Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve...

Terrible picture but Banner decorated the front of our house this year.
On the snowman family:  "Look, mama!  It is you, me, daddy and Schafer!"
On the pig in the Santa hat: "And, look!  It is Haskell!"

Schafer Art...

Banner Art...

Milk, cookies, Santa letter and reindeer food...

Envelope:  "For Santa"  

Letter (Side A): "Dear Santa could you please bring me a"  

Letter (Side B): "Banner" (with a picture of a dinosaur and another picture of him playing with a dinosaur on Christmas morning)

Banner made our angel this year.
He said it is his brother in Heaven.

Yep. Another recap...

So, the holidays happened.

Since I clearly posted NOTHING to document them while they were actually here, I figured a bit of a recap was in order. With that in mind, here goes nothing:

*  We've been terrible about going to church recently, and yet Banner - out of nowhere - prompted the family to say grace before both Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. He even mumbled something that sounded like a prayer before clearly stating, "A MAN". Cutest thing.

*  Banner told anyone who asked that he wanted a bike and "some trains" for either his birthday or Christmas. On the day we went to do the whole Santa thing, he was determined to convey this message to the big guy. But, well...Banner froze in Santa's presence (he was terrified). In order to get a cute picture (because: priorities!), Trevor had to faux hit and vomit on my head (instant smiles, y'all. I don't even understand).

About a week later, we went to Candlelight at Dallas Heritage Village. St. Nick was also in attendance, and Banner - determined to make sure his wish list got to the proper authorities - considered the situation for a second, took a deep breath, marched up to St. Nick's lap, climbed on and said "bike and trains" while staring nervously at the floor. And that, as they say, was that. He was done. No smile. No eye contact. No nothing. Just "bike and trains" and Banner climbed down and walked over to me with a mixed expression of "I did it!" combined with palpable relief that it was over and that Santa guy knew what he wanted.


*  The kid fell in love with the first half of The Polar Express. He is completely in awe of the movie up until the scene with the marionette dolls. And then he is done. Not that I blame him, mind you. Toys can be very creepy. Plus, I'm also a little weary of the whole deserted Santa village and skipping record thing. He might look like a miniature Trevor, but Ban and I are on the same page when it comes to disturbing.

*  Every time we drove past Christmas lights or trees, Banner would exclaim, "Look! Look, mom! Christmas!"

*  Banner's main Christmas present from everyone was a Big Boy Room. Because, as wonderful as baby jail has been, the kid could not sleep in a crib forever. The funny thing is, we would have moved him awhile ago, but he's never tried to climb out (except that ONE TIME back in September 2013 when he fell out. Lesson apparently learned).

The transition was bittersweet, though. On one hand, Banner was just so excited. We intended to keep the room a surprise until Christmas morning, but our house is just too small for secrets like that. So, instead, we made him a part of it. He helped move his toys, clothes and books, and watched us hang decorations and unwrap bedding.  His first sleep in the room, however, wasn't until Christmas.

On the other hand, however, moving into the Big Boy Room meant leaving everything baby and nursery behind. I thought for sure he'd want his baby blankets that he has been sleeping with since infancy. After all, he asked for his favorite blanket the night before (Christmas Eve), and requested I fold it into a pillow (as was our routine). But, on Christmas night, when I dutifully brought his favorite blankets to him, he stopped me and said, "No, mom. Those are for babies. I'm a big boy now."

I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up.

I made myself feel better by telling myself that he'd want them back eventually. So, I folded them up in the other room and waited for him to request them. A few days went by and nothing, so I washed them so they'd be fresh and clean. Still nothing. So, I put them in the closet so they'd be ready to go at a moment's request. And...well, nothing. It's been over a week now and I'm starting to realize this might be permanent. I guess I should be proud and happy that the transition been so easy and has gone so well, but I just can't help but feel a little sad that my baby really is growing up.

*  Never allow your child to ride around in the back of the car unsupervised with stickers...

*  In case you were worried, the little guy DID get a bike and "some trains" on Christmas. As we were driving home on Christmas night, Banner sighed contentedly in the backseat and said, "Santa listened!  I got everything I wanted!" Granted, the bike is a tad big for him at the moment, but everyone is confident that it will be the perfect size by the spring when the weather is better for riding.

*  Trevor learned the hard way to never to sneak off to the bedroom to take a nap while your wife is on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor hours before hosting a Christmas Eve party for friends and family.  Because, no.  Just don't do it, Trevor.

*  Banner got a new pair of house slippers from my mom.  They look like dinosaur feet, and - whenever he puts them on - he spends at least 10 minutes stomping around the house roaring.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas WEEKEND with Grammy Pammy...

Since we didn't get to see my mom on Christmas, we celebrated over the weekend.  

On Saturday morning, she came to Dallas for a coffee date with an old friend of ours, and then we had a grandmother sushi date (Gran was there, too) at lunchtime.

Afterwards, GP watched Banner during his nap while Trevor and I ran around White Rock.  When we returned, Banner was awake, and we had a present exchange on the floor of the dining room.  My mom gave me a snugly robe, but Banner won't let me wear it because apparently it is his.

Seriously.  He sees it hanging in my room, points to it and yells, "Mine!".

Have I mentioned he is a little bit irrational?

Banner also enjoys the occasional Perrier, because when you are (almost) two, regular ole water just won't cut it.

(Apparently.)

Here he is toasting Grammy Pammy (a.k.a. "Jeep"), because...you know...why not?

Then, on Sunday, we traveled to Cedar Hill for brunch so Banner could see GP's trains.  Unfortunately, try as he might, Banner couldn't contain his inner Godzilla, and most of the cars ended up on the floor.  My mom seemed surprised by this.  Either my brother was a saint at this age (HA!) or my mother has selective amnesia, because toddlers can only contain their excitement and overwhelming need to touch EVERYTHING for about 20 seconds.

He is saying, "Buh bye, Choo-Choo!" here.

But it was okay because afterwards Banner discovered Zeus and the two bonded over goldfish...  

...before giving daddy a scratch on the back with this handy back-scratcher thing.  

But the main event (after brunch) involved feeding the bunnies and chickens, and collecting eggs.  Banner was SUPER careful with the chicken feed, and gently put the seed on the ground.  Sadly, this sense of "gentle" did not translate to the egg collection.  Those suckers he just tossed in the basket like rocks.

(Sigh.)

Luckily, only one egg cracked.  It was basically a Christmas miracle.

All in all, it was a good weekend (aside from the cracked egg and the toy train incident).  Judging by how many times Banner has asked to go back to "Zeus' a$$" (Zeus' house), I'd say it was a success!

Christmas Recap...

Whatcha lookin' at?

Banner doesn't really get the whole Christmas thing yet.  I mean, he is much, much better at the whole unwrapping presents bit, but - when it comes to Santa, stockings and reindeer - he is still clueless.  

That didn't keep us from trying, however.  Well, sort of.  His stocking was stuffed with goodies from Santa.  The dogs stockings, however, were not.  Because Santa Paws made an emergency delivery of dog bones to the Awesome Pawsome Christmas Eve because someone (uh-oh, Alley) kept whining and barking during the party.

Luckily, since he doesn't know any better, the early delivery wasn't even a blip on Banner's radar.  Next year, however, I need to make a mental note to have a back up supply just in case.

Trevor and I did try to start some family traditions this year.  When I was little, my parents always made me get dressed and make my bed before venturing downstairs.  Then, once down there, we weren't allowed to even peek in the living room to see if Santa came until after breakfast and Mimi and Bud had arrived.  It was excruciating, and I always wished Christmas morning could be more like it was in the movies...where the family gathered around the tree in PJs with unbrushed teeth and disheveled hair.

So, that's exactly what we did.  Once Banner woke up, we rushed into the living room to check the tree.  We tore into his stocking as my mom's homemade cinnamon rolls heated in the oven.  Then, Trevor and I sat back and sipped coffee while Banner played with his presents.  It was lovely.  Having a kid on Christmas restores the magic of the holidays.  I'm definitely looking forward to adding even more family traditions in the future.  Because, with kids, that sense of magic and excitement is the stuff memories are made of - what a fabulous excuse to make it even better next year!  Because, seriously, look at that face:

PURE JOY!

OMG!  A food container?!  That looks like ELMO?!
Santa definitely has this kid's number!

After a couple of hours of serious playtime with all of his new toys, we headed over to Gran's house for brunch and Christmas Part II with Trevor's family.  We could have changed Banner out of his Christmas PJs, but we didn't because that's just how we roll.

(Banner didn't mind.  He'd wear a paper bag if we put it on him as long as he had the final say on which shoes, socks and hat he wore.)

Posing with Gran and Pop-Pop by the tree.

Brunch was a little bit of a bust for Banner since he refused to eat anything that wasn't more of my mother's cinnamon roll.  But, thanks to Gran's LED candles and tea lights, I had a chance to enjoy my food (read: chew) while Banner spent about 7 minutes "lighting" all the candles in her living room.  He then proclaimed them to be "hot! hot!" afterwards.  He was very proud of himself.

Then he got this and the entire family had to immediately relocate outdoors to play:

Trevor attempting to teach Banner how to use it.
(LOVE his facial expression!)

WIGGLE RACER = BIG HIT!

After Gran's house, we returned home for the all important Christmas nap.  We were going to try to venture to my mom's house in Cedar Hill for part of the afternoon, but Banner was exhausted after such a fun filled morning (not to mention the night before!) and slept for over three hours.

(Don't worry.  Christmas with Grammy Pammy has been rescheduled for the weekend.)

When he woke up, we opened the remaining gifts under the tree.  Most were for Trevor and I, which Banner didn't understand.  Especially, ones like these that clearly had a toy on the top:

Meanest parents EV-VER.

Christmas Part III was at Pa-Pa Mint's house (Buddy), and included drums, an old school land line telephone (Banner's mind was blown), my old Winnie the Pooh that my sister discovered in the attic and even more food.

These aren't presents.  Just things we used to entertain Banner while dad finished cooking.

Then, following dinner, more presents.

Pa-Pa Mint outdid everybody and bought Banner a...

CAR!

(I almost entitled the above video "Banner got a Hummer for Christmas", but caught myself.  Shame on you, dirty minded people for ruining the word "hummer"!  Shame!)

Banner was so happy about the car, he could barely contain himself.  Which coupled with exhaustion and the pressures of being (almost) two meant a near epic breakdown when evil mommy and daddy decided it was too cold to ride for very long on Christmas night, and put his new, black Hummer in the back of mommy's Envoy.

Luckily, crisis averted with the opening of Mimi's gift:  PLANES!

Because when you are (almost) two, it is all about planes, trains and automobiles.  The kid was in little boy heaven!

(Don't you just love how I won't use the number "two" without the word "almost"?  I'm notoriously good at denial, and plan on keeping my baby one for as long as possible.)

To say it was a BANNER Christmas is the understatement of the year.  When you are the only grand kid, you get spoiled BIG TIME.  The Ban Man made out like a bandit.

To accommodate all of Banner's new toys, I spent most of today cleaning out his room, closet and toy box.  All of the baby toys are now in the attic, and two big bags of gently used toddler clutter have been donated to Goodwill.  As thrilled as I am with the result, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't tear up during the process.  Part of it was due to the realization that my baby is no longer a baby, and the other part is because it is hard to put things in the attic or donation box after watching Toy Story 3 on repeat for the last two weeks.  

Hope everyone out there had themselves a merry, little Christmas!