Christmas in Hollis

We've been busy enjoying the holidays the last few weeks and we haven't been shy of indulging in everything the season has to offer.  Why not?  You're only a one-year-old once!

In an attempt to keep up with recording her daily feats, here are some random things she now loves to do:

--wake us up with kisses

--blow kisses at anyone (dogs included!)

--knock on doors

--help set the table, empty the dishwasher, pick up stuff when you drop it and hand it to you

--sign for what she wants, including more, eat, potty, milk, and open

--point to people in her photo book when asked to find them

--look at word books (can't get enough!)

Olivia is known for being a great helper, and it was no exception when Mommy did some Christmas baking.  Check out the Ya-ya checking out some of her and mommy's creations:

Yum in the tum ;-)

When Nanny and Pap came to visit a few weeks ago, they brought a Christmas tree with them for the Girlie!  We decided to set it up on our balcony so as to prevent any disasters that could happen as a result of someone with an overactive healthy curiosity.  

That's not the only thing that the Girlie was surprised with that day.  Nanny and Pap also brought her Christmas present with them, since it wouldn't have fit in our car if we had to take it.  (That's a clue right there).  The Girlie now has her very own kitchen!  She has more pots and pans than Mommy now.  Yowsa.  Here's the unfolding surprise:

Wait till Nonna sees all of this cooking going on-- she just might pass out from pure joy.  

The kitchen even comes with a phone, which the Bambina started using right away:

And now (get ready for this, Pap) we've discovered that she makes the best coffee:

We don't remember teaching her that, so either she picks up on things really quickly, or we drink a whole lot of coffee.  I'm thinking it's a little bit of both.

What will they think of next?

We did some decorating in the Bambina's room to keep that Christmas spirit flowing right through our home.  We made some felt garland and hung the stockings with care, knowing the Girlie soon would be there:

We went elsewhere to find the spirit of Christmas, too-- in the form of St. Nick, of course.  The good news is she didn't cry.  There is no bad news.  No news at all really, judging by the expression:

Confusion, perhaps?  We'll take it!  

And lastly, nothing says Christmas spirit like a little bit of music and dancing.  And, Baby, have we got a bit of the happy holidays in our step: