Lunch with Daddy

We had lunch with Daddy at his new job today. Lucia helped herself to three humongous servings of what else - berries from these giant dishes. She ate most of her BLT and hummus too. The office spaces were impressive: sleek and modern and very Silicon Valley. Good times were had. In the picture she's holding her third serving of berries: the cup was completely full.

Christmas 2012

Given the fact we spent a week with my family in Florida in September, another trip home to see them in July, and that I'm 6+ mos pregnant, we decided to stay home this year for Christmas. We had a few things planned in hopes of making it special since my first time staying home for Christmas (ever!), and had hoped they would be enough to make it ours.

I can tell you with certainty that it's just harder having Christmas traditions that seem meaningful and tied together at our own place. Christmas is like anything else with a lot of expectations and emotions and memories around it, and if things don't measure up it can be disappointing. While we had fun things planned, they didn't measure up to being with our families and doing the things we grew up doing. At least for me they didn't. We'll be going home to Delaware next year and will plan the rest of our vacation next year around going home. Both my family and Pete's are coming out when Baby Boy arrives, so that will help break up the year.

But let's get to the presents for Lucia, shall we? I was super excited to get her presents this year, because I feel like it's the first year she gets Christmas.

As we've mentioned, she asked Santa for Baby Dora. She also wanted this hideously plastic matching stroller with it, but 1. she has two baby strollers already and 2. that thing was $30 and 3. it was a toy for a 1-2 year old. Um, no. But we realized the importance of her getting what she asked Santa for in order to believe the whole Santa story, so we did get her the baby.

I saw that the IKEA kid's kitchen was $40 off this year, so one night when we went over there for other gifts, Lucia helped me buy it, unsuspecting given everything was in plain brown boxes. Score. Also, high-five to me for getting the boxes in the car solo (1 was 12 lbs, the other was 30 something).

The little sleeping bag on top matches the one she sleeps in every day (OK, some days) at her school for naps. When I saw they had a doll version, I was sold. Waiting for one-day sales really helped.

The Princess music CD: we listen to the Disney Pandora station on the days I take her to school, and she lights up with the princess songs come on. This way we'll always have them in the car and won't have to listen to any Peabo Bryson waiting for the best songs to come up.

On Christmas morning she woke me up and was nearly jumping up and down showing me the Dora; we decided to not wrap her presents so I guess she ventured out when the "green light was on," [God bless that stoplight alarm clock] and found her gifts. Adorable for sure, but I wished we had been able to see the magic... lessons learned.

She also got a huge Cinderella castle from my parents and a huge Lego Fire Station from Pete's parents.

For us? We're excited to get our new TV to go with our new toaster oven and microwave. Getting pretty fancy here in Oakland! We are also planning a last-hurrah trip in January or February down the Coast and are thankful for Pete's family's help to fund that. Overall, it was an OK Christmas! I'm off work for the rest of the week, Pete is off again for Jan. 1 and my parents arrive next week, so I'm excited to see them and spend time with them.

Santa was happy the kitchen was assembled quickly. 

Posing

Making eggs for Mommy.

This is how we found her when we were ready to go to Eddie's for Christmas dinner. 

Crashed waiting for the elevator after pinnekjøtt at Elin & Essie's

Completely asleep at church

Outside the Norwegian Church "Mommy I'm cold!"

That time I sprained my ankle

Our elevator at home was out yesterday and in my haste to get Lucia to school and myself to work, while wearing rainboots, I missed a step or two and stumbled. Immediately my ankle hurt but I didn't have a lot of options, so I kept on with my morning. I iced it when I got to work and around 11 I went to get lunch, hobbling but able to walk. Two hours later it was much worse and I couldn't bear any weight on it. My car was parked three blocks away and Lucia had to be picked up by 6. So Pete to the rescue! He drove home and then took a cab to get the Prius in the parking garage near my office. Meanwhile, I took a cab to the hospital and was treated super fast. Baby boy is just fine: he was sucking his thumb on the ultrasound. I now have crutches and am icing it. It hurt a LOT last night but was some better today.

Routine Amidst Heartbreak

After the news of the Newtown shooting, all I wanted to do was see Pete and Lucia and do normal stuff. We cancelled plans Saturday and walked to the yummy bakery and the farmer's market for our Christmas tree and a tasty roasted chicken. Here's a shot of Pete and Lucia (don't ask about that awful hat she's wearing; she loves it) with our tree. We came home, decorated our tree and just enjoyed each other's company.

Today I went to brunch with my closest girlfriends, which had been scheduled for a long time but was a welcome relief from the heartache. Pete took Lucia swimming, and as you can see, she's made so much progress in her lessons.





Every kick with baby boy and milestones like these have hurt this weekend; that's what those parents of the children killed felt for their children. Such a bittersweet moment today; Lucia reaching milestones. But as we all know about life, the only thing you can do is love and live and cherish each moment. I'm so proud of her, and hugged her tightly and smelled her hair, trying to memorize every part of her in case the unthinkable ever happened.

Lucia's also learned to pray recently (our beloved babysitter and nursery coordinator taught her), and we prayed last night and thanked God for each other. I pray that God is with those families, those sweet souls, and us as a nation as we look within to find the courage to change.

Giving Back

We've been trying to think of some small but meaningful ways to spread a little kindness this holiday season. Also, Pete's been out of town all week so I've been telling Lucia that each day we get to have an adventure. I decided that one night this week we'd make muffins for the local firefighters. I bought a huge bunch of bananas at the store Tuesday and a bag of chocolate chips and last night, we excitedly assembled them. We wrote out a Christmas card for them, with Lucia dictating. She wanted to say I love you over and over again and also? awww moment? to give away her beloved candy she received after visiting Santa the other day. She also looked around the kitchen and suggested, "I know, maybe they need salt!!!" Could be, but let's maybe just start with the muffins, ok kid?

After our card was done and the muffins had cooled, Lucia tried one and declared them delicious and suitable for gift-giving. I wrapped them in foil and dropped them in a bag this morning and toted them in my car. After another dinnertime showdown at Chipotle, complete with her yelling loudly that I was a bad mommy (ahem), we hugged, I gave her a piggyback ride halfway to the car and we headed over to the local fire station to deliver our goods.

It was beyond cute. They showed her the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck, and had their guys keep sliding down the poles for her to see. They let her get in the fire engine too. One of them, pictured below, said his girls were now teenagers and he wished they were still Lucia's age. She insisted they open and read their card right there, and hugged each of them multiple times. They said thank you just as many. We told them to please enjoy the muffins and have a Merry Christmas. Tonight felt really really good to give back.

Santa Lucia

The Young Scandinavians Club does their annual Santa Lucia celebration and it's my go-to official kickoff of the Christmas season. Last night Pete was buried with work, but I rallied to take Lucia anyway. Parking in that part of San Francisco is always dicey, but I managed to find one (hooray) and arrived with minutes to spare before the performance started. They sing Santa Lucia on the processional and recessional, and Lucia pointed to herself each time they said her name. Of course. Our friend Jonas sang Oh Holy Night in Swedish and it always brings tears to my eyes; he wasn't there last year so it was super special to hear him. Afterwards we had to wait for a while to see Santa but it was worth it; Lucia thought so anyway. She told Santa she wants some toys out of this Fisher Price catalog we got in the mail and tried in vain to hide from her. She now squirrels it away in her room and combs over the toys. Guess someone needs to take a gander to see what this "Dora baby" is all about. While walking to the car after the performance, Lucia said her favorite song we sang was Jingle Bells. So cute.

Pardon the terrible shadow on these; I did the best I could.