Merry Christmas Maliana!

Maliana ~

What a week it’s been. What an amazing holiday to have celebrated with you. One word sums it up, family. You’ll see why over the course of this post…but I’ll start at the beginning first.

Last Monday started with you and I decorating cookies. Poor Daddy got home from work and didn’t have any time to relax before jumping into our chaos. The mess you were making (because you’re two and decorating Christmas cookies for Santa) made him a little stressed. I had to laugh, and just say, “She’s two, what do you expect? That’s what bleach wipes are for!”

Before the cookie chaos though, I picked you up from school and you showed me poor silkie. I think this is the original silkie, (you have two other “clones”), since this one is getting so tattered and has actually started to rip open at the top seam. You are distressed by this, so we had a talk about how we would try to save it and that it only looks like this because you have loved it so much, which is a good thing. We are giving it to Lao Lao to see if she can work her magic with it and bring it back to life. We’ll see. Also, I think in the last post I brought up that you have been calling me with “Hey baby”…well, this week, you have begun saying “Thank you honey” whenever I give you something. Again, you crack me up.

Tuesday I picked you up from school and you so sweetly got Mohammed’s coat for him when you saw his mommy come in the door too. At first I started to correct you, thinking that you were mistakenly picking up his coat for yourself, but then I saw what you were doing. Ever the helpful little thing. We drove over to the library after school and picked out some new books. You evidently were feeling like a big shot as you were doing your little strut as we walked to the kids’ book section. You played on the computer for a while, getting really good at the toddler/preschool games they have set up. And you must have gotten about 10 drinks at their water fountain with that little stool so that peanuts like you can reach it. You’re pretty cool being able to do it all by yourself. Then, of course you helped me scan all of the books at check out. Little Miss Big Shot. After the library, we went to Friendly’s and had dinner. I had a ton of fun with you and when you had to go to the bathroom (both at the library and at dinner), you decided that you could do it all yourself and insisted on going into the stall by yourself and shutting the door behind you, only telling me, “Wait for me Mama”. I have no idea how you hoisted yourself up on those toilets (or what you touched while doing so), however I am thankful that they had plenty of soap and water to wash you up with afterwards. Ha ha. When we got home, you “doctored up” Daddy, using your doctor’s kit, wanting rubber gloves and everything (but settling for your wool winter gloves instead). It was so cute. Then you and Daddy played soccer in the living room and you were so excited to be playing “soccer game” with Daddy, with all of you (Abby the dog included too), wearing your soccer ball t-shirts.

Wilkinson soccer team

Wednesday we went to Daddy’s work Christmas party, but before then, we drove over to Wai Gong’s and dropped off a fruit basket and card for him since he had surgery that day on his hand. You also gave him one of your crafts from school to make him feel better. On the way home, you had me play some more Miley Cyrus, to which you sang along with from under the big blanket I have for you in the back seat. I couldn’t see any of you, just a big lumpy singing blanket in your car seat. Pretty funny.

It was so nice to stay home with you on both the 23rd and 24th of December. I got lots of giggly kisses on my face at nap time. You and I would lay down together and when I’d close my eyes, you’d lean over and kiss my face, then laugh hysterically. I’m still not sure what was so funny, but I love those kisses! We had our annual Festivus (Christmas eve eve) gathering for Lao Lao and family at our house. You had a ball and insisted on wearing your tennis shoes with your sweater dress and tights. I joked that you looked like one of those businesswomen walking around downtown Columbus in the wintertime. When Lao Lao got there, she took you in the bedroom and helped you record an ornament for Daddy and I. It’s a silver cube with your picture and when you push the button, your sweet little voice says “Merry Christmas”. I love it! So adorable. You loved the family dinner, even entertaining us with some singing at the table. And you are getting to be a really good gift opener this year, however always saying thank you to everyone and giving hugs to all. Your Uncle Flint is particularly wonderful with you, playing and playing and playing with you. I love watching it. 

Festivus dinner

These really cool glasses Uncle Flint brought over turn each light into some type of 3D shape (star, gingerbread man, etc).

Playing "Hide!" with Uncle Flint

This particular day, we also got a little thank you note from our mail man, William. He evidently liked the cookies and card you left him in the mailbox and wanted us to tell you that they were delicious. He is definitely like a rock star in our house. You love waving and watching him deliver the mail and will wait for his truck if you see it coming down the street. Too funny. I’m sure you’ve made his day more than once.

On Christmas eve, you and I woke up and went to pick up your Christmas pictures at Target. They turned out so great! You sang the whole way there in the car. I love listening to you sing, and it’s becoming more and more frequent lately, which makes me smile from ear to ear. I’ve always thought that spontaneous singing is one sign of a happy kid.

Just one of five portraits we had done...you are so beautiful!

Eventually, we came home, napped, and then it was time to get you up and ready for church with Memaw and Papaw (Daddy had to meet us there because he worked today). It was a struggle to get you ready, negotiating with you the entire time. I compromised and allowed you to wear your soccer ball t-shirt under your pretty Christmas outfit, and also let you carry one of my old purses in exchange for letting me fix your hair. The purse was so big, and as you sat there going through it at various points throughout the night, it reminded me of someone’s grandma looking for a piece of gum for her grand kids. I had to laugh.

"Grandma Mali"

We were running late to church and as you could tell I was getting upset at the traffic, you piped in from the backseat, “It’s ok Mama”…you are such a sweet kid. Finally, once we got to church, you did awesome. You especially liked giving the offering to Papaw (who was one of the ushers), and you also enjoyed dictating to us when we were supposed to pick up or put down our hymn books.

What page is it again??

Giving the offering to Papaw

Saying a prayer with Memaw after tagging along with her for communion

After church we went to Billy Lee’s restaurant to meet Vince and Abela for dinner. A tradition that has been alive for somewhere near 15 or more years now. You and Abela did well together, having fun copying each other and sucking up your lo mein one noodle at a time, giggling and grinning the whole time.

We were talking about how old you both are (Abela is about 9 months younger than you) and you surprised me by saying “My birthday March 6”…I had no idea you remembered that. I guess you do really pay close attention to what we say! Abela kept wanting to give you a kiss at the restaurant, but you weren’t having that. They came over to our house after dinner and you and Abela were a riot. You had to go potty, and so Abela said she did too. So you both took turns on each of the toilet/potties. The pictures are so funny. I also noticed how you probably would make a really good big sister. I came back in the bathroom at one point, and you had gotten down and were holding Abela's dress up, wiping her bottom for her. Then, you took her diaper and proceeded to lay down, with your head under her dress (like you were working on a car) and kept trying to diaper her like that, saying "Hold still" the whole time. It was hilarious!

I also helped you girls make magic reindeer food, and we gave some to Abela to take home. I don’t think I could have had enough glitter for it for the two of you. You just kept wanting more, more, more sparkle! Before they left, Vince and Daddy went outside to start Vince’s car, and Daddy started throwing snowballs at the window where you and Abela were looking out. You both cracked up every time a snowball would hit that window, bouncing up and down like mad, smiling and giggling at each other. I got a fabulous video of it all. It was priceless!

watching Daddy and Vince out the window

After they left, we proceeded to get ready for Santa. We checked Santa’s whereabouts (he was in Brazil at the time) and showed you the videos on the Norad Santa Tracker, put the magic reindeer food out on the back deck, and left the milk and cookies out for Santa. You were so AMPED! It was awesome to see you so excited and as I laid there snuggling with you until you fell asleep, I couldn’t help but physically feel the same excitement and Christmas magic that you must have been feeling. It reminded me how fun it is to be a kid. I even heard a noise outside, and for one nanosecond, the kid in me thought, “Santa?” Funny, huh?

just put out the magic reindeer food, to help them find their way to our house

milk and cookies for Santa!

Now, let me just say that I loved Christmas morning! It was great. Daddy and I had moved your little tree downstairs and made this whole presentation of all the gifts Santa had left for you. I had fun putting it together. I even tried to make little reindeer tracks in the snow outside by the reindeer food.

your special little Christmas tree and stocking, with all of your goodies from Santa

Funny enough, you actually seemed a bit put off that Santa had left some of the (7!) cookies. You had stacked them neatly in a column right in the middle of the plate (Santa and his helper had gotten very full after about 4!) Anyway, you were so cute. When you got up, as Daddy put it, you were “all business”. Santa had sprinkled candy canes and chocolates all around the front of your little tree and initially, you got hung up on diving into the candy (breakfast of champions!) But then once you got going with your gifts, you did great. Daddy and I had thought that your favorite gift would be the old laptop that we had refurbished and put a bunch of toddler games on, however lo and behold, you LOVED the toy cash register. Even insisting on sleeping with it for a nap later! After opening Santa’s presents to you, Daddy and I decided to save our gifts for you until New Year’s Eve, so as not to overwhelm you. We all had breakfast and it was just a really nice, cozy, fun family morning together. I love those times with you both!

Christmas morning after unwrapping your loot from Santa

After your nap, we headed to Wai Gong’s for the family gathering there. However, not before convincing Daddy to let us paint his toenails green, just like ours, with one of your stocking stuffers from Santa. Hee hee hee!

Daddy, you look good in green!

The whole way to Wai Gong's, you sang your little heart out with Miley Cyrus, wrinkling your forehead and belting out the lyrics with your mouth wide open, really giving it your all. You are awesome. Once at Wai Gong’s, you had a BLAST with everyone. Aunts, uncles, Wai Gong, Memaw Lisa, Ggma, etc…all were there and you were running and giggling and acting silly all day long. When it came time for Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Micah to leave, you leaned out the door after them yelling, “Bye Aunt Lindsey! Bye Uncle Micah! See you later! I love you! Merry Christmas!” and they kept yelling right back at you. We all were laughing so hard, I thought I was going to have to get the old Vaudeville cane and pull you back in the house! Once back in, you goofed around with Uncle Brent and Aunt Denise (Niecy), playing ‘tickle piggies’ and sword fighting and a chase game with these long balloons that Uncle Blaize got for Christmas. I haven’t seen Aunt Niecy so animated in a long time and it was really cool to see her having fun. I’ve said it before ~ You have a magic little way about you that brings out the silliest and best in people, bringing family together in a fun and special way. So cool how you do that.

The Hart Family

waving and yelling goodbyes to Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Micah

That night, we all curled up by the fireplace for bed. Daddy unfortunately had to go home since he had to work on Sunday, but you and I stayed for a sleepover. You were so silly and slaphappy and were having such fun. Memaw Lisa, Blaize and I were all sitting in the family room with you and you decided to start doing a heavy metal version of your ABC’s, complete with your strut and swagger and silly little hopping. I got one of these on video, but not the most hilarious one where at the very end, out of nowhere, you threw out some devil horns and said “Rock on!” Hysterical! We all were laughing so hard we were near tears.


You fought sleep for a while, staying up and watching Star Wars with Wai Gong and Blaize and I. You were really into it. As you laid there, you got sleepier and sleepier. Finally, you succumbed to your eyelids. Wai Gong made the comment then that sometimes they just sit and watch you sleep for minutes at a time when you spend the night there. They just love you so much.

watching Star Wars with Wai Gong

and visions of sugar plums danced in their heads...

The next morning, we all went to Bob Evans for breakfast and you ate a ton! Which was good because you basically lived on chocolate all Christmas day. After breakfast, we hung out for a bit and then left for home. You had hugs and kisses and Merry Christmases for everyone upon leaving. As we drove home, you asked me to put on Miley Cyrus and were so tired that your eyes were half closed but you still tried to sing along and do your hand movements to Party in the USA. I wish I could have gotten that on film. Too precious. We got home and the neighborhood boys called out “Hi Mali!” and of course, woke you up. Which meant, no more nap for you for a while. So... Lao Lao came over to visit and we all decided to go sledding (even Abby too!) We got bundled up in layer after layer and headed down the trail a ways to find a good patch for some runs. You had a ball and giggled like mad on each sled run, especially the ones where we’d wipe out! You are so tough! You even insisted on trying to pull the sled up the hill by yourself ~ you are so dang independent. We really wore you out because you were asleep in my arms (all slumped over, bundled in your snowsuit and all) by the time we got home. I unbundled you once home, and you didn’t even stir one bit. You were out cold!

the face of happiness

You slept for a while and then got up to eat some hot chicken noodle soup for dinner, and then we just hung out, played with some of your Christmas presents, watched a movie, and made some art (or “making art” as you told me while you cut and colored some construction paper at the kitchen table). Daddy was still working when it was time for bed. Poor Daddy, we really did miss him. Hopefully we can have some more good quality family time next weekend. He shouldn’t have to work this much on New Year’s. We did truly enjoy each other on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and thankfully, we were able to spend so much time with our extended family.

All week I kept thinking of how far you have come in the past year. Last year, you were still such a baby…and now this year, it’s like you are this whole other kid, completely different but of course, still the same. It is really astounding. With the passing year, it has brought many, many opportunities for you to get to know more of your ever-growing family and bond with them. Occasions such as holidays, and especially this Christmas, allow me to really see the fruit of those gatherings throughout the year and reflect on it all. I feel so blessed that you are a part of our family, and I have a feeling, (actually, I know) many others feel the same way I do. I hope you enjoyed not only this Christmas, but this past year, as much as we all have with you.

Merry Christmas ~ to my wonderfully amazing, darling daughter!

Love,
Mama