Claira Update

"Sweetie-Pie Clairey" (as big sister Ellia calls her) is such a dramatic chick. But what's cool about her drama is that 2 seconds later she's off to something else. "Action-packed", "Non-stop", "Go-getter" are all nicknames that have sprung to mind as I've watched this little one grow. As you can see from her many expressions, above, she's full of life and can't wait to steam roll through it! (as you can see from her constant climbing over any obstacle)

Ellia & Claira love going to Chuck E Cheese; or as I call it Chuck E coli.
Ugh, how many illnesses are lying in wait on every square inch of that airbrushed, blinking, buzzing "restaurant".

Claira and her soon-to-be suitor Griffin.

Super BAAAAWL Sunday! What a great football game it was! And I actually got to watch a decent amount of it - whaddya know! The Navarro family were kind enough to invite us over. Ellia had a great time playing with Ella (she sweetly gave her random nicknames: Little Cookie and Little Radish) Ella and Claira are 1 month apart in age. Each time we get them together we plop them on the couch and *click*click* document their blossoming friendship! As you can see, above, it was very much bedtime when we took these pictures.

Does someone need a haircut?
Poor little Claira, always looking at this new world through strands and strands of chestnut hair. Well, after taking this photo I realized she really deserved to see where she was going. Claira's "New Look" COMING SOON.

Memory Mental

Ok, look. I know, I know. Pink Duckie is just a plastic inflatable duckie manufactured in China. Pink Duckie is no different from the million other pink duckies out there. Well, I'll keep telling myself that as I gently deflate and place Pink Duckie in the trash to be hauled away. I've collected special moments with my girls while this ducky cushioned their sweet tushies! I cringe at the thought of Pink Duckie ending up in a pile of toasters, water bottles & diapers. But, Pink Duckie, I don't want to end up on A&E.
Look at poor Pink Duckie: contemplating it's last days; reflecting on all the sweet memories: Ellia scooting & splashing around...Claira always intrigued by the 'quack-quak' sound...both growing bigger and bigger...calmly reclining against it's tail while playing and chit-chatting...both growing bigger and bigger...

A Christmas Kiss

Ellia & Jackson's Christmas Kiss from TALITHA CHAI on Vimeo.

Humility in the face of total disgrace for the human race

I know someday my kids are going to be glued to TV shows that are mind-numbingly shallow. I know that I will want to chastise them for quite obviously wasting not only precious hours of life but also precious brain cells. I know that I'll wish they were addicted to the History Channel. But before I try to swipe the remote from their motionless bodies - I will take a deep breath and remember how, in the winter of 2009, I followed every episode of a banal show by the name of Jersey Shore on the shallowest of channels, MTV.

Christmas Time!

Ellia dumping her Reindeer Food onto her front lawn so that Santa's Reindeers can find her house!

Ellia loves time with her cousins and I wish we could get them together more often. We had everyone over to our house for a Cousin Dinner (hopefully a tradition). I overheard her telling Issac he couldn't start taking toys out of her drawers because her Mom didn't want there to be a mess- ha-ha! I said "No, it's OK. You can play with the toys now." And so she immediately said "OH! OK, come on Issac! Let's play!!"

Ellia & Lauryn enjoying their choice in cupcake.

We didn't know if the kids would find Gingerbread House making very fun but they really got into it! And they made impressive little houses!

Quiet Moments before Christmas

Sometimes, the timing (and level of caffeine consumption) is just right - Claira is taking a long morning nap so Ellia & I dive into some special pretend and imagination play. It's a time when I see facets of not only her personality, but how my personality can influence her. I realize I can suggest something to her that can not only influence her interest in something but also her fear of something. One time I was sitting on the grass and suddenly saw a gigantic worm crawling before me. Most people know my #1 gross-out is gelataneous creatures that move in a gelataneous way. UGH. I was freaked out and Ellia, who totally loves insects right now, mimiced my panic and even though I tried to change the topic and make it all better she was insistant that we go back inside. The entire walk back home she was convinced there were worms everywhere and we had to hurry back inside. I don't want to control her fears or her happiness but I see what a fine line it is. All in all, we have a close and special relationship - Most times, I am able to open up her imagination, like the play time we shared in the above photo.

This pink ducky is still how Ellia prefers to take her bath. And once I graduated Claira to the ducky it opened a whole new world to her. She just loves it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

We met some friends at The Grove in Los Angeles. As you can see, it is a beautiful spot this time of year. Everything is aglow and it even snowed! (fake, of course) Ellia & Jackson are getting cuter with eachother each time they meet. The second they saw eachother, Ellia puckered up and they kissed and hugged. Then they held hands (despite Jackson's gloves) and walked the cobblestone streets, chatting back and forth. I will upload video of it soon because it must be seen!

We waited in line to see Santa at The Grove. This is the first year that Ellia is understanding the concept of Santa. She calls him Mr. Santa. She planned on telling Santa that she wanted: "Pappa Pony and Baby Pony. You can carry Pappa Pony cuz he is big. I'll carry Baby." But she had stars in her eyes once she was with him and didn't say anything, haha!

Claira was also an angel with Santa! I suspected she would scream at being left with such a peculiar looking person. But, luckily, it stunned her long enough to get some adorable pictures and video.