It’s been awhile coming, but here is the video of the munchkin seeing all her presents outside for the first time (trampoline, cubby house and climbing equipment – and yes both Josh and I and various relatives did go a bit nuts this year)

Despite receiving more gifts than any little person could actually focus on, Riley still demonstrated a keen interest in the cat bed:

Undeterred by the fact that it was, after all, a cat bed – she laid her claim

Several times:

Ironically it is this precise behaviour that has led to the bed becoming such a big hit with the cat, who has previously turned up her nose at all forms of cat beds:

Easily the best $2 I’ve ever spent in my entire life.

I now totally get why parents always go on about their kids getting up really early on Christmas morning. It’s not the fact that you’re up before dawn, it’s that you were up past midnight with Christmas preparations. We were up until 12:30am on Christmas Eve (technically Christmas morning) and managed to whisper ‘Merry Christmas’ to one another before falling into a dreamless slumber. That is until 4:20am. When Riley woke up and couldn’t be coaxed back to sleep. 4:20am. It’s not right, people.
Our preparations looked something like this.
The Christmas …

Fair Warning – this is going to be one of those super mooshy posts where I wax lyrical about how much I love my baby. If it’s not your kind of thing you may want to skip over it or get a bucket. But don’t say that I didn’t warn you.

I’ve had a rough week. And I suppose I haven’t been my usual Christmas-enthusiast (rabid fanatical) self. I’d hoped to be pleasantly pregnant during the festive season, but my miscarriage threw me a bit of a curve ball. Physically, I’m …

Oh yes, I am one of those parents who dresses her toddler in an elf costume in summer no less (30 degrees C) all in pursuit of that Christmas photo. I’ll admit that it was more of a struggle this year than last year. Damn you mobility – you’re ruining my shot!
She didn’t want to wear the hat.

I insisted, because I won’t compromise on the cute factor. Although in typical toddler fashion she did wear the hat for the entire time we were Christmas shopping today and didn’t want to …

Every year I go and buy a few new Christmas decorations to add to the collection – it is helpful to have this kind of limit on Christmas decorations because otherwise there would be a distinct possibility I may be forced to remortgage the house. This way I buy lovely, last a lifetime type decorations, and slowly add to our existing stock. This year I splashed out and bought a new star.

I’ve always been very enthusiastic about the Christmas time of year. Enthusiastic may be a slight understatement. And it …