Twenty Five Days of Christmas!!

So with all the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, I really try to stay positive and focus on spending time with family and doing the little things that really matter this time of year.  It can be so easy to get caught up in the commotion and forget to just STOP and ENJOY the holidays instead of being stressed.  You know, especially when some jackhole infront of you cuts you off so he can get into the same store you are going!!! 

(sigh)

Last year was rough.  Even on Christmas Henry was sick and in the ER a few days before Christmas and then again December 30^th AND 31^st.  He was sick for EVERY holiday or special occasion for about 8 months.  (This is no exaggeration) 

This year I think I am trying to make up for so many days where Henry was sick instead of doing fun things with his family and friends and even just T & I getting to relax and enjoy this time.

So, I have decided to try to do something fun every day during the 25 Days of Christmas!! 

Yeah, I know some of you are laughing to yourself….”Oh, you want to enjoy yourself and relieve stress and you want to do something EVERY day.”  Yeah, my logic isn’t always sound.  And lets be honest, not every day is going to be elaborate and I know I will miss days….but we are trying!

Here is what has been done so far (most of the stuff is with Henry, but some things just me):

1^st – Put up and decorate the tree. It spins. Go ahead...be jealous.

2^nd – Watch a cheesy Christmas movie and drink hot chocolate – Santa Baby 2 infact :-)

3^rd – Order Christmas Cards – DONE and RECEIVED! (Thank you 1 hour photo from Walmart.) 

4^th – Put up decorations around the house.

5^th – Terry’s work Christmas Party. OK, this one is more of an obligation but still festive and fun!

6^th – Family in Town!!  We found ways to be festive when we were at Levis Commons!!  (Henry took the picture of me!)

7^th – Watched Love Actually…I actually Love this movie.  (See, see what I did there.)

8^th – Go look at Christmas Lights in the car while drinking hot chocolate and eating snowman cookies! (from Starbucks of course)

9^th – Call Santa.  We left a message, he was busy.

10^th – Christmas note from Santa!! (Yeah, move over Elf on a Shelf, we have chalkboard on an end table!) 

11^th – String popcorn for the tree and make snowflakes.

12^th – Christmas Concert at school

13^th – Mailed (nearly all) of our Christmas cards!!  Still have a couple I needed addresses for, but they will ALL be out by the 17th!  Henry go to his friend’s house for some Christmas fun!  Made handprint dough ornaments.

14^th – Gingerbread house & Christmas list to Santa!

15^th – Henry & I went shopping for gifts for his friends & some family

Here is a list of all the possible stuff left to do before Christmas!  We won’t do them all, except on Christmas Eve we will get in PJ’s, have popcorn and watch a Christmas movie!  But these are all possibilities!!

Ø  Make cookies for friends and family.

Ø  Send a card to a stranger

Ø  Buy a small Christmas tree/Wreath

Ø  Paint nails a festive color

Ø  Hang a string of colored lights somewhere unexpected in the house.

Ø  Donate toys & clothes to local charities.

Ø  Make Christmas crafts

Ø  Pay for someone's coffee in line behind me in a coffee shop or drive through.

Ø  Buy a toy for someone

Ø  Make treats for neighbors, co-workers & friends.

Ø  Henry make Christmas Cards for friends with treats and deliver them

Ø  Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo (We did this in November)

Ø  Go to a Christmas Tree Farm

Ø  Grandparents take Henry shopping to pick out gifts for mom and dad.  Mom and dad take Henry shopping to pick out gifts for family.

Ø  Wear Christmas pajamas Christmas Eve and watch a Christmas movie.

Ø  Christmas card for a solider

Ø  Read Christmas books

Ø  Call Santa at the library

Merry Christmas!!!!

A Much Needed Weekend!!

 Oh, I am SO bad about blogging!!!!  Please don’t give up on me and my blog; I am not giving up on blogging just yet….

This past weekend was SO busy and awesome and I feel my son grew up in one weekend*!!  (Ok, perhaps a bit dramatic with the last one as he is technically only a couple days older, but still….exciting things occurred) 

It was so nice to have such a great weekend.

The past 6 months have sorta sucked between Henry and hisseizures and we have been sick and fighting sickness ALL. THE. TIME.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day….Henry was sick ALL those holidays.  There have been multiple ER visits from October thru December 31^st.  The sicknesses we ALL have had in between the holidays.  Henry’s seizures and the diagnosis and let’s not forget that this has been THE worst and longest winter I ever remember and we have been stuck inside.  To say we have been cranky and tired of being cooped up is a HUGE understatement.

So what does this have to do with being busy this past weekend, well my point is we got out of the house did stuff and we were NOT SICK.

Henry had been sick the weekend before when we celebrated my sister and my birthdays (and the weekend before that, of course) so I thought the odds were in my favor that he would NOT be sick this past weekend.  

Then I heard rumors that it was suppose to be gorgeous outside.  Like, PERFECT weather.

Challenge accepted.

So I took action and I planned. 

I didn’t get my hopes up too much and played all casual, “oh yeah, we “may” do a couple things this weekend”.  (Something you should know about me, I am VERY superstitious.  So I thought if I didn’t actually speak too much about the weekend the cosmos would not know what I had planned.  Yeah, I am weird like that.)

Anywho, the weekend was to go like this:

1. Friday Evening – Goodbye crib and hello new big boy car bed!

2. Saturday – Trip to the Zoo

3. Sunday – First Hockey Game

And folks…..it happened. 

IT ALL HAPPENED. 

You guys, it was such a great weekend.  For most, maybe this is a normal weekend, but not for us.  And definitely not for us the past 6 months.  Sure, there were some snags like Henry running away from me at the Zoo, and him falling asleep on the 25 minute car ride home and then NOT taking a nap and hitting me because I was trying to make him nap, or him waking up at 4am Sunday morning and not going back to sleep.  But hey, it could be worse…..it HAS been worse.

The Bed.

We tried the transition to a big boy bed before Henry was even two.  It did not work.  He was way too young for the independence and actually loved his crib too much.  But we knew it was time now as he is too big for such a small bed.  We have a convertible crib, but again…our child is big and ALL over the place when he sleeps.  So we decided that we should get him something special and that he can grow into.  So we opted for a toddler to twin car bed!!  HERE  We used his toddler mattress and when he gets older we will get a twin mattress.  We also hoped that having a fun bed would make him stay IN the bed.

Verdict: the boy LOVES it.  When we tucked him in the first night he looked at terry and said “Thank you”.  Terry asked him for what and he said “Thank you for putting together my car bed”.  Sigh.  You are welcome sweet boy.  And note, there are no stickers on it yet as he pulls stickers off everything he owns!

Of course he loves to jump!

Yes, he does sleep with all those stuffed animals.

Night one went off without a hitch, plus he actually slept in** Saturday morning until 7:45am!!  Nights 2 and 3 he got up really early and was crying.  But, perhaps just because things were a bit different.  But the past two nights have been great and he now just wants to go in his room and play in his bed.

Makes me so happy to see him so happy!

Zoo.

Terry was working, but I decided to take Henry to the Zoo.  He HAD to have a wagon and best $10 spent as I don’t want to fight a 39lb, 39” toddler who refuses to walk anymore.  Plus, he had a pretty awesome set-up!  Popcorn, drink, being pulled around.  Ahhhh, the toddler life.  The day was great and the weather really was perfect.  We went early, right after they opened and got  a couple good hours in.  And except for him seeing something and running off (stomach sinks) and then the fact that he napped on the way home and refused to nap when we got home, it was a perfect day.

Life. Is. Good.

Hockey.

We had tickets from the firm I work at for the Walleye Hockey game Sunday.  We were not sure if Henry was old enough, but he loves hockey and always talks about it so we gave it a try.  Overall he really loved it!  He kept saying “my turn now” and did get a little upset until we gave him some popcorn to distract and calm him.  (yes, more popcorn…we are not above using food to keep him calm)   I do think it got to be a little loud for him, it was loud for me!  I think he also started getting bored.  We stayed about 45 minutes and then headed off.  But he kept talking about it, which is how we know he loved it!  And now I think we are starting hockey next fall…..

That smile!!!!  Pure excitement

(I teared up seeing how excited he was.  no really.)

HUGS!  Though he said he met big bird, heehee :-)

(He got walleye stickers!!)

YAY for great weekends!  I think mentally we all needed a weekend like this. 

*On a side note: Henry takes showers now.  Yep, on top of an already exciting weekend Henry decided he wanted to take a shower with me, now it is his favorite thing.  Sigh….kids grow up so fast!! :-)

**Since when is sleeping until 7:45am considering “sleeping in”.  UGH.  LAME!!!

HDH – 2 ½ Years Old

My son is now TWO AND A HALF?!?!

Did I just type that correctly?!  

WOW.

JUST WOW.

I mean, just LOOK at him....where has the time gone?  When did he start looking so old?!?!

I don’t know why this keeps shocking me.  Ever since he turned two, the realization of how old he is keeps hitting me (as does my son during his tantrums).  I think it is more so HOW he is acting as opposed to his actual age that floors me.  That is why when he turned one, it was not that big of a deal, he was still this little man who needed me for so much and still acted like a baby of sorts. 

But two.  Not so much.

I should have known two would be harder and different considering on his second birthday he got on his NEW tricycle my parents got him and road into the sunset like he had been doing this forever. 

UH, WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE?!?!  

What, you turn two and now you are all grown up?!

Sigh.

He was also a late(er) talker, but it was like when he turned two he decided he had a LOT to say and now, he talks ALL. THE. TIME. and repeats everything (oops). He has ideas and his own thoughts and is imagining and playing make believe and sings and is funny and…well it is awesome!! But with that he is also more grown up.

Oh, and how do I know he has his own ideas, you ask?  Well he will put his fist under his chin, and with a pretty intense thinking face on says “hmmmmmm. OH, I got an idea!!! I know, we can…..”  and proceeds to his idea.  He has LOTS of ideas :-)

He also says “Oh, I know what to do!”  OR  “Oh, I forgot!”  (These are also stall tactics before bed and if we want him to pick up toys.  He will say he “Oh, I forgot” something and then go over and move something like a toy a foot to the right or goes and kisses and hugs EVERY item in his room.  No, I mean EVERY item.  The wall (hug, kiss, I yub you wall) and that pattern continues for a clothes basket, his stuffed animals, a bottle of lotion….you get the idea.  This can go on for awhile if we don’t stop it.

I wish I could just have a camera on him all day to record all the things he says and does because it is pretty great.  Of course he would probably look at that camera and say “NO CHEESE ME!!!” and get mad….so maybe hidden cameras!

So what else is new with Henry.......

I Love….The Holidays!

Warning: An annoyingly long and random post about my favorite things I love during the Holidays where I use the word LOVE about 50 times too much and use an obnoxious amount of exclamation points!!!!!

Here is the thing.  Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter, Christmas - they all make me SO happy.  I love fall festivals and picking out pumpkins.  I love passing out candy and dressing up for Halloween.  I love preparing a big Thanksgiving meal and sitting around a table with love ones.  I adore everything about Christmas.  I actually listen to Christmas music on and off all, yes you read that right, ALL year round.  And if I could have a spinning white tree with blue lights and decorations up in the house all year round, I would.  Really.

The idea of giving and being together and remembering and celebrating and eating and doing holiday activities and relaxing….it just makes me so happy. 

I sort of stay in my own little bubble during the holidays.  I need to so I don't get caught up in the negative or rush of the season.  I avoid holiday crowds and shop online and I smile at those being scrooges.

I LOVE this time of year so much and do not feel that a month for each is nearly enough time to celebrate.  I want to celebrate longer!!

I sort of lump Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas together.  When October hits I am 100% IN the holidays.  Three months of festivities!  I give them each their due respect and appreciation and celebrate fully each holiday, but I am also celebrating or preparing to celebrate the others.  So if we have Halloween decorations up and are listening to Christmas music, or have Christmas Decorations up and are listening to the haunting sounds of Halloween, or even have Christmas decorations up & Christmas music playing on Thanksgiving day…well in our house that is OK! 

I love Christmas music and it is in full force in our house.

I know some say I am listening to Christmas music too early and celebrating too soon.  I respectfully say, bah humbug on you….no I am not!! :-)  (Disclaimer: I totally understand how some may not want to listen yet.  But I want too.)  I love the way it makes me feel, I love singing at the top of my lungs (and man is it singing like you have never heard before!), I love how as soon as I hear the first notes of a song it takes me somewhere or to someone, I love how Christmas music just makes me feel and my family…..happy.  Yes, even the semi-annoying songs.

Besides the music, I love ornaments.  Our tree is this hodge-podge of ornaments, each meaning something different to us.  Some represent milestones in our life, some represent our favorite things, some make us laugh, some make us remember, and some are from our childhood.  Seeing our tree as a backdrop for all those little reminders of our life together and from when we were younger brings so much joy to our house!  Last night Terry and I were on the Bronner’s website looking at Christmas ornaments.  They have the best ornaments there!!  We have already ordered one ornament this year and will be ordering a few more as gifts. Shhhhhhh

Henry’s Ornament this year that we ordered….What Time Is It?!?! 

I also love the holiday smells.  I know it sounds weird, but smells make me happy….or unhappy depending on what the smell is!  The smells of: Thanksgiving dinner cooking, of our apple spice candle that we only bring out this time of year, of that cold air that hits you in the face when you step outside, of recently fallen leaves, of the inside of a freshly carved pumpkin, of Christmas trees and wreaths, of a big breakfast being cooked, cookies being baked, and so much more.

The Lights.  Whether it is the lights of a glowing pumpkin or of the Halloween decorations we have peering through our windows or of candles lit or of Christmas lights…I love lights.  Terry and my first date was actually in November, thirteen years ago at the Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo.  It was a horribly frigid evening but we loved every minute of it and drank tons of hot chocolate and stuck close together.  And now every time we go back, it sort of feels like that first date…those memories all come back.  And now we get new memories every time we take Henry and he looks at the lights and says “WOW”.  I agree, my son.  WOW.  

We are actually planning a trip for next December to the Oglebay WinterFestival of Lights.  Too many lights to count spread out over 300 acres in the rolling hills of WV.  Perfection.  I went when I was a kid and can’t wait to share that now with our son.

Movies.  We just introduced Henry to It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown last week (well the first time he actually watched it) and we are preparing him for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  I think we can all agree there are SO many great Holiday movies and shows out there that just make you laugh, cry and think about your childhood or family.  But The Peanuts are pretty much THE BEST thing to happen to the holidays.

Tradition.  You know, I think this may be my favorite thing about this time of year.  From October through December it is all about making memories and remembering traditions from when you were a kid and starting new ones with your family.  Really, there is nothing better.

So be forewarned.  If you come to our house from now until probably the end of February chances are you will hear Christmas music, see a tree (in a few weeks), be eating cookies made by my husband, and be surrounded by so much Holiday cheer that it may make you a little sick.  Don’t worry, we always have some Tums on hand if it is just too much to digest.    

Yep, that is how we do it.

Have I mentioned just HOW MUCH I love this time of year?!?!??!!


So what are YOUR favorite holidays?!   Your Favorite things about the holidays?  Any traditions you love?

Done By 5pm

So after two years we are officially transitioning to a new work/day care schedule.  WOOHOO!!!

You guys, I am absolutely thrilled about this. 

Now believe me, I know people have it so much harder than us when it comes to schedules.  Single parents, parents with one spouse overseas, working third shift or working late at night.  Ours wasn’t the worst schedule out there, but it also wasn’t the best and starting to become draining on both Terry and I.

On the one hand we were really lucky that his job allowed him to work part time and in the evenings….especially since he works retail. It gave Terry the opportunity to be at home with Henry for TWO whole years.  This alone was awesome.  But with that came the fact that Terry was only working part-time and to work part-time he had to work either 3-4 days a week in the evenings and every weekend.  And the past 3-4 months he has been working stretches of 20+ days without a day off, all while watching Henry during the day. 

Our weeks consisted of me rushing home and having a brief conversation with Terry about the day while he was in the shower.  So many important conversations have taken place while I sit on the bathroom floor with henry :-)  Then about 15 minutes after I got home, Terry would leave for work.  Some nights till 11pm and other nights until 8:30pm and then every weekend he works both Saturday and Sunday until about 4pm.  So there was a lot of “solo” parenting done by each of us.    

But folks….it is done.

That schedule is over.

Terry is going back to full-time status at work and though he will still have to work every weekend, he will only have to work three DAYS during the week.  No more evenings!!

Honestly when this first started, two years just seemed like an eternity away.  We always knew we were going to make the transition back to full-time and with Henry in daycare around two years.  But when you have a colicy baby or a one year old starting to get into everything or an 18 month old who can’t communicate and is throwing tantrums or a two year old who thinks it is OK to put things in the microwave and turn it on, having that extra person there can provide much needed help and support!

So now we are transitioning to days!  I say transitioning because this may be hard at first for some in our house *cough cough* Terry and Henry.  The two of them usually get up around 8/8:30 and now everyone will have to be up by 6am!  Even I can no longer sleep until 7 and rush to get only myself ready and leave for work by 7:30.  Nope.  Now we have to get a child up and fed and out of the house by 7:15am three days of the week.  A highly independent and stubborn child who doesn’t like to wake up early and doesn’t want to do things on OUR terms but rather his own.  For instance, today he wanted cheese and only cheese for breakfast. Um, OK.  Not going to pick a fight with you about that!

I am sure this new schedule will come with its own set of frustrations, such is life.  But now…now we can do it all together. We can be there so one parent isn’t trying to do it all.  To stop a child from coloring on the wall when a parent is trying to make his dinner.  To sit down and have a meal together!  To help wrangle a naked child at bedtime.  To give each other good night hugs and kisses that are not done via text.  To spend time together, though after two years spending so much time apart we may have to ease into that one!!!  I kid…sort of :-)  To be together.

Yep, I am ready!

HDH - One Year Old - A CRAZY Amount of Photos

Prologue....

Yep, our little man turned one a month ago (a month already?!)….and let me tell you he is now acting like a one year old!  There must be some kind of chip activated when they turn one that gives them tons of attitude and makes them start wanting to act all independent (well as independent as a child can be when they want their mom within arm’s reach of them or always want held). Bring on the toddler years!

To be honest I love that he is gaining more independence and doing more things and WE can do more things with him.  The attitude, well what parent loves when their child doesn't get their way or can’t do something and they throw a fit?!  Um, I imagine none.  But it is part of him developing and growing up, so we are just getting use to saying NO more and dealing with the little fits and the occasional timeouts. And yes, he had his first timeout recently as when he gets mad at me, and just me, he slaps me in the face.  Nice.  Of course when he isn't mad at me he likes to put his arm down my shirt and just leave it there while he watches TV or plays with a toy…sooooo, I feel like I am getting mixed signals from him :)  Either way, we still have a VERY pleasant and happy and funny child which is fantastic.

 I also am admitting that I am enjoying this.  All of this.  I have said before, the first year was rough, but I like what we have going on right now.  I know this little man now (he is no longer a stranger) and I am enjoying watching him experience new things, seeing what he can do, watching him understand what is going on, pushing himself and I even don’t mind watching him push us at times.  He IS turning into Henry and something clicked the last few months and it amazing.  

Yes, I still have my moments…believe me I have my moments.  But it is different now.  You know when they are a month and then two months and then four months. Most of the time that first year, at least with me, I was just trying to get by….get to that next milestone, get to the next month. SURVIVE.  But now I kind of want it to slow down a bit because there is so much to enjoy and I am excited for the next month not to “just get by” but because it is truly exciting.  The first year there are a lot of physical changes but it is a lot of just watching someone who is 100% reliant on you.  They grow bigger, sleep through the night, sit up, roll over, smile, crawl and they are just starting to “get it”.  But towards the end of the first year and for the next few the changes are in their personality and knowledge, which is AMAZING.  Saying words, giving kisses & hugs, laughing at things that are funny, being silly, just getting things, becoming their own person and gaining their independence.  

Yeah, it is getting pretty darn awesome.  HE is REALLY awesome. 

The Post….

His first birthday party was wonderful!  The day was cool and sunny which was perfect for an outside party.  Henry was in a decent mood considering he was still congested and getting over his first cold.  Only issue with him is he wanted to do nap more and so he was just a bit off throughout the day and not his silly self.  Of course part of this was also due to all the people and he is shy/quiet around people.  But overall it was perfection. 

Sweet boy.

(Getting ready to wake him up for his party....he was already 30 minutes late, but it was his party so it was OK!)

The birthday boy!

CAKE!!! 
His was banana flavored in honor of our monkey & his monkey party.

This is delicious.

 Don't you try to take my cake....I see you eyeing it.

I am fairly certain he is giving someone the stinkeye.

I am going in.....

He refused to take pictures with anyone on his birthday.

Shy Boy.

Get out of my way Daddy, I gots new wheels and places to go!

At his 12 month appointment he got all his shots, minus the flu, and for the first time since he was a newborn I cried.  I had to hold him down and there is just something about your child looking into your eyes and not understanding what is going on and crying while you hold them down that kills you.  Luckily, he took a nice long nap after and was fine that evening.  Lets just say Daddy gets to hold him down next time.

As of 9/14/12:

weight - 25lb 1oz

height - 32 1/4"

clothes - can still squeeze into some 12 months but has moved mainly to 18 months and 24 month or 2T shirts.

Words/Phrases - Dada, Mama (finally, just in the last few weeks!), kitty cat, hat, kisses, thank you, I did it, I do it, done, whats dis (this) & whats that and then he points to stuff or turns his hands up, he says YES but will not say NO, just shakes his head.  It sort of suits him as I tell him NO and he looks at me and says YES.

What he is doing - Getting into everything!  He gives kisses ( w/ a little tongue....perv) and then says "thank you kisses".  Loves to read.  Showed him how to color, prefers eating the crayons or ripping the paper. Afraid of stairs, because he can't get down. Diaper changes are not fun, unless he is distracted.  Recognizing things when you ask for them "where is your cup? get your car." Things like that.  Very very clingy towards me, even if I leave the room and Terry is with him.  Loves to make himself or us laugh.  It is fantastic.  Eating a lot of "real" food.  Developing a little attitude :)

Lovey - Meet Mr. Monkey.  Henry absolutely loves him.  Constantly hugging him and cuddling him and giving him kisses. 

(Mr. Monkey and Henry a few months ago.)

Nicknames - Boof, Boofy, Monkey, Bubby

Allowance - When he turned one Terry and I started to give him a weekly allowance of $1.  His job, turn off the light when we leave the room.  It is "his job" and we ask him to do his job and let him pull the cord to the light when we leave.  As he gets older he will get more chores and each year his allowance will match his age :)  He loves doing his job.

More Pictures (it has been awhile since I posted)

Trying to talk Daddy out of going down the slide.

 Seriously, you are sending me down this thing?!  (still unsure of the slide)

Look at those stems....LOVE IT!

Him and his daddy in matching orange crocs. (Henry is in a child 6/7!!)

He always has to tip things over or flip them upside down :)

"Drinking" Mountain Dew :)

Baby Hulk!  (Ok, only 6 cans in there, but still it is impressive)

With his fohawk!

 How he gets in his car.

Giving kisses.

Our ONE year old :)