So Ella is sick....first time ever! What bothers me is that on Christmas Day we had my family over. There were 2 sick kids and 2 sick adults! Piece of advice, if you kid is hacking all over the place and you are sick don't come to my house! What are people thinking? It would be one thing if I didn't have children but come on! Do people not use their brains anymore?

On one of the message boards I frequent, there are several moms complaining that their kids (at 17-18 months) are still waking up 2 and 3 times a night. They ask, what should we do? They say that they sit next to their bed until they fall asleep, get up when they cry in the middle of the night and feed them, put them in bed with them....WTH?

I've had Ella on a schedule since she was about 8 months old. I don't rock her to sleep, stay by her side, ect. She gets a book, brushes her teeth, hugs, kisses and off to bed. I think these kids have never learned to fall asleep on their own. I wouldn't be a very pleasant person if I was still getting up a couple of times a night to feed Ella.

At this point, the only think I can suggest is to let them cry it out. They need to be "trained" to fall asleep on their own and sleep through the night. Man, I sound like a hard ass!!

Christmas is almost here and for once, I'm almost done with everything. I'm hoping tonight I can finish up the last of the gift and grocery shopping. I got my cards out on time, presents are all wrapped, except for the few I still need to buy, and cookies are baked. My house is still a mess and there is the issue of Ella.....

She has been so good this Christmas season, until now. I was worried about her tearing the tree apart and ripping up the gifts but being the angel that she is......she hadn't touched a thing...until today! She discovered the pretty beads on the tree, wants to wear them, thinks its now fun to rip open the packages. So, I've spent the day placing gifts around the house in places I know she can't reach. If any of you receive a gift with a "patch" on it..you can think Ella! I wasn't re-wrapping anything so I just creatively "patched" the spots. I think it will give it character, don't you? I just hope that I don't forget where I put things and end up finding them after the Christmas season.

We didn't get Ella's picture taken with Santa this year, so don't be looking for one. She is terrified of the Big guy and I wasn't in the mood to traumatize the poor kid by forcing her to sit on his lap. Besides, we have the same Santa at the mall as we did last year and the old guy was shaking so much I was afraid to hand my new baby over to him. I beleive it's a Parkinson's thing, not from missing the alcohol!!

So in its place, I give you the best of Ella...in the Santa Hat!!

I've become super clumsy in the last few days. I suppose I can chalk it up to the pregnancy. Last night, Mike got a good laugh when I attempted to scoop us some ice cream. It started when I pulled out the 2 different containers of ice cream (because we can't decide on one). As I pulled them out, a large hunk of frozen ham fell out of the fridge and attacked my foot...OUCH! As I hobbled over to the counter and started scooping, I dropped the ice cream scoop! Another mess...

I ate my ice cream and got up from the couch to put the bowl away and tripped over my own foot. I almost nose dived into the fireplace! I don't remember being this clumsy with Ella. Mike was laughing and I was getting more and more mad at him by the minute. I threatened to punch him if he didn't shut it!

Yeah! It's going to snow tonight! I love the snow.....Ella is screaming upstairs...