A Christmas Medley
Salt Lake City like many other parts of the country is getting pummeled by a severe snow storm, and since Leta is home from school for the next couple of weeks our inclination is to remain clothed in our wrinkled pajamas while snuggled between cushions of the couch. This would be much easier if all of my internal organs weren't jockeying for space, my stomach constantly rejecting everything I eat because there's no more room in the inn. I've already reached that uncomfortable point in the pregnancy when the womb starts to push everything around like a lumbering schoolyard bully, and where normally the appropriate systems would digest a meal without me being aware of it, I can now feel every mechanism taking place because the top of my small intestine was evicted and had to relocate to the bottom of my throat.
Glorious, beautiful pregnancy! The time of my life!
Since almost all of our immediate family lives in Utah we've got a staggering number of obligations in the next week including two family gatherings that will include singing. Hymns. With straight faces. While pretending that Grandpa Rob isn't tone deaf. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a version of "Away in a Manger" that sounds like it's being beaten out of a goat.
Posting here will be light for the next week as I take some time to be with the family, but I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday with much food and rest. May everyone remember to take their medication and be able to get through dinner without arguing about the gays.
Until next time, Leta has a special message. Please disregard the low rumbling noise at 0:28, that's just Coco growling at the mail carrier, AWFUL DOG HAS NO RESPECT FOR BABY JESUS.
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Heather talks about public tantrums (from kids) on today's Momversation.
- Bedtime, Leta lingering defiantly in the hallway. Jon: "If you want fart stories, you better get in bed RIGHT NOW."
- RIP Louis Mortimer Armstrong: http://bit.ly/1R4tv6
- Hugs and kisses to you, too! RT: @Monkey_Tree: @dooce he probably committed suicide because he was tired of LISTENING TO YOU WHINE.
301. Shannon said:
Merry Christmas Armstrong family!
PS: Can I borrow Leta's dress?
302. Asianmommy said:
Merry, merry Xmas!!
303. Ann said:
Completely adorable! And the ability to sing in several keys, all at the same time? Genetic, right.
Thank you for this. First time I have smiled today.
304. Jen said:
OK, laughing out loud! Shouted out with gleed! Go down in mystery! And I also loved that all of the other reindeer used to laugh and call his name. Ha ha ha!!
I can't wait until my 2 year old reaches the singing fun Christmas songs age. Complete with "new" lyrics!
Merry Christmas, Dooce and family!
305. sarah g said:
Oh My God she's cute! My ovaries are screaming "Have one, Have one Now!"
Please Heather, keep writing anything about how miserable it is.
Merry x-Mas
306. Holly said:
OH MY goodness. She is so adorable. When did she get so old!? I'm impressed she can remember that many lyrics, and love how she filled in the rest of the verse once you prompted her.
We'll go down in mystery with the reindeers!
Merry Christmas!
307. April Smith said:
Merry Christmas! We hope that it is filled with cheer.
308. kerry said:
I don't have sound on my computer at work but I could tell what she was singing :-)
309. Abra Leah said:
She is such a doll! :) Have a great Christmas, family and all!
310. Mac said:
The best of Christmases to the Armstrongs. Leta's Medley is the perfect finale for the gifts you share with us all year long. Let your hearts be glad.
311. Spatula said:
Young Miss Leta has such a mischievous face! And very intelligent eyes. I fully buy that this girl is trouble, start to finish :-)
Happy holidays and a wonderful, joyful, fruitful and multiplicious New Year to the Dooce clan! Heather, I know you are all about the puking in Real Life, but in your Daily Photo you look stunningly beautiful and you totally do glow.
312. Tanya said:
"Line."
I love how the first one is completely like performance art. And Merry Christmas back atcha, all 5-1/2 of you.
313. kellie said:
cutest. video. EVER.
314. Heather M. said:
Merry Christmas to you Armstrong Family.
p.s. Leta is too cute!
315. cate said:
that was genius. the last minute was the best part.
wishing you lots of health and happiness now and in all of 09!
316. Lisa said:
oh my goodness that was too much cuteness to watch. you have a wonderful holiday!
317. White Flower said:
For the love of pink dresses and everything holy, I had to post! This was fabulous... and I hate kids.
Merry Christmas!
318. Leilani Grant said:
Too Cute!!!!
Thanks for posting. She's adorable.
Merry Christmas!
319. Yankee Amanda said:
Merry Christmas to your family.
I'm so glad you're doing well with this pregnancy. I miscarried around the same time you did earlier this year, and we're still trying to get pregnant again. I know sometimes you feel miserable with the sickness, etc. But it really is something to be thankful for.
320. used cars said:
Fantastic. Man your daughter is a crack up!
321. Anonymous said:
That was so sweet!!!! She is absolutely adorable. Merry Christmas.
322. Cristina said:
That video is priceless. Yet another thing you can threaten to re-release to the world when she gets out of hand.
I rolled... "in mys-tery."
Cristina
323. DeppFan said:
What a great big sister Leta will be.
Merry Christmas.
324. Stacie said:
Merry Christmas to your family! Leta is just too cute. Hope you have a wonderful time with your family & hopefully that little bean will cooperate & let you eat a few of your favorites!
325. Scott said:
So when you go home for Christmas, the arguments are about gays!
In my case, they're about religious differences and the Middle East. They get so heated that I have to sleep in a motel! Tomorrow I'm going to my parents' house, where I grew up. My oldest sister, oldest brother-in-law, and only niece will be staying with my parents. I'm expected to be there, and dad has a motel room reserved for two nights. It will be difficult, even though I'll just be there during the daytime.
For one thing, they're all Christians, and I'm not. I renounced established, organized religion many years ago, and began a personal relationship with the Creator. My family is always trying to get me back "into the fold". And my sister and brother-in-law get angry when I don't participate in the worship of "Christ", on Christmas Eve. I explain to them that I worship the same God they do--but just see God differently. They see God as three-in-one, and I see God as one. But it's futile. I tolerate their religious beliefs--why can't they tolerate mine? Well "you can't get blood from a turnip", as (ironically) my mom often says!
The other issue is Palestine. I consider the establishment and support of "Israel" an ongoing atrocity against the Arabs, and Muslims in general. But my family, though not Jewish, considers it a wonderful thing (I think most Christians, here in the Deep South, are Zionist--even those who don't know what the term means.) My oldest sister, in particular (who's as opinionated as I, and more argumentative than I) wonders why I care--since I'm not Muslim. And I answer her thus: "SOMEONE has to!"
On second thought, maybe I'll stay home Christmas Eve--and go to my parents' Christmas Day, instead!
326. Lou said:
Aw, she's so cute! Thank you. Merry Christmas!
327. Krystal said:
Leta is so sweet!
Happy Holidays!
328. mdog said:
Even cuter than a baby pygmy hippo!
329. Emma said:
Your family Christmas phot is gorgeous! What a wonderful family pic.
Have a wonderful Christmas and thankyou for all your posts and pics.
Emma xxx
330. James John Malcolm said:
The internet wishes you a merry christmas too!
331. Jill said:
She's beautiful! Can't wait to see what the next one looks like.
Hope you have a great merry ho ho :)
332. Anonymous said:
Have you heard "All I Want For Christimas is a Baby Hippopatamus" by Gayla Peevy?
333. Irishembi said:
I wasn't aware the mail carrier brought Baby Jesus! This explains so much about that whole Immaculate Conception thing though.
My eldest daughter (7) sang along with Leta and really wanted to teach her the rude version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (I swear I had nothing to do with that), but I had to explain to her we didn't have your phone number. Because you have quite enough stalkers already.
Excuse me while i go explain the word "stalker" to my 7 year old.
Merry Christmas Armstrong Family! Thank you for your blog. It's like a Christmas present every day.
334. Sara said:
Oh my, that was adorable. Merry Christmas Armstrongs! Have a fabulous holiday!
335. April Smith said:
That was to cute!
Merry Christmas, Armstrong Family!
and Happy New Year!
336. Megan (in Munich) said:
Merry Christmas to the Armstrongs, and to all a good night.
337. Anonymous said:
OH MY GOD. i have a friend who is 7 months pregnant and never complains even though i know she feels crappy but you'd think you were the first person to ever be pregnant with the way you drone on and on about your problems...sometimes i wonder if you have dogs & babies just for something to talk about. get a grip. and get over yourself...you really, REALLY, need a hobby.
338. berit said:
first of all, merry christmas-- so adorable to see leta singing. and clearly, #87 used to work for lehman brothers.
have a safe and blessed christmas heather, jon, and leta! (shout out to coco and the very patient chuck)
339. Joanne said:
You used the word genocide in your December 11 post. The context in which it was used was in bad taste. Very bad taste.
So bad, that I have to assume you lack a profound knowledge of what the word entails.
Please up-grade your awareness about our world, baby brain or not you have to, for your kids sake.
340. Kath said:
Merry Christmas Armstrongs .... you'll go down in mystery is the best line ever!
341. Ladybird said:
Merry Christmas to the Armstrongs!
Just curious......do you really read every comment that is made on your blog? Also curious......how many flippin' times have you been asked that question?
342. Andrea said:
Dooce, I think your whole family will go down in mystery!
Merry Christmas!
343. Vicky said:
That child will be President one day. Have a great Christmas, Armstrongs - you are fab!
344. Father Muskrat said:
I am so glad my family doesn't sing together. You've given me something to be thankful for today.
345. Tina said:
I just died from the cuteness.
And from being at work on Christmas Eve. That too.
346. Amber said:
OH. MY. GOD. She is just so cute and precious and beautiful! This is going to sound like "a bit much" but I cried while watching her merry little medley. It doesn't help that I have a four-month-old baby girl who is currently getting much of her food through a nasogastric tube. When I look at Leta's wonderful, happy, angelic, tube-free face I can't help but hope with everything in me that my little Stella will someday (soon!!!) have a similarly tube-free face and adorable interpretations of holiday classics. Happy holidays, Heather, and thank you for sharing that heartwarming video. It hit the spot.
347. Jeanne said:
Hmmm... where did the beeetyyyoootiful family pic go?
348. Katie F said:
Let's not talk about how many times I've gone down in mystery. Youthful indiscretions, I say.
Happy Holidays, Armstrongs!
349. Kathy G said:
My daughter had that same princess dress and she wore it constantly. It got so small I think I had to rip it off her one day. Merry Christmas!
350. ozma said:
I love that four year old punk rock singing style. The kind of atonal thing. My daughter sings like that.
351. Lynda said:
Merry Christmas to you all too, and thanks for that medley, it filled me with glee'd. Tell Leta I love her princess dress. ;)
Hope 2009 is fabulous (and if you're posting I know it will be, but you know, this is my chance to wish you a happy new year) and we have loads of non-creepy Internet love for you guys! Cheers!
352. Long Story Longer said:
Have a wonderful holiday, Heather. Thanks for the great posts all year long!
353. Kris said:
HOW CUTE. My son (who is like, mere weeks older than Leta) only knows Jingle Bells. And it's kinda like "oh what fun heh heh heh la la hmm hmm dunnn HEY" or something. Haha.
Anyway. I'm a first time commentor, obsessive reader (hm, creepy)... Like I said before, my kiddo is a little bit older than Miss Princess Leta, and I just found out I've got a baby #2 on the way. I guess what I'm trying to say is: I RELATE ON THE KID FRONT.
Merry Christmas. :D
356. Bill said:
"... you'll go down in mystery."
Classic.
And inspirational! I'm sure there's a story there somewhere.
357. Brianna Storch said:
"May everyone remember to take their medication and be able to get through dinner without arguing about the gays."
Yes to the first and no to the second. In fact, up-ed my happy pills just for these magical past two weeks, but unfortunately I was unable to slip any to my grandfather who came over for dinner with my grandmother on the 18th. Some derogatory comments, "you don't know what you're talking about...they have all the same rights", and mashed potatoes flying into everyone's drinks later we were back to liking each other again!
I tend to hit 'next' when the song "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" comes on.
358. pooplatter said:
Awesome
359. Heather G. said:
That was too cute... and a Merry Christmas to you to Leta!