Kevin came in from walking the dog last night and announced, “it’s snowing!” Sure enough, when I ran outside, I was gently covered in large, soft flakes. It was the kind of snow that seemed to slide quietly from a muted grey sky. The snowflakes were fluffy and almost warm. No wind in sight so everything settled with a sigh. It was especially beautiful to watch the snowflakes as they passed the colorufl Christmas lights. As I sit here typing, the snow has started up again. Still large gentle flakes that seen to float toward the ground. I can’t wait for the munchkin to wake from her nap so we can have her first snow day!

As we lay in front of the TV together this morning, I couldn’t help but marvel at what 2003 has brought me. I found out I was pregnant with Mini-Me on the day after Christmas so this last year has really been the year of the baby for me. I remember being so awfully sick during the holidays and watching with wonder (and horror) as I began to fill out my maternity clothes. I remember ultrasounds with Kevin (and my parents) when I got my first glimpse of my baby and the joy of learning she was a girl! Designing and painting the room with my mom, shopping for a crib with Kevin’s dad and Carla, and the fun of playing the name game. Of course there was the agony of waddling around the neighborhood 9 months pregnant in 100 degree heat with the dog but there were also lazy afternoons spent in the hammock under the elm tree swaying in the shade and reading, reading, reading.

And then the big day! Leina arrived and everything went crazy. Visiting family and friends, exhausting nights of waking every two hours, holding her in aching arms while she slept. The long night of fussy crying as well as the joys of her first smile, her first laugh, or listening to her coo and babble as she woke for the morning.

It’s unbelievable how much my life has changed in a mere 12 months. Life before Leina seems so long ago and, somehow, so empty and flat. She’s become the light of our universe, our little girl. We revolve around her, mesmerized by her every coo and lie in bed at night asking ourselves, “how lucky are we?”

Ah, 2003 was a great year for the McLaughlin household. Lets hope 2004 can match it!

Leina’s favorite thing right now is to lie on her back and do the running man. This involves both legs and arms flailing together in a kind of rythmic dance. She can do this forever.

Now, hanging with a baby all day, you find yourself being oddly influenced. For example, after watching her power suck on a pacifier one afternoon I found myself wonder what was the big deal? After checking to see no one was watching, I picked up a spare paci and popped it in my mouth. Now, I don’t know if the problem was my teeth or the fact that my mouth is much larger but I really couldn’t do much with paci. It kept slipping and I finally gave up.

But this morning I just couldn’t take it. She was squealling with delight as she lay on the ground doing her morning running man impersonation. I decided, what the heck, and cleared of a spot on the ground to join my daughter. Staring up at the ceiling with her, I studied her technique for a moment and then launched into my own version.

Well, for about 30 seconds. I got the arms going and then lifted both legs and began bicycling them in the air. I think I got a good two or three rotations before I began panting. Another few turns and my stomach was beginning to hurt! I quickly dropped my exhausted arms and legs back down and tried to catch my breath while baby LJ kept right on spinning. And babbling at the same time!

Either I’m in some seriously sad shape or my kid is going to be the next Richard Simmons/Jane Fonda of the work out world. She kicked me butt this morning, that’s for sure!

The guestbook feature at Chrissierocks.org is now up and running. Please try it out, and let Chrissie know you’re reading and let me know if it’s not working :0

– The Web Lackey (aka Kev)

Merry Christmas all!

I hope your stockings were full and your spirits bright. I know Kevin and I had a truely magical Christmas with our little one. This kid loved opening presents. We gave her every piece of wrapping paper and ribbon and she just laughed and laughed and laughed! I think the hardest part of the day was deciding which adorably cute Christmas outfit she would wear. Each seemed to be cuter than the next. It’s a minor miracle she survived the day unsquished. Let me tell you, it took all my strength not to just hug her to pieces!

Leina attended her first Christmas Eve party at Grandpa Jerry & Granny Carla’s and I think she enjoyed herself. So many people to watch and all the lights and decorations, she was in heaven. She ended up passing out on my shoulder for a while but then woke up ready to continue partying. The best part? By the time we got home and got her to bed, it was 10:30 so the little munchkin ended up sleeping through the night! That’s right, she didn’t wake till 7am the next morning.

Merry Christmas Momma! I think those eight hours of sleep may have been the best Christmas present. Ever!

I’m heading out to see the Return of the King (or, according to Kevin, ROTK). Kevin saw it opening night with Josh while I stayed home with the kid so today I turn the tables and head to the theatre with Todd to watch the final installment on the big screen.

So this morning, over breakfast, Kevin decided to prep me for the big viewing. Knowing I’m a bit fuzzy on the whole trilogy fine points, Kevin decided to lay a little foundation to help me through this movie.

“OK,” he began after he finished his sausage “you remember Gondor, right?”

“Um,” I stalled for time as I racked my brain, “which one was he?”

Kevin’s jaw dropped and his eyes rolled around their sockets. Clearly this was the wrong answer.

“Gondor is a place not a person Chrissie.” With an exasperated sigh he reached for a pencil and scrap paper. “OK, you remember Rohan, right? And where the orcs lived? Well next to them and across the blah blah blah blah.”

I swear I had a Charlie Brown moment. Kevin was speaking but I couldn’t focus. I could feel my eyes glazing over and my mind begin to drift. Could be some early form of adult ADD but I’m not sure.

“Signal fires…blah blah blah…orc attacks..blah blah blah.”

I must have managed to kept my eyes open and nod in all the right places because there was suddenly silence and Kevin was looking at me, expectantly.

“Right, got it,” I jumped in “Gondor is a place and there are signal fires.” I smiled hopefully and glanced at the clock. Amazingly, Kevin’s whole lecture only lasted 5 minutes. I could have sworn it was longer.

“So, when’s a good time to take a pee break during the film?” I ventured, hopefully.

I guess this wasn’t the question Kevin was hoping for because he got up and cleared the plates muttering something about people not appreciating the true brilliance the Tolkien realm.

Yup, can’t wait! Mordor…place not person. Got it!

Thanks to Mike Wilson for actually checking our site out and letting us know all the links were messed up – one little typo, who would have thought…

They’re now all fixed – just for you Mike – since you’re the only one looking, I guess.

The rest of you can just be happy with Chrissie’s blog.

Thanks Mike!