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Bella's New Bling

It was Bella and Norah’s 3rd Christmas this time around.  Stacy and I were more excited this year because we were assuming that the girls would “get” the concept of Christmas and Santa Claus.  We even put a tree up for the first time in years, although to be fair we did discuss it last year but after much conversation we ultimately decided that being in the 18 month old age range, the likeliness of the tree, ornaments, and decorations being obliterated were definitely on the high side.  Although the girls did touch and move and knock things down this year (or redecorating as Stacy likes to say) the tree was a necessary piece to build the excitement that is Christmas.

Lip Licking Good

The girls seem to understand pieces of Christmas but have not quite put the whole concept together.  They can recognize Santa in pictures or if they see him in the bevy of commercials featuring jolly ole Saint Nick.  They really, really like to open Christmas presents–to the extent that they are more than willing to open other people’s presents whether they are offered the chance to do so or not.  Over the past few weeks they have had many opportunities to do that and they do enjoy it very much.  It is a great experience as a parent to see the joy and happiness from just unwrapping a present.  Santa came a day early (Christmas Eve) this year as he did last year (we have some major pull with Santa) because we traveled to Mimi and Granddaddy’s house that night and to spend Christmas Day with them.

Dunk you very much Santa

One day this week the girls Skyped with Mimi and she was talking to them about seeing Santa peeking in the windows to see if the girls were being naughty or nice.  Norah was more up to going and looking out the window or even stating she saw him.  Bella was not having any of it.  In fact that night she told Stacy that she was scared that Santa was looking in the window.  Mimi talked about hearing reindeer on the roof.  Again Bella was not into it at all.  Norah on the other hand was.  She was really cute about it–going “shhhhhh!  Listen!” as she turned her head sideways with her hand behind her ear.  She would then exclaim about how she heard Santa’s reindeer.

Diaper for my baby

The night before Santa came, we kept talking with the girls about Santa was going to come while they were sleeping and leave presents if they had been good.  Bella was always most concerned with letting us know very quickly that she had been good, even if that was not quite the case.  She was also equally as eager to throw Norah under the bus.  ”Norah isn’t good, she did (insert anything and everything here dating back up to 6 months ago)!”  The point was that I think Bella wanted to make sure Santa knew she was good and Norah was not.  If we asked Norah if she had been good, she would answer that she was however she did not state anything about Bella being bad unless Bella told us that Norah was bad.  Then it turned into all the bad things they had ever done contest.

Mittens for Norah

The girls woke up and as they came down the stairs and looked over to the tree, you could not only see their excitement but just feel the electricity in the air.  One down they ran over to their gifts of dolls, clothes for the dolls, much needed doll accessories such as a doll stroller, doll pack-n-play, diapers, bottles, etc.  Norah also received a Dinosaur Train that she loves.  There was a basketball goal, necklaces, bracelets, chap stick and a few cars (since Bella has been coming home with a few in her pocket from time to time).  The girls also got pots and pans along with food for their play kitchen, books, coloring books and of course some candy.  They have been really enjoying all their presents from Santa!

Granddaddy Helping to Open

Stacy and I also talked several days before about weeding out some of the toys that are no longer played with.  I am not one to just hang to things and if it is not being used then I think it should go.  So a few days before we talked to the girls about giving some of their “baby toys” to little boys and girls who do not have many toys.  I really thought it would be difficult, but also wanted them to begin to understand the value of giving to those less fortunate.  It actually went better than I anticipated as the girls were very generous.  This is a piece that Stacy and I will continue to teach and do each year with the girls.

Norah helping Mimi open

Listen Lady, Gimme the damn hand sanitizer!

We arrived at Mimi and Granddaddy’s house Christmas Eve afternoon.  The girls were so happy to see them!  They talked about Santa and some of the gifts he brought.  I am pretty sure Bella took a moment to tell Mimi about she had been good and Norah was not because she pooped in her panties 2 months ago.  Mimi, Granddaddy and MeeMaw watched as the girls open their presents of more dolls and stuffed animals.  Norah got this animatronic dinosaur that she absolutely loves.  It is really funny that she likes the things because she was originally terrified of them!  Below is the video of Norah’s first encounter with one.  But this one she loves!  Also the dinosaur in the video (Dino as we called it), was one of Norah’s first toys to give to others.

So there you saw the video, however the new Dinosaur was a major hit with Norah!  Check out the picture below:

In love

Unwrapping

Bella also has this hair fetish of undoing all the brades and ribbons from all of her dolls.  Not sure exactly why, but in less than 5 minutes the dolls go from looking cute with perfect hair to looking like Barbie had a hot date with Ken in the back of the Barbie’s Corvette if you catch my drift.  Bella also has a doll that goes potty.  She really likes to help this baby go on the potty.  So along with all her dolls that have hair looking like a hot mess, all the dolls are also naked.  Bella likes to undress them and put on the diapers we got.  However, the dolls never get redressed unless it is by one of us.  Who knew that a 35 year-old man could proclaim to be proficient at dressing dolls?  It was secretly one of my life goals.

Now to close with what the title of this post is all about.  Stacy and I were able to begin the time honored tradition of calling Santa this year.  I do have to say that it is a very powerful tactic for now until they call our bluff sometime in the future.  We both employed this with great success.  The girls would quickly comply or change the behavior that was the issue.  So I am driving home a few days before Christmas with Bella and Norah in the back.  The girls are up to their usual things such as telling what they are seeing outside.  On this particular day Norah was seeing lots of things on “her side” to which Bella did not appreciate.  Even if it was on Bella’s side, Norah would tell her big sister that it wasn’t.  I was just waiting for the storm to start, however what I heard was not what I was expecting.  ”Hello?  Santa?  Norah being bad!”  Shocked I look in the rearview mirror.  Bella had her phone up to her ear.  She called Santa on Norah!  Norah promised to be good when to hear that Bella was talking to Santa.  Obviously Stacy and I aren’t the only one with Santa’s digits.

Usual stuff here…Flickr–click here to see all the pictures.  Picture of the Week–click here to see it.