December 25: Merry Christmas!

Santa found Emma Claire in Alabama for her first Christmas. He left plenty of toys, her favorite of which were the wooden blocks and the ride/push lion and of course "Calin", her babydoll. Then, there are the little pink Uggs. Every Minnesota girl needs Uggs!

For the first time in Fabianke Christmas history, we drew names. This is one of the best new traditions we have implemented in some time. Opa was set up with a Internet camera and Skype from Brad (which was presented in a riddle created by Brad); Rowie got an original painting of her childhood home in New Albany (which caused tears); Brad got just what he wanted...bedroom shoes and sweats from Dad; Emily got clothes from Greta (thanks, again Gret!); Greta got clothes from Mom and Jason got a Garmin forerunner from Emily (let me know if it doesn't work out for you, Jason and I will still be glad to take it off your hands!).

Brad and I spent the afternoon searching for Rock Bridge Canyon. Never found it, but enjoyed the drive in the AL country. The area in and around Red Bay is very rural, but also very scenic. Lots of hills and trees and land.

A fun Christmas...better than ever now that Emma Claire is a part of us. She loves to mimic. Her Opa taught her how to "fake cough". She now says ma-ma-ma and da-da-da with intent.

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Sunday, December 21: Christmas in Minnesota

Santa made 2 stops for Emma Claire this year. First stop, Radisson Road 4 days before Christmas. The goods...a beautiful little red kitchen.

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Adventures of the Squatlies

Here we are in Alabama on New Year's Eve. Cool by Alabama standards...40 and sunny. What a week it has been. We started our adventure last Tuesday (December 23). It was my intent to document our travels as we went along, but I obviously have not. So, I will try to highlight our holiday in the posts that follow.

We have felt like the "Squatlies" lately. For those that aren't familiar, a squatly (or squatlie...not sure if there is a correct spelling) is a person (or group of people...most likely a family) that is a little disheveled, unorganized, "Cousin Eddie"-like (National Lampoon's cousin Eddie). This is a word that my mom coined. Brad and I like to use this word and have felt true to the term since we left Minnesota on December 23.

Our first "family" vacation has been a long, but special, trip. We loaded up the volvo wagon (complete with the car topper for luggage, which was tied to the top of the car with rope and old dog leashes), the bags, the gifts, the toys, the snacks, the books on CD, the dogs, the dog food, Sophie's cough suppressant (an essential), the diapers, the toys, oh... and the baby.

We pulled out of the driveway before 7pm (better than we had expected) and 17 hours later (around noon on Christmas Eve) arrived in Red Bay at Rowie and Opa's. Brad drove most of the way. I managed 3 hours in the middle of the night. Emma Claire was a trooper. She slept on and off. No major meltdowns. We stopped when she needed to eat. She was actually sick. I got a call from daycare the day we were to leave that she had a fever. So, I left work and took her to Doc Hobbs. We got the OK to travel and an antibiotic prescription and hit the road a few hours later.

We left the house in true squatlie form as well. One day before we left MN, we signed a contract to remodel our kitchen. This is a project we have been planning for a couple of years now, yet it all happened so quickly. The good thing is that they are able to start the demolition while we are away. The bad thing is that we had less than 2 days to pack up everything in the kitchen and most of the front of the house. The house was a disaster when we left. Can't imagine what it will look like when we return. No kitchen, minus a few walls. The next few weeks, the "adventure" will continue. We will stay there and camp out as long as we can.

So, to follow...more of our adventure.

Target

I was home with Emma Claire yesterday and our only outing all day was a Target trip. Target, at the right time of day, is a favorite errand. Only problem is you usually end up with double the amount that was on your list to begin with (for me, anyway!).
Emma Claire bundled up in her new pink snowsuit. Usually she enjoys Target, too. What could be better than riding in the buggy and seeing all of the people and things there. Today was different. She lasted about 10 minutes in the buggy and would only be held after that. So, that is what I did. Held Emma Claire in her puffy, hard to get traction, snowsuit and pushed the red buggy around Target. It was all fine and good until we got to the check out line. I needed her to sit in the buggy again. She screamed. I gave her the beloved maraca (which is always good for entertainment in a crunch). Next thing I knew, the maraca was across the aisle...she threw that thing with some force. Was not expecting such a reaction from my sweet Emma Claire. Isn't it too early for that sort of thing?
Anyway, the rest of the day was great. Emma Claire is into dropping (and I guess throwing) things now to see what happens. She plays peek-a-boo with a book or the shower curtain. She was climbing all over Sophie and sharing and whacking her in the face with Pat the Bunny (which Sophie took to mean that Pat the Bunny now belonged to her).
So, Emma Claire is increasingly communicating and interacting and letting us know what she wants (or more what she doesn't want!).

-20...really?

The actual temp this morning was something like -20. Really, it gets that cold here? At least it was windy...
Needless to say, no morning run yet this week. The pups don't even want to go outside.
Emma Claire couldn't move in the new snowsuit, but she sure did look cute!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We attended Emma Claire's debut performance in Calvary Lutheran Childcare Christmas Program "Happy Birthday Jesus". I have been really excited about this for some time now. Emma Claire and her classmates in the "cuddly bunny" room entered in the red buggy and were in front of the tree while the other children sang...Priceless.

I have attached the video (as any proud parent would...it was like the paparazzi in there with all of the flashes and video).

Enjoy! (FYI...it is about 10 minutes long)

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Happy First Fiesta, Jonah

We made it to church this morning for the children's Christmas Pageant, which is always well done. We decided to try taking Emma Claire with us to the service, rather than to the nursery...worth a try, right? Thought she would like watching the children and hearing the music. She lasted all of 15 minutes and then we joined all of the other parents with babies in the lobby to watch the remainder of the service. She is just too active right now. She wants to be on the move. She was awfully cute for the first 10 of those 15 minutes, though. Entertained the people on the pew behind us.

The Grodnicks invited us to join their family to celebrate Jonah's first birthday, fiesta style. They had fiesta music, pinata, LOTS of balloons and a taco bar. Always a good time. Jonah enjoyed his very own cake, sat in the center of the table in diapers and dug in. Hard to believe it has been a year. It is amazing to me how fast this year has passed. Since Emma Claire arrived, the days have been in fast forward. Just want them to slow down sometimes.

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Looking forward to near blizzard conditions here in Minnesota tonight. -30 wind chill predicted for tomorrow morning. Got Emma Claire's snowsuit just in time. Brrr...just over a week until we escape South to thaw out.

Friends

We had our dear friends the Grodnicks and the Knaufs over for dinner (along with the kiddos) on Friday. Always a good time. The kids always seem to have fun together, although they usually play independently. Not too much interaction yet, although they do notice or grab one another here and there. We informally celebrated Jonah's 1st birthday with some balloons and cupcakes. The highlight of the night was playing in the dishwasher. Addie is doing some signs, Jonah is getting ready to walk. Emma Claire learned "so big" from her friends this night. We say "so big" and she holds both of her hands over her head (sometimes, anyway...only when she wants to).

Emma Claire is definitely developing a stronger personality, letting us know when she doesn't like something and when she doesn't want an object taken away. She is "dancing" when she hears music and today was able to place a little ball in the opening of one of Jonah's toys.

Finger Paint

I often wonder if I am doing enough "fun/constructive" things with Emma Claire at home. I mean, I give her a lot of attention and we go lots of places and stay busy, but when we are home, it is mostly playing on the floor with toys or reading or the occasional Mr. Rogers Neighborhood on PBS (mostly for my enjoyment at this point). We did a lot of outdoor play before the weather got too cold. I have never thought really to finger paint or play with play dough or anything like that at home yet. This is why she loves daycare and is likely pretty bored on the days she is home. Thank goodness for the dogs. They are an endless source of laughs and entertainment.
I picked up Emma Claire from school Tuesday and she was red and blue (how is that for Ole Miss spirit!). She had painted, among other fun activities, that day. When I walked into the room, she had her head on the floor with bottom up in the air. Either down dog or prepping for a forward roll. Not sure which one.
Emma Claire's latest is LOTS of hugs. She loves to hug and be hugged. She also likes to crawl around with things in her mouth (looks like she is learning from Sophie and Rudy). Most recently, she carries a sock or pair of socks around in her mouth.
Both Emma Claire and I are under the weather. She is getting better though while I just came down with her cold. She hacked and hacked in her room last night to the point that she was not able to fall back asleep. So, we figured our options were to walk or rock her and or bring her to bed with up. We opted for the latter, which turned out to be a good choice. She did not cough at all and slept through the night between us. It was actually very sweet and cozy. She did sleep with us until almost 5 months old. I miss that at times, but for sure don't want to make it a habit again!
Our day was spent at home. We did not get out once. Emma Claire's 3 hour nap went into ECFE time, so we did not go. Skipped swimming, to because of the colds. It is just nice to be at home together.

-1

This Southern girl never dreamed that she would be living in the frozen tundra that is Minnesota in the Winter, much less enjoying it. I don't love the winters, but there are other fantastic things that make Minnesota a great place to live. Anyway, if you can't beat the winters, join them I guess. So we continue to run at 5 am EVEN if it is -1 (air temp), as it was this morning. Amazingly, it is not that bad if you are dressed in 4 or 5 layers (kidding...actually 3 seems to do the trick)! Actually, it does feel great to get out. And, as Whitney stated recently, there is just something about getting home to a warm, quite, still house to enjoy a cup of coffee and the peacefulness of the morning after an early run. So, there is that to appreciate.
As we were running this morning, in particular, I could not help but think to myself..."you know it is COLD when"... your eyelashes stick together when you blink (frozen); the part of the scarf covering your mouth freezes from your breath; the dog poop in the poop bag that your are carrying freezes solid as a rock; Peggy has an ice cycle mustache; when you take your hat off at the end, the exposed, sweaty hair is frozen...yes crunchy frozen; it takes you all day to thaw out.
Anyway, the early runs, as cold as they are, are going to help get us through the long winter without going crazy (a light therapy lamp wouldn't hurt either!).

We got some good snow this weekend. It really is beautiful. Just in time for the holidays. Ordered Emma Clarie her first snowsuit today. Can't wait for her to play in the snow.
I can't help but smile when I pick Emma Claire up at school and see all of the kids either out playing in the snow or getting ready to. So, today I see the teachers trying to get the kids in their snow gear to go outside. They are all so bundled up and cute in their heavy coats, hats, mittens and snow boots. The key to getting mittens on apparently is "put your thumb in the thump place and fin-gers together", they sang over and over. Now I get it!

PJ Breakfast with Santa

Emma Claire was joined by the Kadue cousins for her first meeting with Santa. We had breakfast with Santa at GVCC Sunday. Cute event. The kids wore their PJs. Everyone had the chance, of course, to sit in Santa's lap. Emma Claire was OK with it. A little unsure at first, but over it when we handed her a candy cane. Ollie wanted Santa to know that he wanted a truck, but was not going to get too close to him, so he shouted from afar. He was finally convinced to at least stand next to Lila for a picture. Lila was onto Santa, though. She said "it is not really Santa, it is one of his helpers". Smart gal. She wants a Barbie make up kit from Santa. He said he would let his elves know.

They had face painting and cookie decorating, too. Emma Claire and Quinn just played on the floor while Lila and Ollie decorated cookies. Lila licked the spatula and Elissa caught her just before she put it back in the community icing. Never a dull moment...always entertaining.

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Little Things

I am reminded here at the end of the week again how quickly the days and weeks fly by. I am trying to catch up on the blog and am thinking back on the week trying to remember what has happened! I need a new "system", jotting down a little something every day.
Emma Claire is doing so many new little things every day. She is loving her new mobility and now enjoys playing "games". She does the "head bang", we call it. Nods and shakes her head in response to our doing it. Gets super wound up for meals...she sees the Cheerio box and claps her hands and bangs on her tray. "All done" is hands out followed by a clap. She may have even signed "more" the other day, or maybe it was intended to be a clap, but looked like "more" with a handful of cheerios.
She really gets excited when Brad gets home now...giggles, jumps and reaches for him.

New School, New Teachers, New Friends

This was Emma Claire's first week at Calvary. She fit right in. No problem! We have been blessed with a very social, adaptable little girl. She has enjoyed her week and all the new surroundings. What a fun place! New friends, great toys, songs, books...finger painting! They go on "buggy rides" outside (when the weather allows) and through the church on too cold days (this week). The "buggy" is a 4-seater stroller. They also have a couple of red 8 seater buggies for the bigger kids. Emma Claire took up with "Grandma Pat" who volunteers there in the mornings for drop off time. She drives a red bug.
The Christmas Program is next week. I think Emma Claire rings a bell or something...
Naps...still minimal. The teachers are sweet to hold her so that she sleeps. I walked in today and the director, Becky, said that she got to hold Emma Claire while she napped (since she would not sleep in the crib).
A special beginning and place for her to grow...