bathtime conversation

Sadie: "I'm dreaming."
Mommy: "What are you dreaming of?"
Sadie: "Hot dog."
Mommy: "You're dreaming of a hot dog?"
Sadie: "Yes."
Mommy: "Okay, time to get out of the bath."
Sadie: "NO MOMMY!!!!! I'M DREAMING OF A HOT DOG!!!!!"

confession

Readers, I've been cheating on you. For the past week and a half I've spent all my free cybertime writing comments, posting pictures, and monitoring friends' updates on Facebook instead of keeping the grandparents happy with the latest antics and photos of Sadie Rain. Boo, hiss.

Believe me, I resisted the Facebook fad for as long as humanly possible (especially for someone who sits in front of a computer for 10 hours a day), but once my darling husband joined I knew I'd be quick to succumb. It is painfully addictive---so much so, that chances are you probably already know I'm on there because you are too.

Anyway, let's cut to the chase: there are some anxiously-awaited holiday photos that need sharing!

Eating the first fistful of snow of the season on Thanksgiving night

I'm not sure what to say about this other than...helloooooo 80's!

Taco night (not holiday related but amusing nevertheless)

Sadie, Sophie & Avery awaiting Santa at the Christmas parade

Procuring the tree

Ready to meet Santa Claus...

...and not in the least bit shy:

a christmas classic

Last night we let Sadie stay up an hour past bedtime to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS. Now, I know we could have just bought or rented the DVD and watched it any old time, but there's something about having to WAIT for it, commercials and all, as a much-anticipated marker of the holiday season. The whole experience was extraordinary: she sat captivated for the entire hour, snuggled between Reid and me, pointing at the TV and saying, "Ooooh, Reindeeh! Reindeeh nose! Reindeeh nose!". Our hearts were so full they were ready to burst.

We're really excited for Christmas this year because SHE'S excited. Here are some of the other seasonally-appropriate things she can say:

• "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all way" (note extra stanza)

• "I need Kris kuss tree pleeze" (ok, we'll get one this weekend)

• "Oh! Kris kuss lights house!" (upon driving past one that's all lit-up)

• "Sophie Santuh prade?" (yes baby girl, we're going to the Santa Parade with Sophie on Saturday)

• "Brr cold. Mommy puffy jacket. Daddy puffy jacket. Sadie puffy jacket." (it's freezing out, everyone put on your puffy jackets!)

and as of last night:

• "Rudof reindeeh games"

Happy holidays, all!

first sushi

At 10 months, Sadie got a wooden sushi set and training chopsticks.
At a year, she received not one, but two copies of My Little Book of Sushi for her birthday.
I can't believe it's taken this long to get around to introducing the real thing!

Selecting ingredients

Immediately before stuffing a big piece of king crab leg in her mouth

Mommy jumps in to help roll 'em up

Adding the finishing touches

Yum.

Might need a little work on the etiquette.

Kanpai!

puppy tv

Don't miss a second of the live action:

watch here
(requires flash)

It's better than the evening news or reality programming, at least.  

Actually, I guess it *is* reality programming...

big news

Well, for me anyway.

(No, we're not pregnant.)

I got Lasik! Finally, after 20+ years of glasses, then contacts, then glasses again: FREEDOM. In keeping with the motto of Change, I had surgery the day after election day. New beginnings indeed.

Just now am I able to stand long periods of time in front of the computer, a fact that makes earning a living as a software developer a difficult task. But things are on the mend (aside from a wicked case of dry-eye), and I've jumped from 20/500 to 20/25 vision in two weeks, with things improving daily. It is, in a word, AMAZING.

Reid was able to watch the entire procedure on a 6-ft x 9-ft screen in the viewing area (complete with comfy couches). Here's a pic that he snapped on my cell phone:
Crazy, huh?

beware the candy monster

We've been coaching Sadie on her trick-or-treating technique for a few weeks now. I expected her to have fun, but I didn't think she'd get the hang of it quite THIS easily:

The child has no fear, especially where candy is involved. She'd knock on one door, say "Trih-treee!", clean out the treat bowl ('Sadie, just ONE, ok?'), and run to the next, seemingly unphased by the creepy spiderwebs and grimacing pumpkins:

'Mommeee can haz more?'

We hit about 10 houses before the Peacock and the Bumblebee were demanding to be carried. (That, and the parents were getting thirsty.)

Note Avery's dainty little treat bag compared to Sadie's, which is bigger than her head. It's no wonder that when we got home, the terrifying and ravenous Frankenpeacock reared her plumage:

"MUST...GET...OPEN..."

Although we didn't have any intention of actually letting her EAT the candy, we didn't see the harm in letting her play with it. Clearly we underestimated the steely jaws of Frankenpeacock:

The candy was removed and a full-scale tantrum ensued, shortly followed by bedtime. Finally, the parents got down to a little trickery of their own!


Battle of The Bands: Guys vs. Girls then commenced...

Good times. The next morning? Not so much.

Happy Halloween!!!