Trimming the Tree

We’ve been readying ourselves.  And we’ve been busy, extremely busy, sometimes even pushing the envelope with too busy, like probably everyone else is during the holiday season.  The official beginning of our Christmas season is marked by the trimming of the tree and the lighting of our house.  Dad gets the lion’s share of the job, since he’s the tallest and strongest and least likely too fall off the eaves and the tall ladder. 

We watch and wait down below while he gets every light just so and then lights the star.  Then it’s our turn and the little elves rush in.

Cue digressing mama talk… Did I mention Ari has a new and much improved stander?  It came in only a few months ago.  She does a great job upright in it and we use it inside and outside, whenever we’d like for her to accompany us on a vertical plane.  She likes to wheel herself too, which she still only does one-handed, but it gets her places nonetheless.  Normally, we let her play her iPad when she’s standing.  Ipad is something we try to limit, because screen time, like most things, is best when had in moderation.  She can also gets pretty fussy when we signal the end of her techie session, so if she wants it, she has to work for it too.

They spent seven and a half months in utero together.  They have some mannerisms in common.

Every Christmas tree has a kitty.  Ya know, the one the bats at all the ornaments and undecorates the tree from underneath?

Meet our tree kitty.

Sweetest Christmas present under the tree.

Liam is 6 Months

Liam brings so much joy to our family. 

At his 6 month checkup, he weighed 19 lbs. 3 oz. (75th-90th %tile) and was 28.5” long (above 95 %tile).

This month, he began eating baby food.  He loves it.  Naturally, the fruits are his favorite, but he’s not picky!  I’ve also let him try a couple of finger foods such as mashed up pinto beans, which he can’t get enough of.

He loves his reflection in the mirror and looking at photos of himself.  Guaranteed grins.

He got the Jungle Jumperoo as an early Christmas gift from his grandparents this year, and he can’t get enough of it.  He is a crazy bouncer, and he likes to scare himself by bouncing too high.

Liam has been babbling just a bit this month, but his singing has been in full effect.  He also loves the sound of his growl.  #Dragon baby

No jealousy here.  They just adore him.

Liam was hired by Bumbo to do a baby photo shoot for an ad they’re running in a magazine.  He did a great job… photos from the session will be posted soon. 

Holiday Photos 2012

The Nutcracker: Rehearsals

Every day that Ari has come to Bella’s dance class with me, she has been enthralled with watching the little girls do their spins and turns and leaps.  She loves when the music pipes out a door accidentally left ajar, so that she can dance, while seated, to its rhythm.  Whenever I glance around to talk to another mama or to check my phone email, Ari reminds me to watch the dancers.  I know that she would love to dance.  Love.  But, she can only do so much, and enrolling in class where Bella goes is probably not the best way.

This summer, I was told about an opportunity for Ari to be in a ballet.  A ballet.  More specifically, ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet, being put on by the the Ballet Academy of Arizona in partnership with United Cerebral Palsy (UPC), at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix this holiday season!  Logistically, rehearsal schedule and other little things made this decision seem daunting, but again, I just cannot say “no” when I’m given an opportunity to enrich the lives of my little ones, so we jumped in, and I’m SO happy that we did.

While Ari initially had some reservations of her own at rehearsals, with there being a lot of new faces and voices (many of them very excited and very loud), she has now come to a point where she is comfortable with her group and even has made a couple new friends (Hailey – not pictured, and Shelsey – pictured in the group shot camera left of Ari).  Several other of the girls have assumed protective roles over Ari, and (whether Ari likes it or not) can’t resist Ari’s cute and vulnerable ways.

Ari will be performing on December 22 and 23 at the Orpheum Theater (Phoenix’s most historic and beautiful theater).  You can purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com.  It will be magical for sure.  We hope to see you there!