Anna Claire's Favorites for 2011/New Year's Eve

Anna Claire's little friend Jenesis gave all of her friends a party bag for her birthday this past month. In it, was a little sheet of paper, asking the child to list all of their favorite things. I need to thank her Mommy for helping me start this New Year's tradition: asking Anna Claire her favorite things every New Year's Eve, which will then become my final blogpost for the year, and wrap up my blog2print book for that year. I love it!

Here are Anna Claire's favorites for 2011:
Favorite friends: Abby and Lyla and Jackson
Favorite place: Walmart
Favorite color: blue
Favorite movie: Pooh movie
Favorite music: rock-n-roll music! (I wish you could have heard the way she said it, with feeling)
Favorite food: macaroni and cheese

Here are some pics from our little family celebration tonight. We popped poppers that shoot confetti, blew horns, and sprayed Silly String.Note that tiaras/party hats were also provided, but Anna Claire said, "No, thank you, Mommy." She did not care for the Sparkling grape juice but was excited to get to drink out of grown-up glasses!

Opryland Hotel

I know many people opted to see the Christmas lights at Opryland Hotel before Christmas, but we decided to wait until after for two reasons:

1) we were fairly sure it wouldn't be as crowded (WRONG.)
2) the weeks leading up to Christmas were so hectic, it was hard to fit this in.

We ended up having a great family night out, despite the crowd. We remembered not being able to find anywhere we really wanted to eat over by the hotel last year. So we started out in the Rivergate area and enjoyed dinner at Rafferty's, courtesy of my principal, who gave us all gift cards.

After dinner, we headed to Opryland Hotel. The host at Rafferty's taught us a new route to get there that was really easy!

Anna Claire's reaction to each of the major features at O. Hotel was exciting to watch: The lights (the trees and nativity) at the entrance, the Cascades (the waterfalls and all the white lights), the Delta (the little village with toy store, the boats, the fountains, the big tree, and the unexpected favorite - the escalator!)

We had watched a Christmas episode of Caillou where he was scared to ride one by himself, but his Daddy helped him. This made the escalator very special for her I think. She wanted to ride it so many times. Her Daddy was such a good sport, taking her up and down as many times as she wanted to go.

Afterward, we had planned on going to the light show set to music nearby, but Anna Claire was hungry since she didn't eat very much dinner at Rafferty's. So we stopped off at McDonalds. By then, it was so late she could hardly keep her eyes open, so we headed on home.

December Trends at The Red Barn

For the month of December, Anna Claire seemed to like going to ABC Music and Me, reading books and playing in homeliving best of all. She tells me she loves to play with all of her friends, which I love. I have at some point heard all of their sweet names mentioned at our house at some point, but the ones we hear most frequently as of late are: Abby, Avery Kate, and Knox and Lucas in the Lambs class. She especially loved playing with her teacher, Miss Krista. She loves to play with Lyla, Maggie, Amy and Jackson in the Bunnies class. She talks about Kylan a lot too. Anna Claire, Kylan, and Jackson transitioned from Lambs to Bunnies together too. She talked to us a lot about going with her two friends to the new class this past month. I am grateful that Anna Claire begins the day with Krista, even though she's been moved up a class. This has really made the transition easier for her. She loves all the new toys and Sharnae and Tina very much!

During December, Anna Claire also enjoyed riding the car outside and practicing Christmas songs for their program ("Jingle Bells" and "O'Christmas Tree" still are sung frequently at home). She also enjoys making "treats" for Miss Krista, including hot chocolate and some apple pie and vanilla ice cream that she made in the oven for her. Anna Claire loves to share, and pretended to give her friends salt for their food at lunch. Good girl - Daddy is teaching you right - you've got to season.

She enjoyed playing dress up, painting, dancing in music, and playing in cars and blocks.

Out of 15 days in December, she ate every bite of her food up 10 days, and most of her food 5. She rested well every day. Yay!

We don't get pottying data anymore, but we know where we stand with that. She is still needing a pull-up during nap, as she is waking up wet afterward. Otherwise she is wearing panties and peeing in the potty all day long. Poop is another story. She is holding it in. In fact, her Daddy and I just visited Dr. Roads about this. She will go 5 or 6 days without pooping. He is recommending we cut back on cheese and yogurt, give her sweet acidophilus milk and a Benefiber.  Anna Claire tells me she is scared to poop on the potty.

One section I really like on her new Bunnies class daily sheet is the "Today I Was" section which tells us what kind of mood she was in. Every day for December, Anna Claire was cheerful, cute as a button, and sociable. Most days she was helpful, energetic, sweet as sugar and cooperative.

Cousins at Chuck E. Cheese

Anna Claire has been wanting see Ellie for a long, long time! Ellie is Anna Claire's second cousin, and they are almost exactly the same age. She is my nephew, Jared's, little girl. I don't guess the girls had seen each other since Anna Claire's birthday, back in June.

Kristen and I took the girls to Chuck E. Cheese. I did not have fun, I'll be honest. I thought it was tiring and stressful! But the pictures tell a different story! The girls obviously did have a lot of fun, with the exception of a few minor meltdowns. ;)

Anna Claire must have ridden this merry-go-round seven or more times! I'd say it was a hit! And not too big to be scary.

Riding with Ellie this time!

Love this pic!

Having a ball!

Ellie is much braver than her cousin. I couldn't get AC to ride many rides at all. She would want to, then  change her mind once I lifted her. I love how you can really see how much fun Ellie is having in this pic!

I loved that they had a slide for little kids, that didn't have been kids running up it or playing too rough.

Finally, a slide that isn't scary!

Brave Ellie, again, willing to try anything!

On a little simulated roller coaster. I love this pic!

I have definitely learned some lessons from this trip, and things I would do differently next time:

1) bring Larry so one of us can chase her, and one of us can finish playing games she doesn't want to finish playing so that we get all our tickets.
2) allow at least 2 hours, so we can eat there as well
3) pick prizes I know AC would want instead of picking what I think she is pointing to (she was so mad at me for picking the "wrong" thing!)
4) remind her that she will have to have her hand stamped by a man before going in and that she needs to be nice to him!
5) toddlers don't necessarily need you to put tokens in the machine to feel like they are playing!
6) ditch the camera and don't bring in any bag or coat. They were a pain to carry.
7) expect a meltdown, and be cool when it happens.

Another Baby Monitor Performance...

Anna Claire required all of her "friends" be put in her crib tonight (stuffed animals). I am sitting hear listening to her talk to them on the monitor. Allow me to transcribe:

I go movie tomorrow. Mommy, Daddy takin' me. I get popcorn. I eat popcorn all up. Yum, yum popcorn!

I have Cow. Freddie gave it to me. I sleep with you all night long, Cow.

My eyes closed. I taken my nap. I have breakfast in mornin'.

(something, something) not comin' over.

Daddy want me use potty.

I get (something) at the beach. (something) in the bathroom.

I'm gonna sleep in my bed!

Yum, yum Elmo toothpaste! I don't like it. Blech! Yuck-o! I can't have my water right now.

Car

Many friends may not know this about us, but we have been a one-car family for eight years now. We slimmed down to one when we moved to SF out of necessity, partly because of the tremendous expense for parking, and partly because we simply didn't need a second vehicle with such an efficient transit system in place.

Since moving back to TN from SF, we have continued to share one vehicle, which some may find difficult to fathom, but with Larry working from home, it works for us. Would we prefer to have a second car? Yes, and no. For sake of convenience, sure. It would be great for us each to go wherever, whenever. For sake of money, heck no. Our car is paid for, so we have no car payment; gas is expensive; we're paying off a mountain of debt; and we've worked out a system where we can get by with just the one.

Up until two weeks ago, we have become complacent regarding this issue, but now I see getting another car as inevitable.

We had just taken Anna Claire to the doctor and had gotten back in the car to go home, and the car would not start. We waited for some time then came back out and it did finally end up starting, at which point we took it straight to the service station. They told us we needed a $700 repair, which they did not have the part for and would have to order. They kept our car for two weeks, only to return it to us with the problem unresolved.

Since the "repair," our little 1999 Saturn SC1 will not go over 20 miles per hour, surges, sometimes won't start at all, and yesterday the check engine light was not just on, but flashing. The diagnosis: needs a new oxygen sensor, fuel line cleaned, and new spark plugs. This will end up costing around a grand.

We are quickly seeing that a car payment would be less costly than all the money we are sinking in this one to make it right. It is just sad to both of us, because you do become attached to a vehicle over time.

My eyes teared up as the tow truck pulled out of our drive yesterday, with my beloved four-wheeled friend for over a decade now. AC said, "Mommy I worried 'bout car. Car gonna be ok?" I sure hope so, sweet girl, but I'm afraid this is beginning of the end for "car."

Car. <3

My Happy Girl is Back. Another Ear Infection: Imminent

We took Anna Claire to the doctor this afternoon to make sure her ear infection had cleared up, and it has, thank God.

Raising Anna Claire with an ear infection is like walking on eggshells, 24/7. You never know what mood she will be in or how she will behave. Extremely trying in public. Emotionally draining to endure her poor treatment of us: yelling, telling us "no," hitting, kicking, head-butting, not listening, insisting on one parent over another, refusing to go potty (accidents galore).

Raising healthy Anna Claire is a joy. She is happy-go-lucky, fun, and energetic. Her behavior is consistently good. Love taking her out in public and showing her off. Love all of the hugs and kisses and just being with her. I have loved painting and reading books with her, and even doing household chores with her the past couple of days. She is such a sweet little helper! She is back on the potty train, and loved being treated to Berry Bear, a trip to the toy store, and going to see Christmas lights for such good behavior.

Given these polar opposites in demeanor, we plan to pursue the option of getting tubes when we meet with her primary care doctor next month. She has not had the magic number of ear infections (six), and just misses the cut off each year.

We believe, however, in quality of life for our family, and when she has an ear infection, it infects our whole family dynamic, even the way Larry and I interact with each other. It's why I see tubes as a solution to major source of stress in our home.

Now that she is back to her happy self, I catch myself waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know another ear infection is almost guaranteed given the time of year, as hers are seasonal, and we are just now entering winter. But these short periods of bliss are wonderful, and I intend to enjoy every moment, in the meantime.

O Christmas Tree, Jesus Loves Me, Where is Thumbkin Medley: Enjoy.

Anna Claire took NO nap yesterday. WAY too excited! Instead, she laid in her crib and entertained us with several of her infamous medleys for an hour.  I love, "How are you, TODAY?" and "Jesus loves me so much!"  :)

Christmas 2011

Feeding reindeer on Christmas Eve!

At Aunt Kathy's house Christmas Eve!

Aunt Kathy makes me laugh!

Giant stocking from Aunt Kathy and Uncle Ronnie!

 Loves Frosty!

Anna Claire and Little Ronnie

We made our own pizzas on Christmas Eve! My bro-in-law can roll some dough!

Saucy!

Happy girl loves being with her family.

Coloring with new crayons!

Putting on all of her new panties.

Really. She's serious about it.

Loves her treasure chest!

Letter from Santa!

Santa was good to her!