Merry Christmas, Libby

Well, Christmas has come and gone (too quickly) but Libby is blessed to have more celebrations on the way. We are still reading her Christmas books and discussing the reason for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and rediscovering new gifts every day. As I type this I am asking Libby if she remembers what gifts she got for Christmas. She is nodding and calling them off, "books. baby. bottle. monkey. hat." Hat? I don't remember a hat? "See!" She says, and she has gotten out of her seat, finished her dinner and attempted to show me her hat from grandma. It's in "Wibbuh room," she says. Now I realize she's talking about her kaleidoscope. She thinks of it as a hat!

Next week, many of Libby's aunts and uncles will be here to celebrate with her yet again. Grandma Anna and Grandpa Larry and all daddy's sisters and brothers, plus our future brother-in-law, will gather to catch up and exchange gifts, in honor of Christmas.

And, as if that weren't enough, mama and daddy, together with granddad and grandma shelley, have purchased for Libby her final Christmas gift -- a puppy! Libby's little labradoodle will be 4 weeks old this weekend, and two weeks from then we will go pick him up and bring him home. His breeder sent me an updated picture of him this morning. See how little he is! and curly! We are very excited to have him join our family, a little nervous at the added responsiblity, but thankful to be able to give her such a fun gift (especially since he's the best dog in the world!).