preparing for the holidays

first, i have to mention that nissa's latest trick is to drink with one hand. if it's a small cup (open, not a sippy) she'll take it with one hand and drink from it. i think it's her right hand. i was impressed!

she's also been using more words in her sentences, also impressive. "get me out of here" is a common one for when she wants to get out of her crib or is wrestling with daddy. last night she said "thank you wipe my face" after daddy wiped her face. she's getting pretty good at this talking stuff!

we're getting ready for christmas and for grandma and grandpa g to stay with us. it's been a long couple of weekends getting ready, but i think we're pretty close. adam even cleaned the walls in the kitchen! it really, really needed to be done, we just hadn't committed to doing it till now. it's so nice to have a clean house!

nissa has been enjoying playing with the christmas stuff: the music-playing stuffed animals, the beaded garland that i haven't found a place for yet, the purple "stars" snowflake ornaments. she likes the garland we have hanging on the windows. . . she saw the silver sparkly stuff on the table and had to take it. i then showed her what it was for and though she would have preferred to wear it, i talked her into leaving it on the windows. i've been trying to talk up santa, but she really doesn't seem to care. she likes the prospect of presents though. i hope she likes what santa brings her! we tried to get a picture with santa when we went to the mall a couple of weeks ago, but she really wasn't having it. the first time we walked by, it was "no" and kept walking. then we were able to wave as we walked by, and santa came up and said hello; she didn't run away, but she did hide a little. the last time i was able to talk her into saying hello and we got right up to him- only for her to hide in my shoulder (i had to carry her the last few feet) and refuse to even give him a high five. poor santa, left hanging by a two year old.

nissa gets a kick out of the snow and for the first time, will ask for her mittens. thank goodness for small favors.