Christmas in Pictures

The tree after Santa came.  Quite impressive if I do say so myself.  On the chair are the milk and cookies that Wyatt left out for Santa.  He also left carrots for the reindeer.  With hummus on the carrots because "the reindeer love hummus too!"

The six stockings on the banister our stockings.  The stockings lining the stairs are for my mom's extended family that come over on Christmas Day.  The family is growing so fast we are running out of stairs! 

We always get Christmas Eve pajamas in our house.  Since Wyatt was born, I have been buying them for my parents too.  This year when we went shopping, Wyatt picked out these lovely Grinch pajamas for Pa and then insisted that Gammy have them as well.

Getting his first look at the tree.  I woke him up (a little) asking "Let's go see if Santa came" because I was so congested Wyatt responded with "Cave?!  Why would he bring a cave?"  He walked right over to the tree, picked up the first gift and asked if he could open it.  I told him we had to wake up Aunt Lizzy and Auntie B.  He threw the present back under the tree and ran upstairs to wake up the girls.

The first present Wyatt opened.  He got  a ton of Lego's which he hasn't stopped playing with.  I think the Lego's are his favorite toy.  However, when we were opening stockings, the absolute last of the gifts, Wyatt opened a tiny matchbox car and exclaimed "this is just what I always wanted!"

The running joke is Lizzy, at 19, gets a Nancy Drew computer game every year.  And she always plays it on winter break usually cheating, might I add.  This year I got her an accompanying WWNDD (What Would Nancy Drew Do!) shirt.  Hysterical.

Wyatt had to play with each toy he opened before moving on the the next toy.  I don't think he understood the extent of the presents because when we were onto the second party of the day he looked at me and asked "Are we going to get more presents?!?" Like he couldn't understand that there could be more to open.

Lizzy being her ridiculous self.  Wyatt picked out those socks especially for Aunt Lizzy.  It was very important to him that she got them.  He thought she would "Love these beautiful dogs!"

Just a typical cousin pile up at my Aunt Carolyn's Christmas brunch.  

The morning after customary Clue game.  I got Rebecca (although she picked it out herself) The Office Clue.  Naturally, I won.

The next morning Wyatt touched my nose with his index finger saying "Hey you.  Hey you.  Look at the windows!  Its morning.  Its Christmas!"  I had to explain that I thought Christmas was over and Wy was adamant that it wasn't. Yes, I love Christmas too.  But I also love the following days of laying around and playing with toys.  Of course the snow totally helped us being land locked, playing with Legos and trains, in our pajamas all day. 

Lizzy got Dad Decision Points.  He began to read it and then fell right asleep.  Wyatt and Auntie B thought a silent Silly String attack was in order.  Dad never woke up.  He stayed like that for a good 2 hours.  Thats what shoveling 2 feet of snow and GWB will do to you.

Merry Christmas

The Grinch

I first have to preface this post by saying: I love Christmas.  It is, by far, my favorite holiday.  I love going to church on Christmas Eve, opening Christmas pajamas, the family camaraderie, the sibling rivalry, the eggnog, sending Christmas cards, and most of all giving gifts to others.  I even really enjoy Christmas shopping.  It gives me a good reason to spend money, something I normally do very seldom.  However, this Christmas has been something of a Grinch trifecta that has left me entirely unprepared, totally behind the 8 ball, and a little on the Grinchy side.

My first issue has been work.  This is the busiest time of year for the church. Michael's last day at St. Johns was on the first Sunday of Advent.  Normally, I am doing my Sexton things and more recently my Clergy PA things which keeps me busy full time.  With Michael gone, I am now picking up some Sunday School stuff which was NEVER in my job description.  Now, I don't blame Michael for this at all.  In fact, I am very happy for him.  It was only a matter of time before he found an amazing church of his own in Brooklyn but just because Michael is gone doesn't mean the work has stopped.  So, on top of it being Christmas, I am also adding a good 10 hours of extra work into my normal work week.  The thing that kills me is the extra work is stuff I can really sink my teeth into, like planning a youth Habitat retreat.  I would LOVE to do that!!  It is just a matter of trying to fit it in with everything else.  Its been a little crazy and a great stressor.  I have had several evenings this month lying awake wondering if I could complete all the things that I have to finish the next day.

Then of course on Monday before Christmas Wyatt started getting sick.  Runny nose, coughing, generally ickiness.  On Tuesday night, he coughed so much he puked, only once and I think it was because I had just given him a glass of water.  Today, I brought him to the doctor to find out he has his first ear infection.  Of course, the doctor was impressed that it was his first one and he is almost 3 but I am just panicked.  It is going to be Christmas!!  My baby can't be sick!!  I want him to enjoy every second instead of feeling gross and wishy-washy.  And on top of all that, when Wyatt is sick all he wants is me to sit on the couch and snuggle.  Which is not so bad normally but during the holidays its hard.  I HAVE to go to work.  I end up bringing him with me.  And he has been good but he's not 100% good.  Now that Wyatt is on antibiotics I am guaranteed to be sick for Christmas.  He will be feeling better and I will be getting worse.  It always happens like that. 

You know that post I wrote about my dog being out of control.  Well, since its the holidays, he has gone into overdrive.  For the most part he has been pretty good and I haven't had to crate him when we leave the house.  Then all of a sudden on December 1st, he Freaked the F out.  Literally, I am not making up these numbers: he ate 5 plastic cans of cat food one day.  Then it was 6 packages of dog food.  The next day it was a package of Chips a Ahoy, some Saltines, and a failed attempt at Wyatt's juice boxes.  He figured out how to open our pantry, even through my various blockades.  Then he ate all our Christmas stocking chocolate.  And then puked all night.  5 pairs of my underwear.  These chocolate liquor bottles, he was particular to the Grand Marnier and Jack Daniels.  Then he was really puking.  Finally I dragged the crate back up.  This was all in a week.  It was Pup's 6 days of Christmas gorging.  Its always a nice feeling when you are already stressed and then have to come home to a house that is trashed.  Out. Of. Control.

My Christmas shopping started off really well.  Before Thanksgiving, I had already bought a bunch of stuff, mostly online.  Then Terry had Wyatt on Black Friday and I got a lot more done and then I stalled. Like didn't think about it at all.  I had piles of gifts in the basement and had totally forgot what they were.    I get to go shopping tomorrow.  Then Terry is taking Wy on Christmas Eve and I have 3 hours to wrap before I have to go to work from 1pm-8pm then 12-1:30am.  I am stressing out already.  I am pretty sure I am going to have to enlist my sisters to help me wrap, which I am sure they are going to be thrilled about.  It just makes me kind of sad because that is one of my favorite parts.  I LOVE listening to Christmas music, drinking eggnog, decorate presents to the 9's, and being a bonafied elf.  I guess theres always next year.

And I know that all of this craziness is going to be totally worth it.  I got some damn good gifts this year.  I love giving gifts that I know my friends and family are going to enjoy.  Wyatt is going to LOVE this Christmas.  I cannot wait to see his reaction to everything.  I just have to get there.

Christmas in Brooklyn

For all you readers in Brooklyn:

My cousin Michael (and Wyatt's Godfather) had moved churches and is now the Priest-in-Charge at The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew in Brooklyn.  He is doing a kids Christmas service and asked me to post about it.

If interested, its on Christmas Eve at 5pm.  More details here.

Christmas Elf

34 Months

Goose,

After the abysmal attempt at making a Gingerbread house last year, I decided that we were going to give it our all.  (If you don't remember, you were impatient to decorate and we ended up rushing the process a bit.  The whole house collapsed about 5 minutes after we were finished.)  This year we waited for it to dry before decorating.  We made a trip to the store and bought all kinds of fabulous candy.  Gummy worms, jelly beans, Reeses Pieces (which I ate), Peanut Butter Cups, Peppermints.  The works.  I have to admit, you are very talented and very creative.  And this year our house sits proudly on your dresser.  You ask, almost, every morning when will it be time to eat it.  I don't think you can quite fathom that we wasted all that fabulous candy on a house that you don't eat.

When I found out I was pregnant, Gammy made a blanket statement that she didn't want any stuffed animals in the house.  This was due to years and years of trauma having 3 stuffed animal loving hoarders.  Then once we got Pup, all the lone stuffed animals became chew toys and eventually disappeared.   On your last day of school, your teachers gave you a lovely stuffed penguin as a gift.  You unwrapped it with such glee.  But once you got it out of the package you burst into tears.  "Its a Pup toy!!!  Where's MY toy??"  I finally got you to calm down after I explained that your teachers didn't know we have a stuffed toy destroyer and I am sure you will get a ton of more presents for Christmas.  And maybe some cars.  Or legos.  Or trucks.  Or puzzles.  I have left it in the car because I am sure it will start another round of hysterics when Pup starts ripping out the stuffing.

I have been pretty busy lately organizing this advent series at church based on Harry Potter.  Its called Wizards and Wonders and the kids have really been getting a kick out of it.  St. John's is so like Hogwarts already, we didn't have to do much.  I have been bringing you with me while I set up, then Gammy picks you up on her way home.  I was getting you ready to leave on Wednesday while explaining the game plan (you like to be informed).
"No thanks. I want to come with you."
"But sweetie, I think it might be a little boring for you.  You will have more fun staying home with Gammy."
"No thanks.  I want to be your big helper."
This went on for 5 minutes until I caved.  I wasn't too sure about your sparkling behavior.  Earlier in the day, I brought you with me to our staff lunch.  You did really great, falling asleep on my lap after finishing your mac and cheese, and I was positive my luck was going to run out.  But I figured that it was a children's program and that maybe the other kids would distract you enough to give me some room to work.  I am so glad I brought you.  Yes, you had a mild meltdown around 8:30 but that is to be expected so late.  You loved running around with the kids.  You even told me that I needed to sit at another table because, obviously, I was cramping your style during dinner when you were sitting next to this beautiful 6 year old girl, Leigh.  You were the youngest kid but kept pace with all the others.  Even holding hands around the tree, trying to sing Christmas carols.  When talking about our fears, you said you didn't have any because you were brave and that when we hold hands, you make me brave too.  (Tear....)  The next day when I was giving you a snack you said "God is great, God is good.  I-am."  I asked you to repeat that, which you did.  I tried to correct you on the "I-am" is Amen part but you are quite convinced its "I-am".  You said you learned it at the church.  Thats really "cool dude".  (As you would say.)

I love you everyday,
Mom

PS.....Its almost Christmas.  I CANNOT WAIT to see your face on Christmas morning.  I am so excited, I can hardly stand it.  All this crazy running around is so worth it.

O Christmas Tree

The Accident Incident

Wyatt has been trained since April.  Over the summer I tossed his overnight pull-ups.  He rarely has accidents.  I can probably count the times on one hand and usually they happen at night.  He'll wake up saying "Momma, I have to go potty" and he'll have already gone.  You really can't blame him for trying.  Sometimes there will be a small wet spot in his underwear because he waits till the very last second before rushing to the bathroom.  He holds it forever.  Kid's a camel.  But even that won't happen if you prompt him when he starts doing "the dance".

During the first month in school, on a Wednesday when I went to pick him up, he was soaked.  Drenched in pee down to his socks.  You could smell him 5 feet away.  I didn't think it was Wyatt at first, maybe some kid with a dirty diaper.  Most of the kids in his class aren't potty trained.   I told his teachers he is really good about telling you but sometimes you have to prompt him.  I wondered if it just happen.  That he got too busy and couldn't be bothered to stop playing.  I gathered him up in my arms and rushed him out.  I didn't say anything to his teachers.  I didn't want to embarrass Wyatt.  I didn't want him to think he did anything wrong.  I took him to my office to get him cleaned up.  (I still keep an extra set of clothes in his backpack.  If its not pee, its chocolate or dirt or water.  Better to be prepared.)  It wasn't until I got him undressed that I realized he was freezing.  He had peed a long time ago.

I was livid.  He had been sitting in his own pee for God knows how long.  Why didn't they change him?  If they didn't want to change him, why didn't they call me?  I am in the building, working, while Wyatt is at school.  Literally, 30 seconds away.  Hell, if they let him out of the classroom he would know where to find me unassisted.  The only answer I could give myself is there are too many kids in his class; 17 kids to 3 teachers.  They missed him.  He's not a crier so he doesn't get noticed.  I was so upset.  I called Terry, Mom, Jen, Becca to find out if I was over reacting or the conclusion I had draw seemed accurate.  They all agreed I would have to talk with his teachers.

I went early on Friday; to catch them before all the other kids and parents arrived.  I explained that I was unhappy with something that happened.  I told them that I wasn't upset that Wyatt had an accident.  I almost expected a few with the transition but that he sat wet for some time.  They said I shouldn't be upset, that accidents happen.  No matter how hard I tried to explain myself, they just didn't seem to understand.  I left the room bewildered.  I didn't know how to explain it any clearer.  I went to work.  I thought all day about making a second attempt on how to spell it out.  Its hard to tell someone you don't think they are doing their job.  I ran into the director of the program in the basement.  I wasn't going to mention anything to her.  She said she had heard I was unhappy.  I explained again.  She confirmed that was a valid concern and didn't think his teachers understood.

When I went to pick him up, all of his teachers came over to apologized.  They said that he is such a great kid and always asks for anything he needs and that they were sorry they didn't notice.  I asked that they remind him to go once a day until we're confident that he'll remember on his own.  In the following days, they said they asked but he never needed to go.  They thought maybe he had some kind of fear of the potty at school.  Which I thought was weird.  I had taken him there before and he pretty much goes anywhere, no problem.  I talked to Wyatt about it and he responded with "I'll remember.  Don't worry Momma."  No joke.

He hasn't had another accident since.  And I think they have stopped prompting him.  One of his teachers ran over to me on pick up a few weeks later, so excited that he came and asked to go potty.  I told Wyatt I was proud of him for remembering.  When I asked him for his daily highlights, he didn't mention it.  Colored play-doh and cherry pickers were much more interesting.  It was a non-issue for him.  He forgot that one time. The whole incident taught me that it was clearly something that bothered me much more then it bothered Wyatt.