Krumkakke.

This was the first weekend that our family had at home without Paul being on call or anything planned.  We had friends (one of Paul's co-residents) over Friday night for drinks and appetizers.  They have two kids, Charlotte and Max, and Charlie loves to watch them play.  

We went to visit Santa Claus at the mall on Saturday.  Charlie grabbed onto Paul for dear life when he tried to put her on his lap.  Maybe next year...

I attempted to make Krumkakke today. It turned out okay for my first time, but I am going to have to practice.  Charlie got to taste test them and made the classic first timer mistake.  She crushed it in her hands. I can't wait for the first Christmas when she and I can make cookies together!

I

Cry it out.

I randomly decided last night to teach Charlie how to cry herself to sleep.  She always has a bottle before bed and usually falls asleep.  We put her into her crib while she is still sleeping.  I want her to be able to fall asleep on her own.  Things went pretty well.  I put her down at 8 and she cried for 15 minutes standing up in her crib.  She fell asleep for about half an hour and woke up screaming again.  I was very tempted to go get her (I was sure she had a wet diaper or was hungry).  I held off for another 10 minutes and she fell back asleep.  Overall it was a pretty successful first night.  This morning she woke up saying "Mama" so I think she  has forgiven me.

Willpower.

I have a big problem with waiting.  I love to give presents early and to open them early myself.  I think Paul has gotten used to me trying to coerce him but still refuses to open things early.  Since Charlie doesn't know any better yet, I gave her an early Christmas present.  It is a walker with tons of buttons that make noise.  My justification is that it is for her to learn how to walk so she should start using it now.  We'll see if she has anything left to open on Christmas!

DSM.

We went to Des Moines last weekend to see friends and family.  We went to lunch with Erin, Alli, Emily, and Mark at Wellman's.  In the afternoon we dropped Charlie off at Mark and Beth's for my parents to babysit for the night.

It was nice to have an adult night out!  It was our first whole night without Charlie and I managed to keep it together.  Paul and I split up Saturday night.  I hung out with Luther friends for Lindsey's 30th birthday party.  We went on a party bus around Des Moines to El Bait Shop, Mickey's, Wellmans, and "Adult Roscoes".  It was a lot of fun but made me realize how old I am getting!  Paul hung out at Broadlawns with Scott, Lauren, and all of our friends from last year.

Charlie's night included Grandma Barb dressing her up in her new Christmas clothes, dinner at Biaggi's, and learning how to climb stairs.  I think we might have to use them as babysitters again!

We went to Cedar Falls on Sunday night.  Charlie got to go to Brown Bottle for Grandpa Dowd's early 60th birthday and then spend the night with Grandpa and Grandma Boeke.