Dear Santa, Sorry about the cookies

Starting about 45 seconds after Grandma cleared the turkey off the table last month, I've been obsessed with the Christmas specials. Dora Saves Christmas. Shrek the Halls. Prep and Landing. Let's just say it's been a Santastic month around here, so lacking holiday lights and a tree, I figured we had to do something to let the big guy know we were thinking about him.

Which is why we broke out the mixer today while Rowan was sleeping and baked up a couple batches of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I helped out by turning the mixer on and off by myself, spooning the cookies onto the cookie sheets, and helping to move them onto the cooling racks with a spatula.

Unfortunately, Mommy was in charge of using her good judgment to determine when to take the cookies out of the oven. I'll let you guess how that worked out.

No worries, Santa. I'll leave you a big glass of milk to help wash them down. And hopefully you will look past those circumstances beyond my control -- not to mention the fact that I'm Jewish -- and leave me a little something before you go.

Maybe if you were taking the cookies out of the oven right now instead of taking my picture, I wouldn't have to write an apology letter about the cookies to Santa.

It's official

After two anticipatory celebrations, Rowan officially turned one today. And in honor of the occasion, she downed one cupcake...in about one minute. Ladies and gentleman, lock your pantries!

Drop...your...sword

Yesterday morning, before we donned our Snowday best, we busted out the dress-up trunk for a little medieval fun. This being Rowan's first experience playing pretend, I tried to show her the ropes. How to put together a stylish ensemble. How to move as if you are a brilliant swordsman. The sword fight, however, was short-lived, as Rowan was too busy licking her sword to defend the honor of her kingdom.

Snow day!

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. Snow, snow and more snow...and it was still snowing! So Rowan and I suited up and headed out for some much needed outdoor recreation. Lucky for us, not everyone was as excited to get outside as we were, so most of the sidewalks and driveways were still covered in snow -- ideal for our inaugural sleigh ride!

And while Daddy and I built our first snowman together (one that remarkably looked like a snow Elmo, although I insisted he be called Frosty, not Snomo), Rowan and Mommy did a lap around the block with the sleigh. Rowan says boo to the four-house stretch of overachievers who had already plowed their walks.

Happy birthday, deja-vu style

We are currently participating in a three-part series of events called Rowan's First Birthday. First we celebrated with Grandma and Popi and the cousins in Colorado right after Thanksgiving. Rowan enjoyed the cake, to say the absolute least.

This past weekend we celebrated again at home with our friends and family. And while I had never seen a clown before up close and personal, everything else seemed oddly familiar...

THE CAKE

Jillian's First Birthday Party

Rowan's First Birthday Party

THE ATTIRE

Jillian's First Birthday Party

Rowan's First Birthday Party

THE FRENCH FRIES

Jillian's First Birthday Party

Rowan's First Birthday Party

One week from today is Rowan's actual first birthday. And round about the time that's over with, it should be time to start celebrating my birthday...the Colorado birthday party, the local birthday party and the actual birthday party.

While everyone around me is complaining about these cold winter months, I've got a nice two-month-long sugar rush to keep me warm. Bring on more cake!

Chanukah!

Last Friday we celebrated the first night of Chanukah, a continuance of the gift-giving season that started with Rowan's early birthday party in Colorado and will continue straight through until my birthday party on January 23rd. (Mom and Dad spent several hours reorganizing our toys over the weekend to ensure we still have a place for guests to sit down when they come over. )

After lighting the candles, I got to open my first present -- an incredible addition to my rapidly growing collection of formal wear. And as for Rowan, while it's been said that you should never give a lady a household appliance as a gift, we argue that models that play music and talk are completely acceptable. Rowan only wishes this talking blender would tell me to do a better job of sharing.

Pointer Sister

On December 4th, Rowan decided it was time to get to the point...with her index finger. All of the sudden, she has all kinds of things to direct our attention toward. They say it's not nice to point, but my mom seems pleased.

An open letter to my sister Xana

Dear Xana,

It was a very cold day in January 2007 when you greeted me outside my new home on the third day of my life. You didn't know quite what to make of me, but you knew I looked exciting and you wanted in on all of the action.

I remember the early days, when you would lay by my swing and we would nap side by side. And when you thought no one was looking, you would try and sneak a good lick. And there were many times you did.

I remember getting loaded into the baby pack (even on the coldest of days) and taking you for walks around our old neighborhood in the city, where you would always run up to the vet's office door, hoping someone would let you inside. (No one told you, apparently, that dogs should be scared of the vet.)

And I remember mom and dad always trying to keep me a safe distance from "the paw" that would inevitably give you a nudge if you needed a good petting or just a little more attention.

So maybe I didn't warm up to you right away. I'll admit I served my fair share of time outs for pulling your hair and I did often scream when you walked in my direction. But nonetheless you always treated me with kindness. And I returned the favor by throwing your pink boxing glove outside over and over again, no matter how slobbery it got. You never cared that I couldn't throw it very far.

You always wanted in on the game when Daddy and I played "I'm gonna get you" round and round the house. And once in a while, I decided it might be fun to play even when Daddy wasn't around. That one time you and I excitedly played together at the end of this past summer is one of my mom's favorite memories of the two of us.

Toward the end, when we visited the vet, I remember crying when the techs would take you in back to run tests. "Nooo, my Xana," I would wail when they took you away. Mom always assured me that they would bring you right back, but I didn't care. I cried anyway.

My mom and dad told me that you got very sick and went to heaven. I don't know where that is (I think farther than Colorado), but I miss you. You will always be My Xana and I will always love you.

Love, Jillie

Snow shoveling...I dig it

As a special gift to my dad, I decided to shovel the driveway before he got home from work today. Unfortunately, progress with my sand shovel was a bit more slowgoing than previously anticipated. I am quite certain, though, that he appreciated the sentiment.

Let it snow!

Thanksgiving Pajamboree 2009

Walker, Playroom Ranger

Just a few weeks ago, my sister Rowan, aka "Rowan Taffy," learned to crawl. Not one to rest on her diapers, she quickly conquered standing up and moved right along to walking. To aid her in quest, I passed down my beloved Ducky Walker. May you one day walk alone, Rowan.

May you one day walk alone.

Transcript

Jillian: I don't wanna take a picture. I don't wanna take a picture at all. ("At all" is my new phrase. I use it to emphasize how much I don't want to do things (e.g., I don't want to take a nap at all.) I don't wanna take a picture. I don't wanna...

Mom: Yay, Rowan! Clap for Rowan, she just walked. Can you clap for Rowan? Go give her a hug. Go give her a hug and say, "Congratulations, Rowan!"

Jillian: Congratulations, Rowan. My name is Jillian. Oh, lookit. It's Rowan Taffy.

A leg up

For a kid who laid around doing pretty much nothing for the few months of her life, my little sister has certainly been busy at work this month with important "firsts."

It started on October 4th, when she discovered that getting up on your knees opens up a whole new level of playing opportunities...literally! October 23, she upped the ante when she pulled herself all the way up onto her feet. And then, as if two milestones weren't enough for the month, she signed "more" when the yogurt-drop supply ran low this morning at breakfast. At this rate, she should be penning her first novel by the time the year is done.

In order to remain competitive, I am studying a book on Mandarin under my covers with a flashlight every night after light's out.

Fall

A couple of weeks ago, Rowan took one or two ginger steps behind the infamous Duckie Walker. It's one week later, though, and the only thing falling down around here are the leaves. But if there's one thing we sisters like, it's the autumn leaves...oh, and wearing animal-themed head gear. We like that, too.

Me - Fall 2007

Rowan - Fall 2009

And a few more photos from Rowan's autumn-themed wagon ride with mom yesterday...