Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Wendy's 1st Haircut




How to get a decent toddler haircut: a portable high chair, yo gabba on an iphone, a mom to hold your head in place AND an aunt who's been doing this for years and has a toddler of her own. I love Wendy's new haircut. Even if it does make her look like a little girl instead of a baby. Thanks Ruthy!



Thursday, December 24, 2009

When Ryan Saved Christmas...



I had pretty bad procrastinator's remorse this year when I let the month of December get away from me. I really wanted to go with Ryan and pick out a Christmas tree, but our December evenings together were rare (thanks to his a'cappella group having so many Christmas gigs). And the eveinings we were both free were spent car shopping.

When the week of Christmas came, I was feeling pretty bummed about not getting a tree. I know that's not what the holiday is really about, but it just didn't feel like Christmas. I thought it would be silly of me to go out and spend the money to put up a tree 4 days before Christmas, but deep down that was exactly what I wanted to do. I let Ryan know I was sad about it and vowed to him that next year we'd get a tree the first week of December. The next day, when I came home from work at 5pm, my wonderful husband had gone out and bought a tree, set it up in our living room and started decorating it with white twinkle lights. What a man! It was like he had brought me flowers times ten! I can't even tell you how happy it made me. I just love him.

p.s. Notice the fact that it's a 5 foot tree up on a table and the ornaments don't even start for a least a foot off the bottom of the tree? We have successfully baby-proofed Christmas.

For a great message to get you in the true spirit of Christmas, go here.

Monday, December 14, 2009

I'm dreaming of a FELT Christmas...



This year I had lost my desire to decorate.
With this active 19 month old, the thought of a live tree full of messy pine needles and glass orbs does not sound so enticing. So I have been procrastinating. Then when Ryan put up our Christmas lights last week, it made me start to get a little excited. I have decided that by NEXT year, I will be ready. I've been researching child friendly decorations. By Christmas 2010 I will be prepared to decorate in a timely manner (as in before December is already halfway over) without fear of constantly having to police my child away from anything. I've found a ton of great ideas.


I am going to follow my sister, Rachel's lead and get crafty. I am going to buy some felt and bust out my broken sewing machine. Here are some great ideas I'm going to attempt to re-create (or go out and buy when they go on sale after Christmas) clock wise, starting from top left:


Felt Advent Calendar (Mine will have a nativity scene instead of a roof top. Each pocket will hold a piece of the nativity. #24 will have the star and #25 will have baby Jesus. My mom made one like that and I LOVED it growing up. We always used to fight over who got to place the baby in the manger.)


Little Ella Ornament (I'll have to buy this, I'm not THAT crafty)