Sunday, December 4, 2011

Monthly Recap: What I learned in November 2011

Sunday is quickly drawing to a close and you know what that means... Monday Listicles time again!  This week Stasha has asked us to share our Christmas wish lists.   Well friends, I must already be pretty spoiled because there isn't much I want for myself this Christmas.  So I'm going to go wild and give you a different list.  Because I'm a rebel like that.

And even though I'm breaking the rules (and this wouldn't be the first time, either!), the Grand Master of Lists has done me the great honour of allowing me to select next week's Listicles topic. So, here it is: tell us about your hometown. You can interpret that however you like.

Now, with that little piece of business out of the way, I'll come clean and admit that the real reason this list is off-topic is that I haven't yet done my November recap, and, like any mom, I like to multi-task where I can.  So my listicle this week is ten things I learned in November, inspired by Amber Strocel's monthly learnings.

1.  When you open a new package of contact lenses, it's a very good idea to throw out the old ones, lest you end up with two layers of lenses in your contact case and almost make the mistake of putting them both on your eyeball.

2.  It's pretty awesome when your two-year-old suddenly starts playing by herself for stretches of 10 minutes at a time.  But by the same token, don't expect her to be able to do that on command.



3.  Seeing your little one caring for and smothering her baby dolls with kisses can actually bring tears to your eyes.

4.  A long weekend getaway with good friends who also have a two-year-old can be just what the doctor ordered.

5.  Lilah is now at the perfect age for us to do mini-trips together - like to Vancouver Island to visit my aunt and uncle.  We can share a room without night wakings (though our girl is a rather loud sleeper!), and she adjusts to new situations fairly adeptly.

6.  Chocolate chip cookies inside of brownies a la Bakerella? Yes, please!

7.  Feist gives an incredible live performance.  Seriously, not to be missed.

8. Life with a toddler is highly unpredictable (okay, I already knew this, but I was reminded of it once again this month).  Just when you think you know how yours is going to react to a particular situation, they throw you for a loop.  Lilah sat quietly and perfectly still while having her hair cut.  Who'da thunk it?



9.  Similarly, when you think you know how your child is reacting to meeting Santa, you will be wrong.  The situation can change from minute to minute.  While we waited in line, Lilah was at first excited to meet the big jolly guy.  Then, when we got near the front and watched the children in line in front of us, she totally balked.  As I tried to haul her out of the mall-provided car stroller, she hooked her feet under the front lip of it and loudly cried, "No, I don't wanna!"  Once I calmly explained that Mama would be there the whole time and convinced her to let me get her out, we approached Santa with some trepidation.  But this guy was good, and asked for a high five to break the ice.  Once he explained that if she sat on his lap for a picture, he'd give her a candy cane and a colouring book, she gladly climbed into his lap, and even half-smiled for the picture.

Predictable? Me? Never!

10. I received my blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was reminded of the wonderful feeling of achieving something you have been working towards for a long time.

35 comments:

  1. What a sweet picture! Ours is a train wreck every year. my middle daughter promises she won't freak out crying when Santa talks to her....but every year we end up with a picture of her leaning as far away from him as she can get and crying. it's become kind of a weird family tradition now.
    Congrats on the blue belt. I never got past my yellow (which I later found out is actually meant for youth!)..it's something I have always wanted to pick up again.

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  2. That's a great picture. Sounds like your Santa was a pro!

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  3. The contact lens story cracks me up. Been there and (actually) done that. Ditto put two in one eye. Also have had one float up onto the top of my eyeball. Blech. My wish list? Perfect vision...

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  4. Oh my God, she is so adorable!

    Oh, my 1yo, has been a very good playing-byherself-without-me-being-around kind of baby but, just a month or so ago, she started having 10min brakes and wants me to play with her. Not fair LOL

    www.mamaandthecity.com

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  5. I think my 2yo will freak out at the sight of Santa. Congrats on your blue belt! I'd be afraid to tick you off now ;)

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  6. What a great list! My now two year old was nearly traumatized last year by visiting Santa so we are cautiously warming up to it this year. He waves from behind the gate, but we have yet to make it to sit on his lap.

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  7. How precious is that photo of Lilah with Santa? I'm crossing my fingers that my girls keep it together for our trip next week, so I can have a photo that withstands time.

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  8. Congrats on your blue belt!! I like that you chose to be a rebel ;)
    And great topic for next week!
    XO

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  9. Productive month! I know I have gushed over her before, but what a cutie your Lilah is!

    Congrats on your blue belt status. (I'm afraid. Very afraid.) ;)

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  10. I had to laugh at #1. I have SOOO done that! And yes, playing alone is awesome, but they will never do it on command. Not even when she is 12.

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  11. What a great recap of your month. Those Santas - the good ones - they are good :)

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  12. So glad Santa trip was a success! Love this rebel list and next weeks topic! Awesome.

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  13. ok i know i've visited your blog and seen that sweet face before, but i'm not sure why i haven't started following you sooner! shame on me. i love your girl- she's darling and i adore her name (it was on my list). my girl will be 2 at the end of the month so i can SO relate to lots in this post- the independant playing, the tears that fill my eyes when i watch her be sweet...

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  14. Love the Santa picture. Cute story to go with it too and one Lilah will love to hear about when she's older. One year, Little B refused to sit on Santa's lap so our Christmas photo ended up being one of Teen B and Little H. Just yesterday, Little B asked why she wasn't in this particular photo and after I told her what happened that day, she burst out laughing and said, "Silly me".

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  15. I completely understand about the unpredictable part!! Oh my gosh. Completely.

    She is stinkin adorable!

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  16. great list despite being off topic... but what I really want to know is how do you style her hair? Because my cute, blonde, two-year old will not let me approach her head with a hairbrush for love nor money.

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  17. Lovely list, even if it's off topic!

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  18. That girl is SO adorable! Great list. And I really like your topic choice for next week too.

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  19. @RoryBoreHaha, I think I'm gonna need to see those Santa pics!

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  20. @deborah quinnMaybe Santa will get you a gift certificate for laser eye surgery! :)

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  21. @AfroditaGuess we traded places! Don't worry, that ability will come back. But they get very clingy as they approach the 18 month mark!

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  22. @BarbaraWell if you never make it to the picture stage, at least you will save yourself some cash - those mall operations get pricier every year!

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  23. @JackieAh, those lasting mall Santa memories! ;)

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  24. @Cookie's MomDon't worry, I'm a lover, not a fighter (most of the time). ;)

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  25. @StaceyDarn. But thanks for the heads up! :)

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  26. @finallyMom.blogspot.comIt's such a wonderful age! Thanks for following.

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  27. @Bees With HoneyHaha, cute! I guess we will have a collection of Santa pictures to go through in years to come!

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  28. @MoomserWell, Lilah doesn't love it either, but usually I can catch her while she is distracted. Or strapped into her booster. If all else fails, TV or my iPhone usually does the trick!

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  29. oooooooh Feist! I love that Theo can now sleep over at Lolo's SCORE!

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  30. LOL! I've done that contact lens thing! Lilah is a beauty! And congrats on your blue belt!

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  31. Aw, she's sweet!! And it's great she didn't cry on Santa's lap - I've seen so many pictures of kids doing that, haha.

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  32. awww Lilah is so stinkin cute! I used to hate having to get my kids' hair cut and then I just started doing it myself....which reminds me

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  33. This will be the first year we'll do a santa picture...my baby boy is 1. Last year he was less than a month old and I can't imagine how many germs are on those santa costumes ;)

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  34. I remember waiting in line for Santa then freaking out - bigtime. I was that kid. I get it. I just did not want to sit on a strange man's lap! It terrified me and so did the Easter bunny!
    Your photo is beautiful btw.

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  35. She is beautiful! Congrats on the blue belt, that's amazing!

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