Winter Blues? What are those?

We love to visit and share time and stories with Auntie Lois and Uncle Bill. Sierra is usually always a burst of laughing, smiling, running energy who likes to point out treasures, dance to musical gadgets, run in circles and enjoy a cookie (or two) oh and the big yellow car - oh yes - how could we forget about the big yellow car. A treasure Auntie Lois and Uncle Bill were given at an auction from a fellow bidder who didn't have much interest in it but Lois had an eye for it knowing it would bring many smiles to their household (and their guests). A battery operated replica car with working lights and moving pistons. It has two buttons, one for music to play A-la-Bamba and the other to rev the engine, buhmbuhmbuhm and off it goes in the direction you choose. With a quick hug and hello when we first walk in Sierra immediately spots the car and bats her eyes and gives a little smile letting us know that is what she wants to play with. We engage her attention with a musical Elvis and a Santa who moves his hips and plays Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. A quick game of peek-a-boo around the hallway corners and she's finally patient enough to enjoy and play with the big yellow car.

And a 1 and a 2 and a 3, here we go!!!!

Bundled up again and ready to be outside, there is no winter flurry storm that will slow us down!

 

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas

Celebrating the Spirit of Giving and Goodwill is encouraged and exercised throughout the year with a little heightened excitement and attention during the month of December to celebrate Saint Nicholas' legacy through the Festival of Children and Christmas Eve and Day.

The Festival of Children is recognized as the 6th of December and is a time for great fun. This is a holiday for young children as they give and receive gifts from St. Nicholas.

Traditionally in my family we would line our shoes by the doorway the evening of the 5th and Santa's little elf would visit during the night and leave us treats and presents if we've been good. We knew that we might end up with a sock of coal and always tried to mind our behavior.

Santa's little elf would leave advent calendars hidden throughout the house with a personal note specifically to each one of us girls usually about our behavior or development. The note was always handwritten by Elfie himself in teeny tiny print. We would sometimes find remnants of Elfie's visit through our house, like the teeny tiny pencil he had to use to write which I always envisioned was still to big for his little hands to use.

To the next generation we carry forward this Sullivan / Martin tradition in celebrating the Feast of Saint Nicholas at the Festival of Children into the Sullivan / Ledwich household.

Pictured here is Sierra on the Eve of the Festival of Children (notice the one shoe on, one shoe off)

Pictured here is Sierra the morning of 12/06/2013 smiling as she discovers the treasures left for her by Elfie

Nursery Adornments

Nursery Alphabet Adornments are FINALLY READY to be put up in Sierra's room! Which is perfect timing for the beginning of letter and number spotting as we looks through books and see and work on point out the pictures, letters, words and numbers.

Say "Hi!" to all your cousins in Minnesota Sierra!

 Fun in the Fall with Leaves and Sunshine

Sierra is very admiring of the outdoors, loves to look for birds, watch the leaves blowing from trees, enjoys the peaceful scene of snow and rain falling from the sky. She listens intently when we talk about things around her outside, how snow is frozen rain that comes from the clouds in the sky - or how the stars twinkle at night from the sky far far away and up high.

Dress Up

Learning and loving to play and be dressed up is fun to watch Sierra experience.

Sierra in a dress for Aunt Bernie's Birthday party

I think Sierra has finally mastered being able to go from sitting to standing without stepping on or tripping over her skirt/dress bottom. Next we are working on the joy of a twirl by making and laughing with the spin of your dress around you.

When Sierra was just learning how to walk we put her in a dress for cousin Walter's first birthday party. We had her on the side porch talking to neighbor Lou before the party and oops tumble she went feet tangled in her dress and head first onto the floor of the porch. She took the bump like champ and lasted another few hours in the dress before we changed her into something more appropriate for play.

Sierra at cousin Walter's Bday party

 We are working on "piggies first" when putting on our shoes

Thanksgiving and Beginning of Decemeber

Lights and Decorations. 

After Thanksgiving we visited the little elves who hand picked Christmas trees from the North Pole - we picked out and brought home a Blue Spruce.

We spent the evening trimming it with treasures that remind us of all the things, people and memories we love and hold dear to our hearts. Sierra and daddy topped the trimmed treasure tree with an Angel who will look over and protest, guard and guide all the ornaments below and things, people and memories we love. Of course Wolverine is on the next tear down who is there to protect the Guardian Angel.

Sierra and mommy picking out the best ornament to put in the best location - the soft and durable ones are just the right height for Sierra to admire and enjoy.

Waking up to a pancake breakfast and Christmas lights and decorations

Daddy and Sierra enjoying the evening with the Holiday Light Displays. Train rides, Santa visits, music, hot chocolate, friends and more.

Dancing at Kennywood's Holiday Light Show

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Winter is a Wonderland indeed

We like to play outside, yes even when it's cold! When I took this picture I showed Sierra (she loves touch screen devices, i.e. phones . She just sits and laughs when we watch videos or see pictures that remind her of something she likes) anywho when I showed her this image she smiled, looked at me and pointed to the hat on her head. She is learning her body parts quickly - eyes, ears, feet, head, toes, knees - BELLY BUTTON - she LOVES her belly button (and yours too)

She enjoys getting ready to go outside. I will often times be in the kitchen and peek around the corner to see what she is playing with and she'll be wrapping her scarf around her shoulders and pulling her hat on her head or wiggling her foot to put her shoes on.

The first snow fall this year we peeked out the window together and she would having nothing except getting dressed for the weather and going outside. Similar to the Great Lake experience she walked outside and said WWOOOOOOW.

No More Nu-Nu; "All Done! Nunu is for Baby Calix"

No More Nu-Nu! This is hopefully the last we will see of Sierra and her Nu-Nu. Now we'll be able to see that beautiful smile for real and not through that pacifier.

We are finishing with day three of a 100% Nuk-free life, going cold turkey, and it is proving to be hard on mommy and Sierra.

Today is day 1 at daycare without it, we'll report back on it's hopeful grand success.