Merry Christmas to all!

As a child, you look up to your parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles and others of the like for guidance, inspiration and acceptance. These people are put up on a pedestal and are often the ones you look up to and try to be like. As children, we're constantly looking to please our idols, gain acceptance and find the role we were meant to play in this great big world. Growing up is tough because sometimes you learn that your idols aren't exactly who or what you thought they were. We learn that parents, grandparents and other family members make mistakes. Sometimes we're left hurt and disappointed but ultimately we've learned from the experience.

Over the years, I've put several people up on a pedestal. People that I look to for guidance and people that I seek inspiration from. Sometimes these people fall off but that's to be expected and what I've ultimately learned is that I need to bring that pedestal down, clear it off and put myself up on it. I need to look within myself for guidance, inspiration and happiness. I'm the only one that is in control of my life and what I make of it.

After a hurried Christmas last year, bouncing from house to house, I determined that I need to take control and do what is best for my family. I looked at what would make the three of us the happiest and what would make our celebration of Christmas memorable and enjoyable. Therefore, I decided we were staying home. And it might have been one of the best decisions I've ever made.



I just may leave our manger out all year long because I enjoy walking by and seeing each new arrangement that Madison has come up with.



On Christmas Eve, I gave Madison an early Christmas gift in hopes that she could help me with a little Christmas baking.



She helped for a bit, sort of. Many M&M's made it into her mouth and after making some white chocolate trail mix she was done. Had no desire to ice our cookies for Santa and she wanted her table back in her kitchen. The girl knows exactly what she wants.





The evening was spent with my sister and her family exchanging gifts and eating a delicious dinner prepared by my sister.





That night we set out milk and uniced, cookies for Santa.



Madison said I eat Santa's cookie? Ok. I drink the milk? Ok. She has recently started to answer her own questions. Which always leaves us cracking up and speechless.



Christmas morning was not at all what I expected from Madison. I pictured her waking up early, yelling for us to come and get her so she could rush into the living room to see if Santa came. When Madison woke up at 8:00 am, I rushed into her room and said Madison, did Santa come? She replied with a simple shrug of her shoulders. I think she knew her name was teetering between the nice and naughty list after eating Santa's cookies only hours before.



I got her out of her crib and quickly rushed her into the living room and said Look Madison, Santa came! She said Yep. And was on with playing with her toys and not giving one ounce of care to the gifts left for her under the tree. Around 9:00 I decided it was time to get this party started and open some gifts. So, we did and she was delighted and appreciative.







We even got in a little Skype session to share our Christmas with my parents.



Many people know that Madison is a fan of sleeping in the nude. Every night we have to go back into Madison's room after she has fallen asleep and put her diaper and pajamas back on her. Yes, every night she strips down, folds her diaper up exactly as we would do, places it in the corner of her crib with her jammies, covers herself back up and falls asleep. Well, she got an easel for Christmas and was eager to paint. I told her to take her shirt off and for some reason she finds it necessary to get completely naked. We had to force her to put her panties on because between brush strokes she was doing somersaults. And while she is cute a girl needs to have some sort of modesty.



Over the weekend, Madison discovered a love for glasses. We're still working on finding the perfect pair with the proper fit and alignment.

 



Madison has also managed to wrap her Uncle Brent around her little finger. Which, to be honest, probably wasn't that hard to do.



These are the moments with our Maddie O. that we love. She is grateful. She is kind. She is smart. She is so loving. She is our girl and she has made us a family. This is our time to do what is best for us and to create our own traditions. And I can tell you that we are enjoying every moment of it.