fridge list of love

Me: What is the notebook for?
John: Work.
Me: Or, you could start a list of the reasons you love me.
John (with a gleam): There is no list long enough.
Me: Aaaw. But you could start one anyway. In fact, we should both start lists, and we can put them on the fridge and keep adding to them!
John: A fridge list of love?
Me: Yes!

Christmas was delightful! Again, there were way too many presents, (no such thing!) and WAY too much food. (really.) We all gathered at Michelle and Troy's house and sang, played games, and took a make believe ferry ride in the back of Michelle's mini-van.
We listened to Amahl and the Night Visitors, as we always do, with candles and tree lights, blankets and pillow, and plenty of chocolate. (For those of you unfamiliar with Amahl and the Night Visitors, I strongly urge you to listen to it, repeatedly. It is a short "opera" by Carlos Menotti, in English, that was actually, originally written for television, in the 1950s. It is the story of a crippled boy and his widowed mother, struggling to survive. Amahl is a young boy, given to exaggerations and stories. The story opens with his mother calling him in for the night, and he is bargaining with her for a few more minutes. He claims that the sky holds a star as big as a carriage, like no other. Frustrated with his disobedience, tales and with their poverty, she scolds him tells him to stop lying. When a knock is heard at the door, later that night, Amahl's mother is not amused with his tale that there are three kings at the door. When she comes to the door herself, she is stunned to find, indeed, three kings asking for shelter for the night. They can't stay long, as they must not lose sight of the star. The widow offers a cold fireplace and a bed of straw, but calls all of the neighboring shepherds to come with any food they have. After dinner and a shepherds' dance, the kings are left to rest. The widow, faced with starvation for herself and her child, contemplates the riches carried by the kings. When she takes a tiny handful of gold, the kings awaken. The kings are merciful, teaching her of the child they seek, who will bring new life. She wishes that she could send a gift too. Amahl, offers his crutch, saying "who knows, he may need it." In that instant, he is healed. Amazed by this miracle, the kings ask Amahl to accompany them on their journey, to see the Christ child, and present his gift. You will fall in love with the story and the music. We have listened to it every Christmas since I was born.)


Now, for the real reason any of you read, update on Annika!
She is 9 1/2 months old already and she is the most lovable baby in the world. I know I'm biased, but everyone with whom she comes in contact says the same. She can pull herself up to stand, and can stand on her own. She took her first (small and quick) step this Christmas Eve! She's taken a few since then, but only one at a time. She loves to have an audience and will smile and play and pose. She babbles / grunts / sings while she eats, almost as a long, drawn-out "yum". She can climb the stairs, but only with Mom or Dad immediately behind her. She will be playing, babbling, singing, etc., but the moment we take out the camera or recorder, she stares blankly at them and loses all animation. This makes for pretty disappointing cinema.
Annika's hair is shiny and dark and has calmed down quite a bit. She still has the funniest little patch of hair on her lower back. (I won't tell you where she gets this cute, but slightly concerning, trait, but it isn't me.) She LOVES bath time, she hates having her face washed, she loves cheerios, and she hates being put into her car seat.
She is such a source of joy and wonder and laughter to us. (She also pulls my hair, sneezes on me with a mouth full of chicken vegetable mush, she wakes up between 2 - 5 am for food, and she finger paints with her spit up.) But mostly, we just love, love, love her.