The Days of Totoro and Roses

If there's one thing Baby Girl likes about this December, it's holiday jammies and Christmas tree lights. Each morning she enjoys breakfast with Mama (and Daddy, since he's on vacation) in the glow of the living room tree. She has a few gifts stashed under that tree, but for the most part, she's been very good about not trying to sneak a peek before the big day.

Little Monster is also learning words at an amazing rate. She can ask for her juice, request her favorite movie by name, recognize doggies and kitties and bunnies on sight, and even demand more sausages if you're slow about forking them over. On bath night, she asks for "bubble." She knows where to take her trash, when to stand back from being too close to the television, and where to put the laundry. She's certainly come a long way from being the utterly dependent critter who found solace in the pink burrito at night!

Today, Tickle Bug has a party with some of her friends at Daddy's office, which is sponsoring a kids' Christmas party. She also wore her new Christmas dress to take special pictures this morning. Ever the ham, she had some pretty ridiculous poses.

Last night, Sweet Girl spent some time scribbling on a pad of paper she found. It was pretty exciting to watch, because you could see her learning how things worked in addition to expressing herself by making them work her way. Such a creative girl, and so smart!