Christmas pictures

From December 2009

We had a great Christmas in Eugene, and we wish you all could have been there with us to enjoy a two-year-old's excitement of the season. Here are some of our photos.

Annikka was very interested in Grandma's nativity scene and the baby Jesus (she had been calling one of her babies "baby Jesus" for the past week).

From December 2009

From December 2009

She had lots of gifts to open, and really got the hang of wrapping paper.

From December 2009

Although I tried to limit the number of pictures posted (did you really want to sit through them all?), she really loved everything, like all the books she received...

From December 2009

From December 2009

From December 2009

the new necklaces and bracelets...

From December 2009

her dollhouse...

From December 2009

a baby carrier (from Santa)...

From December 2009

and bath towel...

From December 2009

Thank you all so much for your wonderful gifts.


As for some other holiday traditions:

She knew who Santa was from books, but didn't really understand what he does or why she should care. We tried to explain what was going to happen after she went to bed on Christmas Eve. She listened carefully, then picked two cookies to leave for Santa.

From December 2009

From December 2009

She was surprised the next morning to see only cookie bits left and the stockings overflowing with things.

From December 2009

From December 2009

She had her first "Christmas log".

From December 2009

From December 2009

And decorated more cookies with Grandma.

From December 2009

From December 2009

From December 2009

She really liked the cookies, frosting, and sprinkles.

From December 2009

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the new year.

Singing carols

Annikka loves singing songs, but it's still challenging to capture them on video. Here's my latest attempts, some of her Christmas songs.







I think we might be singing Christmas songs for months to come.

Christmas cards

From December 2009

Annikka was a big help getting our Christmas cards out this year. She put a sticker on the back of each envelope.




Hope you enjoyed your sticker. :)

Christmas tree

From December 2009

We started getting ready for Christmas at our house this weekend by getting the tree up and decorated. Annikka was really excited about it. She worked very hard putting her jingle bells on the branches, while enjoying her special milk (i.e. eggnog).

From December 2009

From December 2009

From December 2009

From December 2009

She did a really good job, and helped get all the bells on the tree.
Here is what you get when a two-year-old hangs your Christmas ornaments. :)

From December 2009

Jump?

I'm not sure how many times a day I hear that question, far more than I can keep track of. One of Annikka's favorite activities...

The power of chocolate

It was a very momentous evening in our house: Annikka pooped in the toilet for the first time!! We have been working on using the toilet before bath time, but until tonight she wasn't interested. She'd usually sit on the toilet for 5 or 10 minutes without doing much of anything (except talking).

Recently we told her that she would get chocolate when she used the toilet. Annikka REALLY likes chocolate, so this got her attention. Tonight after dinner she and I sat in the bathroom for 25 minutes, reading stories and waiting.

After lots of talking and reading (and talking), we celebrated with TWO M&Ms.

From November 2009

Flower girl, part II

From November 2009

Annikka also really enjoyed the reception at Dan & Lori's wedding. She played games, jumped on the sofa (one of her new favorite activities, unfortunately), and danced the night away. It was a beautiful wedding & great evening, too bad Joel didn't get to be there.

From November 2009

From November 2009

From November 2009

From November 2009

From November 2009

While in southern California, she also got to meet Joel's aunt Billie.

From November 2009

Flower girl

This past Saturday, Joel's uncle Dan married Lori Hanson (nka Lori Baumgartner). Annikka got to be their flower girl. A two-year-old flower girl is a bit of a gamble, but Lori was willing to take the risk.

From November 2009

At Friday's rehearsal, Annikka enjoyed playing in all the fallen leaves. And she was able to talk others into joining in the fun, like Joel's cousin Jessi ...

From November 2009

... Uncle Bob and Grandma...

From November 2009

... and Grandpa.

From November 2009

After squeezing in a short nap the next day, Grandma helped Annikka get ready by tying her bow just right.

From November 2009

From November 2009

We explained that a flower girl's job is to walk down the aisle with a little basket of petals, dropping them along the way.

From November 2009

Lori had her practice that at the rehearsal, and it paid off. Annikka loved walking down the aisle dropping petals, so much so that we wondered if she would move aside for the bride. :)

From November 2009

From November 2009

The wedding was a real family affair. Rachel and Dave sang a song.

From November 2009

Jessi (Dan's daughter), Kathy, and Uncle Bob were groomsmen.

From November 2009

It was a great wedding and Annikka really enjoyed her role as flower girl.

From November 2009

From November 2009

From November 2009