Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We spent the holidays in Kentucky with my family and had such a great visit. Here are some of the highlights.
We started out by celebrating Eleanora’s first birthday with her Kentucky family.
This was her fourth first-birthday soiree, by the way, since we did a party in Philadelphia over Thanksgiving, a “party” (i.e. Hubba Bubba and me singing) on her real birthday seeing as we had an entire birthday cake that was going to go to waste, another party that was her ACTUAL “birthday party!” with invitations and balloons and guests and all that (more on that soon), and finally… the Lexington party.
At this point Eleanora thinks that having people sing to you, blowing out a candle, and digging your hands into buttercream is something that just happens every week or so. Like ordering pizza or going to the grocery store.
“Poppy” and “Lolly” (my dad and stepmom) gave Eleanora this pink princess riding toy complete with magic wand and all kinds of sound effects (it actually plays My Old Kentucky Home – how bout that!), and Cousin Cooper quickly commandeered it.
Apparently he loves tractors, backhoes, and pink princess riding toys.
The next family gathering was a lowcountry-inspired Christmas dinner of shrimp and grits at my Mimi and Papaw’s house. This was Mimi’s Christmas dinner table. Isn’t it beautiful? She called it casual.
On Christmas Eve, we attended the 5:00 pm church service (aka the family service, aka THE ZOO). Eleanora loudly crunched on Mum-Mums, while Cooper announced, “I pooped! I pooped!” to all within earshot as Sister and Brother-in-Law Dan shuffled out to change his diaper. Needless to say, we left early, but Eleanora looked awfully cute in her Christmas dress. TV remote sold separately.
We took a photo of four generations — Mama, Eleanora, me, Mimi, and the lamp — which I will cherish forever (the photo, not the lamp). P.S. My mom had just gotten back from St. Maartens, where she strolled on a nude beach but claims not to have gotten nakey herself, hence that enviable golden tan.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…
… and Saint Nicholas sure did come to visit. This was Eleanora’s stocking spread at her Shae-Shae’s house (not pictured: doll house and pink pony riding toy).
Eleanora and Cooper checked out each other’s new modes of transportation.
And Hubba Bubba got this attractive and versatile fish that sings a catchy tune about McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich. (Gimme back that filet-o-fish! Give me that fish!) HB wasn’t too sure about it…
… but Cooper loved it. Something tells me that fish might find its way back to Cooper.
Meanwhile it was not a comedic cod but a hungry Westie that caught Ellie Babe’s attention.
Izzi — aka the self-operating dust buster — buddied up to Eleanora pretty quickly.
Eleanora kept us entertained with some of her new tricks, including, “Where’s your tongue?”
And “How big is Eleanora?” (So big! And with a mouth full of Happy Munchies.)
And here’s one more photo that I just love. Christmas Day 2011, Eleanora Babe playing piano with her great-Papaw.
We spent time with so many other loved ones and did so much more than I have detailed here, but… this “quick” recap will have to suffice. It was a wonderful Christmas that I will remember for many, many years.
Moving into 2012, here’s what’s coming up this month on The Lexingtonienne: Eleanora’s birthday party, U.S. Senate bean soup, and a very special mini-series on parenting tips and tricks that I’ll be bringing to you in partnership with my dear Montessori teacher, Marnie Downs. (Don’t worry – I am not the expert in that arena – she is!) If you have little ones in your life, you won’t want to miss these insightful guest blogs.
See you soon,
