2009, please don’t suck. After 2007 and 2008, we need a break.

And 9 is my lucky number.

Forget the whole “stay up til midnight and ring in the new year” thing. I was ready to go to bed at 11am. A combination of traveling, cold weather, sickness, a wicked 3 day migraine (complete with middle of the night puking sessions… fun stuff) and a toddler who refuses to sleep when she’s teething, sick or traveling, has totally zapped my energy. So I was zombie mama again today. Normally on zombie mama days, I lock us in Daphne’s room, pull out the books, dolls, puzzles, blankets and pillows and crash on the floor with her. I eventually got a nap. Thank goodness.

Tonight we hung out at home, had Meat Masters smoke a brisket (it was killer!), drank my special strawberry margaritas and played Mexican train dominoes. Chris has been doing some freelance work for a local magazine and is out shooting one of their New Year’s Eve celebrations downtown. I was actually invited to come along, but that would require me getting a fancy dress and hanging out with a bunch of people I don’t know while Chris takes pictures. Um, pass. I’m a total wallflower.

I hope everyone else is having a fun and safe New Years. See you in ‘09.

Today we spent some time with my dad and step-mom. After exploring Discovery Green and somehow talking Chris & my brother into taking the girls ice skating (Outdoor ice skating in Houston. Great idea!!), we did lunch, went home for nap time, then regrouped to open Christmas presents.

My 2 year old niece didn’t love ice skating. Poor kid.

While we were driving home from Tulsa, my brother and his family were on their way to Houston from Missouri. Tonight after dinner, we decided to play games. We looked at our choices:

(Yes, that is my little sister’s 90210 Twister game. My mother never throws anything out.) Then we pulled out the Wii. The girls had a great time with the Outdoor Challenge Game. Here are my nieces having a blast, wacking moles in their nightgowns:

Then we played Mario Kart. Daphne just loves Mario Kart:

And Wii Sports. Here’s my 31 year old brother unmercifully beating his 4 year old daughter in boxing. Come on, let her win:

Then the girls went to bed, and the NCAA football Wii game came out. Go Sooners!

After this week I think I’m going to need to sleep for at least a few days to even begin to feel like myself again. No, we didn’t freeze to death. Yes, Daphne is feeling better (thank GOD!). Eventually I’ll get caught up on posts and pics, but until then… I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Daphne is still pretty sick. Unfortunately, she’s not one of those sick kids who wants to sleep more or cuddle… nope, she wants to wander around saying, “mamamamama” while begging to be picked up, only to immediately want down, then cries that you dared let her go. She also won’t sleep when she’s sick. The only way I can get her to nap is to lay down with her. Is it time to go home yet??

Here she is laying down on the floor after being up for almost 12 hours straight. She NEVER just lays down. Ever.

And again after trying on a few of her Christmas presents.

Currently, I’m typing this post while Daphne snoozes away beside me in bed. I’m also trying to figure out my new cell phone. I thought I had a voice mail this afternoon and now I can’t find how to access it. I swear I’m like an old person when it comes to cell phone technology. I need one of those Jitterbug phones with the nice big numbers and friendly customer service people willing to help me. “Yes, Jenny, we’d be happy to connect you to your voicemail.” And I’d say, “Thank you, kind customer service person. I’m so glad I have you since I’m such a freaking idiot and can’t figure this out myself.”

Anyway, regardless of whether Daphne is feeling better, or if I ever figure out my phone… “we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny freaking Kaye” tomorrow. You betcha.

You’ll know it’s because we’ve frozen to death here in Oklahoma.

It’s funny how quickly you acclimate to a new area. I can remember telling my mom sometime in 2000 or 2001 that I could never live in Houston because it was too stinking humid. I mean, I’ve lived in other areas of the Midwest where people complain about how humid it is. These people must have never visited Houston, B’ham, New Orleans, etc. in the summertime. But then we moved to Birmingham and after the first year I got used to the humidity, and the mild winters. Now when we go home to Tulsa for the holidays we freeze.

And if being cold wasn’t enough, Daphne is now full-blown sick (fever, runny nose, occasional cough and sneeze). I’m keeping her hydrated, giving her Tylenol or Motrin when she is really feeling miserable and Hyland’s C-Plus Cold Tablets. I know Hyland’s has other homeopathic cold/flu products for kids, but this was the only one that was labeled for use at 12 months, everything else was 2 yrs. If anyone has any other natural remedies to pass along, please let me know. The poor baby is miserable.

You might not have heard about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which will go into effect on February 10, 2009. The new safety measures for children’s products may put thousands of Etsy sellers, children’s customs clothes makers and other handcrafters out of business, unless they are able to complete the required product safety testing. So, do I need to go on a massive Etsy shopping spree for Daphne, because I really want to get her a few cool hats, more hair bows and this dress from Rocker Baby:

OK, I’m all for product safety. But the idea of not being able to support independent artists and crafters because they can not afford expensive testing breaks my heart. Surely there must be a solution.

Daphne had the first of four Christmas celebrations today. Since we are leaving tomorrow for Oklahoma, we decided to open gifts with my mom and step-dad today. Daphne got a new baby doll:

Her old one was fine, but I liked the clothing/accessories that came with this doll. Plus it is completely machine washable. Surface clean only toys suck, well, for babies at least. And yes, Daphne is wearing a Christmas t-shirt, jean shorts and Hello Kitty slippers. Bold fashion choices.

Besides books, music, a doll highchair and tub toys, she also got a stuffed rocking pony from my parents. It’s really cute. Daphne is afraid of it. Ginger and Abby (the dogs) got Daphne a DVD:

And she even got to see Santa as he drove through the neighborhood:

Mommy got some pretty cool things too- a Tracy Joy camera bag (with the pink Robert Kaufman Hot Couturier fabric flap). A really cool scarf from my mom (made by Etsy seller yoknits) and a few pendants from Waxing Poetic. I’m such a lucky girl!!

Oh, and by the way… guess who is sick? Yep, it just wouldn’t be a holiday road trip with Daphne without her running a fever. ARGHH!!! We have changed our plans and decided since it’s going to be so freaking cold tomorrow night in OK, that we will leave after lunch tomorrow instead of trying to drive overnight. I hope Daphne is in a good mood.

Chris had a photo shoot this week with a little girl 4 days older than Daphne. Can I just say I’m glad it’s not just my toddler that won’t look at the camera? I don’t know how childrens photographers do it.

Isn’t she a cutie?! I love the Matilda Jane top (or is it a dress?).

If this was a picture of Daphne I guarantee she wouldn’t be looking at the camera either.

Processing this set of images was a real learning experience for me. With her light hair and skin (and sometimes a light background) a lot of my old contrast/clarity/curves tricks just weren’t working for me. I had a good time with it though.