Everyone says my next few Christmases will be even more fun, but I sure enjoyed my first Christmas last week, and I can’t imagine it getting any better than this. I just love watching everything my big sister Maddy does, and watching her open presents and run around in a cloud of crazy joy was so funny.

I also very much enjoyed trying to eat everything in sight – especially the crinkly wrapping paper and bows. But I actually did get to eat one of my presents – my first rice cereal! I wasn’t so sure I liked it at first, but I’m starting to love it now.

I also got some great teething toys, which was a relief because my gums are hurting lots lately. Mom and dad say there are teeth under there, but they’re no where in sight yet.

At least Maddy makes sure that I have a toy to play with (a.k.a. shove in my mouth) all the time. As soon as I wake up from a nap, the first thing Maddy does (even if mommy’s in the middle of feeding me or changing me) is run to the toy box and find a rattle or toy to bring me. She’s the best.

Maddy is also great at interpreting all of my noises, cries and facial expressions, so I always know that she’ll communicate my pain (or whatever) for me. She’s always telling mommy things like “Hayden’s hungry!” or “Hayden’s happy!” or “Hayden’s laughing at me!” or “Hayden’s tired” or “Hayden’s teeth hurt,” so I never have to worry that mommy won’t notice what’s going on or try to ignore me.

I’m a lucky lucky girl.

- Hayden

It’s hard to believe that my third Christmas is already behind me. This one was soooooo much more fun than the last two. Not only did I get the added responsibility of helping Hayden and mom and dad open their presents, I got some really cool gifts myself!

The big one was this awesome computer that mommy and daddy gave me, so I can work hard just like them. I’ve spent almost every minute since Christmas pressing all the letter buttons, and I love the cool noises pictures it makes for each one.

I also got a neat beehive from Grandpa and Nana that has cute little bees I can practice counting with, a Snow White book and movie, TWO awesome Little Einsteins coloring books, some pretty clothes, an Annie CD, money for my piggy bank, new books, lots of candy, and more great stuff in my stocking. I was so excited that I said “Oh Boy!” every time I opened a present and I had to jump up and down with joy when I saw my laptop.

In addition to the gifts, we got to do some fun stuff around town. We went to see San Jose’s Christmas in the Park, where there were tons of pretty Christmas trees, neat displays, snow and bubbles coming down from the sky, and most importantly Santa’s train!

And mommy and I went on a date to see the Nutcracker! I got to dress up in this pretty dress Aunt Monica and Ba Noi gave me, and I wore my squeeky shoes from Susette (everyone got a kick out of that at the theater).

There were all these great dancers to watch – I liked the fairies and the Nutcracker himself most of all. The only problem was that mommy kept shushing me the whole show and didn’t seem to like it when I tried to get a good view by standing in front of other people’s seats. I just wanted to enjoy the dancing and know what was happening. It would’ve been much better if mom had played along and answered my questions, like when I asked “Where’d the Nutcracker go?” 20 times at top volume.

Oh, and I caught the boy next to us taking a nap – that is until I pointed in his face while yelling “Mamma, why is he sleeping?” and woke him up. Haha

Hope you all had as great of a holiday season as I did!

- Maddy

Hayden and I just love our daddy. Even though we may be a little distracted by the Christmas festivities, we have in actuality been looking forward to his birthday for a while. I can’t wait to sing “Happy Birthday to Daddy…” and eat CAKE!

In thinking about dad’s special day, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can make sure he knows that we appreciate everything he does for us. Hopefully he’ll like the little present that mommy helped us make.

We’ve gotten lots of great bonding time in with daddy this year, especially since he started working his new job a few months ago and gets to be home most of the time. I try not to bug him too much when he’s in the office, but sometimes he lets me go in there and watch songs on YouTube while he works on his laptop.

My top 10 favorite memories with daddy this year are:

10. Apple picking in New York, when daddy lifted me super-high to reach the apples on the trees.

9. Daddy coming to my swim class, even though he thinks public swimming pools are gross.

8. Entertaining each other on lots of plane rides.

7. Getting beamed up together at the Star Trek in the San Jose Tech Museum.

6. Daddy carrying me all over the neighborhood because I was too scared to walk myself when we went trick-or-treating.

5. Watching the Yankees win the World Series.

4. Decorating our Christmas tree.

3. Going to my first Syracuse Orange game at the Carrier Dome, and meeting Otto.

2. Daddy introducing me to my little sister Hayden.

1. Daddy introducing me to the movie Annie.

Thanks for being the best daddy in the whole wide world!

- Maddy (and Hayden, if she could talk)