Kimba

Quick! Update!

It's been a few days, I realize, and I have a lot to say, a lot to show, and a lot to lament (get excited for the rants of holiday food and holiday sickness!), but for now, let me just say this:

Last night, for the first time since Wyatt was born, an entire 13 plus months ago, Caleb and I went on an honest-to-goodness date. Like, left the house without him, without my 40 lb diaper bag, for someone else  to put to bed. It was a Christmas gift to Caleb from my sister Kathy, wonderful foresight on her part. I think Caleb almost cried when he opened the handmade certificate, promising free food and free babysitting. It's been a while, too long, and is something we've been meaning to do. It's what happens I suppose, when you're breastfeeding and not near family. Time just slips by, and before you know it "dates" consist of Netflicks movies on the couch while one of you reads and the other surfs the internet.

Not so, last night! We went to a restaurant! We ate our meal without having to share or swap who gets to walk around with a wiggly toddler. We talked, and not about who's got what meetings or appointments, or the color and consistency of Wyatt's poop. We wandered the outdoor mall, spending HOURS in such non-friendly toddler stores as Anthropologie and Victoria's Secret, and let me just expand on that, okay? Lest ye let your mind wander.

About 4 months into the nursing process I promised myself that upon weaning I would get fitted for and purchase TWO bras. Nice bras, bras that held things up and didn't open up the front, and last night I did so, trying on twelve different kinds while Caleb wandered the store with his nose stuck in his Droid. Poor thing.

We got frozen yogurt at my new favorite place, and I only texted home once to see how things were going. I'd call that a smashing success!

Hope your holiday is going well, tune back soon for ridiculously cute Christmas pics. It's my new favorite time of year...

And to all, a goodnight!

Can't wait to see his face tomorrow. It will probably be blank, but inside, I know he'll be jumping for joy. Right?

It was 29 degrees tonight. We lasted a whole 20 minutes. But it was fun! And cold! And all traditiony and such.

Goofin' around the Christmas tree

My little sister Emily reprimanded me this morning for not posting. I told her it was because I was having so much fun playing with her, but she wasn't satisfied with that answer.

So. This is for you, Em!

**********

We are here! In Utah! Where we are FREAKIN' FREEZING, MR. BIGGLESWORTH! I mean, I knew it was going to be cold, I did grow up here, it's just I forgot HOW cold it really is. Like, take your breath away, I'm gonna die right here right now cold.

The drive wasn't too bad, despite the fact that Wyatt decided one 45 minute nap was all he needed, thankyouverymuch. 45 minutes. In 12 hours. Oh, he was tired and nearly fell asleep four or five separate times, but would always snap himself out of it. Thankfully he wasn't cranky and we made good time. I would however, like to thank Caleb's Droid, whoever invented Youtube, and the wonderful people who supply it with Sesame Street clips. 

We've had an excellent time so far despite the crappy sleep (Wy's two week old cough is still here, and worse with the dry weather). We've baked, shopped, ate, ate some more, and lounged around in our pajamas. Is that not what Christmas time is all about?

Wyatt has loved all the fun *new* toys, places to explore, and people to entertain him. Daddy is home all the time, even if he is working (someone forgot to tell him he's on vacation...) and he has doting aunts and a grandma and grandpa who always seem to have some sort of treat to share. He's quickly learned that The Countertop is a magical place of chocolate, cookies, and goodies. He's going to be so bored when we go home!

 

He got to *drive* the car while we stopped, and loved it.

Caleb did not.

 

This is his I'm tired, my leg hurts, we've been driving for 10 hours, but I will persevere because I've been promised food, a soak in the hot tub, and a bed look. 

Wyatt has been in full goof-mode since we started the drive. He spent most of it trying to put various objects on his head, his favorite being his sippy cup of milk. Cracked himself up every time.

Hope you're enjoying your week, and have all your Christmas shopping done. I do not. So. Gotta get on that...

Tradition

Getting a head start on this post, but you'll have to forgive me. We're getting up at insane-o'clock tomorrow morning to make the drive home. This year's drive will be completely different with Wyatt, but at least this time we won't have the mutt. Like last year. You know, The Incident. Pretty much sealed the deal right there, and from now on he'll be boardin' it up with all the other left-at-home pooches in the area.

Don't feel bad for him. It's for the best. 

In other news, we took Wyatt to see Santa tonight. It's commercial and a rip-off, I know, but it's memories. Tradition. Every kid has to sit on Santa's lap and get their picture taken, it's practically in the parenting manual.

It was actually his second time, the first being at an elementary school fundraiser a week or so ago, though we haven't seen any pictures of it yet. Walgreen's seems to have lost it, which is not an answer I'm willing to accept, but I digress. Wyatt didn't mind a bit, though I think it's because it was all done without pomp and circumstance, I walked up to Santa, plopped Wy on his lap, they snapped the shot, and it was over. Wyatt barely knew what hit him.

This time he saw Santa way beforehand, and had a chance to get a good look at him. I put him on Santa's lap and he sat there for a minute looking around, looking at Santa and his real-live curly beard, and then he decided he was done. He looked up at me with scared eyes, quivering lip, and held his arms out for me.

I nearly melted into a puddle of goo. Poor little Wy!

We acted really happy and excited, clapping hands and making noises, and snapped a few quick shots before rescuing him.

wish i'd had the foresight to pull those pants down...

Santa was very sweet, and hopefully we didn't scar Wyatt too much. He's got another year to decide how he feels...

Enjoy the last weekend before Christmas! We'll be spending it enjoying the lovely scenery of Eastern Nevada.

Wyatt: 13 months

I can't believe it's been a month since your birthday, Wyatt, that seems like ages ago, and yet I can't believe it's been a month. It's been a big month, however, and you seem to have grown in leaps and bounds.

Not literally though, you're still a shrimp. Just barely 18 lbs, 3% on the charts, and only 15% for height. I'm wondering how your next weigh in with go however, what with your new love of whole milk and Club crackers.

Speaking of those Club crackers, I can't help but be proud that he likes them. My grandma's cupboard was always filled with Club crackers, and I loved sitting on her floor eating them while reading books or playing with dolls.

Wyatt prefers signing for them, however "crackers" looks the same as "more" or "all done" or just regular old clapping, so it's all still a guessing game. Sometimes he will sign "eat" before, which gets me on the right track. I ask him to show me what he wants, and we walk to the cupboard where the crackers are. He gets so excited when we get there, he's giddy and squealing and clapping, like he can't get over how awesome it is that when he wants a cracker, he gets one.

A cracker. It's the little things, you know?

He loves to go "bye bye", which we seem to be doing quite often lately, what with all this Christmas shopping I'm trying to get done before we drive home. He's a good little shopper, (when he's not shoplifting) likes to watch the people go by. He doesn't mind the drive, will sit contentedly and quiet, sucking on his binki and occasionally making little noises for me to copy.

It's a new favorite game of his, we'll go round and round and round making all sorts of noises at each other. Mostly grunts, with a few squeaks, shrieks and squeals. He thinks it's hilarious.

(second birthday cupcake in utah)

Ever since the bucket incident, he has taken to putting everything on his head, or around his neck. Usually it's the dish towel he's pulled from the cupboard, but often it's a toy or the controller to our Playstation dvd player.  He got a little bit of a rope burn from trying to put a little soccer goal on his head. Even though he does it multiple times a day, it's still funny, mostly because he still thinks it's hilarious.

 

 

He used to give nice big open mouth kisses right on your lips when you asked, but somewhere along the line it developed into him offering you his forehead. I think we have Caleb to blame, he'd kiss Wyatt goodnight on his forehead as we were walking into Wyatt's bedroom, and Wyatt started to anticipate it. Without Caleb saying anything, Wyatt ducks his head down and practically head butts Caleb. Most times now, he'll just tilt his head a bit until I can reach him with my lips as he continues on with whatever he's doing. I can get him to do it over and over again if I ask him for kisses, or make kissing sounds. It's pretty cute, and sometimes painful. The kid's got a hard head.

This kid also loves his dad. He starts giggling and squealing and heading for the door as soon as he hears Caleb coming home from work. Sometimes Caleb will stand outside jiggling the lock for a minute just to hear Wyatt laugh and squeal some more. Wyatt follows him around the rest of the night, and Caleb is just as happy to have him. The other night Caleb was holding him and he gave me a hug, a big family hug, and Wyatt kept trying to push me away. Like, mom, this is daddy time.

I love that he loves Caleb, that they have so much fun together, and that Caleb loves to play with him. I can't imagine doing this alone, or having a husband that isn't engaged. I feel so blessed. I get to stay at home with my sweet, funny, goofy, adorable little boy. It's the best job I could possibly have.

He's a little goofball, he definitely got Caleb's sense of humor. Caleb's eyes, Caleb's hairline. My chin, perhaps. I can't wait to see his personality grow.

Thug Life

I'd been asking a sales associate some questions about some items hanging on the store wall. Christmas presents, I'd said. After she answered my questions, I walked out of the store pushing Wyatt in his stroller to our car.

That's when I spotted it. He was playing with something black. Something....lacy? I stopped walking and bent down to get a closer look.

Wyatt, my one year old son, had just shoplifted a black lacy thong. 

Does this look like the face of a shoplifter?!

 

Santa is watchin' you, boy!

Tied up with string

 

I was recently discussing the Costco Wrapping Paper phenomenon with Bridgette. Four years ago I bought a roll of gold wrapping paper from Costco. It was perfect! It would go with anything. I could use any ribbons, bows, or trinkets I wanted, and everything would look great. I still have that roll, and it looks like a full roll. It's like the Mary Poppins of wrapping paper! I can't get rid of it!  And of course, I'm sick of gold. I need color! Something with a print!

So I turn to Ikea. They have lovely rolls paired together, many of them are reversible to give you more options. Some even come with coordinating tags, just that last bit of flare for your prettily wrapped packages. They have cards, tissue, gift tags, ridiculously cute, and insanely affordable.

I highly recommend checking them out.

Also, Caleb? Don't look too closely...these are yours...

*this is not a paid advertisement: i genuinely love and stand by this gift wrap

Stale

I have an embarrassing story to tell you.

I've been known to get a little carried away with friend and neighbor gifts at Christmas time. One year we made homemade ribbon candy. Red green and white ribbon candy that we pulled, stretched, kneaded, and twisted into ribbon candy. For some reason, I only have one blurry picture, not even worthy to post here. And I never blogged about it. Hmm. 

Another year I got it into my head that we'd make homemade apple cider and put them in wine bottles. I originally wanted it to be ginger ale, or sparkling soda, but learned that the carbonation would burst the glass bottles as we increased elevation during our drive home. So we stuck with cider.

Last year with Wyatt being only a few weeks old, I decided to back it off a bit. Go easy on myself. I put marshmallows on a stick and dipped them into chocolate, rolled them in crushed candy canes, and packaged them up with a few thin ginger crisps from Trader Joe's. A little way to spruce up their hot cocoa. I wasn't prepared for how many I'd end up with, and made a good 50 or so. Way more than I needed, but I figured I'd give people a couple. We put them in some boxes to take with us to Utah.

And then we forgot them. I realized our mistake about three hours into the drive, far too long to turn around. 

And here's the embarrassing part. When we got home Caleb refused to toss them, after seeing all my hard work. I didn't know what to do with them, and so they stayed in their boxes.

Until tonight. 

Caleb wanted to see if we could give them out this year. Skip out on my craziness, my hair-brained schemes. So he tried one. I told him he had to, I wasn't going to give them out unless he deemed them fit.

They weren't, of course. The chocolate, peppermint and ginger had all intermingled, a stale half-crisp. So now, a year later, we'll toss them.

And I'm at square one with our neighbor gifts. Crap.

Invaders!

You guys. We've been invaded. Sunday morning we were puttering around the kitchen making breakfast, Wyatt making bleeting noises from his high chair, and we spotted them.

Ants. ANTS! Ants all over the place, forming their stupid little line all the way from the window over our kitchen sink, across the counter, past the stove and down to the floor. I almost lost it.

Ants! IN MY KITCHEN!!! WHERE I COOK FOOD!

We broke out the vacuum, we swatted and squished and I slipped from one Freak Out Level to another, until not an ant was in sight. We pulled everything off the countertops, microwave included, and I doused the granite with Clorox bleach. Oh well, if I ruined it. My counters would be ant free and clean! Then Caleb chalked the spaces where we thought they were coming out and I sat back and took a few breaths.

ANTS!

Then we walked into the front room to play a bit before Wyatt went down for a nap, and there they were again. Ants.

ANTS!

Making another nasty little line from a space in the wall, past Wyatt's toy bin, and over to the front door. Furniture was moved, the vacuum was pulled out again, and I almost went into an anxiety induced coma.

ANTS! IN MY LIVING ROOM! WHERE MY BOY PLAYS!

We found the hole, sprayed, and Caleb put the room back together while Wyatt and I holed up in the bedroom until it was all over.

I've been on Ant Watch ever since, keeping a vigil at the sink. Wadded up paper towel in hand, eyes darting from one corner to the next, waiting for them. Where in the world are they coming from!? And why!? I have a clean house! I vacuum every single morning! Isn't a pest-free home supposed to be the reward of a cleaning-ocd freak?

The injustice of it all! The horror!

It's putting a huge damper on my Christmas baking.

Holding on

Tonight I carried a sleepy boy into his room after books and prayers, and for the first time gently laid him down in his crib with a kiss, and walked out.

Last night was the last time I nursed my baby.

It's been a slow, gradual process led mostly by him. I knew I wanted to nurse until he was one but when the big day came, I wasn't quite sure what to do. I researched a bit, asked around a bit, and still wasn't satisfied. I didn't feel like quitting cold turkey was fair, to him or me (read: mah boobs), and it wasn't something I was interested in doing. Ideally, he'd quit when he was ready right? I didn't have to make that decision? Right?

Maybe, maybe not.

Fortunately, he did. By his first birthday we were down to two feedings a day, morning and night. My goal was to be done by Thanksgiving, and when that came around, well, it didn't happen. We returned and my new goal became Christmas.

I thought we'd drop the night feeding first. By now, I should know it's never up to me.

He slowly just became disinterested. Feedings became short and interrupted. I brought in his sippy cup to bed while we'd watch The Today Show in the mornings, just the same as we always did, and he didn't seem to mind. We continued on this way for a week or two, the morning feeding successfully dropped. Then last night, finally, he let me know in his own way, this was it.

I don't know how to explain my feelings. I am one part happy, ready to move on to the next phase. Ready to have my body back (to do what with, I'm not sure), ready to embrace the idea of freedom. There is no excuse now. We've got to man-up, find a good babysitter, and leave our baby with a stranger for a few hours.

(That's a whole 'nother post, entirely. I can't be the only one so hesitant. It's not that I don't want to, sitting down in a restaurant with Caleb sounds like a dream, it's just...you know? What is it? )

The other part of me is sad. It's an end to an era, really. My baby isn't a baby anymore. He's a toddler with teeth, with the ability to convey what he wants (usually), and get where he wants. There is no quiet bonding time, just the two of us.

He doesn't need me. 

Of course, he needs my love, my time, my care. And really, the gradual process was a blessing. At the end it wasn't the quiet bonding session it used to be. It was fast, utilitarian. It was really me that was holding on, mentally. Wanting time to stand still. Wanting him to be my baby for just a bit longer. 

As I've learned though in this parenting process, there is no use in looking back. You can only enjoy the now, revel in the present because it doesn't last long. It's good, and it only gets better.

For your viewing pleasure

It was a homemade beef stew, clementine-sharing kind of day. Rainy, which means the dog has to be inside (the laundry room...hahahah), which is not my favorite thing.

Alas. I believe we're hitting the rainy season. Whatever will I do with this mutt? Wyatt didn't quite know what to do with himself today when the dog was on the other side of the sliding door. He got sniffed, and the Bear spent the rest of the time (when he wasn't in the laundry room....hahahah) trying to ignore Wyatt. It's going to be a long winter.

On days like this, I don't feel like doing much. I put dinner on the stove to simmer, and then relaxed on the couch during Wyatt's naps and surfed this grand old internet.

It's quite the place, you know?

I found these fun ways to package Christmas cookies, via Martha. Or let's be honest, Martha and her staff. 

I found this fun DIY rosette wreath. This one might be out of reach for Christmas, maybe by Valentines Day? A cute pink, red and white one? Hmm...

I found these adorable book plates from Blonde Designs for your Christmas books, which is a tradition I'm hoping to start. Gotta print these out...

I found this ridiculously adorable baby clothes website based in Australia. Just one more reason to get back there. That pixie hat KILLS me!

I found this link to a hilarious website, Sketchy Santas, and laughed my head off. Priceless, these photos!

But the thing that made me laugh the most today? I mean laughed till tears were streaming down my face, my already sore abs (pulled out a post pregnancy workout dvd today...shoulda started this sooner) screaming in pain? This post about a girl's church halloween party. Whack a deacon*!? Are you kidding me?! I'm still laughing. Genius.

Happy browsing, and happy weekend!

*i realize you might need to be a member of our church to get this part, but a "deacon" is the name of an age group,  12 - 14 yr old boys...you know the type...

Small and simple things

The last few days have been *fun* around here, Wy's had a cold and slight fever, and is also working on the last of his first four molars. He's on the mend it seems, and is walking around the house with a bucket on his head.

Literally. And he finds it, as you can see, quite amusing.

Advent

Since we're talking about traditions, I thought I'd start one this year. (Lovin' all your suggestions!) I took an idea from the girls at Blonde Designs, and made a paper chain for Christmas. 

I found some cute paper at my local craft store (in one big packet...love those!) and cut out 25 different slips of paper. The back was blank, and so Caleb and I wrote down something we were thankful for on each slip. All sorts of things big and small, from Diet Coke and artichokes to family, Caleb's job, and the gospel. 

Caleb and Wyatt have fun ripping off a slip each night (not sure who enjoys it more) and I plan to keep the slips each year. A fun little memento. And next year, we can ask Wyatt what he's grateful for, and he'll answer.

Wow, that's weird to think about. 

It might be balls or cars, but that's okay. It's perfect, actually. I can't wait.

Getting to know you, getting to know alllll about you....

I have a vice. A guilty pleasure. A compulsion.

And no, Caleb, it isn't vacuuming.

(actually, okay, that too...)

I love magazines. I mean I really love them. I can't get enough, and I'm not very picky. Glamour, Sunset, Parents, Martha, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, Allure...

And let's not even get started on catalogues.

It's in my blood really, passed on down by my mother. When I'm at home we spend our evenings (and days...) on the couch sifting through her many magazines and discussing the various articles. I love it.

When Caleb and I first got married (stop me if you're heard this a million times...) I was not happy to have to move away from home. And the first few months were really hard, Caleb was incredibly busy building up a new company, and I was incredibly bored. It took 5 months to find a job in that town, and I had nothing to do but make dinner, pick blueberries, and re-dust the house. One day I found a website where you could sign up for all sorts of free catalogues, all with a few clicks. I went absolutely freaking nuts, and not three days later our mailbox was full. Caleb wisely kept him mouth shut (mostly) and I happily browsed and flipped pages. We had mail! Like a real family!

When we moved into our previous house in California, the couple before us subscribed to OK! Magazine, you know the one, filled to the brim with only slightly plausible celebrity stories. I've never bought one before, but hot dang, was I excited about them being delivered to my home EVERY THREE DAYS. I read them, and put them in a pile to be sent to their rightful owner.

The pile grew. And grew. And grew. And when we finally asked them about it they told us not to worry, they didn't want them. It was a wonderful half year until it ran out. 

I've often told Caleb that some of them are good tools, necessary even! I've read some really great articles in Parents, American Baby, and Cookie (may it rest in peace) that I've kept for future reference. I'm studying, I'd tell him. Doing my Mommy Homework. 

I've found great recipes, inspiration for decorating, and health and beauty tips. Lately however, since, like, Wyatt was born, I seem to have less time to read them. And they pile up. Just waiting to be opened.

Granted, there are three binders and plastic sleeves in there (I'm cutting out and organizing pieces I'd like to keep). You should see the pile I just had Caleb take out to the recycling bin. Nearly equal in size.

And I secretly love having them sit there, waiting for me. Another guilty pleasure?

DIY: Pom pom heaven!

Okay, so it's Friday morning and I'm perusing the crafty websites I frequent, and I come upon this pom pom wreath, (her site is so pretty!) and almost keel over. It's so cute! And happy! And poofy!

I went to the craft store that day to purchase yarn and a glue gun. That wreath would be hanging on my wall this Christmas, so said I!

I followed her lead, and the pom pom tutorial here, and it really was super easy. A bit of time, sure, but a perfect way to keep your hands busy while catching up on So You Think You Can Dance.

Or whatever it is you watch.

What do you watch?

Anyway, first, you make a million pom poms. Actually, I used about 78ish, but it will depend on the size of wreath you buy, and the fullness you want. Also, sidenote, if you follow the tutorial, I made medium size pom poms and wrapped it around my fingers 60 times. 

78 separate times.

Make sure you leave a long enough string on your pom pom so that it will wrap around your wreath. Kinda important.

Then wrap your straw wreath with felt, like so.

Please ignore the straw bits, it's been ages since I worked with a glue gun. Stuff comes out fast, doesn't it?

Then simply tie your pom poms on the wreath.

Until your wreath is one big 'ole fat pom pom explosion! Cut the extra strings on back, and voila!

Please excuse our poor lighting, these silly old California houses. 

It was so fun, I think I'll make a few more. For every season. Now, go! Do! Everyone needs a few pom poms in their life.

Outtakes

We braved the chill (see? i refrained from saying cold...but honestly? it was cold..) today and went out with Mark and Bridgette to take each other's family Christmas card pictures.

It went well, I think. That is, after I went through every single shirt I own, some several times, before throwing the first shirt on again and sulking out the door swearing I'd never eat again.

Sigh. Anyway! Here are a few outtakes.

Dang, this kid.

Also, his favorite trick.

and again,

Shortly after such a rousing session, he drank from a straw for the first time (this boy is fast becoming an expert milk drinker...he did not get it from me!) and collapsed into a long winter's nap. 

An excellent Saturday, if you ask me. Hope yours was fabulous!

Up next? The cutest and easiest homemade wreath you ever did see. For serious.

You fill my heart with music...

You'll notice that the bottom quarter of the tree is empty. Even still, the bottom ornaments get pulled off...we're working on it. Also, don't you love the cords? Those are normally covered by Wyatt's toy cabinet, which is now on the other side of the room. It's our internet connection. Really classy. Thanks, Comcast.

Also, gonna need a basket for those Christmas books.

 

 

 

A tradition in my family is that everyone gets an ornament each year. We all love getting the ornaments out each year and finding ours, remembering what we were doing that year (last year mine was a baby clock that spun to any number of baby activities...always seemed to land on "feeding time" though...). I've started this in my own family, and this is Wyatt's ornament this year.

This is Caleb's.

 

Just realized it's blurry, don't have the energy to retake. Oh well! It's a little desk, and even has four Micheal Scott sayings. My favorite is, "I told Dwight there is honor in losing. Which we all know is completely ridiculous."

It's so Caleb.

I don't have an ornament yet...hmm. I wonder if I can find a "Mom Jean" ornament...

What are your favorite family traditions? I'm looking to start a few.

This post brought to you by Home Depot, Ikea, Hallmark, and some little boutiquey shop in Los Gatos.

O Christmas tree....

Tonight we bundled ourselves up (gotta combat the 48 degree weather, you know) and drove ourselves to a tree lot to cut down our Christmas tree.

Or, that's would I would have liked to have written.

Instead we opted for cheap, and made our way to the parking lot of Home Depot and picked out an already cut and bundled tree, in hopes it would be the best tree ever.

Maybe next year we can cut down our own.

(That's what I said last year)

But hey! We still had ourselves a great time!

 

 

After looking around, we grabbed one and deemed it Worthy.

And watched the dude get it ready for us to take it home.

 

 

We threw it in the back of Caleb's car (back seats fold down...it's what ya gotta do when you don't have a truck) and drove it back home to decorate it.

Or, that's what I would have liked to have written.

Instead, Caleb put it up and ran off to a church youth activity, and I hurriedly snapped a shot of Wy in front before throwing him in the bath and putting him to bed.

Not quite the lovely family activity I envisioned, but it's admittedly easier putting all the decorations on without a one year old trying to pull them off.

 

(toys were the only way i could get him to sit still enough to snap a shot...even then, he's still moving. so. you know.)

Plus, he's super cute in front of it, curled toes and all, even if it wasn't decorated.