Post-Christmas Coma

Well I'm not sure what else there is to blog about besides how cute my child is. Christmas went off without a hitch. My parents came the weekend before Christmas, stayed from Sunday to Tuesday, then Justin's parents arrived on Thursday and left yesterday, so lots of time with guests. Thad kept to his usual routine, napped great and slept well, which makes his awake time much more pleasant.

Santa outfit from Justin's uncle. He was cool with the outfit, but the hat pushed him over the edge.

Checking out a new toy

Spiffy Christmas Day outfit from my mom

Making a mess, as usual

Wow, what a cute boy.

Hokey-Pokey Elmo

Duck camping chair that I couldn't pass up in the store.   

One of his favorites, basketballs the perfect size for little hands

Happy boy = Happy mamma

Merry Christmas

Love, Santa

Frog and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

I have nothing against little girls, they are precious, but man I love having a little boy. Last weekend we packed up most of the 9 month clothes and got out all the 12 mo stuff. A closet full of tiny plaid shirts and hoodies melts my heart.

Eh......

Meet my new best friend, and worst enemy.......

After a few months of gentle suggestions, Justin started some serious researching, and we decided on this eliptical. We debated between a treadmill and an eliptical but decided you could get more eliptical for your money. We've had it about a month now, and I love it. We have it in the garage (in front of Justin's work bench, obviously). There is a TV in there, or it works great to hold a book, so 30 minutes goes by quick. 

Ready for Christmas

For the first time in my adult life, we are spending Christmas at HOME! Being married is one thing, but having a child really makes you want to start your own traditions. I asked all the girls at work about their families Christmas traditions and got some good ideas. We'll work on our own, this is just a trial year. Kiddo is too young to remember anyway, so we'll just practice this time around.Some things I would like to do, but I think we will wait at least until next year (like the Springfield Christmas parade....perhaps sounds ghetto, but is supposed to be pretty cool). Other things that I would like to do, but wasn't in the cards as far as traveling. There are some things in Coos Bay that are fun for Christmastime, like the lights at Shore Acres, and the extravagant miniature trains and town set up at the fire station. He might have actually enjoyed those things this year. Anyway, we will start simple and build from here.

Thad helping with the tree

Putting up lights

T is a good helper. Not.

The tree! Note that there are no lights or ornaments withing 2 feet of the ground.

Mini tree! 5 bucks at Goodwill, it's the Duck tree!

Advent calendar made by Justin's mom. Each day you add a star to the tree.

Stockings hung by the chimney with care. Made by mom, who has the smallest one.

Front room, sparkling snowflakes in the window.

The finished product, nice job Justin.

Something Old, Something New

Dad recently bought my mom a giant new wedding ring. They have been married for 36 years, I'm not really sure what bee got in his bonnet, but all of a sudden he was shopping for a giant new rock and got it for her. He does have prostate cancer, but is low grade and low cells and supposedly going to be very treatable (surgery is happening in January). I don't know if that has had an impact on him and has made him want to do stuff for my mom, but regardless, she got a sweet new ring. Strangely enough, she already had 2 rings. Her original ring was too small after she had kids, and rather than get it sized (like a normal person), dad bought her a new ring. When she got her NEW new ring, she gave me one of her old ones. (Yes, I asked for it....it would have just sat in her bathroom drawer for years if I hadn't). These people aren't that old, but between the two of them, they honestly couldn't remember which was the original ring. Who knows. I just picked the one I like the best. It was totally smashed, the band was all bent up (mom is not easy on jewelry apparently). I took it to a jeweler, he straightened it, sized it (thanks for the giant hands, mom and dad), got it re-plated and the diamond prongs redone. I love it. My wedding ring is silver, mom's is gold, and my mom's and my rings are the only ones I wear, so they don't match, but I really like wearing it. It's pretty, it makes me feel like I am carrying on something from my parents.

Mommy's Helper

Thad really likes to help me keep our house clean and organized, just how I like it. 

He is such a good helper. Honestly, one of the things that was really hard for me to get used to as a mom is the acceptance of clutter. At first, I would follow him around picking up the trail of toys. And the pile/basket/stack of baby toys in every corner of our house first bothered me quite a bit. Now I try to look at it as a way to make my life easier. Anything that helps keep him occupied is a positive in my book. It goes against my natural instincts, but things change.