Baby see, Baby do.

As I've mentioned before, Aria cracks us up on a regular basis. She does the funniest things, has the most hilarious facial expressions and responds to us in beyond memorable ways. Living with her is constantly entertaining. Her little personality is what makes me so excited to get up every morning. "What is Aria going to do today?"

She has figured out the vocal inflection that goes with questions, and understands that we're asking her something. Whenever we use that "upward inflection" to indicate a question, she just shrugs and jabbers something that sounds very much like "I don't know." She's really very much an imitator, which she demonstrated with gusto for the family during Thanksgiving vacation. Can you guess who she's imitating in this picture?

She has recently figured out the whole "pointing" thing. Something we as adults take for granted is pointing towards something we want, or perhaps where we want it placed. It's a normal activity that takes little to no thought. Not so for toddlers. While Aria mastered the pointing motion months ago, she was having a hard time figuring out how to use it. But then last week, my mom and I were at Ikea eating lunch and Aria decided she wanted some of my fries. Instead of whining, she simply pointed to my fries, then to the spot on the table right in front of her. She followed that up with rubbing her belly and saying "Mmmm." Might have been the funniest thing I've seen. Well, her "food dance" is a close second. But that's another post for another time.

Looking at a Jewelry catalog just like mommy!

Another thing we've been working on is not opening a dresser drawer and pulling everything out of it. There are still some bumps in the road (I still have a whole mess of baby blankets to clean up from this morning's adventure after she wakes up from nap) but overall, she's gotten much better at it. In fact, she enjoys closing drawers so much, that she now walks into our bedroom to open and consequently close Josh's dresser drawers. She will go to the kitchen to open and close the cabinet doors and often tries with the TV cabinet (although we removed the  knobs months ago, so she has thus far been unsuccessful.)

As adorable as all this imitation is, it's also a good reminder to us as parents that everything you do is being watched. Every word you say, everything that comes on TV - they're paying attention. They're depending on you to teach them how to live life. You need to be the kind of person you want them to be. Our kids may be the future, but the way you act now will be their future. Don't let them down.

Bronner's Trip 2011 Videos

Christmas Traditions

We all know that repetition aids memory, so for me, making and continuing family traditions is a given for creating good memories for your children. Christmas memories are some of my favorites, and I can't wait to continue some of them for Aria and make new ones as our family grows and gets older.

Every year since I was little, my parents would take us to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland and we could all pick out an ornament and sit on Santa's lap. I loved walking into the gigantic, sparkling store and gazing in awe at all the toys they had on the walls, on shelves and hanging from the ceiling. For a kid, it's truly like landing at the North Pole.

We took Aria again this year to see Santa and pick out a couple ornaments this past weekend. She was dazzled by the lights and was slightly overwhelmed at all the toys sitting around within arm shot. :) We took some fun pictures and waited for her group to be called to see Santa. We didn't know how she'd react this year, since last year she was too young to understand what was going on. This year, she loved Santa....until we put her on his pal. I then received the "oh no, you are NOT going to leave me here with him" look, and it was downhill from there. We got a couple pictures, but neither her nor Santa will exceptionally thrilled about the experience. Oh well, we'll just try again next year :)

What are some of your family's Christmas traditions?

Christmas Card 2011

In lieu of Christmas cards this year, we're sending out a Family Greeting online. (It's much cheaper this way.) Thank you all for being a part of my and my family's life! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Better Than You Could Ever Know

Recently, I was taken back by a very passive-aggressive Facebook status directed towards me. Now, I normally avoid controversy on my FB page at all costs, because it's just not something I'm comfortable with or deal well with. I tend to keep my page free from political references and provocative or controversial religious statements, but rather use it for communication with family and friends. But here was something pointed at me. I was hurt that someone who considered themselves my "friend" would do something like that, but more hurt because what she said wasn't really true or relevant to anyone's life. I'm sure very few people knew she was referring to me, but it was hurtful nonetheless. (For the record, we are no longer FB "friends" and it is quite doubtful she will ever read this.)

All this got me thinking (and probably worried me far more than I ever should have let it.) People will criticize your life, your decisions and your choices your whole life. Maybe they're close friends trying to help you out, or maybe they're spiteful people just trying to be hurtful, and you need to remove them from your life. But no one, no matter how hurtful, "powerful," or malicious their actions can take away the true happiness that you have found in Christ and that you have created in your family. Your happiness is not theirs to take. Your contentment is not up for grabs. Your peace of mind should never be given away because of a hateful comment someone makes.

I love my life. I have a fabulous husband who I love and who loves me dearly. I have a wonderful, beautiful daughter who makes my day just by smiling at me. I have some truly fantastic friends who are loyal and who love me for all my quirks and weirdness. I have a forever-patient Jesus, who always has His arms open, ready to take me in and hear my cries. No one can take that from me. These things I listed, they cannot be purchased, just like they can't be stolen.

This may seem random and rambling, but here's what I'm trying to say: Don't let someone who really knows nothing about you or your family effect your outlook on life. Don't let them get into your head and make you anxious or doubtful. This can so easily happen as parents, I think (or maybe it's just me.) Someone just makes a brief (maybe seeming innocuous) comment about your kid, your parenting or your family, and it sends you reeling. It did me. But I had to sit down and remind myself that God has given me this great life and these great people in my life. My God is bigger than a rude comment. His love is bigger than a stupid mistake. His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful. People will fail. People will be stupid. Love God, and raise your family how He will have you. It's no one else's business anyways. Your life is probably better than they will ever know.

How could I not be happy when this much happiness greets me every morning?
I wish I had this kind of excitement for life!