Nativity

This was FABULOUS!
My sister in law told us about this and we went together to a miniature Bethlehem.  We waited in a line about 3 or more blocks long but it was well worth the wait.

While in line Centurions, Herod, people on their way to Bethlehem and animals kept us entertained.





 Once we got to Bethlehem we had to pay our taxes and then sign the scroll for the census.









 


Then we walked through the town.  We saw people making bowls, leather, bread and selling fruit.






"And there were shepherds out in the hillside keeping watch over their flocks by night"

"a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

So cold!!

It was pretty wet and rainey all day so we stayed inside the whole day. Towards the end when it was almost dark we just had to step out. It was so cold. I think it might have been 50 degrees. (Just checking to see if you're reading this Tami) I almost got rid of this hat earlier this year. I'm so glad I didn't. It brought me a giggle as soon as I put it on JD. The surprising part was that he kept it on. I think it was because Katie had her hood on and so he wanted one too. We had a nice walk around our neighborhood looking at some of the lights.

It's not funny! It's funny!

JD loves to climb all over this kitchen set that his Granny brought for him and Katie. Today he got stuck in the sink part. He and Katie took off all the removable parts as soon as they got it. It was difficult for me to get him out. I had to try several times.

Santa

This last Sunday we went to see Santa at the village. I love this Santa. No long lines, free, and you can take a bunch of pictures. Its great. Both Katie and JD were excited to see Santa this year. Katie even knew what she was going to ask for: cotton candy and a lollipop. (This kid likes her sweets.) But when the time came she got too shy and barely said a word. Then all the way home she talked about how she forgot to ask Santa for her cotton candy and lollipop. She was starting to get sad so we told her we could write him a letter.

These last two are from last year.  Look at JD.  Just a baby.

Here's the whole post from last year.

Waiting to see Santa

This is the new smile that Katie has adopted when we tell her to smile. Interesting huh?

Steinhardt Aquarium with Granny

John's mom came for Thanksgiving and stayed with us for a few days.  It was nice having her here and the kids really enjoyed her visit.

Christmas decorating

We got out the Christmas decorations the day after thanksgiving.  The kids were very excited.  Katie started decorating the tree right away with a bunch of her toys.  I've been reading her the nativity story and she's been coloring pictures of the manger scene.  She is definitely understanding it a lot more this year.  I explained that we would be celebrating Jesus' birthday and that  everyone gets gifts on his birthday.  She decided she wanted to give Jesus a present. So she told me she was giving him her red fork and a pretend strawberry.  We even wrapped it.  I've also been trying to sing some Christmas songs like "Away in a Manger" with her at bedtime and other times.  She really is into saying "I love you" these days.  She must say it around 50 times a day.  

Payin the piper

JD is 20 months old and I think I've finally decided that I have to have him learn to sleep by himself by crying it out.  Katie had to learn much earlier since a new baby was on the way and I wasn't about to have 2 little ones sleeping in our bed.  So last night was our first real attempt.  This is so stressful.  He cried loud and hard for a little over an hour. Then a few hours later woke up again, cried for a little bit and fell asleep.  A little while after that he woke up again and was crying hard this time.  I finally went in and got him and laid with him till he fell asleep.  I know some people have their kids sleep trained within the first few months.  Perhaps they let them cry it out early. I just can't do it.  I'd love to hear if you've been in the same boat or how you sleep trained your little one.

Night #2
Repeated the brush teeth, read stories process.  Then JD protested when I said it was time for ni-night but not nearly like last night.  In a way it is nice that he is this old because I can really talk up certain things.  "What  a big boy.  You get to be in your own bed..."  Tonight he let me rub his back and then he fell asleep.  I did not have to go through the torture of listening him cry.  Although I'm pretty sure he'll wake up in the middle of the night.  I'll try to let him go back to sleep on his own.

Night #3
Started off well.  Put him in his crib.  He asked why a few times again but then let me put the blankets on him and I said ni-night and shut the door.  It was funny.  He didn't start to cry until a few seconds later. He cried for maybe 10 minutes or less.  About an hour or so later he woke up and cried some more.  Then again an hour after that.  This time I went in because he was getting very loud and I was thinking of our downstairs tenants.  I held him for a minute and put him back in his bed.  3 or more hours later the same thing but this time I brought him back to our bed.  So I called our tenant and let her know what we're doing.  We're blessed to have such great people living below us.  They are very understanding. I"m hoping for a good night tonight.

Night #4
Started  well again.  Not much crying but woke up a couple hours later.  I went in and laid him back down, patted him...but he was crying soon after and yelling "I wanna dit down mommy" over and over again.  I let him cry for a little while and went back and forth from his room to ours and finally decided to sleep in there with him.  Me on the floor and him in his crib.  It worked.  He checked to make sure I was still there a couple times but then slept the rest of the night.  Hopefully I don't have to do this too many times.  It sure isn't comfortable.   

Almost done nursing

JD is nearly 20 months and I can't believe it but he is finally almost done nursing.  It is hard to believe that I nursed him so long.  I only nursed Katie for about 12 months and I thought it was because she was also used to a bottle from being at her sitters while I worked.  Also I got pregnant with JD around that time and thought it best that I stop nursing her.  JD has never really had milk from a bottle.  He has been drinking from a sippy cup for quite some time but really preferred to nurse.  This last week he has taken to asking more and more for milk rather than leche from mommy.  It is bittersweet.  It means my baby won't need me quite as much anymore.  He is such a little pleasure, growing every day.  Talking more and more.  I can't believe that Katie was his age when he was born.  He still seems like a baby to me.