Baby Jesus

MamaCue's family joined us Christmas Eve for supper, gift exchanging, and stories and carols at our church. One of Slane's great-grandparents got Slane a new doll for Christmas, clad in lavender clothes. Up to now, Slane's babies have never had names, but she has named her new doll Baby Jesus.

An acquaintance of mine warned us about this. As a little girl, she had named one of her dolls Jesus. Then she lost that doll. She went looking for it, calling out, "Where is Jesus?"

I hope we do not lose this doll because I am not ready for the deep theological discussions with Slane that may spring from figuring out where Jesus is.

I NEEEEED Baby Jesus!!!

Lately Slane NEEEEEEEEDS things. She can put a lot of emotion behind that. "I neeeeed fruit snacks!" "I neeeeeeeed Street!" "I neeeeeeeed yogurt!"

Lately Slane has also been into Baby Jesus and the Christmas story. We read it in her rhyming story Bible every night, multiple times. She skips ahead to the baby part every time. Last week at church while we were in the nursery she found the Little People nativity and grabbed baby Jesus, trying to give him to various people. Last night she discovered two nativity scenes at my parents' church, and had to go check out the baby Jesus in each one. She even snagged a doll from the nursery and named it baby Jesus.

Our nativity scene at home is a very small ceramic set with all characters connected together and connected to the base. Slane was upset recently when she wanted baby Jesus and couldn't have him, because I could just picture the whole thing being thrown and shattered. So to tell me how upset she was by this, she yelled, "I NEEEEEED baby Jesus!!!" If I were a pastor, there would so be a sermon here, but since I'm not, well, doesn't this seem like a lesson for us?

All I want for Christmas is a cardboard box

Did you know that the lowly cardboard box is a member of the National Toy Hall of Fame? Jason at Dad-o-Matic says the cardboard box is the best gift "Because it leaves a little to the imagination." The box is a palette for possibility.

Slane does have toys that flash and beep, but lately she has been most interested in art, dolls, physical play (dancing and climbing) and reading. Yes, she requests Yo Gabba Gabba!, Sesame Street, and hockey, but those seem to the soundtrack to her play. 

Because Slane does not know this blog exists, I can share that she will get gifts that encourage her creativity and curiosity: building blocks, duplos, and art supplies will be coming Christmas morning. I don't think we will give her a cardboard box for Christmas, but we did save the large box from her new car seat. It's a Slane-sized playhouse. With the latest blast of cold and the arrival of plastic sheeting, our other Christmas gift, a backyard rink, just needs water.

(Photo credit: Buddhalabs.)

boots

We were out of essentials, like yogurt and cheese, so I took Slane to the store with me after I picked her up. On a Friday, at 5:00, with a potential snow coming. We had finally found a pair of snowboots that fit Slane (thanks Land's End), and she is alternately all about wearing them and all about not wearing them.




When I picked her up, she was wearing them. By the time we got to the store (all of 5 minutes) they were off. I put them back on, got her out of the carseat, and went into the store. Now, this store has "car" carts, unfortunately. Slane loves riding in the car. So we start our shopping. She immediately needed an apple, so I grabbed a bag, opened it, and gave her an apple. We continued shopping. When we got to the meat counter, Slane started to climb out of the car. But, she didn't have her boots on. So, we searched the store as far as we had been, and no boots anywhere. I pulled aside a worker and asked if anyone had turned in any boots. She searched the store, and offered to check the parking lot for me. I waited for her for a while but she never came back, so I continued shopping.





Of course, by this point Slane was done with the car, and I was carrying her. And wearing a down coat, and trying to push the car around the store. The store was very busy, and our car was in the way quite often. Slane wanted to walk, but I wouldn't let her without shoes on, and so I was holding a squirmy toddler for most of the rest of our shopping. I remembered that we were also out of bread, so I grabbed a loaf, which Slane hijacked from me, and hugged like a teddy bear the rest of the way through the store. Eventually we made it to the checkout, still no boots to be found. I asked our checker if anyone had found them yet. Then I told her I would check our car, and if they weren't there I would come back. Slane refused to give up the now smashed loaf of bread, and I had to hold her and the bread over the scanner.





Well, when we got out to the car, there they were, on the floor. I don't know how I missed that she had kicked them off again. Oh, and I forgot some of the important things on my list and had to go to the store again on Saturday.