The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2015)

Christmas was huge and wonderful and magical, but we had a lot of festivity in the lead-up, as well...

We kicked off the season with a family trip to see The Grinch at the Grand Ole Opry. Opryland is a literal nightmare this time of year--and the traffic looked like it only got worse as the month went on--but it was worth it for the show. We thought he might be scared, but he was rapt for the whole performance and doesn't seem traumatized.

Visions of sugarplums...in the big boy bed

The breaky tree. Just to look at. 

Bringing his own personal decorating flair to our tree

Mom and Dad snuck off for a weekend getaway...

...while C took Doc to a hockey game and made cookies with Jules and Pej.

Card of The Year Award goes to Michelle.

Construction belt from the Smiths...surprise hit. Working on the belt loop concept, but it's not compatible with the current potty process. 

Quotable C and the Advent Calendar

May the chicken of peace be with you and yours this holiday season.

Quotable C

"Oh! The soda truck came while I was at school."

Thanksgiving 2015

Happy happy, everybody!

We had a nice Thanksgiving in Nashvegas. We started out the morning at home hanging out together, and then headed over to my parents' house for the annual bitchfest that is the Christmas card photo shoot. Much gratitude. After that was out of the way (and everybody but me and the kid started drinking), moods improved and we were all happy by meal time.

Somebody's been enhancing the silver. Culprit remains at large.

A light post-meal read

We are thankful.

We hope your Thanksgiving was happy and healthy.

20-Week Photo Shoot (Round 2)

Round 2 and 3 weeks late...

The 20-week anatomy scan was decidedly less eventful this time around, given that we already knew the baby's sex and had ruled out several major genetic issues thanks to early screening. 

It's still cool nonetheless, and was mostly taking pictures and counting all the body parts. 

profile with hand by face

the bottoms of itty bitty feet

Quotable C

I keep saying to myself, I should write this stuff down...so I am.

C: "Is daddy upstairs?"

me: "No, he had to leave already."

C: *stunned silence, frozen*

me: "Does that make you feel sad?"

C: "No, it makes me poop."

Moral: Don't project emotions on to someone else. They might just be pooping. 

Rainy Halloween with Friends 2015

So...remember last year's costume drama?

This year he was down with being a firefighter, but still wasn't really interested in putting the costume ON. Any time anyone asked what he was going to be for Halloween, he promptly replied "a firefighter." But the execution...wasn't quite there. 

In the end, the World's Most Literal Child just needed it to actually be Halloween. We packed it in a bag, took it to Georgia's house on Halloween night, and he sat down and put it on. 

Is he proud, or what?

Also, she was a fabulous mermaid.

He kept sticking his belly out like this when I said "show me your costume!"

So this is what you get.

These boots were a last-minute impulse buy on Amazon. I thought they might sweeten the deal a bit.

At present, he finds adult decrees that Halloween is over to be arbitrary. He has worn the boots all day every day since Halloween. I'm talking to school, out to eat, to nap, with jammies...you name it. 

This Tuesday also happened to be picture day at school, so they may be professionally captured for posterity. I drew the line at wearing the suspenders to school, but he is wearing a fire truck t-shirt in the picture for sure. Don't judge--that was the compromise arrived at after complex negotiations. Parenting!

Fall Fun 2015

Some snaps of our seasonal activities...

Kicking things off at my alma mater's fall festival. He's a big supporter.

You got a rock, Charlie Brown!

A childhood favorite which, upon re-watching as an adult, is...weird.

Fall also marks the return of hockey season. And Hockey Guy.

Foam helmet giveaway made for an entertaining in-game experience.

This is not seasonal; just funny.

The most efficient way to get the sprinkles on the Halloween cupcakes.

Picking our pumpkins!

C picked the best ones in the whole patch. 

(The "patch" is more of an "urban lot," but we do what we can.)

It rained on our chosen pumpkin-carving day, and I got lazy about that, so we just painted them instead.

Totally overwhelmed by the Halloween Carnival. But at least they had pretzels and cookies.

And minions.

Halloween adventures coming soon (IF he wears his costume)...otherwise it's just Saturday with candy.

18 Weeks (Round 2)

18 weeks with C

How Far Along: You guessed it...18 weeks. 

This is solidly in to the second trimester, aka the feel-good portion of the program. Over the past two days I have cleaned out all C's toys, finished switching my closet, washed windows, and started on the new big-boy bedroom, so...energy level is better than at the beginning. Also, BA thinks I'm crazy. 

Total Weight Gain: I don't know exact numbers as of today, but I didn't gain anything the first trimester and am expecting a rapid and shaming increase soon.

Size of Baby: a pickle or a croissant. Today's app update said that baby's weight will increase SIX-FOLD over the next month. Buckle up, people. And bathroom scale. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes indeedy. Didn't waste any time dragging my feet this time around. 

Stretch Marks: so far, so good. 

Gender: it's a boy baby

Movement: Yes! While I was able to feel definite movement earlier this time around, it still was not consistent at that point. Baby is just not big enough. Now it is getting more noticeable and more consistent, which I find reassuring. It is too early to see or feel it from the outside, though. 

Sleep: It's ok. I wake up a lot, but am usually able to fall back asleep quickly. Crazy leg seems to have started earlier this time, though.

What I miss: Once again, brushing my teeth without gagging. 

Cravings: None, really. Sweets haven't been calling my name so far. 

Other crazy symptoms: I wouldn't call it crazy, but I've definitely had an increase in round ligament pain and just the general sense of stretching over the last week. 

Best Moment this week: Honestly, some me-time to do all those housekeeping things (and get my car cleaned--HALLELUJAH) this week while I was on break all by myself. 

I'm Like Hey What's Up Hello

So what started as a summer break before re-joining the official working world turned into a mega-hiatus, and now here we are at Fall Break...

I return today partly because I am home and the child is at school (it's probably not cool to blog at work, right?) and partly because I ALREADY have guilt at how much the second child is getting shorted.

I make no promises about regular weekly recaps, because I'm real like that, but let's get a little caught up, shall we?

This one said, "I want a REAL brudder. I don't want to be my own brudder anymore."

As you wish, kiddo.

[AS IF it were that easy.]

Pro tip: don't do a reveal with balloons on a Sunday.

I had to buy them the day before and they were...not bouyant...by showtime.

The deets:

Little brudder (C has named him "Sister," because he wants to have his cake and eat it too.)

Actual name TBD

Arriving mid-March or so. Spring Break!

Early testing and bloodwork indicate all looks good as far as what they can test for early. Anatomy scan is later in October. 

More to come...

Happy "Mudder's Day"

School told C he should say "I love you" and give hugs on "Mudder's Day," so I love you to all and hugs for everyone...

for the veteran moms
and mommies of littles
still-baking mommies and brand-new mommies
moms of angels
those wishing and hoping to be moms (for the first, second, or sixth time)
and the not-there-yet future mommies who have still learned from the best...

PLUS the friends, sisters, sort-of sisters, fairy godmothers, and aunties (at all levels of Great-ness) who make it all a little more sparkly...thanks.

xo

Easter (Week) 2015

On Wednesday, we dyed eggs with Brooks

(no photos from the process as we were just trying to manage toddlers + dye + eggs...)

They preferred very vibrant hues. Or, more accurately, dropping the eggs in and going to play for a long time while "checking" them intermittently.

On Thursday, we visited the bunnies at Phillips.

He had a big Easter morning at home with his basket (lots of Cars cars), and then we had brunch.

(it's hard to see, but Waiter Mater has a tray of martinis he's bringing you...totally not child appropriate perhaps, and I don't understand why, but I thought it was too funny to pass up)

Sweet Momo had gotten up early and hidden some eggs in the yard...he picked up on the concept pretty quickly!

Happiest Easter to those celebrating, and a beautiful spring to all. 

xo

"Doc Shoes"

If you've known us for a bit, you might already know that my dad ("Doc") has a..shall we say...penchant for a certain brand of shoe.

Though he regularly attempts to claim he "knows about fashion"--an assertion that arises from attending New York Fashion Week one time in the 70s or 80s--this is a utilitarian relationship. He had a broken foot and subsequent surgery several years ago, and the foot has never gotten back to baseline. Indeed, each "pair" of his Merrells is actually 2 pairs, as the injured foot requires 2 full sizes larger than his other foot. 

So...a bit of a bummer, but we laugh about it nonetheless. He owns several "pairs": hospital Merrells (clogs, because blood), your standard everyday Merrells, and the dress Merrells he wears for ever-so-slightly more formal occasions such as his own daughters' weddings. 

Naturally, his tiniest adoring fan wants to follow in his Doc's mismatched footsteps:

(OMG that hair...scheduling a haircut now)

The Sickies + Crib Items

Mr. C has been laid out, so we've got limited posting ability over here (between watching lots of Cars and Sesame Street). 

However, after 3 vomit episodes (2 in the crib and 1 in a restaurant...many people now need therapy and we won't go there again for a whiiiiiile), I do have some useful recommendations to offer.

He's still in the crib at 2+ years, and we intend to stay there until it is no longer tenable. I've also had several people ask me for suggestions for these items, so here are the bedding winners that stand up to the fraternity-house-level horror shows that babies and toddlers can throw at them.

Restoration Hardware baby & child

Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad

Not much to say except that it does what it is supposed to do. I like that it is waterproof without feeling or sounding like baby is rolling around on plastic. And the quilted top makes it feel a little more cushy. I put a crib sheet under it as well so that there's still a sheet ready to go under the pad in the event we have to strip it, say, in the middle of the night. 

Restoration Hardware baby & child

Washed Organic Linen Fitted Crib Sheet

I have lots of crib sheets--from cheapie on up--and I have opinions on most of them. All of mine look different, though they're all fairly neutral. Naturally, a crib sheet gets pretty heavy wear and wash, so at this point I might suggest sticking with a solid color like this one, as many of the patterns have long faded (ours is the ivory pictured above, but they have several in the washed linen). But what I most like about this crib sheet is that it is very generously sized, so it's MUCH easier to get on and off the crib mattress. Like, I have seriously broken a sweat and also fingernails trying to re-cover the mattress with other sheets. The linen feels very sturdy--as opposed to some of our other sheets that are wearing thin--and gets softer over time. I also like that it is supposed to look kind of rumpled, so you don't have to worry about ridiculous thoughts like "Am I supposed to iron the crib sheets or what kind of insanity is this?"

Also: cannot stress enough the importance of duplicates of critical items (sleep sack, lovies, other faves) so that you can still sort of continue to function even with a washer full of soiled bedding. 

No perks or affiliations here; just straight up recommendations I can make after 2 years of crib-sheet changing and 4 days of the bed pukes. 

(Honorable mentions: Apple TV, Gatorade, cocktails for parents)