Wayne and Rebecca Madsen

Paela says no a great deal. We didn't think we were saying 'no' to her all that much, but she has been having many more tantrums lately which we have tried to address. At the beginning of the week, we decided that a more appropriate way for her to ask for help [rather than breaking down into a screaming fit on the floor without warning] was to use the sign language word for help or please or to knock on doors she wants entrance to. She picked those words up really quickly (after a day -- by far the quickest signs she's ever picked up) and has been much happier communicating her needs to us in a polite and civilized fashion: one which doesn't make mommy and daddy grumpy and gives her a little more control in her life.

There have been other things she has picked up as well. Like talking on her phone, which she holds to her ear and says "allo?" [my Primary kids at Church were all impressed with that one, even if it was in the middle of the lesson today -bec] During the week, when the cat was scratching the floor, I slapped my hand on the floor to get her to stop and Paela erupted in hysterical laughter. Now, whenever she sees the cat, she'll wave her arm, like she's trying to hit the floor, and scream with delight.

On the homefront, we've had two unique changes. First, for the weekend we have been watching a guinea pig for someone from school. Guinea pigs make a lot of mess and are stupid creatures which like to turn their water bottles and food bowls upside down. The cat at first enjoyed the company, but now just ignores the rodent. Rightly so. The second major change was Paela suddenly deciding to become a one-nap-a-day child. What makes her suddenly change as opposed to other children who aren't so dramatically in line with textbook analysis?

Thanksgiving day was a quiet day for food and thanks at Karl and Angela's house. Thomas slept through the meal, but Paela devoured her turkey like there was no tomorrow. I'm sure next year she won't be in such a turkey day spirit to gulp the food down so healthily. Sadly, I couldn't get the little bugger to dance on our turkey table.

And putting up Christmas decorations was so much fun this year with a little helper. The game was called "chase the decorator," because she would get an ornament from Rebecca and walk up to me, as if she was going to give it to me, and then tear off running in the other direction when I tried to put the ornament on the tree. Ah joy. Much laughter. It was a fun planning exercise to put all the baby-safe ornaments on the bottom of the tree and all the non-safe ones at the top, but I think I did a good job of keeping it balanced. We listened to loads of Christmas music while putting up the house decorations -- thanks to internet radio 24/7 Christmas stations -- and whenever a '70s-esque funk flavored Christmas tune would come on, Paela would bust out her dancing queen moves. So she's a child of the 70s. Go figure.

Two last baby stories. Hide and seek is her favorite game. I will hide, she will find me, and then scream with delight. Then she hides -- usually someplace where she can still keep an eye on where I am like behind the crib or a chair -- and waits for me to get close. When I approach a direct line of visual contact, she comes out running and howling with delight, only to run right back where she was hiding, silently waiting a replay.

We have a nativity scene specifically for her. It is made of thick wood and has little children painted on the front for the characters. She will randomly turn them face down and pat their bottoms to put them to sleep. She likes to put the cow and baby Jesus to sleep the most.