Christmas this year was a blast. Lucy had so much fun and of course we loved watching her enjoy her gifts from Santa- especially her new kitchen. She didn't even want to open her other gifts because she loved it so much. Nothing else interested her...well, that's not entirely true. Breakfast did. And so did lunch. And dinner. The girl loves to eat! She spent almost the entire day playing in her new kitchen, other than the few moments we stole her away to make her open her other presents from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who were there anxiously awaiting her reaction. She really made out this Christmas, that's for sure. Since Christmas Day she has spent hours in her kitchen. One of her favorite things to do is make "copy" (aka "coffee"). She gets out the "copy" pot and pours it into cups for us. It's so cute.

Another gift she got was a tutu, which last night she kept calling a "choo-choo", even though she knows good and well what a "choo-choo" is. I put it on for her and she was swaying from side to side saying, "Choo-choo? Thomas?" She loves Thomas the Train and apparently thinks all "choo-choos" are Thomas. She looks so darn cute in her little tutu dancing around the house. Last night she made "copy" for us while wearing her "choo-choo". I promise you, there has never been anything more adorable in this world.

Sunday night Lucy was in a foul mood- one of the worst moods I've ever seen her in, to be honest. I jokingly asked her if she's entering her terrible twos and she said, "YES", with a huge grin on her face. I had to hide my face so she didn't see me laugh. Yesterday her foul mood continued for a large part of the day and she didn't want to take a nap. She finally did but it took every ounce of energy I had to get her to go to sleep. While I was trying to get her to go to bed she pointed at the Gator on my hoodie and she said, "Gator". I said, "Yes, Gator. Say, 'Go Gators' ", and she did. Then she said (with her hands in the air), "Where Tebow?" Sometimes she will just randomly say things like, "Yay Tebow!" It's hilarious. Any time football is on TV she says, "Tebow, Tebow". It doesn't matter what team it is or if it's NFL or college football. If she sees football she thinks Tebow must be a part of it.

It amazes me how God always places the exact people in my life that I need, and He did it once again with Lucy. I can't imagine not being her mother. She's not the perfect daughter and I'm certainly not the perfect mother, but she's the perfect daughter for me- and I pray that I'm the perfect mother for her.

Now that we are quickly approaching the new year it amazes me how many things will change in 2009. In January Michael and I will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary, then in February I turn 30. In March Lucy will be two, and in May Michael will be 32! And who knows- by this time next year we could be awaiting another visit from the stork! I'm excited about the possiblities that await our family in the coming year.

I have to admit that I am one of the worst people in the world about buying into the commercialization of Christmas. I love everything about it, other than the fact that I barely have time to wash my hair during the holidays. Don't worry- I said barely. I promise that I do in fact wash my hair, even during this crazy time of year. I have not, however, had time to get my hair cut and highlighted and I had to cancel my appointment a couple of weeks ago because I simply didn't have time for it. That is ridiculous to me and I was disappointed because at my last appointment my hairdresser and I decided I would get red highlights, which would have been a first for me. I was so excited to have red highlights at Christmas time, but I guess it just wasn't in the cards this year. My life is too hectic.

What scares me is that my life is already too hectic at Christmas and I only have one child who isn't even in school yet. We haven't even gotten to the age where there are school parties, dance recitals (hypothetically), and Christmas pageants- although I am directing our church's children's Christmas play, so I guess I do have an idea of how those things go. I talk to friends who seem to have even more to do than I do and who work full time jobs and it makes me want to cry. I feel so bad for them because I know how busy my life is right now. I can't imagine having any more to do.

I still have a lot of shopping to do but thankfully we are waiting to do Christmas in Missouri when we go up there in January, so I don't have to freak out and try to get all that stuff bought and mailed by next week! I can't think of one day between now and Christmas that isn't chock full of activities and other than my cookies for our cookie exchange at church I haven't even done any baking yet. I bought a gingerbread house for Lucy and I to decorate and it's still sitting on the counter in it's box. Last night I bought the ingredients to make Monkey Munch to give to Lucy's day care teachers, but when am I going to make it? I will just have to pick something up for them while I'm finishing the rest of my shopping. So much for homemade gifts! There just isn't any time.

I bought a kitchen for Lucy several weeks ago and after a few conversations, Michael decided (against my better judgment) to upgrade Lucy to a much bigger, nicer play kitchen. He bought it over a week ago but the old kitchen still sits in the box in our house because I haven't taken it back to the store yet. There's no time!

When it all comes down to it, I'm thankful to have such a busy life- even if it means going four months without getting my hair highlighted! The hectic life I lead exists because I'm surrounded by so much love. Every activity that's penciled in on my calendar is there because someone cared enough to invite me to a party, or because God placed my beautiful little girl in my life, or because I want to give someone a gift just to show that I love them. Every year I say that this year will be different and that I'm going to focus on the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But the miracle of Christmas can surely best be celebrated by spending time with the people we love. Sure, I'm tired and I would love to take a nap. But honestly, this happens once a year. I'll sleep in January.