Mikayla - 9 months old!

Alyssa-ism's

Little Miss Alyssa has been learning so quickly and talking so much lately that I felt the need to write this post about things she has been doing and saying. She has been cracking us up so much and though this age is quite challenging (especially pregnant), it's also very rewarding! I'm not sure where she gets it from (wink, wink) but she is pretty bossy!

Here are just a number of things she has said lately:

"Mommy, you have baby in tummy but I have num nums in mine"

Talking to my tummy "Come out (insert baby's name)"

While at the pet store, she said "The doggies, they are sooooooo cute! The mice they are cute too!"

And when asked if Alyssa is cute? She said, "Yes, Alyssa is very very cute!"

She knows the magic word "please" and she orders people to "sit down right here or right there"

When you sneeze, she says "Bless you" and when she sneezes she says "cuse me"

When we were at the grocery store yesterday, she was leaning over while in the cart, a lady who wasn't watching where she was going accidentally nudged her. She then said, "Mommy - she HIT me" and kept saying it over and over again. Hilarious!

After dinner one night Alyssa asked for a cookie. I had made a batch of safe (dairy free) chocolate chip cookies earlier in the week but felt that she had her fair share. Plus, she had been having some icky diapers from all the sugar. So I told her that there are no more cookies and that we would have to go buy some. She looked at me ran over to the door and said, "Go ride car...buy cookies." I couldn't help but laugh. Then I said, it's raining outside, we'll go another day. To which she responded by getting her jacket with a hood and said, "Put hood on".

Sometimes kids say the funny things...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We spent a quiet New Year at home. After Alyssa went down for bed, Mike and I watched a movie. It's quite different when you have a child. I watched the countdown on TV and then turned off the lights and went to bed! Welcome 2009! This year we will blessed with baby girl #2 due in mid April. It will be a hectic year I'm sure as we chase after our 2 year old and take care of the baby. I can't wait to meet this little girl though and see what she will be like. She's quite active in my belly but I sure hope she ends up to be a calm and happy child. No allergies would be a plus! :)

Alyssa and I have been searching for a big girl bed since she will need to give up her crib for baby #2. She has been quite excited about it...it's finally on order and will get here 1st week of March. I hope the adjustment isn't difficult. Crossing our fingers and praying!

Christmas 2008

Christmas was a blast. Alyssa was certainly spoiled by the family once again. Santa was also good to her and brought her tons of Dora the Explorer toys including her very own backpack just like the one Dora uses! John and Neil spent Christmas eve at our house. We had a great dinner and had some pie that Neil and I made earlier in the day. Then we opened presents. Alyssa was in heaven!

On Christmas day we went to Nonna and Papa's house. We went to church then went back home and opened presents. Alyssa was once again SPOILED. She got so many toys and clothes from everyone. We went to Katie's house for hors 'deuvres and to see how her house was decorated. She also had a mini house with a tree like Nonna. We went back to the Nielsen's for dinner afterwards where we met up with Nonnie, Joe, Tony, Heather and baby Ava. It was a fun filled day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Alyssa LOVES Santa!

I wasn't sure how she would react to Santa when she saw him or when we asked her to sit on his lap. I know most two year olds scream their head off once they touch Santa's lap. I was anxious to see her reaction.

This last weekend we went to the Melconian's (family friends) for a Christmas party. We got there at about 7pm. Santa arrived around 7:45pm. Much to my surprise, she LOVED him! I guess she has seen enough of him around - decorations, TV shows, books, etc...she was completely comfortable to be sitting on him! In fact, she wanted to keep sitting on his lap and I had to keep explaining to her that other kids and people need to have their turn also and she had to wait. And that she did, she waited patiently for her turn AGAIN. She was sooooo sad to see him go. She followed him to the window and watched him leave. I wonder if she was hoping to see the reindeer out the window. Here are some pics from the party...

Sometimes she amazes me...

I haven't written about Alyssa's development in a while so I thought I would. It really amazes me how much she knows as a 26 month old. I just listened to her through the monitor while she is in bed counting to 15. She started counting to 10 about 2 months ago but she recognized all her numbers and letters very early on at 19 months. At 20 months she knew all her shapes and colors. At about 21 months she recognized her name when you write it down for her and while you write it, she will even tell you what letter comes next. Her new thing these days is counting things. Today she counted her toes. It was so cute - she counted them and then said "Mommy, 10 toes!" She counts things when we are out and she counts things in her books. My little princess is growing up so fast and learning like a sponge and talking and communicating so well. I am truly proud of her!!!