Thursday, October 27, 2011

Countdown to Christmas!

I'm taking my daughter trick-or-treating this weekend, but that doesn't mean Christmas isn't already on my mind (and hers, too!).  We had a Disney Princess doll whose arm broke off a few weeks ago. The doll was Aurora, but that's a rather difficult word for a three year old to pronounce so she became Briar Rose and then just Rose.  The one thing my daughter has been saying she wants Santa to bring her is a new Rose, but with a green dress instead of pink.  The American Girl dolls have to be made better than her old doll.  I think she'll be thrilled with her new Rose.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

First Post!

A little over a year ago, I became interested in American Girl dolls when a fall catalog randomly showed up in my mailbox.  I suppose I should say I became interested in them again because I really wanted one when I was a little girl (I'm now twenty four and the mother of a beautiful three year old girl).  My mom bought me a knock off when I was seven or eight and I had a great time playing with her especially after my cousin received a similar doll.  I knew that I really wanted my daughter to have a real American Girl doll.  I was leaning towards Elizabeth because she is so stunning and because she was being retired (archived, or whatever) along with Felicity.  My daughter had different ideas and was showing an interest in the My American Girl line.

I am one of those people who has most of her Christmas shopping done before Halloween.  I already knew what my daughter would be finding under the tree in 2010, but since I had the extra money I ordered her just like you doll (#39) to put away for 2011.  I will add some real photos as soon as Santa delivers her!


I also made the decision to purchase another doll as a gift.  This was a very complicated decision for me.  My husband is eleven years older than I am.  When we met, I knew that he was divorced.  What I didn't know was that shortly after his divorce was finalized, his ex wife turned up pregnant.  We dated for a few months before his cousin told me that his ex wife and the baby (which I didn't know existed) were living with my husband's (at the time boyfriend's) parents.  I met his parents, ex-wife, and daughter for the first time at the little girl's first birthday party.  I was head over heels in love with this man and his family hated me immediately.  If I had known then what the next few years would be like, I probably would have ran as fast as my legs would carry me. 

Fast forward five years.  My husband's parents have adopted this little girl.  His ex-wife has finally moved out of their home, gotten remarried, has a son with her new husband, and is living over an hour away.  My husband and I have our own beautiful little girl and a very strained relationship with his family.  This is the first year we are planning to visit their home on Christmas.  I decide that an American Girl doll would be a good Christmas present for her.                   


I chose Lanie Holland, the American Girl of the Year for 2010 for this gift.  I had planned to take a photo of the doll as she was being unwrapped, but I didn't get to because the little girl wasn't there to unwrap her gift.  I did find one of the pictures of Lanie from the American Girl website.