nevertheless, Alexa and I still had a wonderful Christmas Eve together, and I knew she was worn out when she asked me to tuck her in bed at 8:30pm.

This morning was a rather rushed Christmas morning, as Damon and Alexa had an 11am flight to Fresno (too close to my due date for me to fly).  After Alexa opened her presents from Santa, including the much-anticipated Calico Critters dollhouse and a tennis racquet, we enjoyed a nice family breakfast before I took them the the airport.  I know Alexa was disappointed that she didn't get a chance to play with her toys, but when she returns on Saturday it will be like Christmas all over again - except for the wrapping paper.  Santa seemed to do pretty well this year, as I think she received everything she wanted.  Although I think she was most excited about the two Reese's Peanut Butter Cup trees that Santa left in her stocking; it's always the simple things...

Damon and Alexa's first stop when they landed in Fresno was a very important one.  They headed straight to the cemetery to visit Granty and allow Alexa to impart her decorative (dollar store) touch upon his newly set headstone.  It's hard to believe today marked the thirteen month anniversary of his passing.  I know it was an emotional visit - the headstone reiterates how permanent this truly is - but it was good for both of them.  Alexa knows the cemetery as the place where we go to remember Granty, and Damon mentioned she talked to Granty a lot more now that the tangible reminder was there.  She made sure to use every decoration we'd purchased a few weeks ago, and the finished product was very Alexa-esque.

After the cemetery, Damon and Alexa enjoyed the normal Hovannisian Christmas Day celebration in Fresno, a very festive gathering to say the least.  Alstott and I had a very relaxing day in Scottsdale, taking advantage of the beautiful weather with a couple of walks.  I must admit, it was a nice change tonight to know that I didn't have to wrap any presents, make dinner, figure out a pose for the Elf on the Shelf...in other words, a perfect day of r&r.

Merry Christmas!

Hard at work decorating Granty's headstone....

Very proud of her finished product.
A perfect holiday tribute to her beloved baby brother!

A Big Step

Today I finally began the task I've been dreading....I began to convert Grant's bedroom for the new baby.  Initially I was planning to wait until Damon and Alexa are in Fresno for Christmas, but I thought-twice about that decision, as I was worried that doing it solo during the holidays could make it an even more difficult and emotional task.  I'm not even close to being done, but I was relieved to make the initial step today...this was a huge hurdle for me to overcome.

Alexa was in the playroom, on the other side of the house, and Alstott was snoozing on the couch when I first entered Grant's room.  However, within twenty seconds of me opening the door, both of them were suddenly at my side.  It was an odd sensation - - a rebirth of sorts, as Alexa opened the door to the Jack-and-Jill bathroom separating her bedroom and the baby's room - excited to be so close.  It was the first time in over a year that the door between their rooms was open, but by gauging Alexa's reaction, I could tell it was a very welcome change.

It was a huge comfort to have Alexa and Alstott in the room as I began to pack Grant's clothing and bedding.  Alstott curled up on the rain forest mat, where Granty spent a lot of tummy time, and Alexa played with Grant's stuffed animals.  They were both on their best behavior, as if they knew the significance of being in the room.

I am not ready to put Grant's items in the garage with the rest of our storage items, so I cleared out some space in the built-ins in the master bedroom for storing his clothes and bedding.  I never realized how many clothes that little guy had - many that he never wore.  I remember my brother commenting about Grant's extensive collection of St. Louis Cardinals clothes, and I had to smile as I realized that Grant's collection was far-more expansive than I ever realized....hoodies, onesies, caps, etc.  My brother would be proud (and jealous!)....

It's a tough mental change to transition the space from Grant's bedroom to Baby #3's room.  A part of me wants to leave Granty-esque elements in there as a tribute to him, but I have to remind myself that this is the new baby's room and not a memorial to Grant.  Over time I think this will become easier, especially when we finally meet the newest arrival in January.

One element that will remain in the room....a wooden "G" on the wall.  It's a perfect reminder and subtle tribute to our little guy.

Many good times were had in Granty's room....
and I'm sure we will have many more.

In the Spirit of Giving

Winter break has officially begun for Alexa!  Today was the holiday program at her school - Alexa's class performed "Oh Tannenbaum" - and she happily headed home, knowing she gets two weeks without school.

Alexa and I headed over to Phoenix Children's Hospital later this afternoon to donate the toys that she and Gabriella had selected during our shopping trip last week, in lieu of exchanging gifts with each other.  The toy donation site was adjacent to the hospital, but I knew the sight of PCH would help the idea of giving resonate with Alexa.  Sure enough, as we saw the hospital in the distance, she exclaimed, "There's Granty's hospital - - I see the hand (a hand with a heart-shaped palm is the logo for PCH)!"

Alexa proudly carried the Target bag into the donation center, pulling out the giraffe toy to show the volunteers.  As she loaded everything into a wagon, she declared, "These toys are from me and Gabriella, but she's in Buffalo now."  As I filled out some paperwork, Alexa began to explore the shelves that were stocked full of toys, games, etc...  It was like a Toys-R-Us on steroids, especially because all like-toys were sorted and shelved together.  She shot me the puppy-dog (begging) eyes, and I reminded her that all of the toys were for the sick kids in the hospital.  It suddenly hit her - - "When Granty was in the hospital, he got toys and I got toys too!"  The Child Life department at PCH had been wonderful to Alexa, so I was glad to hear that she remembered it.  After that, the puppy-dog eyes disappeared, and she was very satisfied to have donated the toys to the hospital.  I foresee this being an annual tradition....

As we saw Phoenix Children's Hospital in the distance, it was tough not to get emotional.  The time, emotions and experiences associated with PCH represent the most significant events of my life.  As we drove past, I quickly identified his two PICU rooms on the sixth-floor (his Oncology room was facing the other direction) and said a little prayer.  Damon and I need to plan a separate trip back to PCH to visit - the medical team there (I think I can still name all of the doctors, residents and nurses) became entwined in our lives and touched both of us in a way we will never forget.

Unloading the toys at the donation center...
(tribute to Uncle Steve & Waste Mgmt in the background - lol)

Giraffes Can't Dance

The holidays are kicking into high gear for Alexa....today was the annual holiday party at her school, an event she's been awaiting since Thanksgiving.  The allure of wearing pajamas to school and decorating sugar cookies is tough to beat.  I am glad I will finally be able to stop answering the question of "How many days until the holiday party?"

Another component of the holiday party is the book exchange, something in which Alexa and I invested a lot of thought.  I encouraged her to pick one of her favorite books (last year was 'Purplicious') - a task that was much easier said than done.  She hemmed and hawed for days as she tried to decide what title we should buy to share with one of her friends.  I had to ix-nay 'The Night Before Christmas' - she seems to have forgotten about her desire to celebrate Hanukkah - but she finally made her decision.  She selected 'Giraffes Can't Dance', a wonderful book my friend Molly bought for Alexa last Christmas.  Needless to say, I was thrilled with her selection and immediately bought it from Amazon.com.

As we wrapped the book last night, Alexa grabbed the book and conducted a mock Show-and-Tell for me.   "This book is special to me because it reminds me of giraffes and my baby brother Granty.  He died but is still very special to me and always in my heart."  I couldn't have said it better myself.  I hope the friend who received the book enjoys it as much as we have. :)

If only she could wear pajamas every day......

Creative Cooking

Over the past few days, Alexa has been spouting off recipes of things she would like me to cook....it took a few requests before I realized she was making up these dishes and concocting the recipes entirely in her mind.  Mint seems to be a popular ingredient - I'm sure attributable to the holiday season - as she's proposed everything from mint pie (pie crust, mint and whipped cream) to mint with porkchops.  I'm not quite sure how edible some of her creations would be, but I have to give her credit for creativity.

I've learned Alexa is very intrigued by stories about my childhood, so during dinner on Sunday night, I was recalling incidents from my childhood to encourage her to eat her zucchini.  She was captivated by some of the Niehoff rules - i.e. I had to eat one pea (or lima bean, brussel sprout, etc...) for each year I was old, I wasn't allowed to leave the table until I finished my meal, etc...  As I relayed the stories to Alexa, I started to have flashbacks of some of the meals I used to despise.  I distinctly remember a few meals that led to hours of standoff at the dinner table.  Before I knew it, Damon and I were laughing hysterically, and I had to make two calls to my parents' house for verification of some of my recollections.

Damon was convinced I was making up recipes (probably thinking Alexa was rubbing off on me), but thank goodness for Google.  As I explained the meals to him, supported by the back-up of Gene and Kathy (my parents), he began to Google the recipe names and was shocked at the search engine results.  Sure enough, for every 'nightmare' dish I mentioned, Damon was able to find the recipe, coupled with pictures, on the Internet.  He was incredulous at some of the Niehoff meals of the 80's - Chipped Beef on Toast, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Corned Beef Hash (canned!), Western Rice Skillet, and, Damon's personal favorite (based upon the name alone)....Turkey Divan.  I think these must have been Midwest classics that never quite made it to California.

For the record, my mom no longer makes any of those meals; I'm convinced that she thought the recipes were as bad as I did but had to force us to eat them on principle alone.  Needless to say, I don't think we'll be having a Chipped Beef on Toast night at the Hovannisian house anytime soon. :)

Always up to the task in the kitchen....

Festive Weekend

What a weekend!  Between gift wrapping, online shopping and normal weekend activities, it was a whirlwind weekend.

On Saturday night, Jenny and I took the girls out for a holiday celebration - toy shopping for Phoenix Children's Hospital, a visit to the train park for its holiday lights event and dinner.  Apparently everyone in the metro Phoenix area had the same idea for the train park, as it was packed!  The wait for the train was significantly longer than we ever expected - - we stood in line for over an hour and a half to board (my estimate of a 20 minute wait was way off!).  Understandably the girls were a tired, hungry and a little cranky by the time we made our way through the line, but once they saw the light display, the ninety minute wait was a distant memory....they claimed the display was "the best thing EVER!"  We bypassed the carousel ride and went straight to the restaurant for dinner; I've never seen them eat so well!  Needless to say, we were all exhausted after the long night, and both girls were sound asleep just a couple of minutes into the drive home.

Damon had the day off on Sunday, his first day at home since before Thanksgiving.  Knowing he would be home, I made sure the Elf left a special surprise for Alexa on Sunday morning - a gingerbread tree.  Initially I was looking for a traditional gingerbread house to accompany the house she decorate for Halloween, but Michaels didn't have any pre-constructed houses, so I opted for the easier tree of stacked star-shaped cookies.  Needless to say, Alexa was excited to have the ability to practice her decorating skills (I had to talk her out of decorating it at 7am).  I left Damon and Alexa to fulfill their 'Cake Boss' dreams, as I headed out to complete some errands.  I came home to find a 'beautiful' masterpiece.

As lovely as the cookie tree is, I don't think Damon nor Alexa will be soliciting any phone calls from Buddy Valastro....

Ready to begin her decorating project!

The finished project - under close supervision from Alstott.
(Slightly different than the picture on the box.... :)

Waning Excitement

Since Alexa and I struck out on our quest for an artificial tree last weekend, the task of picking up a Christmas tree had to wait until Damon returned from Las Vegas.  Apparently I've given Alexa the impression that I can do anything, as she was in disbelief that I couldn't unload the tree from the top of my car, bring it into the house and align it in the tree stand without any assistance....for the record, if I weren't eight-months pregnant, I would have attempted the feat on my own. :)

Damon could not get home soon enough for Alexa, so he borrowed one of his manager's trucks and drove to Costco on Tuesday to pick up the Christmas tree - an 8-foot fir.  Alexa was ecstatic when she woke up on Wednesday morning and saw the tree.  I convinced her that decorating the tree at 6am was not feasible, but I ensured her we would decorate it as soon as I picked her up from school.  She held me to my word, postponing dinner so we could begin decorating the tree.  I thought she was going to have a conniption when I told her I had to hang the lights on the tree before the ornaments could be hung.  However, she did show some concern for me, after I was done standing on the ladder and hurriedly wrapping the lights.  As I climbed off the ladder, she rubbed my stomach and said, "I know you're not supposed to climb a ladder, but I think the baby's okay."  Alright - - it was finally time to turn the decorator loose.

I'm not sure if it was the time lag, fatigue or the process of hooking the ornaments onto the tree, but the excitement that had been building for weeks quickly waned.....she hung a whopping six ornaments on the tree before she decided she was over it.  I would have picked up a Charlie Brown Christmas tree if I would have known that!

I asked her tonight if she wanted to finished decorating the tree, but she passed up the opportunity in favor of reading books and applying stickers to one of her dolls.  It looks like I'll be decorating a tree this weekend....

A very sparsely decorated tree.....

Dose of Reality

Getting past November 25th was a huge hurdle, but the upcoming holiday reiterates Granty's absence.  It's impossible not to miss the little guy.

Today my father-in-law went to view the headstone before it is laid into the ground.  As eager as we have been to get Granty's headstone in-place at the cemetery, when he texted the picture of it this afternoon, I couldn't help but breakdown.  It was a good thing I was working from home today (fetal monitoring and doctor's appointment this afternoon), as no one except the dog had to witness my cry-fest.  Seeing the images of the headstone provided a crushing blow of reality and an odd sense of finality.  It seems intrinsically wrong to see a headstone for a child, much less one adorned with a picture of my son.  However, I think both Damon and I will take resolve in knowing that he finally has a proper monument and resting place.

I know Alexa will be thrilled to see Granty's headstone when she and Damon visit the cemetery on Christmas.  It's like a blank canvas for her carefully selected dollar store decorations... :)

Limited Magic

I've quickly discovered one major downfall to my creativeness with Granty the Elf...Alexa is waking up earlier than ever simply to see where her elf sits and what mischief he's created.  This morning Alexa crept into my room around 5:45, excited to tell me that her elf had written "ALEXA" using the fake snow we had found in the box of Christmas decorations.  As much as I appreciate her enthusiasm, I think the elf is going to have to buy Alexa an alarm clock before the end of this holiday season....

As Alexa and I read "The Night Before Christmas" today, she began to ask about the celebration of Christmas in heaven.  Ooof...these are always tough conversations.  Alexa was very concerned about Santa's ability to get to heaven to bring toys to Granty.  Moreover, she was eager to find out if Santa gets to see Grant, because if he's able to see him, she assumed that Santa would be able to take us to see him.  I love her sense of logic and truly wish her ideas could come to fruition.  However, I had to let her know that Santa doesn't bring toys to heaven, but rather people in heaven celebrate in a different way.  I reminded her that decorating for Granty at the cemetery would be her special way to celebrate the holiday with her baby brother.

I could tell by the look on her face that my answer sufficed, but it was far from the answer she hoped to hear.  She did perk up when I reminded her that we will be shopping for toys that Granty would like and donating them in his memory to Phoenix Children's Hospital.  Sometimes retail therapy can do wonders....especially when it's for a good cause.

Fast asleep on the couch by 7pm....
flanked by a loyal (and equally tired) Alstott.

Unexpected Twist

Apparently December is way too late to buy an artificial Christmas tree, as Alexa and I discovered when we attempted to buy a tree today.  Costco was sold out of the 9-ft tree I had seen on their website (nothing online either), so we headed down the street to Home Depot.  Unfortunately Home Depot's selection of trees was pretty sparse, but our trip there provided some unexpected excitement for the day....

I have always been one of those people who never searches for the 'dream spot' in a parking lot - I usually park wherever is convenient and have no issue with a few extra yards of walking to get into the store.  Between the crowds and on-site Christmas tree lot, the Home Depot parking lot was pretty full this afternoon, so I parked on the site of the store by the garden center.  As I got out of the car, I noticed two people sitting in the car next to us, but didn't think much of it was I walked around to the passenger side to get Alexa from her car seat.  Suddenly, I heard the alarm on the store's emergency exit blaring, and a man was dashing our direction with his arms full of tools.  I made Alexa get back into the car, and I watched as the car next to us - apparently the getaway car - peeled off.  Holy cow!  Thankfully I was able to get the license plate number, so Alexa and I found ourselves in the offices of Home Depot as I wrote down the description of the car, stolen merchandise and perpetrators for the manager and police.  No success with a tree (looks like Alexa will get a real tree this year!), but at least we did our good deed for the day and Alexa learned a pretty valuable lesson.

Alexa was incredulous that someone would steal something - I think this was her first realization that not all people are "good."  I must have answered fifteen questions over the course of the day about why someone would steal and whether our neighbors are good (I'm not sure why she honed in on our neighbors).  One thing was certain in Alexa's mind - those three people are definitely getting coal from Santa!

Proud of her good deed for the day....
no coal for Alexa this year! :)

Decorative Touch

Last night I attended a holiday party with girlfriends - it was a very welcome night out, complete with a fun gift exchange and white elephant gift.  I really need to do nights like that more often - - Alexa was trying to guilt me into not attending, claiming I never spend time with her.  I had to laugh at that notion, and I dashed out the door without an ounce of guilt ;).  Alexa wasn't complaining about my attendance this morning when she saw the mini cupcake (I purposely picked the one decorated for Hanukkah) that my friend Jenny made sure I brought home for her....  Besides, I think Alexa and Damon had an enjoyable night together, complete with Chipotle for dinner - Alexa was very proud to tell me that she tried pork - and a Portillo's strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Not a bad night for the Hovey fam!

After I picked Alexa up from school today, we had some very important shopping to do....we went to the dollar store to buy decorations so that Alexa can decorate Granty's headstone when she travels to Fresno on Christmas.  Alexa loves to "decorate," so I figure this will be a perfect tribute to her beloved baby brother on the holiday.  I turned Alexa loose in the dollar store, abandoning my normal hang-ups about color coordination and mixing silver and gold, and she took full-advantage of the artistic freedom.
She definitely employs the "more is more" philosophy and took no time at all to fill the basket with glittery and sparkly decor.  When the fourth package of garland was tossed into the basket, I had to force her to regroup and be a little more selective about her decorating choices (I know, I couldn't help myself...).  By the time we were done perusing the holiday department, Alexa had amassed quite the collection of decorations.  Granty's headstone will be very well-decorated on Christmas - - definitely gaudy, but adorned with love.

Showing off the dollar store haul
(including an elf hat she conned me into buying).

Weighing the Options

Alexa is really getting into the holiday spirit this year.  As we drove home from gymnastics tonight, she asked me if we could celebrate Hanukkah this year....Oy vey!

The late Thanksgiving holiday has really condensed this holiday season; it's hard to believe Christmas is just three weeks away.  I have already promised Alexa that we will spend this weekend decorating the house for Christmas - apparently the inflatable Snoopy and vases of ornaments aren't enough this year :). 

Tonight Alexa and I had a lengthy discussion/debate about the Christmas tree.  I have never been a huge fan of real trees, as the watering, set-up and constant clean-up of pine needles is a bigger hassle than I would prefer to undertake.  I had intentions of buying an artificial tree during the post-Christmas clearance sales last year, but my intent never materialized.  I am willing to bite the bullet this year and pay pre-Christmas prices for the tree, simply to avoid another year of a real tree.  Alexa, on the other hand, was really pulling for a real tree, so I had to perform my best sales pitch to convince her of the reasons an artificial tree is better for us than a real tree.  After showing her a picture of the tree on the Costco website, I finally swayed her opinion, and she's excited to set up an artificial tree this weekend.  Whew!

Maybe I should have accepted her idea to celebrate Hanukkah....a menorah is a lot less complicated than a Christmas tree!

One ornament guaranteed to make the tree this year....
even though it doesn't match my purple-silver theme ;)

The Elf Returns

Last year I struggled to get into the holiday spirit (for obvious reasons), but thankfully my friend Linda made sure that Alexa didn't miss out on the Christmas experience.  She sent Alexa a multitude of holiday decorations, including the 'Elf on the Shelf' set, and Alexa immediately embraced the concept of the elf and the 'magical' powers it holds.  December could not come soon enough for Alexa this year, as it meant the return of her beloved elf.  Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I am making sure to go all-out this year to embrace the magic of the holiday season.

I'm not quite sure of the gender and name of our elf....last year she named him Granty, but this year she has decided the elf is a girl named (of course) Elizabeth.  However, she continues to call the elf Granty, so I've given up referring to the elf by name and let her decide as the mood strikes.

Today was the first morning that Granty/Elizabeth made an appearance, and Alexa awoke bright and early at 6:15 to find her beloved elf.  She squealed with excitement when she saw the elf on the island in the kitchen, running to wake up Damon to show him what her silly elf had done.  I never knew a cup of flour could evoke so much excitement....

If this morning was any indication, I think this will be a very fun holiday season.  There's nothing like the enthusiasm of a four year-old to help get me in the holiday spirit!

The mischievous elf decided to play in the "snow" (flour)
and bring a little bit of the North Pole to Arizona.

Catch-Up

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Damon, Alexa and I enjoyed a great Thanksgiving at my sister's house in Milwaukee.  The frigid temperatures were a bit jarring (we were definitely not in Arizona), but thankfully we were able to spend most of the time indoors.  Alexa, however, seemed unaffected by the freezing temperatures and was ecstatic to see snow (maybe 1") on the ground.  She happily donned winter clothes, brought by my parents from St. Louis and borrowed from her cousins, and played outside until her cousins were ready to come back inside.  Her excitement over 1" of snow definitely reflects her upbringing in the desert!  She's been begging to learn how to ski, so I think a ski trip is a must-do this winter.

My sister and brother-in-law were quite the hosts, preparing an impressive Thanksgiving feast - with plenty of leftovers to enjoy on Friday.  I am dreading my Tuesday doctor's appointment this week....I am sure the scale will reflect my carbo-loading, not to mention the pieces of homemade pumpkin and apple pie that I enjoyed.  Terri and I did make it to the gym on Friday evening, but I don't think I did enough to offset the caloric damage ;)

The weekend festivities did not end when Alexa and I flew home late last night.  The Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix hosts a holiday Teddy Bear Tea, so Alexa and I enjoyed a holiday-themed tea party with our girlfriends.  This was our first time attending Teddy Bear Tea, and the event warrants making it an annual tradition.  Our group of ten (five moms and five daughters) enjoyed a great afternoon at this well-orchestrated event.  The girls enjoyed tiny ham and cheese and pb&j sandwiches, hot chocolate (or I should say mini-marshmallows with a dash of hot chocolate) and plenty of desserts (the 'one sweet a day' rule was abandoned today), while the moms partook in slightly more grown-up fare...although I did have to pass on the unlimited champagne today.  The event was highlighted by an appearance of a life-sized teddy bear, parade through the lobby and a story read by the party's host.  Alexa was happy to take home the teddy bear of her choice, although the long weekend and lack of sleep seemed to catch up with her on the drive home.  I was glad she made it through the tea party, so I didn't mind dealing with a cranky girl for the rest of the afternoon.  

Something tells me the next few weeks will fly by, as we have a lot of holiday activities planned!

The snow bunny....happy to partake in some winter fun.

On our way to tea this afternoon....

The Best Hand Turkey

There's no doubt the past month has taken an emotional toll upon all of us - we're definitely looking forward to getting away for the holiday (despite the freezing temperatures of Milwaukee).  Alexa provided a nice kick-off to Thanksgiving tonight in a rather unexpected way.....the classic hand turkey.

When I picked up Alexa from school tonight, she was eager to grab her folder of school projects that she brings home each week.  In addition to the normal word sheets and metal inset tracings, she was eager to show me the Thanksgiving art project she made.  She proudly pulled out the paper of the hand turkey with feathers identifying things for which she is thankful.  This hand turkey gave me a huge pick-me-up, as I was touched by the things for which Alexa had highlighted she was thankful:

- my family

- Granty

- giraffes

- my baby sister

- my books

- Gabriella 

- my toys

Granty, giraffes and her baby sister (apparently she's gotten over the hand-me-down issue)...there's no doubt this little girl is embracing her role as a big sister.  Seeing these three items on the turkey's feathers made me smile and gave me hope for the year ahead; Alexa seems to have her heart and priorities in the right place.

This is one art project that will be saved for years to come.....

One Year....

One year....it's hard to believe it has been one year since Granty passed away, but at the same time it seems like forever since I've been able to hold my little boy.  This has been a very rough month, not to mention the agony of today's anniversary, but we're doing what we can to push through it and make our little boy proud.

Most people were not lucky enough to get to meet Granty and only got to know him through my words and pictures on this blog.  My vocabulary will never be able to capture the true essence of Granty, but his bright eyes and huge grin in those pictures speak volumes.  Thankfully we do have one video, albeit cell phone quality, that Damon captured the morning of his biopsy at Phoenix Children's Hospital.  It's hard to believe how happy and lively he was despite the ordeal he was undergoing (IV's, MRI, biopsy, anesthesia...).  The best part is that Granty was laughing even more hysterically (at his silly mother) before Damon was able begin recording on his cell phone.  Damon uploaded the video below to YouTube today....this has to be one of the most beautiful videos you'll ever see [warning - it will probably make you cry; I couldn't bring myself to watch it today].  It captures the spirit and personality of our vivacious little boy, not to the perspective upon life that it provides to the rest of us.

His laughter is forever captured in my heart and mind....it also helps to explain why he was always Mr. Popular with all of the doctors and nurses.  With that laugh,  it's impossible to not fall in love with him and become captivated his joy and innocence.

We miss you & love you, Granty!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2SCJld0B24

Pep Talk

The rainy and cold (by Scottsdale standards) weather continued today, so I knew I needed to develop a plan of indoor activities to do with Alexa.  Thankfully, she had a Build-A-Bear gift card that she was eager to use.  I did a little research beforehand and let Alexa know that Pinkie Pie (a My Little Pony) was an online item only, but she was undeterred, as she had seen a Build-A-Bear commercial advertising their Rudolph collection and wanted to build a reindeer.  Perfect - - a trip to the mall was on the agenda after gymnastics

A poster advertising Santa's Workshop almost deterred our visit as soon as it began; Alexa froze in her tracks, petrified that she might see Santa.  She's a pretty fearless kid, but when it comes to people in costumes or dressed up as characters, she is a nervous mess.  She was torn between wanting to head upstairs to Build-A-Bear and walking out of the mall.  I assured her that I would do everything I could to make sure she didn't see Santa, so she decided to proceed.  The poor little girl was giving herself pep talks as we made our way through the mall, muttering, "Be brave, Alexa" to herself over and over.

At Build-A-Bear, she decided to make Clarice (the girl reindeer from Rudolph), clad in a white dress with green and red polka-dots and a red sequined Santa hat.  Damon had stepped away from the restaurant to meet us at Build-A-Bear, and the three of us decided to have lunch together.  Uh oh...I knew the walk back to Wildfish would require us to walk by Santa.  Sure enough, Santa was standing by his chair waving when we made our way past his workshop.

Alexa hesitated, and I was ready to act as interference and walk beside her so she wouldn't have to see him.  However, her pep talks seemed to take effect, and she stopped to wave back at him.  "Wait - I want to go talk to him."  I couldn't believe my ears, and asked her three times if she was sure;  she assured me she was.  Apparently visits to Santa aren't as popular before Thanksgiving, so Alexa was able walk directly up to Santa.  She stood in front of him, about three feet away, and spoke to him, showing off her Clarice and telling him about the Calico Critters and hula hoop she wants for Christmas.  I knew sitting in his lap was out of the question, but I could not believe she had summoned the courage to speak to him.  This was a huge achievement, as she conquered one of her biggest fears!

She was bragging about her visit all afternoon, telling me that now she think she's ready to visit Fredbird (the St. Louis Cardinals mascot) too.  Talk about some powerful self-pep talks!

Enjoying her latest Build-A-Bear creation.

Striking Resemblance

Today's weather - it rained all day - seemed to embody the mood I've felt during the past few weeks.  This has been a very emotional month, as the memories of the events of a year ago have been forefront in my mind.

I gave Alexa a bath last night, and she fell asleep on my bed after she wrapped herself in a bedsheet like a cocoon.  As I prepared to lift her and bring her to her bed, I stopped short, as I could not believe the resemblance between Alexa and Granty.  From the moment Grant was born, there was no denying these two were siblings, but with her damp hair off of her face and ivory sheet wrapped around her, the peaceful look on her sleeping face was strikingly similar to that of Grant.  I must have stood there for five minutes, simply staring at Alexa while she slept and recalling Grant's angelic and peaceful face during his final week of life.

Granty's presence felt stronger than ever, and there's no surprise it was through his big sister.  In his short life, the bond between them was undeniable; she was a doting big sister, adored by her baby brother.  She may not realize it, but I truly feel that Alexa will perpetuate Grant's life and legacy through her own life.

Two of the most touching photos I will ever take....
there's no denying the love.

Real Butter!

Each year Alexa's class holds a Thanksgiving feast prior to the holiday, and it is one event Alexa eagerly anticipates.  This year I was sure to sign up for the potluck feast early, as I remember my mother-in-law and sisters dutifully using turkey cookie cutters to shape sandwich bread for turkey sandwiches last year (I was practically living at the hospital).  I took the easy route this time and signed up to bring a pumpkin pie, requiring only a quick trip to Costco after Alexa's gymnastics class last night....ahh, the ease of outsourcing.  I was already at work before Alexa woke up this morning, but she had no problem remembering to bring the pie to school...this was an exciting day for her!

Not only did Alexa get to partake in the Thanksgiving feast - she told me she had both apple and pumpkin pie! - but the highlight of the day seemed to be the homemade butter.  When I picked her up from Aftercare, she immediately ran to the refrigerator to grab the mason jar of butter she had churned from heavy cream.  After showing me her creation, she looked at me and asked, "So what can we make for dinner with my butter?!?"  Butter is usually not on menu at our house, so I quickly suggested the first thing that came to mind - garlic bread.   Not exactly gourmet, but it was an easy way to incorporate Alexa's beloved butter into tonight's dinner menu.

The aspiring cooking show contestant raved about the garlic bread we made - she commented that it was "crispy and buttery with good flavor balance."  Damon loves to joke about the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" that I use, and Alexa seemed to pay homage to his teasing tonight.  "See Mommy!?!  Food is much better when you use real butter and not the fake stuff in the refrigerator!"  

She's always been a fan of Thanksgiving feasts - - Alexa in 2010.

Unfathomable

One year ago today, Damon and I received the worst news we could have ever imagined...Grant's tumor had hemorrhaged and nothing could be done to reverse it.  With the advances and miracles of modern medicine, a prognosis like that seems unimaginable...everyone had been so optimistic about Granty's ability to fight cancer, and I never expected to hear the fight was over.

After an all-nighter of the PICU medical team trying everything within their power to reduce Granty's heart rate and fever, I called Damon that morning and told him to get to the hospital as soon as he could because I had a bad feeling.  Sure enough - the two of us sat in Grant's room and watched his Oncologist review the images from the early morning MRI at the nurses' station.  When I saw the doctor shaking his head in disbelief, I read his lips as he muttered, "Oh my God," and instantly knew.  Even one year later, I still cannot find the words to describe my emotions.  

This month has been, and will continue to be, one of sad anniversaries, but I take solace in knowing that Granty's in a better place.  He is constantly in my thoughts and continues to inspire and motivate me.  I see his trademark tenacity in Alexa, and I have a feeling his little sister will demonstrate the same trait.  He always has and will continue to bring out the best in all of us.

Forever my baby boy.....

Memorable Weekend

Whew - what a busy weekend in Fresno.  From a rehearsal dinner on Friday night, to the wedding on Saturday and a memorial for Granty on Sunday, it was an activity-filled weekend and a wonderful time with family.  Alexa came with us to the rehearsal dinner on Friday and ceremony on Saturday (she stayed with a babysitter for the wedding reception), and she definitely made her presence known at each event.  As I've told people many times - don't let the blonde hair and blue eyes fool you; she is definitely Damon's daughter.

At the rehearsal dinner, her eyes immediately gravitated to the groom's cake, which was playfully decorated with an outdoors motif - a whimsical style very similar to the cakes on her beloved 'Cake Boss.'  Around 8:30pm she was clearly exhausted, but she did not want to leave the rehearsal dinner until she had a piece of cake.  She was determined to have a slice of the beautiful cake and live out her 'Cake Boss' dreams.  The mother-of-the-bride heard Alexa mention her desire for cake, and she immediately requested the bride and groom cut the cake so Alexa could have a piece.  It was so kind of her to request the cake-cutting on behalf of Alexa...otherwise it could have been a very long night.  Alexa was in heaven as she ate her piece of cake (it was delicious!), and she was more than willing to leave after that, falling asleep within two minutes of getting into the car.

Alexa was very eager to attend the wedding on Saturday, as I think she envisioned it being like every Disney Princess movie she's seen.  Not only was she eager to see the bride's dress and flowers, but she had been given the very important task of making sure her cousin Luke, the ringbearer, made it down the aisle.  As the wedding party made their entrance, Alexa excitedly stood with my sister-in-law near the front of the church to help coax Luke towards them.  Whether it was the large crowd or the crying flower girls in front of him, Luke did not want to walk.  My sister-in-law started to walk towards him, and Alexa, holding in high regard her task to get him down the aisle, walked straight down the middle of the aisle to get him and accompany him to the front of church.  Somehow Alexa had inserted herself into the wedding party and made herself a write-in flowergirl.  She's no-nonsense, but did achieve her task!  I could only shake my head - already a wedding crasher!  Both the mothers of the bride and groom even invited Alexa to be in some of the pictures being taken after the ceremony....Alexa proudly stood next to her cousin, standing out from the wedding party's black-and-white attire in her bright raspberry dress, smiling for the camera like a pro.  What a ham!  Damon's cousin, the father of the groom, was ready to post an ad for a "Flowergirl for Hire" to rent out Alexa for future weddings.  :)

On Sunday Alexa took a backseat to her little brother.  The immediate family gathered at church on Sunday to honor the one-year anniversary of Grant's passing, followed by a visit to the cemetery and lunch at an Armenian restaurant.  It was a very low-key but poignant celebration of Granty's all-too-short life and the memories he provided each of us.  Before we left for the cemetery, I made the mistake of telling Alexa it was time to go because "we were going to visit Granty."  Her eyes immediately lit up and she excitedly responded, "You mean we get to see him again!?!"  Immediately my stomach dropped, and I tried to quickly clarify my comment.  Thankfully she was distracted by the donut holes Damon was holding aside for her...whew - crisis averted.  She doesn't know a cemetery is a place where people are buried (Damon nor I didn't want to explain the burial process), but she recognizes it as a place we go to remember Granty.  While the Der Hayr led us in prayer, Alexa was busy making a "present" for Grant - a mound of grass blades she pulled from the ground.  While a clump of grass may not be traditional, it makes me so proud to see how Alexa cherishes and preserves the memory of her beloved Granty.  I truly hope her memories stay strong for the rest of her life...it means the world to me.

Hard not to notice in her poofy pink frock.

Manning her spot at the front of church...ready to step in to help!

A Turkey of Principle

Today I received a mass e-mail from Sprouts, a regional natural/organic grocery store, reminding me to pre-order my Thanksgiving turkey.  I had to smile when I saw the e-mail, thinking back to one of the events of last year's holiday.....

Damon and I planned to host Thanksgiving last year, and despite my culinary limitations, I usually try to go all-out for the holiday in the kitchen.  It's the one time every five years or so that I make an entire meal from scratch - except for desserts...even I know my limitations when it comes to making pies.  Because of the hectic schedule we had last year with Granty's chemo and doctors appointments, I tried to be as organized as possible, selecting the recipes in early November and scouring the grocery sales ads to match my shopping list to the weekly sales.  When Sprouts opened their online pre-orders for farm-fresh turkeys on November 1st, I placed my order that day to ensure we'd have the perfect main course for our Thanksgiving feast.

None of my pre-planning could have prepared me for the events of last year, but thankfully my siblings were there to take over cooking duties and fulfill the Thanksgiving dinner I envisioned (way better than I could have done it).  I remember sitting in Granty's ICU room when my sisters called to tell me that Sprouts had no record of my turkey pre-order, so they had to buy a frozen turkey in its place because all fresh turkeys were reserved.  The rest of my life was spinning entirely out of my control at that point in time, and I refused to let my Thanksgiving dinner fall into that category.  I was incensed.  As silly as it seems, I needed to feel like I had control over at least one aspect of life, and the Thanksgiving turkey became the target.  There was no way I was going to let my vision of a fresh turkey be marred by a frozen turkey.  Truthfully, I don't really even like turkey and probably couldn't tell the difference between fresh and frozen, but this was not about the turkey any more...it was the principle of the situation.

Damon, to whom I always leave the negotiations, called Sprouts to speak to a manager about my misplaced turkey pre-order.  My siblings assured me that they would be able to make the frozen turkey taste delicious, but I continued my pursuit for control.  The manager of Sprouts called Damon back and advised him that they would find a fresh turkey for us.  Since Damon nor I would leave Granty's side, my brother and sister generously volunteered to go to Sprouts to pick up the fresh turkey...probably shaking their heads and wondering what the heck we would do with two Thanksgiving turkeys.

It was very hard to elicit any emotions beyond sadness and despair that week, but I remember a smile coming across my face when my sister texted me a picture of my brother Steve, posing in front of Sprouts with the fresh turkey held like a trophy.  I was even happier when I found out Sprouts had given them the turkey free of charge.  Triumph (and control)!

It's probably a good thing that my sister Terri is hosting Thanksgiving this year....not only is it a sad time of year, but coupling those emotions with a woman who will be eight-months pregnant could be a very dangerous combination!

Enjoying Thanksgiving with a FRESH turkey....

Wiped Out

Late this morning, my phone rang during a meeting, and I looked down to see Alexa's teacher calling me...it's usually not a good sign when the teacher is calling me in the middle of the school day.  I nervously answered the phone, and Alexa's teacher informed me that Alexa was not being her normal self today - - trying to take a nap, resting her head on the table, wanting to stay inside during playground time....very un-Alexa behavior.  Thankfully she didn't have a temperature, but I left the office to go pick her up.  We have a wedding in Fresno this weekend, and the last thing I need is a sick Alexa for the trip.

Never one to shy away from dramatics, Alexa sighed and complained, "I'm so sick..." as we made our way home from school.  However, as soon as she saw our cleaning lady's car in the driveway, she perked up and wanted to help Ms. Elizabeth while she cleaned.  Wait a minute.....for a girl who was supposedly sick, she suddenly had a ton of energy.  For the next hour or so, she ran around the house (while I attempted to keep her out of Elizabeth's way), drew pictures for Elizabeth and looked at some of the Christmas toy catalogs we have received in the mail.

I was starting to think Alexa had pulled a clever ruse on her teacher and me, but I corralled her into her bedroom and closed her blackout curtains.  Within a couple of minutes, she (and Alstott) were fast asleep on her bed and slept for a couple of hours.  She woke up completely rejuvenated and showed no signs of being sick.  Whew!

Although I appreciated her two hour nap this afternoon (I was on conference calls the entire time), payback came tonight, as she is still running around the house and playing pretend at 9pm.  I wish I could take a nap now!

Trying to catch some zzz's mid-lesson....
I feel like doing this at my desk every afternoon!
(Photo from Alexa's teacher)

Quality Time

Today I realized that I took Granty to what would be his final chemotherapy session on this day last year.  I remember all of the details of the day vividly, down to the outfit he was wearing, as it was the first time that the chemo seemed to take its toll upon him.  After the check of his vitals and bloodwork, he slept soundly in my arms during infusion, not even stirring when I moved him from my arms to the infant seat for the drive home.  He even slept through our detour to the grocery store - his last public outing - so I could pick up heavy cream for Alexa to make butter at school.  He was so wiped out, undoubtedly the result of the harsh chemo drugs working their way through his system.

To this day, I still miss my 'Tuesdays with Granty.'  Although the circumstances were dire, it was a bonding experience like I will probably never have again.  His chemo sessions represented a time when I would completely detach from my phone, e-mail, etc... and enjoy the presence of my little boy while I held him in my arms in the infusion chair.  Granty always seemed so peaceful as we sat together, unaware of the hectic pace of the infusion area or the timer dispensing his meds.  This time each Tuesday helped to put life in perspective....I just wish it hadn't taken something so dramatic to insight this outlook.

I'd give anything to have another 'Tuesday with Granty'.....I wouldn't ever trade those hours of holding him in my arms,

My sleepy little boy at his last chemo session....

Hand-Me-Downs!?!

I took advantage of Damon's day off yesterday to do some solo shopping, even getting a jump on some Christmas shopping.  The Carter's children's store had additional markdowns on clearance merchandise, so I took advantage of the sale and picked up a few things for Alexa and baby #3.  Alexa was excited by the new clothes...until she took a quick inventory of the baby's items versus her own.  At that very moment, the reality of a baby sister seemed to register with her.

She immediately ran to her bedroom and closed the door, so I let her have her space for five minutes or so.  When I entered her room, a sobbing Alexa was on her bed crying, "Why don't you like me anymore?"  Oh the drama (the "only child syndrome" we were hoping to avoid)!  I knew immediately that the quantity of newly purchased baby clothes versus her own was the source of her angst, so I calmly reminded her that babies need a lot more clothes because they spit-up and make messes more often.  Besides, I rationalized, "You'll always have new clothes but the baby will have to wear some of your old clothes.  Those are called hand-me-downs."  Well, I didn't exactly get the response I was expecting....you would have thought I told her Christmas was cancelled.  She exclaimed, "WHAT!?!  The baby gets to wear my old clothes?!?"  I had no idea sibling rivalry could start when the baby is in utero....

I was able to talk Alexa out of her frenzied state by recounting stories from my youth in which I had to wear Aunt Karen and Aunt Terri's old clothes (I might have exaggerated a little bit about the ickiness of their clothes ;) .  That seemed to do the trick, and she volunteered to go through the containers of her old clothes with me to pick out clothes that she is willing to share with the baby.  Tonight we stopped into BuyBuyBaby to return something, and she wandered into the infant clothing section and wanted to pick out some outfits for her sister.  Whew...it seems the crisis has been averted (for now).

The next couple of months will bring a lot of change for all of us, but I am hopeful the drama component will subside.  Otherwise, Damon and I are in for some loooong years ahead!

A baby brother was so much easier....no sharing clothes with Granty!

Making a Splash

I have been searching for something different to do with Alexa today, and I stumbled across something I thought she might enjoy - - an Arizona State University swimming and diving meet.  Today's meet was small, featuring only ASU, UCLA and Air Force (men only), so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to introduce Alexa to the sport and see if it was something she enjoyed.  

I am pretty sure this will not be the only meet we will attend this year; we had a great time!  The ASU Aquatic Center is outdoors, so it was a little warm sitting in the desert sun, but thankfully we had prepared and brought our water bottles and sunscreen.  I had never been to a collegiate swim meet, and I could not believe how efficient and fast-paced the meet was conducted - - there was constant activity.  Swimmers for the next race were already on the blocks before the current racers were out of the water.  Meanwhile, the diving competition was happening simultaneously, so there was never a lapse in the action.  Pretty impressive!  Alexa enjoyed the sprint races - - especially the freestyle and backstroke (the two strokes she has learned) - - and the diving.  She loved the flips and spirals of the diving, although she liked the dives more when the divers missed their entrances into the water and made huge splashes...not exactly consistent with the scores, but she enjoyed it nevertheless.  I'm not sure if it was the heat or the excitement of the competition, but Alexa commented more than once, "I wish I was in the pool with them."

As we left the meet, Alexa informed me that she is going to be on the swim team when she's in college.  However, her ambition does not stop there....according to her, she'll also be on the gymnastics and tennis teams.  She'll be one busy girl, but I don't think her extracurricular activities will interfere with the curriculum for her major - she informed me she wants to be a jaguar when she grows up.  :)  

Enjoying the action while sporting Mommy's sunglasses.

Long Overdue

Today I fulfilled an obligation to Alexa for which I have been on the hook for over a year - - I volunteered as a parent helper for Park Day at her school.  On Park Day, Alexa and her classmates wear their purple polo shirts to school and each classroom walks to the neighboring park for a concert by the music teacher, lunch and playground time.  Park Day is a much-anticipated event for Alexa and is a highlight of the monthly school calendar.

Needless to say, we had a lot happening last year, something Alexa understood very well (especially for a three year-old), but her disappointment was obvious when I wasn't able to volunteer.  I knew I needed to redeem myself this year, and as soon as the sign-up sheets were released, I committed to volunteer at two of the three planned Park Days for the school year.

Alexa flashed me her signature smirk as soon as I entered the classroom, and it look every bit of self-restraint for her not leave her place on the rug and run to me.  Her excitement made my day, and the e-mails I knew were building up in my Inbox became the furthest thing from my mind.  For the next three hours, I enjoyed watching Alexa interact with her classmates and helped kids out on the monkey bars and zip line (after I assured the teachers I had no restrictions that would prevent me from lifting up the children).  The children were pretty exhausted as we made our way back to the school, and the fatigue was further-evidenced when Alexa fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 tonight.

I enjoyed the time I spent with Alexa and her classmates, but I was worn out when I came home to work remotely for the afternoon.  I have a new-found respect for teachers - - I don't know how they do it every day!

Enjoying a trip down the slide.

Change of Plans

Although I'm very excited about Baby #3's arrival, there are some definite downsides to having a baby in January....the reset of medical benefits and deductibles, trying to juggle preparation for the arrival in the midst of the holiday season, and no travel for me this Christmas.  The latter is the biggest downside for me, but doctor's orders prohibit me from traveling so close to my due date.

With both families out of town, Damon and I have adopted a rotational schedule and travel every year to St. Louis or Fresno for the Christmas holiday.  We've never had a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning with "just us", so this will be an entirely new experience this Christmas.  Alexa and I will have Christmas Eve dinner at Wildfish (hopefully Damon can sit down to join us), but I was searching for something else special to do with Alexa on Christmas Eve to substitute the normal family festivities.  I found what I think will be the perfect activity - - a matinee show of Ballet Arizona and Phoenix Symphony's production of "The Nutcracker."

I was very excited to share the plans with Alexa, as I have very fond memories of attending "The Nutcracker" with my godparents at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis when I was young.  I'll never forget when they took me to T.G.I Friday's and treated me to a virgin strawberry daiquiri (my first) after the show....life was good for an eight year-old :)  Alexa's enthusiasm grew as I showed her pictures from the ballet company's website and explained the storyline to her.  However, I think her Halloween costume went straight to her head, as Alexa declared, "And I can wear my tutu and dance on the stage too!!!"  Umm...not exactly, but I do admire her enthusiasm.  Although I wish we could be with our extended family on the 24th, I think we have a pretty good plan for Christmas Eve and should enjoy our time together.

Holiday travel is usually my excuse for not going all-out and decorating the house for Christmas, so my travel restriction has taken away the rationale for not decorating.  I have a feeling Alexa and I will be very busy decorating the house in early December.....

There won't be any snow this Christmas, but we'll make the best of it!

My Little Helper

There's no denying Alexa's excitement about the birth of her new sister - - she has begun to talk to the baby, yelling into my belly to "come out soon!"  Alexa is not as familiar with the calendar months as she is with days of the week, so she has framed the expected arrival as being after Christmas and before Valentine's Day...both very important events in the life of a four year-old (or four-and-a-half as she always reminds me).

Compared to Grant's birth, Alexa is extremely anxious for her baby sister to arrive; it's amazing the difference just 18-months makes in her understanding and maturity.  Granty's birth was a new experience for which she had no expectations, but it's a different story this time around - she's a seasoned pro!  She is ready to play the role of "Mommy's helper," wanting to hold and feed the baby.  She was able to get some valuable practice when we were in St. Louis, as she eagerly awaited for her cousin Alana (4-months) to come over each day to hold and play with her.  I'll have to keep a very close eye on Alexa and her new sibling, as her holding techniques were a little less than ideal :)  Nevertheless, it's comforting to know that Alexa is excited for her new sister and the joy the baby will bring to our family.

Not only will Alexa be helping me with the baby, but it also sounds like she wants to help me as my personal trainer.  Tonight she told me I could be on "The Biggest Loser" once the baby comes to make my stomach flat again...ouch!  She's a harsh critic, but she'll definitely give me the motivation I need to lose the baby weight.

Alexa could not wait to "hold" her cousin Alana....
we'll work on her technique in the next couple of months!