Packing Up

December, having the time of her life. You know her intense love of boxes, and as I made each box, she thoroughly inspected it and played with each one!

We are going to be moving at the end of May, so I am beginning the packing process. We will be putting our belongings in storage over the summer (while Brad has an internship in Calgary, Alberta), and when we come back we will be moving elsewhere.

Peeking over a box

December just learned how to count from 1 - 11 (though she doesn't always put the number 3 in)! Two weeks ago, she could count to 2, last week she could count to 3, and this week she can count to 11. Crazy!

I Want to Grow Up

I watched 6-month old baby Rich for a couple of days this week. December and Rich have fallen in love with each other. December enjoys mothering Rich, making sure he has everything he could possibly want, while Rich enjoys watching December play, dance, and sing around him -- he finds it quite entertaining! When Rich's father came to pick him up, December had a MAJOR meltdown because Rich was being taken away from her.

Noah also came over to play earlier this week -- he and December had fun wearing backpacks, making each other laugh, and playing, "Chase Me!" all around the apartment.

December napping...

When Brad and I met with Kelli and Craig a few weeks ago, Kelli kindly gave me a TON of maternity clothes, including this swimsuit. December discovered it and decided she wanted to wear a big-girl swimsuit, like Mommy.

Doesn't she look lovely??

December is brushing her teeth with my toothbrush, after she took out my lipstick and tried to make her lips pretty. She didn't really get any lipstick on her lips, but her cheek is just beautiful!

Brad & Kristin's New Favorite Song

Watch this video, and you'll see Brad and I's most favorite song in the world!

Oh, Barney -- who knew we'd grow to love you so much?? Where did the old Kristin go, the one who used to poke fun at this gigantic purple dinosaur? I must have been crazy then, because Barney has given us a gift. I'll explain...December has NEVER been affectionate, not since the day she was born. I think she's simply too independent to be cuddly.

However, now we hold a secret weapon. Whenever I use this weapon, December instantly gives me hugs and kisses. The purple dinosaur has given me this secret: it's his "I Love You" song. When the song talks about "a great big hug and a kiss from me to you," December feels compelled to furnish Brad and I with endless hugs, as well as a few kisses thrown in. It works everywhere! I can sing it at home, at the grocery store, at her friend's house, and even while she's in her high chair. So that's why Brad and I have found this, our new favorite song.

Ice Cream and Cell Phone Calls

A few days ago, Baskin-Robbins (the ice cream place) had a deal where you could buy ice cream for thirty-one cents per scoop. Naturally, Brad and I HAD to get in on that deal, so we took December and one of our friends and rushed to the ice cream shop. December has never been a huge fan of ice cream (surprisingly enough), but this time we got her Cotton Candy ice cream, a pink and purple swirled-looking concoction. She fell in love with it and couldn't get enough!

Her face was a crazy pink-and-purple mess, so I tried to get a picture of it. Here's what she did when I chased her down with the camera. She put her face in a corner and got the walls all pink and purple.

She loves the Barbie cell phone that Uncle Jeff & Auntie Erin got her, and she came up to me, saying, "MINE phone!" Mine is one of the latest words she's acquired, and it's one I had been dreading. Then December flipped the phone open and said with an air of importance, "I call Brad." Ha! But I responded, "No, no, December. You do not call him Brad -- you call him Daddy!" Then she called Brad and instructed, "Daddy, you come home now." I thought that was amusing, and it's very telling of our little daughter's personality. She's a leader and likes to tell people what to do, that's for sure!

December playing on our bed

And having a grand time!