iMemories: Fall 2012.

Dressed up at my buddy P's super hero birthday party.

Daddy put Small Fry in the backpack carrier to practice with his bow while Mommy and Fawn attended the party.

Good-natured Small Fry was thrilled to try on the super hero mask from Fawn's goody bag.

Bath seat is a lifesaver.  Best $25 spent on a baby gadget ever.

I spy sweet Fawn -- one of our "must stops" at McWane.

Riding toy fun in the driveway.

RTR.

Afternoon cuddles.

A perfect fit.

Trouble.  Caught red handed trying to stick his finger in the cable outlet.

Fun at Emmet O'Neal Library.

Yes, that's Small Fry.  Trapped in a laundry basket.

Making music at Together Time.

Super-proud of Daddy.

Double the trouble, double the fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deck the Halls.

We've trimmed our tree...

It's a beauty...a frasier fir from North Carolina via Whole Foods.  It's probably my favorite tree we've had.  And Buck says it's super-fresh based on the huge quantities of water its soaking up.  It wasn't a quintessential tree shopping experience though.  Whole Foods was so slammed with customers that they simply couldn't keep trees opened...so there weren't the rows and rows of trees to look through.  But, we got them to open a couple and found this keeper.  Then there was the part where the kind, helpful Whole Foods employee tried to get the tree on the roof of our SUV.  I don't think he thought he'd be working on a Christmas tree lot when he went to work for Whole Foods -- I think he thought he'd be bagging organic produce, wine, and prepared foods.  He managed to slam the Christmas tree against the side of the car instead of getting it on top.  At which point, a slightly frustrated but still very polite Buck told him "I'll take it from here."  Buck added the lights while the kiddos and I were on a little fieldtrip out of the house and out of earshot of Buck during the SEC Championship football game.  And, Fawn and I decorated it.

 

We've put up our Advent calendar...



I borrowed the idea from Martha Stewart.  It was super-easy to make.  I purchased Christmas socks at the Dollar Store and white tags, ribbon, and mini clothes pins at Michael's.  I wrote the numbers 1-24 on each of the white tags and then sewed the on the socks (hanging from the toes) with white thread.  Then Buck hung the ribbon and we clipped the socks on.  Each sock has a slip of paper with a Christmas activity on it (go get a Christmas tree, decorate your tree, wear Christmas pajamas, make a Christmas sticker picture, listen to Christmas music and have a dance party, go to Zoolight Safari, make cookies for Santa, make reindeer food, decorate mini Christmas trees, make a birthday cake for Jesus, etc.)

 

And our Magic Elf has returned bringing us Christmas goodies like pajamas...

 

The elf that Santa sends us is just like the elf that came to my house when I was a little girl.  He doesn't arrive until we have a Christmas tree for him to live in.  Then we have to sprinkle him with magic dust to make him come to life.  He loves to bring us Christmasy things for our enjoyment during the holidays (a new ornament, pajamas, a Christmas CD, Christmas coloring books/stickers/etc., ingredients to make Christmas goodies, red and green Playdoh, and Christmas books).





Fawn's Special Weekend.

Whew this weekend was busy!  Super-fun, but super-busy.

We kicked off the weekend with Fawn's best buddy T's 4th birthday party.  T had a camp out party Friday night to celebrate.  I hated to miss it, but Small Fry is under the weather and I stayed home with him to get him to bed at his normal time (6:30).  Fawn and Buck had a great time, though.  I've been hearing all about it.  And, the party favors were a huge hit -- all sorts of camping necessities.  Fawn has been wearing his all weekend. 

Here he is Saturday with his compass, knife, and gun.  I'm guessing the binoculars and walkie talkie are in his back pockets.

 

On Saturday morning, I ran in a 5K -- my first since before I was pregnant with Fawn!  Eek!  I completed the couch to 5K program and felt great during the run.  While it was tough to fit in the workouts, it has been great to have that stress relief.  I make it a point to only jog with the stroller one day a week (between the hills where I live and the stroller it's just too much).  So, a huge thank you to Buck for helping me schedule my workouts while he watches the kids.  My parents also watched them a couple afternoons for me -- thank you, thank you!  Buck was supposed to run with me but my friend K (T's mom) totally bailed him out.  We had a great time running together -- she is tall and runs WAY more than I do so I know she could run laps around me.  But she was so sweet to jog with her 5'3" friend. 

 

Saturday night I took Fawn to Zoolight Safari for some one-on-one time.  We had a great time -- the highlights being the train ride, the carousel and the fake snow.  On the train ride we even saw Santa Claus.  Fawn was mesmerized and told me "Mommy, Santa said Merry Christmas just to me -- he looked right at me!"  He was so excited. 

Ready for the train ride.

 

So excited on the carousel.  He was insistent that he get to ride an elephant and luckily we found a free one.

 

On Sunday I took Fawn to see Peter Pan presented by the Birmingham Children's Theater.  It was an event that my law firm puts on and a great way to take Fawn to his first play.  There was lunch and crafts before the show and meeting the characters after.  Fawn loved every minute; he was so well-behaved and paid such good attention.  He seemed to be able to follow the show, laughed, and clapped. 

So excited to meet Peter Pan.  (Yes, we wore the same shirt Saturday night and Sunday...don't judge.  Fawn loves his Christmas shirts and the other one was very dirty!)



 

 





Month Ten Update.

We're getting creative on marking the months!  This fellow is a wiggly worm.

Another month in the books.  The biggest change for us this month has been how much more the boys can play together.  They are really starting to interact more each day.

Small Fry isn't walking yet, but his balance has greatly improved.  He's a pro at the walker -- even managing it with one hand while holding a toy in the other.  He also loves to hold onto my hands to walk around the house (eek for mama's back but fun for baby).  He can stand for pretty long periods of time without holding onto anything and has taken several baby steps.  It's so exciting, especially for Fawn who has taken on the duty of "teaching brother to walk" and eagerly awaits the day they can run together.  For now, they settle for crawling races as they chase after a car or ball.  It's too funny.

There they go (yes, Fawn has on wolf slippers and baby is naked).

Here they come.  Notice that Small Fry ALWAYS crawls with his right foot planted on the ground.  It's pretty funny and makes him unique.  The boy can't wait to be upright.

 

In other mobility news, Small Fry has mastered climbing up stairs.  Of course, we have all of the staircases in our house gated off, but he loves to "practice" just for fun. 

 

Fawn also loves to hold Small Fry, though the feeling is not mutual.  Here's a non-crying picture of my cuddlebugs.



And, of course, they love the ball popper.  Fawn is too old to really enjoy the toy but he thinks it's hysterical how much fun Small Fry has playing with it.

 

Small Fry continues to be an awesome eater, this month really taking to green peas, various squashes, and oatmeal.  He also loves any sort of yogurt meal.  And, he's become pretty proficient at eating those squeezable baby foods.  While at first I had major (unfounded! and ridiculous!) guilt about prepared baby food, I have embraced the pouches for our occasions when we are out of the house during meal time.  It's so much easier than getting out a bib and spoon and finding a spot to sit down.  I can simply feed him lunch while walking around a park, the zoo, or McWane.  

Small Fry got his front top teeth -- one of his top front teeth.  He looks pretty adorable (despite the drool all over his face).

We (Small Fry and me) still get up once a night -- now in the 4 - 5 range.  We've tried to ignore him but if we do that he never goes back to sleep (he doesn't cry the whole time, just plays in his bed).  If I get up and quickly nurse him he will sleep until the 6:30 range, which keeps us on a good day time schedule.  So, for now, it's worth the early a.m. wake-up.

Small Fry continues to love balls and any sort of play vehicle.  He also is starting to pay more attention and sit while I read to him -- especially if it is an interactive book like a touch-and-feel.  He could care less about television and completely ignores it, which is great with me.  I've put on Praise Baby and Baby Einstein a couple times to see if it would grab his attention but he's just not interested.  He loves, loves, loves to dance and starts bobbing his head whenever he hears music.

Sweet thing is trying so hard to communicate.  In addition to saying mama and dada, I also think he says bye-bye, night-night, all done, no no, more, hey, down, and dog.  They don't come out sounding perfect but the boy is trying.  He's mastered the wave, especially for saying goodbye but I don't think I've seen him clap at all recently.  He is thriving and we are loving seeing his personality unfold more and more each day.  He is a determined little fellow and always on the go.  He hates getting his diaper changed and his clothes changed and screams during the process.  He also does not like being told no (usually when he is trying to pull a cord out of a socket!) and will repeat "no no" back and then start crying.  He is funny and happy, such a joy to be around.  We love you little man -- happy ten months!

Month 10 in Pictures.

Week 40.

Week 41.

Week 42.

Week 43.

Lately.

Fawn is becoming quite the little evangelist.  It's pretty funny, but also sweet.  I overheard him tell a friend: "Hey...do you know that Jesus died on the cross so that we could go to heaven?"  There was a pause with the other sweet three-year old speechless.  Fawn: "Me and you!  WE get to go to heaven because of Jesus." 

We celebrated my grandmother's 84th birthday.  She is one hopping 84-year old and can even run circles around Fawn.  I am so thankful that my children are getting to know their great grandparents, especially because these two have had such an impact on my life.

Fawn is now a big enough boy that Buck will actually take him into the shooting houses to go hunting with him.  It's probably the only time in his life that Fawn is actually still...except when he's sleeping.  Fawn is always excited to tell me about the deer they see but is quite frustrated that Buck hasn't shot a deer yet with Fawn in tow.  Maybe next time.

Speaking of Buck, he did get a doe this year when he was bow-hunting without Fawn.  He got the deer processed and we enjoyed the first of many fabulous steak dinners from his hunting this past weekend.  I was thanking him and praising his grilling skills (it really was excellent!) when he took it a bit too far.  He actually suggested that by hunting and cooking the meat that I was eating it was basically like he was the one breastfeeding Small Fry.  Umm...I'm still speechless and don't really know where to go with this.

We celebrated my mom's birthday (I won't divulge her age -- you are welcome mom!), but she looks way younger than she is.  Dad went above and beyond this year getting Mom a beautiful ring.  I hope she remembers it as a special birthday.  It was nice to celebrate someone who always does so much for us!

I'm still amazed at how quickly kids fly through various interests and back again.  Our top three right now are Transformers, super heroes, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Fawn calls them Teenage Maninja Asian Turtles.  We just go with it.  His Sunday school teacher called him Raphael on Sunday so I'm guessing he was role-playing. 

Tis the season to battle the sniffles and coughs. While neither of the boys has been really sick, we've constantly battled the crud...passing it back and forth and back again.

Small Fry has done much better at church the past couple weeks.  He graduated to the Bunnies room -- for more mobile little ones.  He much prefers the floor and cruising play to the exersaucers, swings, bouncy seats.  We've made it through church on the last two attempts, and for that I am thankful.

Let Us Give Thanks.

A belated Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!  Another holiday in the books and it was a nice, relaxed time with family.

Always give thanks to God the father for everything.  Ephesians 5:20 

That was Fawn's memory verse for his preschool class in November.  He had a great time at school learning about Thanksgiving and getting ready for his Thanksgiving program.  His school calendar had a note for parents to ask our children about Indians and Pilgrims.  This is how that went down:

Me: Fawn, what's an Indian?
Fawn: An Indian is an Indian.
Me: What makes someone an Indian?
Fawn: You have to be an Indian to be an Indian.
(Repeat conversation with Pilgrim....I know he is learning things at school and having a blast.  I just hate that the typical male tendency to remain mum is starting so early!)

And as for the school Thanksgiving program, Fawn practiced his songs and was so excited about it.  Enter the Thursday night before the program.  Fawn, meet stomach bug.  Stomach bug, meet Fawn.  Poor angel.  I'm telling you it's the worst kind of sick with children!  So we obviously missed the Thanksgiving program.  He was pretty sad about it the day of but hasn't mentioned it since.  And, I did thirteen loads of laundry from Friday to Sunday getting things clean.  I kid you not!

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving we had my family and extended family over for a pre-Thanksgiving meal.  We rotate Thanksgivings between Buck's family and mine.  For the first several years of our marriage we tried to be everywhere and do everything.  Absolutely exhausting with really no quality time spent with either family or as our own family!  So we've settled into a pretty good routine at least for Thanksgiving.  We eat with one family on Thanksgiving and have the other family over the night before Thanksgiving. 

My aunt from Kentucky and cousin from New York were here, which made the evening extra special since we don't get to see them very often.  I always try to cook non-Thanksgiving food so as not to compete with the yummy Thursday spread.  This year I made taco soup -- so easy, but everyone seemed to enjoy.  And my sweet sister-in-law brought a pumpkin pudding pie.  It was an especially great night for Fawn.  We put Small Fry to bed at his normal time (6:30) but since Fawn shockingly took a marathon nap Wednesday afternoon he got to stay up late with the grown ups.  He loved all the attention -- in particular he loved building Lego's with my brother (who is such a kid at heart). 

We ate a great Thanksgiving meal with Buck's family on Thursday.  They were so gracious to accommodate Small Fry's nap schedule.  We're still in the two-naps-a-day schedule which is great for Small Fry's happiness but difficult to schedule around.  We started the day early gathering at 10:30 so we could visit before the meal and then have Small Fry home for his afternoon nap.  We also got to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday and Buck's grandmother's birthday on Thanksgiving day.  My mother-in-law got the best chocolate cake from Dreamcakes for the celebration -- it was delicious! 

My big boys (Buck and Fawn) went to the farm, while my little angel and I finished up our Christmas shopping.  Yes it's completely done and I feel great!  They returned early on Sunday and we started a new tradition -- our own little family Thanksgiving Sunday night.  I did a turkey breast, made gravy from scratch (and it wasn't lumpy!), and per Buck's request also served sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad (thanks Dad for making us some -- it's THE BEST IN THE WORLD!), and pumpkin pie (thanks Mom for sharing two pieces).  I was thankful for the chance to love on my family by filling their tummies.

We are thankful!

Sweet boys Thanksgiving morning.

Love these three.

One thankful mama.

And a sweet Thanksgiving hug.