Christmas with my little family

    I thought I would show you some of my decorations since I took pictures of Adrian's stocking.  First, Matt and I picked out stockings together.  We got one for each of us but when/if we have more kids they will get our stockings.  They aren't the most exciting ones ever but I think they look nice together:

Adrian's is green.  We don't have a fireplace or stair banister, but this worked out well.The stocking holders say peace, joy and love.

My mom bought our tree skirt after we got engaged.  I couldn't have picked a better one myself!

Ornament to Adrian from Matt's uncle David.

Eric gave me this angel last year.

I love my nativity but this table needs some work on the top.  Ignore it.

I believe my mom made this a long time ago.  It's one of the only Christmas things I took from home. I love it.

I couldn't find the normal angel, so we have a pink one.  She's more special anyway.  I've had her for a long time.

Candid pictures don't work out very well when the flash freaks out the baby.

Santa came!

     On Christmas morning we slept in on accident.  Then we opened Adrian's presents. It was rather uneventful but it was fun to have time for just us.  Adrian gets more interested in toys all of the time, so it's fun to watch him get excited.  Our next Christmas will be in a more permanent home; hopefully we will have a fireplace for Santa! 

Adrian is trying to contain his enthusiasm.

     Any day now, we will have a new nephew!  I hope he decides to come soon if he's ready.  I'm sure Adrian will look like a giant next to him even though he's still so small to me.  I hope everyone has a happy new year! 

A couple pictures

     I'll be getting my camera tomorrow, so I'll backtrack and tell you about our family's Christmas morning later. Matt had four days off but he was sick, so we didn't get to do anything with his two extra days. It's good that he was able to rest though.

     Now that Adrian has so many things to entertain him, it's easier to get things done around the house.  I love taking the jumperoo in the kitchen so I can clean up or cook and keep him happy.  I had an embarrassingly huge laundry pile, but I've gotten it all done in the past couple of days and it feels so good!  Too bad my folding skills are lacking.  I have to ask, how many men really need 20+ white under shirts?  My goodness.  For once I can't wait to take down the Christmas tree so I can get rid of clutter. However, I can't bring myself to do it until after New Years. Old habits die hard I suppose.

     It's time for bed but I'll be back tomorrow!  

   

Christmas

  I left my camera at the in-laws :( so I will have to do my Christmas decoration post later.  Sorry Patty!  Well I hope everyone had a good Christmas, we did!  Adrian is having fun with his presents.  I still have to get my Christmas cards out (insert embarrassed face here) but it's the thought that counts right?    I had forgotten my camera on Christmas eve so I have to ask my mom to send me the family picture we took.

This is the only picture I got of his whole outfit and he was mad because he wanted to be held.  Don't worry, I took a picture and picked him up right away. His sad face is so sad.

     My parents often get Christmas crackers, it's something I remember from England when I was little. They normally have a paper crown, a little paper with corny jokes and a small toy. The particular ones they bought this year had whistles inside of them. They were all a different pitch and came with instructions to play songs.  Mom was the conductor and it was hilarious. We had terrible timing, people got distracted, Joe cheated and our efforts never sounded like a song, and it was fun!  We opened presents and one thing Adrian got was an adorable outfit from my parents. An off-white sweater with little ears on the hood, cuffed jeans with plaid on the cuff, and a onesie that looks like a tie and glasses are hanging off the neck. Matt said it would look good with chucks and I went into cuteness overload.  

     Eric wasn't able to make it for Christmas, so it was sad but he was there in spirit.  One of these days I would like to go visit him.  Now that Matt's schedule is a little more flexible there will be more opportunities.

     On Christmas day we spent the day with Matt's parents.  We opened gifts, had breakfast, fawned over the baby and the boys went on an awesome scavenger hunt.  The end result was that Greg and Matt found their gifts hidden in the house and Chris had GPS coordinates to our house where he found his new kayak! Adrian got that jumperoo pictured below (from MILs sisters) and that adorable outfit from Allie (see below) among other awesome things. Needless to say, I now have the next two outfits for his professional pictures. 

His cheeks got really pink on Christmas.  They're better but I have no idea what happened.

Chris's girlfriend Allie bought this for Adrian. Are you melting from cuteness??

My baby can sit in a high chair!

Video!

He's a little too short somehow. He still likes it!

Playing with dad. Our coffee table broke.

Bath time success and my long baby

     Adrian was all smiles for his bath today.  I took a measuring cup and poured water in and out of it for him., which he enjoyed. Then I let him hold it.  I wrapped him in a towel so he would feel more secure and just took it off as I washed.  The heater was on and soft Christmas music was playing in the background.  Somewhere in the mix of all that, it worked. I was beginning to think he would never like the bath.

     Last Wednesday was his four month appointment.  He weighed 14 pounds 9oz (34th percentile) and was 26 1/2 inches long (89th percentile). 9 month clothing starts at 26 1/2 inches long, that's how long he is. For now his 6 month clothes still fit though.  He drinks 8oz at almost every feeding.  After Christmas I'm going to see if he's interested in solids at all because I think he's going to need more food in that little belly. 

     On Saturday we went to my parent's and decorated the Christmas tree. it definitely feels more like Christmas now. It was fun but we missed Eric.  Next I need to decorate my own tree, watch a couple of specific movies and drive around looking at Christmas lights.  I ordered Christmas cards but everyone will end up getting them after Christmas.  Just a fair warning. 

     Honestly I've spent most of the day trying to get the smell out of my diapers. I have a couple things working against me; an HE washer (doesn't use enough water, I have to trick it into adding more water) and hard water.  It's a matter of getting the right washing routine down, I just have to keep trying. Once I get everything to a science I'll do a nice update on how well cloth diapering is going for us.

   

    I want to say how horrified I was on Friday   All I could do was cry and hold Adrian close as I prayed for the families, and those poor little babies and the brave adults that lost their lives. It's a hard thing to process.

Wordless Wednesday

Random catching up and videos

I was working on this post and kept having trouble uploading a video from my phone. That's where most of the delays came from. So here's some things I need/want to get caught up on.

    A few afternoons ago, the Orkin man banged on the door. (Our doorbell doesn't work and he only has Matt's number, and Matt was at work) I completely forgot he was coming, even though I was reminded that morning.  I had been trying to get Adrian fed and to sleep and I wasn't dressed yet.  I was wearing polka dot pajama pants and my hair was falling out of my pony tail. (Sexy huh? Poor Matt.) So I ran downstairs and used the baby to cover the top half of my embarassing pajamas. Then I realized; hey, the orkin man looks like a ghostbuster.  He can't really judge me. He was nice and I survived.

 I finally have proof that Adrian can roll over! I'm not sure if the last time was a fluke or the real deal but I only got pictures of it.  So here you go:

     Also, another day he was making cute noises and sticking his tongue out:

     We went to my parent's house a few days ago and my mom made delicious enchiladas! Adrian kept freaking out when other people tried to hold him. It makes me feel good and bad at the same time.  I feel good because it means he knows I'm his safe place and is attached to me the way he is supposed to be. I feel bad for obvious reasons, but of course everyone understands.  He was happy with both mom and Michelle for a little while.

Bundled up on our way to get my car fixed.

Trying to sit up!

Checking out the reindeer on his foot

     The day we got Adrian's pictures taken, Eric came to visit. We didn't expect to see him so it was a nice surprise. He was supposed to go hunting with dad right away and we were supposed to go to Minnesota for a party but Matt couldn't get off work. It was fun seeing him! Hopefully one of these days we'll be able to go to him in Minnesota.

     I've been sick all weekend.  Which figures because Matt finally had the weekend off.  I was going to clean and do laundry and put up the Christmas tree. My fever got to 104.4 at one point.  But I feel a lot better now, no fever.  So yesterday we took my car to get fixed because the check engine light came on and I know I at least need an oil change.  Well Matt had Adrian in his car and I followed.  I thought he was going awfully slow on the highway but figured it was for my sake.  We got to the parking lot and he had a flat tire, with another one that was nearly flat.  This is the third time this has happened this year.  I think it has to do with his job and someone is messing with his car. Obviously we had to get his car fixed first. But mine should be finished by now.

Side note: Have you seen that Special K commercial where the little girl holds up sprinkled donuts and the woman slams the door in her face?  That commercial makes me want donuts, not cereal. Maybe they should re-think their strategy...

4 Months

At 4 months old, Adrian:

*Is trying to sit up. He will lift his head and shoulders when he's reclined.
*Is getting better control of his hands. He is a pro at sucking his thumb and his fist.  He's getting very good at grabbing toys and bringing them to his mouth.
*Has a habit where he eats for a couple of seconds, stops, looks at me, smiles, repeat.
*Just gave several belly laughs while watching Glee. I've never heard him laugh so hard.
*Has great head control.
*Stares at his mom like there's no one else in the world!
*Must weigh at least 16 lbs, Matt weighed him a couple weeks ago.
*Has started crying when someone besides me or Matt holds him.
*Seems to have a preference for men or at least is more fascinated by them.

Adrian's first Christmas will be so awesome!  Matt helped me picked out his first stocking, and I got three so when we have more kids they'll match and I won't have to search for coordinating ones. We don't have a fireplace so I put hung them from stocking hooks on the bookshelf:

I couldn't help myself. Sorry if this is picture overload, it's hard to choose when you're the mommy!


His 4 month appointment is on the 12th so I'll give more updates then. Finally I won't be dreading that scale!