3 Southern Belles

Hey, don't be surprised if this shows up
on your Christmas card!

Clara was worn out afterwards, and enjoyed

snuggling down for a much-needed nap.

During the baptism, they allowed the children's chapel

kids to come in and sit so they could see what was going
on. A cute concept, except for the one in front who eventually
made a paper airplane out of his piece of paper and tried to fly it.

Clara wants to crawl sooooooo badly! I have known all along that, despite the fact that Clara is 100 times easier than Greta, that ease might possibly change at some point. You see, Greta was always quite content to just be where we put her. She wasn't a reacher or grabber, she enjoyed sitting and observing or whatever. Clara, on the other hand, wants to touch/grab/pull/take anything in her field of vision. The more it isn't hers, the more she wants it (of course). I haven't encouraged the whole crawling thing at all, but last night as she was laying on her tummy playing with her toys, I watched her feverishly reach for the leg of the computer chair -- an arms' length away from her well-extended reach -- and then I watched her pull her little body forward. She only did it once, but that one slug-move was enough to get her what she wanted. The chair leg. To chew on. Yum.

So, as I watch my last baby sprout her new chompers, and get ready to crawl, I watch my first baby eagerly sit surrounded with a pile of books reading to her squirmy little sister whom she proudly labels as her "best friend". I am happy to announce that Greta can read (besides her own name) Clara, Mommy and Daddy. She can count to ten in Spanish, and is able to say I love you in German ('liebe dich'). She is 3 going on 23 and loves nailpolish (which Chris often offers to do for her -- what about me????), "lipstick" (chapstick) and has her own purse stocked with money, lipstick, a "phone", and usually a paper and pen or pencil. I think it's fair to say Greta will be a lefty, so thank goodness I know how to teach handwriting to young children!

Chris is running in his first half-marathon tomorrow. I am so proud of him! This is definitely not something I would ever be interested in doing. He has only been training for a short time, but I know he has the determination and ability to do a good job. We will probably cheer him on either at the start or try and meet him at the finish. Usually the weather here this time of year would not be too bad for a long run, but it is bitterly cold right now. No, not just "North Carolina" cold, I mean cold by any standards, particularly for before Thanksgiving. We saw snow flurries this morning, though they were pretty pathetic. Greta noticed them and remarked how pretty the snow was. It is not even 40 right now, and is 32 with the wind -- which is viciously cold. Now, I am not complaining mind you. I might have two southern belles, but Chris and I remain true Yankees through and through, and hope there is at least some snow on the ground at Christmas to show the girls what some real fun is.