Holiday, Holiday, HAPPY Day!

Hello LFM Readers!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!? Brian and I had a house FULL of friends and family to eat and be jolly with; it was nice (though we almost burned the house down with the turkey pan breaking and drippings smoking up the oven and kitchen), but hey, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a little drama right? :P
So, after the house was put back in order, we decided to put up our Christmas Tree last night while MRP slept (MUCH easier this way, I'm sure!) I was so excited that she was awake this morning before I left for work, and was able to carry her downstairs to see her face when she saw it all lit up. I was waiting for the magic, the marvel in her eye. But, NOPE! She just kinda looked back and forth at me and the tree, confused. HA! I sat her down on the floor and took a very dark, and blurry picture of her. As I did, she crawled over to me and sat by my feet, almost for me to protect her from this "weird" thing in her living room. When I picked her back up and said "It's your Christmas Tree" over and over, she finally smiled and began pointing at it.
I can only wonder what was going through her mind: How did a tree get in my house? or How long do you think it will take me to knock it over? :) Either way, I'm overjoyed to see her reaction on Christmas day when she can go tearing into those presents; and believe me, she WILL go TEARING into them--the girl LOVES to rip paper...paper towels, toilet paper, magazines..you name it. We're constantly on the look out for rippable things! That, and the dog bowl: she lives to dump over his water onto the floor and all over herself. We've learned to keep it put on the counter until she's snuggly in her highchair.
Which brings me to her birthday! Guess who turns 1 whole year old this month?? That's right: little MRP! The Princess Party invitations have gone out, and I'm ready to make her cake. YES, I'M MAKING HER CAKE. People keep asking me where I'm going to get it from, but I think it would really mean a lot to me to be able to say "I made your first birthday cake." It may not be as beautiful as a professional one, but it will surely taste good! (I DO love baking, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve.) Though, the other question I keep getting is about what to get her..? I HAVE NO CLUE PEOPLE! I had a rough enough time buying for a friend's daughter when she turned one a few months ago. Do you buy them clothes? No, I guess not, because those are really just for their Moms. Do you buy them toys? Welllll, they MAY want some new stimulation, but they don't necessarily NEED toys, right? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not stingy with the toys by any stretch of the imagination, but what do you suggest for your friends to buy your child? HELP!? And wondering also: did you strip your child down for the cake festivities? Did you go crazy with decorations? What's the one thing you kept for your child's baby book about the party? And most importantly: what's your best advice to ME to stay sane?
On a whole other note: baby #2 seems to be moving right along, as far as I can tell of course. We go back to the doctor in December for a check-up, and then again in January to find out the sex. If it's up to my husband, this baby will be a boy (of course), but I've already said that since he's said it aloud, it's bound to be a girl now :P Anyone want to take a guess? Or maybe, bets? :) Anywho, off I go to decorate the house a little bit more on the outside and gear up for more Holly, Holy, Happy Days!

Until next time: steer me in the right direction!
Karyn Potts
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