No!

If you're expecting or have children, chances are you probably receive weekly updates about your child's development from Baby Center. I found this weeks update pretty comical:

Whining and screaming: If your 15-month-old has started sounding like a hyena or worse, you're experiencing his intense desire to interact with you. Children thrive on their parents' attention, and a toddler this age will do just about anything to get yours. When he gets loud or whiny, kneel down to your child's level and tell him you're listening. If he keeps it up, calmly say, "I can't understand you when you talk like that. Please use your normal voice and I'll be happy to listen to what you're saying." Eventually, he'll get the message.

What I'd like to ask the editors is this: Have they really tried this approach and does it seriously work? I bet the answer is a big fat NO!

And speaking of that simple two letter word, Baby Center never warned us in ALL their weekly updates that toddlers Ella's age will actually USE the word no. What happened to it being all about the parents? And what about all our efforts to avoid saying no but rephrasing our intentions so they sound less like, well, no!, but more like refined and polished. Personally, we thought we were doing pretty good at it. Here's a couple of really good (or so we thought!) options to use instead of the no word: "That's mommy's, please put that down," or "Hot, hot! Stay away, be safe!" or "Mommy loves you sooo much so kindly step aware from the roaring fire," or "Look Ella! Your play phone is so much more interesting than daddy's blackberry!" Now, that all sounds all good and fine but seriously, admittedly, we might have used the no word one too many times. Case in point: Ella and Erika are coloring and enjoying some quiet playtime. Erika is drawing a tree (or sun or flower?) and Ella decisively and swiftly (with defiance of course - I think you all can get the picture) grabs the crayon out of her mother's hand and looks at the women who brought her into this world with a face that would make anyone surrender their crayon. A little taken aback, Erika asks Ella for the crayon back (didn't Ella like the picture mommy was drawing?) and Ella coveted the crayon even closer to her chest, looked her mother straight in the eyes, and say "No!" Now, you had to hear it to understand the effect of the little word. See, phenotically, it sounded for like "Noo-ah!" (note: draw out the no and end it with a sharp ah sound, it's really effective this way).

So Baby Center, we'll be waiting for your big weekly update about the use of "No-ah!" and will sure expect some expert yet tried but true advice!

Holiday Celebrations

Like every year, December unfortuntaley seems to fly by way too fast. In a blink of an eye, the presents are unwrapped, the decorations are put away, and the new year ball has dropped! Only because we enjoy Christmas so much is it so sad to see it pass. Plus, Ella seems to bring all the holiday magic back for all of us by stirring up childhood memories, reminding us why we love Christmas and family traditions. And while she was able to rip through a couple of presents (although her attention span didn't last the time it would take you to sing the first line of "Frosty the Snowman" before she found something else more interesting), we had several "Ah Ha" moments this season; truly family and friends are special gifts and loving someone as much as we love Ella is the greatest gift of them all. To us, she is truly amazing!

As for her motor developments, she's beginning to master her walking and has become more confident in her steps. Plus, we've learned that she really does understand what we're saying; just because she can't talk, doesn't mean she doesn't understand! For example, she follows simple directions like "help Mommy pick up the toys" or "Put the book on the table." Her vocubulary is really expanding, too. She can identify different objects by pointing to them when asked "Where is the banana?" or "Where is the chair?" It's so neat! Now of course, all this indepdent thought is coupled with independent behavior - some of it desired and well, some of not so desired but entertaining nonetheless. Tantrums? Yup. Exaggerated crys when she doesn't get what she wants? Yup. Obstinate? Yup. BUT....those are few and far between all the smiles, giggles, hugs, and kisses she showers with us everyday.

All else is going well with the Carlsons - Erika starts her internship this coming week with classes following the subsequent week. Plus, she finally launched www.bringfitness2you.com; a website in the making for several months now but something she is excited about getting started as an opportunity to teach in-home pilates classes.

Here are a few pics from our holiday week(s)!

Starting the Christmas season out right: Caroling at Wolf Trap. Brrr!


Enjoying a yearly tradition of Christmas Eve Guinesses at M&S


Getting ready for Christmas!


After Christmas Mass


Christmas Eve at the Buehrigs

Christmas morning: Ella LOVES her new baby doll




Ella consoles her baby (named Noelle!)

Ella loves her new chair set from Nani and Opa: Such a big girl!

Yes, even Cooper got a few wrapped treats from Santa

Opening presents is alot of work!

Celebrating Christmas Day in Williamsburg - Ella with Grandma and Aunt Monica

Lunch at Greenleaf

Ella with her cousins Peyton and Anne-Perry: Ella was in HEAVEN

We were spoiled! Oyster night at Chez Carlson: Tim and Rick go a shucking

Trying out her first pair of shoes from Grandma!


And....some pics from NYE at the Haykens...ringing in 2009!
We enjoyed a wonderful evening with the Hayken's and Wolff's and ate our way through 2009!

And...happy anniversary to Molly and Wolff!!!