{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{pretty}

Waiting...

Pippo loves the Advent wreath. Going through these weeks with him, I am gaining a new appreciation for what an effective teacher this simple tradition is.  

When we lit the first candle last Sunday, he immediately wanted to light the others, as well. We explained that we just light one for now, then next week two, then three, then four, and then Jesus comes!

At Mass this Sunday, I pointed out our church's wreath, and asked him how many candles they had lit. He gasped: two! He could hardly wait until dinner to light ours. Every night we go over which ones we light, and which ones have to wait.

(It helps that "two" is his favorite number. It means, generally, "any number greater than one" and, more specifically, "two." So for instance, both the Advent candles and the Three Little Pigs get an enthusiastic "Two!")

He doesn't remember last year's Christmas, of course, so I don't know how much he's understanding or what he's expecting. But he does know that something exciting is happening, slowly.

{happy}

Fresh, warm, homemade bagels for breakfast. How's that for impressive?

What was the special occasion, you ask? Well, while they were on the West Coast, Sukie and the Quack came by for a visit! 

We had such a fun time with them, particularly Pippo, who likes getting one-on-one (or two-on-one) time with his aunts and uncles, and the Lt, who missed out on quality Sukie/Quack time during the wedding season this summer.

And me, too. I don't get to see my sisters (or their husbands) nearly as often as I'd like!

{funny}

The other day, I offered to read Pippo a book during lunch. He loves it when we read during meals -- it's actually how I got him to sit still long enough to eat an entire meal once he got big enough to really assert his will and try squirm away to more interesting things. He just would get bored before he got full!

(Apparently Mama's mealtime conversation skills need some work.)

But once I started reading to him, he got the hang of it. Now he eats like a champ.

Anyway, I suggested I could read to him while he ate his sandwich and pear, and he was so excited that he proceeded to pull out an entire shelf's worth of books, one by one, and stack them up carefully on the table.

I'm not sure just how long he expected lunch to be.

{real}

Christmas suddenly went from being a good ways away to just around the corner. How does that catch me by surprise every year? I've had some good crafting time lately, though, and I'm pretty deep in the zone.

How are your preparations coming along? Are you more on top of things than I am?