Tuesday morning we went out shopping and on the way home stopped by the Water Front mission. While we were there an older lady came over to talk with me. She was totally taken with Carlie and after chatting with me a moment we went our ways. A few minutes later she came over carrying a baby doll and asked if Carlie Jane could have it. I told her it was sweet of her but Carlie has a baby doll at home. While I was explaining this Carlie was reaching out of the cart for the baby. The lady handed it to her and Carlie put it on her shoulder, patting his back, swaying back and forth saying,"Aawww, Baby." The lady said, "See Mummy she needs this baby." I thanked her but asked Carlie to give back the baby and she did. The lady walked away, returning a minute later telling me she had bought the doll for Carlie and handed Carlie the doll. Carlie was so happy and as the lady said good bye Carlie blew her a kiss. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want Carlie receiving gifts everyday and expecting people to always give her what she wants but at the same time I think it made the lady even happier than is did Carlie and there is something to be said for that.
On the way home Carlie fell asleep with her baby.
When she woke up from her nap she was still holding it.
You can see in this picture she has a bruise on her forehead. That morning she was running on the tiled kitchen floor and fell, hitting her head on a table. Poor girl, her eye lid even became a little discolored.
Our Donny is a very happy little boy.
He just seems to think life is funny.
Learning to turn over,
Donny has discovered his hands and loves to play with things now
A Garage door
Carlie loves music! Today she found my crochet hook when I laid it down and I saw her leading the music with it. She usually sits with John or I during choir practice and she watches the choir detector lead the music and likes to imitate him.
Five months old
Christmas cookies
I thought she would like cutting out the shapes but she only was interested in the rolling pin.
Christmas trees
And gingerbread men
The final taste test.
We ended up with pink and green cookies because I realized I didn't have red coloring
We
took supper and most of our cookies over to Jame and Sara since they
were just home from the hospital with baby David. But here are a few we
made. I really like the recipe I found. I always enjoyed making
Christmas cookies but didn't care for the hard, cracker like, texture.
These turned out nice, thick, and soft.
John was working on installing the door all day Friday and had to barricade himself inside while he installed the track after assembling the door. It was such a complicated process.
But he did a perfect job and the door opens so easily.
Carlie and I would get him things he needed and hand them in the side window.
I think Carlie was getting tired of helping
We went out for supper
Then went to pick out our Christmas tree together. Though I've never had an artificial tree,
I've told John it is only logical to get one here but he is sweet and gets a real tree for me every year.
I love just standing in the Christmas trees. They smell like the woods back home.
Carlie quickly realized we were trying to choose a tree and was looking for her own.
She liked the little potted ones. I think she thought they were just her size.
She was also worried about the mess of needles and tree
clippings on the floor and set to work cleaning it up.
The perfect one
Donny didn't know what to think and was quite tired by this time.
Carlie wanted to drive the cart.
John let her ride with the tree out to the car.
She wasn't ready for the cart ride to be over and kept asking me to push her around the parking lot.
On the way home they both fell fast asleep
Saturday breakfast.
Carlie has learned to tell me, "all done." and I'll let her get down from her high chair. She then will run over and climb up on John's lap and expect him to share with her.
Dancing with Daddy
If only these days would last forever.
I couldn't get a clear picture but I had to try.
I think one of my favorite things about Christmas is Christmas cards. I love hearing from everyone and it amazes me how few duplicates there are. So I have saved the cards from years past thinking I would come up with a good use for them. This year I made all last years cards into little gift boxes and put a little candy in each one for Carlie to have a countdown to Christmas. Everyday, after breakfast, she is allowed to pick a box out and open it. This is very special to her and she usually doesn't even want us to open the candy at once but carries it around in her hand for a while before giving in and bringing it to us to open for her.
This was Sunday morning before leaving for Sunday School.
You can see little Donny dressed for church and abandoned on the floor.
