Traditionally, we spent our vacation in Oatmeal this year. We relaxed, enjoyed the beautiful Texas winter weather, got spoiled with good food, watched "The Lion King" at least twice a day...and most importantly spent time with our wonderful family! The weather this year is crazy when couple of freezing days suddenly turn into couple of t-shirt-weather days...keeps you on your toes, for sure. And you never know whether to keep those toes in sandals or tennis shoes :)
Ophelia got so spoiled with all the attention centered on her that she decided to revert back to a "baby stage" and occasionally has been using moans, groans, and pointing to tell us what she wants...it is getting much better now...She has learned the words to "the Lion King" songs and loves to belt out "oh, I just can't wait to be kinnnng" (the "n" being drawn out just like that). How fitting for this stage of her life :) She is the "king" for only several more weeks...she has no idea how things are going to change! "Hakuna Matata" is her other favorite. I love that she sings "....it's our problem freeeeeeeze, philosophieeeeeeze...." So stinking cute! Why does she never want to sing for me when I have my camera out?
Another bad thing that Ophelia discovered is that she can climb out of the port-a-crib. The battle of the wills continued even when we got home and she figured the crib wasn't a barrier any longer either. We tried for two weeks the "supernanny" method of zero interaction and putting her back in the crib every time she climbed out. The usual 5-minute bedtime routine became a half-hour to an hour ordeal. I decided now that not every parenting method works on every kid...Ophelia just thought of it as a game, even though it was a very none-interactive one. We resorted to time-outs if she climbed out, which worked for a couple of nights...but ultimately we just had to use the good old "cry-it-out" and ignore her. She hasn't figured out how to open the doornob in her room just yet, so when we would ignore her knocking, calling, and sratching at the door, eventually she climbed back in the crib and fell asleep. It took 2 times and now I am happy to say (and hopefully I am not jinxing it) we are back to our treasured 5-minute bedtime routine! She does not climb out any more!
So, here is the camera roll. Ophelia opened a couple of presents on Christmas Eve: She was excited about it! This is the Christmas when she learned what presents are and grew to love receiving and opening them :)
She got her own laptop from Grandma and Grandpa:
Camille and I belly to belly :) We termed our greeting each other "the A-hug" due to the two huge bellies lined up between us.
"The Dakota Boys" with a new, mandolin version of the North Dakota anthem:
Chillin' with auntie Cami:
Ophelia said that unkie Mark is a cowboy because he has "a cowboy hat." Here she is sporting the "cowboy hat" :
On Christmas day more presents were opened. Opelia had to wear right away the summer outfit that auntie and unkie got for her, despite it being freezing cold. She got a doctor's kit from babushka and dedushka, so everyone got thoroughly doctored for the remainder of the Christmas vacation. Here is nurse Nancy at work:
Unkie Mark's expression...priceless! Love that Ophelia doesn't even have the ear part in :) "Stethoscope" was actually one of Ophelia's newly learned words.
The new drill - Ophelia warming up the toy before the arrival of the boys.
Grandma's present to us was hanging out with Ophelia while we spent some quality couple-time. PJ and I went down to Austin and stayed for a day with Mark and Camille. I snuck out and got pampered at a pedicure place, while Mark and PJ played music and Camille was at work. We enjoyed two nights in a row of frozen yogurt at Berry Austin...love being pregnant!
After we got back, Ophelia's toes had to be pampered too with the new polishes that auntie Cami gave her. Here are three generations of pampered toes:
On one of our many walks out on the land that we took. Love this picture!
This activity kept Ophelia occupied for at least 20 minutes. She decorated Jim by putting all of the Noah's ark stickers on his hair. Doesn't he look so festive?
And yet another walk on the land. Throwing rocks into the pond:
PJ and I had our little getaway in San Antonio this year. We stayed at a luxurious hotel on the riverwalk and enjoyed it so much! Breakfast buffet, walks on the riverwalk, eating out Mexican food (green enchiladas was a surprisingly delicious discovery for me that has made me like Mexican food...we ate green enchiladas in least at three different Mexican restaurants!), happy hour snacking at the hotel, hot tub on the hotel roof, heated pool on the rooftop too, and a jacuzzi in our own room...it was heavenly!
We also did the San Antonio missions tour, which was very educational:
