O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

This time last year, Bitty Man was barely sitting up on his own. Our biggest challenge with the Christmas Tree was keeping him from rolling underneath it.

My, what a difference a year makes.

We put up our Christmas tree last night. With each ornament I unpacked I asked myself, "would I be upset if this ornament got broken?" Ornaments from every cruise ship port I visited -- yep. Ornaments from every city and country where Dan performed at jazz festivals -- yep. Series of annual White House ornaments, beginning with 1984 -- yep. 'First Christmas Together 1996' -- yep. 'Baby's First Christmas 2003' -- yep.

Our tree is now decorated with white lights and a plastic Elmo ornament that Christopher picked out and proudly hung. Today we're off to Target to find more Bitty-proof ornaments.

The West Coast Boys: L (3), S (13 months), A (4) and Bitty Man (18 months)

Happy Turkey Day!

Bitty man and his family would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING! The Ellis' will be dining at a wonderful restaurant with a view of the Las Vegas Strip that allows everyone (including Grandma and Grandpa I. who are are in town) to stuff themselves silly without having to cook or clean up afterwards!

We hope you are with those you love, and we're sending you our thoughts and prayers across the miles!

Blog or not to Blog... that is the question

I apologize to the Adventures of Bitty Man fans for the lack of posts. Blame it on Blogger -- I have not been able to get to the posting screen in 3 days. All I get are 'Server Busy' messages.

I'm checking out LiveJournal blogger software as a replacement. As soon as I get it set up I'll post a link... if Blogger will let me!

Scary smart.

So, Dan and I are lounging on the couch last night, enjoying Must-See-TV. Christopher is happily playing on the floor with his Peek-a-blocks train. Dan turns to me and says, 'Don't forget to do your picks' and I reply, 'Right.'

('Your picks' is the Pick-the-Pros Football contest at Coast Resorts. Each week we have to pick the winners of every football game. Best scores each week and at the end of the season win big bucks.)

We go back to staring at the TV and notice Bitty Man has left the room... and we don't hear anything (never a good sign with a toddler). So I call out, "Hey, Christopher -- What'cha doing?!?'

Christopher walks back into the livingroom, holding the cards that we fill out for the Pick the Pros contest and hands them to us.

So, from the statement, 'Don't forget to do your picks' he:
1) Understood that we were discussing the Pick the Pros contest.
2) Knew that we had to fill out cards to play the Pick the Pros contest.
3) Remembered that the cards were sitting on the dining room table.
4) Was thoughtful enough to bring the cards to us, without being asked.

(Did I mention Bitty Man is only 17 months old?) After Dan and I picked our jaws up off the floor, we sighed at the realization that having a kid smarter than we are is going to be quite a challenge!

How well do you know Bitty Man?

Take this quiz and find out!
http://www.quizyourfriends.com/yourquiz.php?quizname=041111140651-994498

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

A sure-fire way to get Bitty Man to nap is to put him in his car seat and take a drive. He's usually zonked out before we get out of our gated community. Mommy then heads to the Starbucks drive-thru for a grande decaf, non-fat, vanilla latte.

But what to my wondering eyes did appear as I approached the box that says 'order here'? A banner for the HOLIDAY DRINKS! So I whistled and shouted and called them by name: Eggnog Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Peppermint Mocha Latte!

Doesn't take much to make this Diva Mom happy ~ Merry Christmas, Bitty Man Fans!

What's in the water?

I went to a baby shower - my first, actually - on Saturday. It was so nice to sit around with my Gym Posse Mom friends without the toddler tornados in tow. We could actually finish a whole conversation and eat an entire meal.

But I soon discovered that as a non-pregnant woman, I was definitely in the minority. Of the 10 married women of child-bearing age who were in attendance, 7 of them were pregnant! Ranging from 6 weeks to a gal who was due in 2 days with twins. (How the hell she was able to drive was beyond me and the laws of physics.)

I have to admit, I was a bit jealous. My baby is no longer a baby and I miss that. The little helpless newborn who would let me hold him for hours on end. The only time I get to hold Bitty Man is when he wants the 'lunchie munchies' or when he's gotten a boo-boo.

But before you get excited, Grandma, our current health insurance does not have maternity coverage -- and I haven't seen any copies of Cesarean Sections for Dummies at Barnes & Nobel -- so I'll just have to enjoy all of my friends newborns for a while. And from the looks of things on Saturday, there will be plenty to enjoy!

Four More Years!

As a Republican, I realize that gloating about the election only harms our cause, further dividing what is obviously a very divided nation. I'm sure my Democrat friends are as disappointed as I would have been if W had not won re-election, so I will refrain from making any political comments that may be construed as being divisive or inflammatory.

Bitty Man, on the other hand, is only 17 months and does not know how to be 'politically correct'.
Bitty Man: "YIPPEE!!! PRESIDENT BUSH WON!!!"

Bitty Man/Elmo in 2040!

I'm no longer a single parent.

Dan made it safely home from Helsinki, Finland last night. He traveled for 22 hours (through London and LA) and was beyond exhausted. Bitty Man, jacked up on Halloween 'MMMnnnMMMSSS', was over the almost-full-moon to see 'DaDee' and show off his other new words, 'hi char', 'kitty', and 'teddy' (not for a bear, but for his teddy puff treats -- the kid is all about food). Bitty was also excited about all the stuff Daddy brought him from overseas -- the miniature FinAir airplane, the stickers from Ireland and Scotland, and the squishy ball from England. Of course after all the presents were handed out, Bitty proceeded over to Dan's suitcase to rummage for more 'loot'. Guess he was hoping for a piece of the Blarney Stone.

Mommy is looking forward to a Bitty Man-free trip to Costco today. With at stop at Starbucks for a Venti, nonfat, pumpkin spice latte. Welcome, November!