My Best Ever Christmas Gift

In 2007, I received the best Christmas gift of my life.  I brought home a sweet, healthy little girl.  We had worried so much about how healthy she would be, how well she would come though her surgery, how quickly she would recover.  But she was a trooper, she fought hard for such a tiny being, and she came home just in time for Christmas.

Tonight I wrapped her presents for an early visit from Santa.  This is the first year that she has really been "a believer," that she has been excited to go to bed and wake up to gifts under the tree.  While I was wrapping and happily thinking about the happiness she would experience in the morning, I realized that I have documentation of my sweet little Christmas treasure gorwing up through the Christmases (thank you Jackson CDC).

So here is my little ode to my little Christmas bundle who has grown into such a wonderful young lady.  I love you, Kiki!

2008 (age 1)

2009 (age 2)

2010 (age 3)

2011 (age 4, taken on her birthday)

2012 (age 5)

Market Day

Today Kiki and I took a trip to one of the local Farmer's markets for a cider and donuts breakfast and a little shopping.  We got a bang for our buck and came home with lots of produce, a beautiful bouquet selected by my little helper and a bag of fresh popped kettle corn for Daddy (also selected by said helper).

During the summer, I had saved an article from the paper that had several corn recipes.  I got to work an made a few today.  The "Smokey Jalapeno Corn Dip" turned out great and was a great distraction as I watched the MSU/ND game.

I also made "Summer Corn Cakes with Tomato and Avocado Salsa" for dinner (see picture below).  The corn, jalapenos, cilantro and tomatoes for this recipe all came from the market.  The scallions, basil and eggs came from our own backyard.  It was pretty good, too!

Superbowl IV

It's Superbowl Sunday which means it is time to chronicle Kiki's growth in our annual "Kiki in Her Lions Jersey" picture. Sadly, I think this is the last year that it will fit. Looks like it will be a new jersey next year!!

Superbowl 2011


Superbowl 2010


Superbowl 2009


Superbowl 2008

My Feet Look So Purdy!!

With Monday being MLK Day, I had a free day off from work (WOO HOO!!) I took advantage of the occasion to tack on a few extra days of vacation.

Since my work holidays are also holidays for Kiki's daycare, the EL families (sans Ray) headed to visit the RO family (sans Gil) and take a trip to the museum. Super fun day, and I would prove it to you, if only I had notice the important end of the camera charger was not plugged into the wall!

In true Type A fashion (or AAA in my case), the Tuesday through Thursday of my mini vacay were carefully planned in Outlook. So much to get done and so little time!! There were many little projects around the house I have been meaning to tackle for awhile, but never quite could find time to dig my teeth into. So the last three days have been spent doing chores in the morning and fun stuff in the afternoon (and yes, some of those projects I classify as "fun stuff").

And I saved the best for last. I sit here now, 1 hour to go until I pick up Kiki from daycare and, for all practical purposes, bring my vacation to a close. But I also sit here basking in the afterglow of a little time at Panapolous. I have been holding on to a gift card that I received for Christmas last year (yes, I mean 2009) and I decided that it was time to cash that puppy in. And my feet are thanking me for it. I gave my piggies (or Larrys, as Kiki would call them) the VIP treatment, and they are SOOOOOO happy. And the best part? I have enough left on the card to give my fingers the same treatment in a few weeks. A belated thanks for the treat, Jay!!

P.S. Who wants to go with me for a Mani?!?!

I'm A Big Girl!!

The moment had come. We all knew it would at some point, but now the rubber really had to meet the road. After three years of life with Kiki's paci, it was time for that old friend to move along.

We had tried a few months ago to ease Kiki off Paci, but that resulted in long, confrontational evenings and little sleep for everyone involved. But we felt we had to take action, which was supported by comments from both her dentist and doctor.

So we thought to employ the tactic used by my cousin, and told Kiki that it was time for Paci to go, but that Tinkerbell was going to come and leave her a present when she takes Paci.

Now, given Kiki's reaction to the concept of Santa coming to leave presents, I should have known that this was not going to go over well. Kiki didn't seem to be phased by the fact that she would be without Paci, but was EMPHATIC that Tink not come to our house. Not in the house, not on the porch, not near the yard.

So I made special arrangements with our special fairy friend, and on Friday morning Kiki bid a slightly sad farwell to her oldest friend and put a specially marked package in the mail. And when we arrived home that evening, a special package from Tikerbell had arrived in the mail.

Here are a few shots of her playing with her new friend, Stinker, and his house.





And, much to our surprise, all is well. Kiki has stated several times "I'm a big girl. I don't need Paci anymore." I'm not sure if she is saying it to reassure herself or us. There have been a few tearful moments at bedtime, but nothing as bad as we had anticipated.

I love my girl. She is brave and sweet and she really IS a big girl.

I'm A Big Girl!!

The moment had come. We all knew it would at some point, but now the rubber really had to meet the road. After three years of life with Kiki's paci, it was time for that old friend to move along.

We had tried a few months ago to ease Kiki off Paci, but that resulted long, confrontational evenings and little sleep for everyone involved. But we had to take action, supported by comments from both her dentist and doctor.

So we thought to employ the tactic used by my cousin, and told Kiki that it was time for Paci to go, but that Tinkerbell was going to come and leave her a present when she takes Paci.

Now, given Kiki's reaction to the concept of Santa coming to leave presents, I should have known that this was not going to go down well. Kiki didn't seem to be phased by the fact that she would be without Paci, but was EMPHATIC that Tink not come to out house. Not in the house, not on the porch, not near the yard.

So I made special arrangements with our special fairy friend, and on Friday morning Kiki bid a slightly sad farwell to her oldest friend and put a specially marked package in the mail. Low and behold, when we arrive home that evening, a special package from Tikerbell had arrived in the mail.

Here are a few shots of her playing with her new friend, Stinker, and his house.





And, much to our surprise, all is well. Kiki has stated several times "I'm a big girl. I don't need Paci anymore." I'm not sure if she is saying it to reassure herself or us. There have been a few tearful moments at bedtime, but nothing as bad as we had anticipated.

I love my girl. She is brave and sweet and she really IS a big girl.

Kiki's Silent Symphony

Ray had a Stop Motion assignment for class, so he decided to photograph bubbles as Kiki blew them. He took many pictures and as I flipped through them, I was struck by Kiki's expression and posture. It almost looks like she is conducting a symphony of bubbles to music that only she can hear. Here are a few of my favorites.

I Think I'm Rubbing Off On Her

As Kiki's language begins to develop rapidly, I'm starting to see signs that she is really paying attention to the things she hears us say. Case in point, after I helped her get her Crocs on this afternoon, Kiki kissed me and said, "Thank you, dude."