Christmas Highlights 2010

Merry Christmas!

The Christmases between high school and Edgar were...well...a little lacking in Christmas excitement. But it's back. Christmas with a 2 year old is so fun!

Edgar really got Christmas this year--on a really basic level. He got that it was baby Jesus' birthday, Santa was going to bring him presents--specifically, Santa would bring him a scooter (at one point, when he really got that he could ask for something, he was jumping up and down on my bed yelling "SANTA...BRING....EDGAR...'COOTER!"), and that there were lots of parties with family.

Some favorite quotes:

Alex: "Edgar, tomorrow is Christmas...what does that mean?" Edgar: "Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus. Santa. Jesus. Party!"

All throughout the Christmas weekend he would insist on singing Happy Birthday to Jesus at every meal. He also wanted "more fire? more cake? blow out candles?"

He knows Santa comes down Chimneys...but he wasn't totally certain what a Chimney was. I pointed out a big fireplace to him and said, "Look Edgar, a chimney!" Now...he knows fireplaces are hot, so he looks at me with big eyes and says, "Hot! Santa? Santa hot?" with a face that clearly demanded an explanation.

He just wanted to sing and hear us sing Christmas songs all weekend. When driving in the car we tried to substitute with the radio, but he said: "push button. turn music off. Sing Hosanna."

My favorite? On the way to church Sunday he sang Silent Night--the whole first verse, in the sweetest most angelic voice. My heart melted. His daddy melted too--real teary eyes and all.

We had a busy day of visiting family, so we had to wake him up early. I know, I think it goes against some kind of parent law to wake your kid Christmas morning...

He quickly got over his sadness at waking so early when he realized there were presents everywhere!
(His first look at the pile of gift under the tree)

This was his favorite toy--from Grandma and Grandpa Carmichael. A "round a round" for his cars and motorcycles.

(= Christmas Joy.

(Loved his new motorcycle so much he couldn't put it down. Had to unwrap with one hand)

Here it is! The Scooter! This is the best picture I could get...he didn't hold still too well...

At this moment he is looking at the picture saying "'Edgar's 'Piderman 'cooter!"

In all, Christmas was fantastic.

Oh yeah, I got cool stuff too. Edgar gave me new shoes. Alex gave me new pots and pans, some awesome records, and some new table lamps (=

But, really, it was all about the 2 year old. As it should be!

After all there's only 3 more sleeps till Christmas!

Yikes! Everything seems to be in fast forward lately. We did have a lovely Thanksgiving. I have a few good pictures of Edgar enjoying his grandparents, great-grandparents, and aunties and uncles. But...as I know I don't have the time or energy to get all of that up too...I'll restrict myself to a few recent pictures and videos.

I was in charge of our church's ward Christmas party this year. It was my last duty as Activity Chairperson before that particular calling was dissolved. In the mean time, I was called as Primary Secretary and kind of overlapped for a couple of weeks. It was a pretty hectic time! The party was a success, and I love my new calling in Primary.

Seeing Santa was pretty exciting for Edgar--he really wanted to talk to him--but no luck with the lap sitting.

Edgar is absolutely enchanted by Christmas. We cut down a teeny little Christmas Tree and it has a very few ornaments. Edgar often gazes at the tree and exclaims, "CHRISTMAS! Daddy CHOPPED it, CUT it, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! Christmas TREEEE!"

We had a fun spontaneous family night in Portland. We saw the BIG Christmas Tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square, went to a fun toy store, and ate yummy Lebanese food. The picture is not so good, but you can kind of see my bigness.

Baby girl is due in about 2 1/2 weeks...and I can't believe I can grow any bigger. I feel HUGE. But--happy and in general good shape physically. We are really excited for her to join our family.

Edgar "talks" to baby sister a lot. He kisses her (my belly), rubs her, measures her at mommy's midwife appointments, and tells me if she is sad or happy. The other day he told her: "baby si'ter, 2 more minutes, after: come out!" I don't think he really knows what he's getting into, or he wouldn't be ordering her out.

We have been talking a lot about birthday's lately. Grandpa Carmichael's birthday was earlier this month. Alex's birthday was last Sunday. Edgar knows that Christmas is "happy birthday baby Jesus" and that after Christmas is Baby Sister's birthday.

Edgar is also a bit obsessed with fire and birthday cakes. He did a good job helping his asthmatic daddy blow out the candles!

And, for Grandma Vickie, here is a recent Edgar video. One of my favorite things he does lately is sing. He sings nonsense and he sings big open vowels with hymns at church--but lately he is singing entire songs. He sings "Christmas Bells are Ringing," "Up on the Housetop," "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "Jingle Bells," and "Frosty the Snowman."

In this video, he is singing Up on the Housetop. He has a lock groove built into this song. But, apparently there are ways to stop the broken record. I have another video with more singing...but it isn't uploading. I'll try again later.