We converted Macey's crib to a daybed, because she learned how to crawl out of her crib, and we were afraid she might hurt herself getting out. Correction: Mikayla taught Macey how to crawl out of her crib - by showing her exactly what to do. Macey's crib is taller than she is, so the fall risk when Macey hikes her leg over the top rail is pretty high. The first night was a complete success. She knows how to open her bedroom door, so it scared me a couple nights when she stealthily came into my room at 3:00 a.m. and woke me up. That's when we had to put a doorknob guard on her door, so now she can't get out. A 21 month old roaming the house in the middle of the night can't possibly be good. There have been a few nights when she has pounded on her door, but it's been generally a success. She'll also pull back the spring door stops, and we'll hear the "boing" repeatedly until we go see what she wants. She loves her milk, and she has to have a full cup of milk with her at night, so most of the time, she just wants more milk, then she will get right back in bed.
My Aunt Pam and Uncle Tom came in town from Georgia for Christmas, but they had to fly out on Christmas morning, so we had the Six Christmas at my grandma's house on Christmas Eve. We had barbeque brisket, chicken and ribs. We opened packages, and the girls loved their gifts. Of course with little kids, it's all about the quantity of packages to open, because they love ripping open the paper.
When we got home, we all changed into our pajamas, and I read the first Chistmas story from Luke 2 to the girls. Macey was a little upset there were no pictures, but that's a toddler for you! Then I read "The Night Before Christmas" to the girls. Most of it was from memory, as it is my favorite Christmas book, and I remember reading it every Christmas Eve growing up. The girls sat in front of me in "criss-cross-applesauce" and listened intently with wide eyes as I emphasized the dramatic points.
After story time, we opened packages, and Mikayla and Macey both got Little Miss Muffins from Adam and me. Little Miss Muffins are over-priced, underwhelming dolls that fold into themselves to resemble a muffin.
That's what Mikayla wanted, so we got them. There were presents from Grandfather and Grandma Mary, as well. By this time, it is past Macey's bed time, so we put her to bed. Mikayla and I put out carrots in the front yard for the the reindeer, and made Santa his glass of milk. Santa decided he wanted baklava this year, so we set that out with a couple cookies for Santa to take back to Mrs. Claus. When the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads, Santa and Mrs. Claus went right to work. Santa had to put together Macey's sit-and-spin, and Mrs. Claus went outside to grate the carrots so it would look like the reindeer ate the carrots.
On Christmas morning, at 6:09, through the baby monitor, I heard Macey's door shutting. "They're up!" I said to Adam as I threw off the covers, and hurried to the living room. Mikayla and Macey were standing in front of the Christmas tree, eyes wide with amazement at the presents Santa had left. We spent the next few minutes going through all of their gifts and presents. Macey understood much more this year, so it was so fun to watch both of the girls with their presents. Mikayla and I went outside to see if the reindeer ate the carrots, and sure enough, Mikayla comes out, stops her foot to the ground, puts her hands on her hips and says, "They ate the carrots, but they made a big mess!"
After Santa presents, we packed up the car and went to Mom & Dad's for Christmas brunch. We had breakfast casserole and pigs in the blanket, then opened packages. Mom and Dad got the girls beautiful Gotz dolls from Pottery Barn Kids. Mikayla of course got the blonde doll, while Macey got the brunette doll. Mom has always loved dolls and loved giving dolls to Lauren and me. She probably spent a small fortune on them for us when we were younger. I think it's a wonderful tradition to continue, and one that I am in hopes the girls will continue for generations.
After we spent some time with Mom and Dad, it was time to head out to Weatherford for Christmas #3. We packed up and headed west to Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a Christmas feast of steak and potatoes, with mushrooms, deviled eggs, pimento cheese and more! It was nontraditional, but it was quite the feast nonetheless! We opened packages, and once again the girls loved ripping thorugh the paper. Grandma and Grandpa, with the help of Grandpa Lemaster and Ross, got the girls multi-colored fans to go in their rooms. Mikayla had been asking for this particular fan for well over a year, and she was ecstatic to finally get it! We spent the night in Weatherford, so we could spend extra time just hanging out with Jane, Robert and Ross.Not only was it nice to spend time with family, with the time off from school, I really wanted to be able to deep clean the house. However, when you live with two little tornadoes like Mikayla and Macey, any form of cleaning is futile, because they will follow along behind me making more of a mess than what was there before. On one day in particular, I was trying to clean, and both girls were just right on my heels following me everywhere. In frustration, I yell at them both, "STOP following me!" Mikayla's heart visibly breaks as her face falls, and tears spout forth. "Mommy, we follow you because we love you!" she cried. Immediately, I fell to my knees and hugged both girls. "I am so sorry! I love you, too!" I said as tears fell down my face. I never had looked at it that way, and the girls just wanted to be near me, even when I didn't want them near me. That's true love.
The girls have taught me so much, not only about love, but about our human nature. Friday after Christmas, Adam and I were in our room folding laundry and resting, while the girls were in their rooms for quiet time. Later in the day, we were planning on going to Mom and Dad's for dinner and gift exchange with Lauren and Justin. They had come in town late Tuesday night, so this was the first time we could all get together to exchange gifts. As we were in our room, I couldn't tell if I heard the noise through the baby monitor or if it was coming from the living room, but I knew I heard paper being torn. Adam hurried to see what the sound possibly could be. With the two tornadoes our children are, it could have been anything - a book, mail, stickers, boxes, anything! A short minute later, Adam comes in and says, "I'm going to let you handle her." I walk to the living room to see Macey sitting under the Christmas tree. Tiny pieces of beautiful wrapping paper encircle Macey. The hand-crafted gold bow is balled up at her feet, with pieces of the cardboard box surrounding it. On her left sits what is left of a box, still containing Justin's Christmas present. My eyes widen, as I gravely say, "Macey! No ma'am!" There is no crying, there is no weeping - only expressionless eyes peering at me. As I point to the remnants, I again admonish her. The only movement from this tiny human is her eyes shifting from left, then back to me. Then she shifts her eyes again. This time to the right, then back to me. I held back my smiles, because she was demonstrating pure understanding of what she had done, and I found insight into human nature. She knew what she did was wrong, and she knew she was in trouble. She didn't want me to be disappointed, and she knew I was.
Being a mommy is most definitely a learning experience. Each new year brings its own adventure, and I'm sure that 2012 will as well. I'm looking forward to the new year, and making many more memories!
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