Snippet: My Hairdresser

I am starting a new segment of my blog called "Snippets".  I realized that, since I am regularly behind on blogging because it takes so long to get pictures together and write about a picture worthy event, I am missing the little everyday things that I won't have pictures to help me remember.  One of my main reasons for blogging is to record my memories of Callie's childhood.  So my "snippets" will likely be short, image-free and possibly out of chronological order.  Basically, they are posted on a whim and are meant to help me remember something Callie did.  So, after a much too wordy introduction, here is my first snippet.  I call it "My Hairdresser".

Today, my hairdresser smelled like Captain Crunch and didn't bother to get out of her Minnie Mouse pajamas before she came to work.  She spilled out all her hair bows on the floor and then decided to use my clips instead.  She brushed my hair in a style she kept referring to as, "Up, up and away!" and once she had it all brushed forward, over my face, she commented on how much I looked like a puppy.  One might assume that it was quite relaxing having someone brush and "style" my hair.  But my stylist's methods include excruciating twisting, a strange scrunching technique and what she calls "making a bow" but is really her trying to tie strands of hair in a knot.  I also have to regularly answer the same question, "All pretty yet, mommy?" and if I say, "I don't know, am I?" the answer is always, "No...still brushing".  I am not sure if I am not yet pretty because the brushing is not complete or if the continued brushing is a result of the fact that I am not yet pretty.  I don't recommend this hairdresser if you are really in need of an ego boost!

B.B.A. (Bad Bloggers Anonymous...well, not so anonymous!)

My name is Amanda and I am a bad blogger.  It all started back when my baby became mobile then transitioned rapidly from crawling to walking and then climbing.  My more recent bout of bad blogging was triggered by seome new Callie Mae challenges, hence a blog about Christmas in late February.  Since my last post, many events have transpired.  The happiest event was that Callie got her cast off.  I will blog more about that at a later date and post pictures (I like to keep them all in order).  But Callie’s cast is off and she is now walking normally.  Her leg is regaining muscle and any evidences of injury are quickly fading.  Thank you, Lord!  For a few weeks there she had a terrible limp and would drag her right foot like Frankenstein.  But she gradually improved and was all better within the time frame that the doctors gave us. 

Other big changes for us have involved sleeping and, well, not sleeping.  Callie now has a big girl bed (more on that later too) and does not use her pacifiers anymore to sleep.  That was a fun (not really) transition.  One day, the mean ol’ paci fairy just took all those paci’s away and left a princess toy in their place.  The princess toy was fun until bedtime and we spent a week exhaustedly trying to convince Callie that it was okay to fall asleep without something in her mouth.  In the process, I decided that we just had to stop letting her nap because she was sleeping better during the day than at night and wouldn’t go to sleep until after midnight some nights.  We were all grumpy and worn out.  So, now we have a child who goes to sleep fairly easily at a normal kid bedtime.  We still have to lay down with her to get her to sleep and she ends up in our bed at some point every night, but we are at least getting her to bed at a decent time and are getting our time back at night.  But, no nap means that I no longer get any Callie free moments during the day (especially since the taking away of paci’s has made her even more mommy-dependent).  That is a big reason why I have not been able to blog much!  Right now, Callie is at her Little Gym class with Nana and Papa and so I figured now would be a great time to post the rest of Christmas photos.  Especially since the ones I haven’t posted yet are of Nana and Papa!  So, hopefully the recent snowy weather that everyone (except VB residents, BOO-HOO!) enjoyed is putting you in the mood for Christmas memories!  

This is how Santa left the tree for Callie on Christmas morning.

 Santa hid "Chomper" the T-Rex in the tree.

Chomper was a hit, grrrr!

 When Callie opened her Princess castle (like the one we gave her friend Sara for her birthday) she said, "My princess castle!  Matti, Noah and Sara gave it to me!"

 The kitties had a stocking full of treats and Callie enjoyed giving them their presents.

 Callie gave Daddy a moon for his office.

 Barbie has to wait in line to ride her horse.

 Puzzle time with Daddy!  Each toy had to be thoroughly played with before moving on to the next present.

Callie LOVES umbrellas!

 She had to go put on her princess costume to play with her castle!

 And to play dinosaurs with Daddy in her new princess tent.

 Daddy got a new shirt!

Ollie got Christmas hugs!

 Ollie almost looks like his kitten photos here!

 And Chester always looks like a cute fuzzy mush!

 The jump rope Santa left in Callie's stocking was used to capture a giant ogre!

 Victory!

When Mimi and Yoo-Hoo arrived, Callie got to show off her presents and her muscles.  "Crong Baby!"  She got weights so she could lift just like Daddy!

 And Yoo-Hoo and Daddy put up her train table in its permanent spot as our living room coffee table.

 Mimi and Yoo-Hoo came bearing more gifts and stocking!  Notice how Matt's lap is NEVER empty.  This cat lives to cuddle with him and is just lost when he is at work.

Mimi and Yoo-Hoo and Autnt Missy had gotten Callie this zoo last year but we all decided it had too many little parts to give it to her then.  She was old enough for it this year and all those little parts took me HOURS to put together.  But the result is a very cool zoo!

 We left for Nana and Papa's house on Wednesday after Christmas.  Callie was anxious to tear into presents as soon as she got there.  This is her "cheese" face!  Now I really regret teaching her to say that for pictures because she makes this face as soon as she sees the camera come out.

 Nana liked the birdhouse that Callie painted for her.

 Every kid needs a hula hoop!

 And every little artist needs an easel!

 Every man needs a good weed wacker!

 And princesses need lots of outfit options!

 Nana and Papa got busy putting together the marble maze they got me, I mean, Callie, while Matt and I set up their big surprise in the living room!

 Every Nana and Papa who live at the lake need "his and hers" kayaks!

 I think they liked them!

 Nana needed a check-up from Dr. Callie Spiers

 This doctor looks like she just got off the night shift!

 We left the lake on Saturday and drove up to the mountain to celebrate Christmas (New Years, really) with the Epperley side of the family.  Callie enjoyed helping pass out presents until her pile became too tempting and then she dove in.

 She liked her snowglobe from Aunt Janny.

 Cousin Andrew

 Cousin Meredith has candy canes!

 The newlyweds!

 The cows got more visits from Callie and Callie got introduced to cow piles.

We also got to visit Aunt Janny at her cute house and see her many trees and village.

 A very festive Hunter!

A very tired Mommy.  Why am I always tired???

Oh...that's why!

 Callie loves Mommy!

 And Callie loves puppies!  We got to visit with a few of Princess Penny's puppies before they went to new homes.

 After a small housing mis-hap, the little brown one got to come back home to Laura where it belonged.  Hopefully, one day, Princess Penny will get to come home to our house where Callie and I feel she belongs!

 This little puppy looked just like Charlie (the puppy uncle).  Charlie was probably glad to see most of the competition leave!

I think this is the last picture of a sleeping Callie pre-Paci Princess visit.