Christmas Day!

Sadly, I must return to work tomorrow for 3 days.  As a pediatric dentist, I'm supposed to relish in the children being off from school, hence their parents want to drag them in to have their teeth drilled and filled.  I don't know who wants to be there less...me or them.


Tate will be with my parents, even though his daycare is open, less than half of the normal attendees are going to be there.  Last week he was one of only two kids in his class (normally there are five).  And in the evenings when I went to get him he was one of only like 7 kids left, and the rest were all older than him.  The teachers are great and keep him safe, so I certainly don't worry about that, but I just don't want him to feel out of sorts.  Who knows?  He probably misses being there and will probably have a hard time adjusting next week when he returns.  Again though, I'm probably projecting like all parents do with their guilt!


So on to the good stuff!!  Tate had a festive Christmas!!  We woke up around 6am, well ok his normal time of 530, and I make him lay in bed with me until at least 6!   Changed him and read him a book about the birth of Jesus really quickly.  I then took him up to go to look at the tree (we were at my parents'), and he ran in, sat down, pointed to the tree to have the lights come on and then scampered up to go eat breakfast.  He didn't notice his train, stuffed animal, remote control car or legos!  None of it!!  All he could think of were his banana, cheerios and plain Greek yogurt.  :)  He then climbed into bed with my parents (had to walk past the tree to get to their room!!).  By 7 though everyone was up including Aunt Lindsey!  Santa brought Tate a Fisher Price Geo-Traxx train, some legos, some books, a Hape car and a Melissa and Doug sort and stack set.  When we get home to our house I'm betting Santa will have left Tate a personalized Land of Nod chair :)


The train was a huge huge hit!

LOVING his train!



LEGOS!

  Tate really wasn't into unwrapping presents, playing with the wrapping paper or empty boxes or anything about the whole gift thing.  I don't even think he was overwhelmed...he was just indifferent :)  Such a funny little guy!!


But we had some festive firsts these past four days!!  Tooth #L popped through on Christmas Day!  Tate will say 'ho, ho, ho!' and he even said Jesus!!!  That made my Christmas!!  I gave him a Little People Nativity Set for his 17 month birthday (yes yes yes I still celebrate on the 23rd of each month!!).  He loves it!!  I continuously talked about the Baby Jesus, and now he will go look for it and call it Jesus (now, not consistently, but enough for me to know he knows which one He is).  


Actually, Tate has made some great strides in the past month.  He still doesn't have alot of very clear words, but he is finally saying Mama with more regularity and sometimes even in regard to me!!!!   He says 'up' to be picked up.  He climbs into his highchair...all the way and pulls down the tray...I'm sure I shouldn't let him do this!!  He will put his pacifier and lovey in the crib after nap and night sleep time.  He will point to his toes when I say toes, and he loves to put on shoes.   He knocks on doors with those cute little hands to be let in!!  He's signing please really well; he has also signed mommy.  :) :) He will also play by himself for about 10 minutes at a time which allows me to get some things done!  He'll usually come running to wherever I am and throw his little arms around my legs to make sure I'm still there then go back to what he was doing.   He's sleeping so much better as well.  He naps great at daycare (2 - 2 1/2 hours) and ok at home (about 90 minutes) and is finally sleeping through the night most nights (7p-4a, into my bed usually til 515/530)  I have tried a later bedtime between 730/8 which has him up at 430 ready to go and then cranky as all get out the rest of the day!  So I stick to the 7p bedtime (earlier on weekends, 630 or so, when he takes the short naps)  But I'm getting so much more rest these days!  I've also started just napping with him on the weekends sometimes...sooo worth it!! 


I can't begin to really acknowledge all the ways that Tate has grown since Christmas last year.  So, I'll let a couple of pictures remind me.


Last year he was my five month old little baby...soft, cuddly, warm and soooo sweet.

This year at 17 months, he is still my baby, still soft, cuddly, warm and soooo sweet.  He's also so funny, full of belly laughs, runs up to hug me all the time and still makes my heart melt.

Merry CHRISTmas!