This Moment ~ Christmas Eve

Christmas in NY

We are back from celebrating with my family in NY.  Just before our arrival they got hit with 4 feet of snow!  The night we came it started snowing again and it didn't stop for 3 days.  Records were broken but we didn't let a "little" snow stop us. :-)  The usual second hand shopping was on the agenda (70% off!) along with some crafts, game playing, good food and family time. 

A rest stop break and he couldn't have been more excited to be out of his car seat!

 

Chilly days...0 degrees!

The lighting was bad but this gives you an idea of the piles of snow!

Moving babies don't make for very easy photo shoots :-)

Jack thinks small spaces are a challenge.

When Jack wasn't playing with my parent's phone he was playing with Legos.

I think he will be happy to see some under the tree in a few days!

We attended a Dickens Christmas at a lake town nearby.  There was jolly caroling, horse drawn carriage rides and warm drinks from the Patisserie. 

Bundled babies enjoying the sights.

I am busy doing last minute Christmas preparations, baking and making more elderberry syrup for my sick husband.  The excitement is building as we are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in our own home for the 1st time.  We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

2010 Christmas card

This Moment ~ Reading Christmas Books

Telephone Redo

For Christmas Jack is getting a phone!  I once saw someone using a real phone for their child's play phone and I thought that was a good idea.  So I searched high and low for a good rotary phone.  None of my second hand stores had one but remember last spring when we went to a flea market (no? That's okay!)?  We found one for $2!  It needed a really good scrub and some sprucing up but we are happy with the results.  Check out the transformation...

Boring tan color so we gave it a punch of color!

Seth is the master spray painter so I let him do that part.

I personalized it with stickers and then gave it a clear coat.

I really wanted a cheap black cord but the average cost is $10 for one cord!  Crazy!

Thankfully, my mother-in-law had a white one we could have :-)

Based on his recent love of all things phone, I think he is really going to like it!  He turns just about everything into a phone and says either "hi" or "on" into it!  He uses his hand, my hair, blocks, toys, container lids...not much escapes being an imaginary phone!  Really, I don't even talk on the phone much but when I do he is definitely paying attention.

See what I mean!

This Moment ~ All Aboard

Advent

Welcome December!  It is such an exciting time of the year full of family, friends, baking, crafting, giving and traditions.  One tradition that I loved celebrating was advent.   It is such a good way to focus on the birth of Christ and the reason He came to earth.  When I was growing up our family used an advent book that we really looked forward to reading.  We would make a special candle purchase the day after Thanksgiving. Then we would create our holders from the recipe in the book, in anticipation of lighting our candles each Sunday in December.  I loved that time as a family reading the Bible and singing Christmas carols.  I see the importance of advent even more now that I have my own family.

It also is fun to count down the days until Christmas.  Every year, my Grandma gave each of the 4 kids in my family an advent calendar on Thanksgiving.  Oh, how we all loved those calendars!  So much so, that I made a game out of them that we ended up playing every year after that.  Seth's Grandparents also got him a calendar for his 1st Christmas which his Mom lovingly saved and gave to us recently.

Isn't it wonderful?!

This one was made in Germany and the way the tree lights up when you hold it up to the light is brilliant!  I plan on framing this so Jack can enjoy this each Christmas just like his Dad did.

A few years after I was married, my Mom and I made some fun snowman advents.  Every morning I put a new tag in the slot and I think Jack will like doing this one next year.

Over the years, I have seen several advents I would like to put together.  I just saw this one the other day and I think it will have to go on the list...a book advent calendar!  One other idea is to write down an activity for the day (bake cookies, make gifts, donate old toys, decorate the tree, etc.) and have them open one every day.  I personally would like to hang small drawstring bags (or mittens, stockings) with the numbers sewn on and then you can throw in a small gift once in a while also.  Such fun!

How do you like to celebrate advent?

Moving On Up

 "Wow, this is a much better view!"

Jack had his 1 year appointment.  He is 20.2 lbs. and 30inches long.  30 inches was the limit on his infant car seat and he really was getting too big for it. 

"Hmmm...this is very interesting." 

I just love talking to him and peeking at him in the rear view mirror now.  Don't you wonder what they are thinking as they look at the passing world? 

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

We have been told that Jack looks like Seth and others have said he looks like me.  Well it turns out,  after seeing a picture of my father at that age, that Jack could pass as his twin!  I would be pleased if Jack wanted to follow his Grampy in more ways than just looks.  We love you Dad!  Have a wonderful birthday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for

His mercy endureth for ever."

Psalms 136:1

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

This Moment ~ Marshmallow Baby

Have a great weekend!

And now he is one...

As I reflect upon Jack's 1st birthday, the word that comes to mind is joy!  I am filled with such joy to look back over the past year and see all the progress and milestones.  God truly blessed us with a child that is a perfect fit for our family.  He is spunky, cuddly, expressive, curious and happy!

On his birthday, he was surrounded by all of our local family and he was quite the little party animal :-) He loved making all of us laugh and thoroughly enjoyed his first dessert...cake & ice cream!  Sadly, the cake turned out dry (new recipe next time) but to him it was pure bliss.  We started off using a spoon and that quickly turned into him grabbing the whole slice and gnawing on it until it was completely gone!

He did well with the birthday song and opening his presents (his family really spoiled him!) and true to baby ways he loved the 35 cent book the best!  Having a birthday so close to Christmas is hard when it comes to developmental toys. I have to think about the whole year ahead and what he will be ready for in the future.  He got some great things and it sure will be nice to be able to pull them out through the year as he becomes ready.  Thanks everyone!

Happy 1st Birthday Jack!  We all love you sooo much!

Disclaimer: Very picture heavy!

I had fun making the banner and decorations :-)

Jack loved his balloon!

He stuck his hand on the cake!

 Yum!

"Where have you been hiding this stuff?!"

Super thirsty!

The 35 cent book, Global Babies.

My parents got him wooden nesting cups and 

Melissa & Doug jumbo triangle crayons.

 Seth's parents got him a shape sorter...

"Hey, where did it go?"

 This singing cupcake card was a big hit from Kari's family as well as...

the xylophone which he will grow into!

He loves the blocks that we made for him.

 Seth's Mom (Grammy) made him an adorable hat & mitten set.

He isn't crazy about wearing them inside!

Jack with his Grammy, Grandad, and Great-Grandpa

It will be a birthday to remember!

This Moment ~ 1st Birthday

Baking with a Baby

We have been doing a lot of baking around here.  Jack is part of the process some but I usually enjoy doing most of it while he is napping.  I have found that kamut and white wheat makes a really nice grain mixture for just about all of my bread items.  It tends to make lighter, fluffier bread that isn't so dense and heavy with wheat flavor.

Jack has recently been introduced to bread items and he can't get enough (I'm afraid he got that from me)!  This Friday's birthday cake should be a big hit!  I have been looking for a good recipe for his cake that uses the ingredients we always use (ground flour, sucanat) but it hasn't been easy.  I finally found one but it will have to be chocolate (bummer, right?!).  I will let you know how it turns out!

Here's what happens when Jack "helps" with the baking...

Little hands testing the crescent roll dough!

A bucket of grain = a nice sensory experience!

What isn't pictured are the numerous times I cleaned up the fistful's of grain!

Too bad he doesn't have a grip on sweeping yet or I would have made him do it! (hahaha!)

At least we get some yummy results!

Um yeah, there are some missing!

Jack thinks homemade pancakes and applesauce is a delightful breakfast!

This Moment ~ First Haircut

Swing Time

Jack's grandparents put up a swing at their house for Jack to use.  We tried it out the other day and his reaction was priceless! 

Very stiff and unsure 

Relaxed a little but still not sure what all the excitement is about!

He swung a little and decided it was kind of fun.

He had quite the audience all cheering him on!  It was getting a little too cool so I put on his hat and then something happened...

He relaxed!

A little too relaxed!

"Don't fall asleep, Jack!"

Grandad got him smiling and enjoying it a little bit more!

Too funny!