Christmas 2012, Part 1

OK, the Christmas posts will have to be broken into two and approprately so. The first phase is always exciting, the getting and decorating of the tree. While I will delve into the getting of the tree I will leave the decorating of the tree to your imagination. Just imagine Keith on the couch watching football, Alaina placing two (or five) ornaments per branch, and Conner sitting by the tray of crackers and cheese, eating his weight in food. 

Not sure how it started but our tradition has been to go to the Lowe's home improvement store the Saturday after Thanksgiving and get our tree there. I think the tradition started out of frugality and continues for the same reasons to this day. You can get a tree for around forty bucks. This year, due to Zane, things were a little different. We didn't make it on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I think it was because a child was melting down, but we did make it to the Lowe's the Monday after Thanksgiving ready to fulfill this years tree picking. We always start by parusing the aisles for Christmas lights in that year's color. (Keith grew up with colored lights, I grew up with white lights, so naturally, we agreed to alternate) This year it was Keith's year for ugly colored lights so we bought a few boxes because we always forget to check to see if we actually NEED more lights which results in....well, you guessed it....owning bins and bins of lights. 

Next, it is off to the Christmas tree "lot" to find the perfect tree, where Keith takes his job seriously, carefully and meticulously inspecting each tree for quality and size.

Meanwhile, the kids are hard at work helping out, doing what they can to identify the best tree.

Yeah, thanks guys.

Like I said, this tradition started years ago. The first record I could find of it was this year.

First of all, yes Keith is wearing the same orange vest. Apparently, that is part of the tradition too. This picture was taken in November of 2006.

We always pick out our tree, drag it to the front to be cut and then carry it out and tie it on the roof, hoping that it will stay there for the short ride home. Her is Conner in 2007. 

Again in 2008.

 And again in 2009.

Every  year, we followed the same procedure and even had the same checkout cashier for three years (shout out to Arlene!). 

                              How fun is THIS girl?!

Now as far as 2010, I forgot the camera and in 2011, I was pregnant and (most likely) grumpy, so no pics from those years, but......back to 2012. 

Several years it was the first tree we picked up, this year it was the third. Conner and Alaina were nice enough to take a break from their joy riding on the pull carts to come and approve of our selection. 

 So off, we hauled it to the front for the cutting and then out to the parking lot for tying it to the top of the van. This year, Alaina joined in the roof top picture and just to prove he was there. There is Zane. Oh, and I guess the kids feel pretty cool and "tough" being all wild and rebellious on the top of a car. Check out those faces and postures!

It is then that we head home, only to meet the challenge of two adults getting the tree properly placed in the unsteady tree stand while tree sap spread on our hands and clothes, tree needles are scattered throughout the house and children run around in circles out of excitement, frustrating the adults efforts to communicate about getting the tree in the tree stand! Good times. 

All of it is worth it since it allows other sweet traditions to ensue, like the annual picture in front of the tree. (prior to 2006 we did not have a digital camera so we have to start there)

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

 This was the year I was pregnant, just finishing the first trimester where I was sick and all I wanted to do and DID do was sit on the couch and eat Cheez-its. This is seriously the only picture I have from that year's tree tradition.

 HA!

With that I leave you in anticipation for Christmas 2012 Part 2!

Zane's 6th Month!

Since we are only 10 days away from Zane being 7 months, I figured I better hurry and try to remember at least a few details and moments from his turning 6 months. With Christmas and working more over the Holidays, it is a bit of a blur and I didn't write down any specific milestones (sorry buddy), but will do my best. : )

Zane's sleep continued to struggle a bit. It did not help that we are constantly on the go, that four teeth came in nor that Zane kept getting his arm stuck like this everytime he would go to bed.

 I think he would stick it down there for comfort and he would often hold the rail of the crib tightly in his hand. Hope his desperate attempt to cuddle with the crib railing is not a sign that we ignore him too much.  

But who could ignor this face? Yes, I tote him around the house with me daily doing chores and cleaning up and he is happy to tag a long. This is where he sits when I am doing laundry. 

He smiles so easily, exactly like I remember Conner being. Such a sweet nature is a joy to be around.

Since he was not sitting up on his own yet, his days was often a rotation of "stations".

The exersaucer. There is one upstairs and down for convenience and yes, this one is probably from 1992. We don't roll with nice stuff over here. I actually prefer the empty tray so we can load it up with random items. He quite loves the exersaucer. 

The Jumper. As most children, his first experiences in this were just having his arm disappear and pop out a leg hole as he drifted like he was in the wind. Well, this month, it definitely become a jumper. He loves to jump and his legs will often start "jumping" before his bottom is seated (make it very difficult to actually get him in the jumper and is now a two man job).

The bumbo. This is kept on the kitchen counter and his spot when the family is in there for meals or I am cooking. He loves to sit eye level with the kids when they are eating breakfast at the island. Actually, not sure who is enjoying that more. Oh, and yes, the arguing over who the bumbo is closer too continues. We may need to have the counter professionally measured to the hundreth of a centimeter and a red circle drawn because then and only then will the kids finally see that it is "fair".

As you see he also eats in the bumbo and boy can he eat. At our six month check up he had gone from the 50% to the 25% in weight and the doctor said he is definitely ready for more solids. So solids he got! We have gone straight to food this time around, so (all mashed) banana, steamed apples, sweet potatoes, avocado, chicken, quinoa and egg yolks have been the foods so far and he loves them all! I think he came in at 75% for head, 50% for length and 25% for weight. I can bed that % will jump a LOT at 9 months. : ) We started solids twice a day with a bigger meal at night because you know, it would start helping him sleep through the night. Not so much.

The doctor did say I could feed him as much as he wanted, basically until he is not interested. Well, if leaning to the side out of food coma with a foot propped up on the tray to give your big belly relief is not full, I don't know what he. What can we say? He enjoys food like his Mama.

Finally figured out how to upload video so here is a peek of his first bites of food. Keith has to provide a "seat belt" of sorts due to the lunging behaviors. Like I said, he enjoys food.

 Conner continued his active role as brother (so many people told me that older kids are not interested in their baby siblings. Could not be farther from the truth!) and changed a diaper all by himself. 

Alaina is always the completely in your face doting sister, ready to play and make funny noises for Zane.

This girl LOVES her brothers. I am amazed at how much she and Conner play together for their age and gender difference. I try to not think that since we limit the media so much that hey have nothing better to do than to pal around together, but whatever the reason, it is good. 

Speaking of that girl, here is a token picture of one of her "ensembles" that she put together to wear to school. I guess she is planning to rap while she is there too.

OK, back to Zane. He has taken to waking up and practicing getting up on all fours. Me? I am trying to enjoy every nonmobile minute get with him and I am already planning to turn the downstairs changing station to a play pen so I will be ready! I think it is going to happen sooner than later!

Oh, I almost forgot it was Thanksgiving right after he turned 6 months....love that I can match he and Conner, even though there is a 8 1/2 year age difference!

Well, there you go! Six months come and gone just like that. I have to say, I have truly treasured and enjoyed having this sweet boy my my side everyday. We still only use the sling when we go out and having him close like that so much is a content feeling that I have felt few times and I will miss it. However, I am excited as he grows the way he interacts, talks (oh the vocalizations, he is certainly chiming in already to this loud household!) and show his God given personality are going to be so fun to experience!

A few January moments...

 I am *really* trying to take the camera out more which is tough in the midst of a busy day. When I have a great shot on a moment, the camera is upstairs and when I am upstairs with the perfect moment to capture, the camera is down the in kitchen.

Ah well, will just have to settle for moments as these where I had just plopped Zane down on the bed (where he can now sit unassisted! More on that later, if I ever get around to a 6 month post!) after waking from his nap. It was hard at first because he was so excited to be up and interacting again. Most shots were his blurred action like this: 

He is honestly one of the happiest and content babies I have known. I still pause often and thank God for answering my prayer. The prayer that went something like this "Please Lord, give me a third child that is NOT like Alaina." HA! Just kidding. Well, sort of. I digress.

He IS like Alaina in that he is very active and physical. Now that he is sitting unsupported, he will sit contently for a few minutes but then leans or lunges, landing on his tummy. The difference is that Alaina would have cried and Zane will then just look around, reach for what he can and happily kick one foot against the floor repeatedly as he lays there with not much to do. Sweet boy.

I did get some sweet pictures of his face when he was still. : )

           Look At. Those. Lashes. 

This picture was taken while he was laying on his stomach staring at Conner, who was on the computer. Zane has eyes for Conner. I mean if Conner is in the room, you can bet that #1 Conner is interaction with Zane and #2 Zane is eating it up.

Onto my girl. You know, the girl who dresses to impress no matter what time of day? Well, I told her to go get her pajamas on and this is how she returned.

 

Okay, so technically, she does have pajamas on. 

Next time I need to say, "Alaina, get your pajamas on but please don't add crazy socks, high heels, a shawl and sunglasses." 

She is certainly catching on because when I took the picture she told me not to show anyone. I promised I wouldn't. Technically, I am not showing it, I am posting it, right? I figure she will forgive me when she is 25 years old and we look back at these pictures and laugh. Let's hope so.

The last moment just occurred about an hour and a half ago. Conner has been asking more and more to put Zane to bed, so with Keith being at the N.C. State game tonight, and me being busy with getting Alaina out of the bath, what better night? 

Well, this is what I found. My precious, loving, sweet heart of a child Conner reading the very book I read him when I would put him to be as a baby. It is Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton. Notice the back cover is ripped off and the binding and to bottom of the book is chewed off. I used this book with Conner, Alaina and now Zane. To see Conner reading it so lovingly to his little brother stirs something in me that is unspeakable. It is even hard to allow myself to feel. A sadness that my baby is not a baby anymore. And a joy in seeing that big boy holding my third and last *real* baby who is relaxed and content in his brother's arms. Thank you Lord for these precious moments!

Time flies....

....when your life is extremely full! (Just so you know, I almost typed "chaotic" instead of "full" but I am trying to keep a good attitude so there you go)

Wow. I kept meaning to post, but it seemed there was always something more pressing to do....like, I don't know...feed a crying baby, help with homework, give someone a bath, make baby food, fold some clothes, respond to emails, break up a (petty) arguement, make lunches.....and the list goes on and on. 

So I have several posts to catch up on so this one will have to be a post in pics so I can move on to the Christmas post and a post about a certain little baby who turned six months in December!

This month...

We did end up getting a great Christmas picture and my cards actually went out on time. Yes, it was a Christmas miracle.

The kids spent lots of time on the trampoline together and Conner even took some time to help out in the yard and blow some leaves, or is that blow the tree trunk? 

 Alaina continued what has certainly become a norm, dressing up from head to toe for absolutely no reason other than the fact that she was born to do it. She has a fashion sense like those big designers in New York. You know, the ones that have the models on the runway wearing an outfit that only looks good on them and that you would NEVER put together because in all reality, it doesn't match. Yep, she has that kind of style. And I love it. She has always been preoccupied with other people laughing at her and I love to see her confidence grow. It has actually been a great opportunity for us to talk about not worrying about what others say or think about you. Have to start that conversation early as we know how girls can be..... : )

Since he was not sitting up on his own yet. Zane enjoyed the rotation of bumbo, exersaucer and jump up on a daily basis. He has become a pro and picking up and manipulating objects and is content to stay in the exersaucer for long periods of time just playing and observing the world around him. Still such a happy baby.

With the weather being nice, we spent time at a park.

Okay, that is not completely true. We had 30 minutes to kill on an early release day so we pulled in the parking lot of their old preschool, and they have a play structure next to the parking lot. Just keeping it real here.

It was really fun. Maybe we should actually GO to a park sometime. Hmmm....I know. I really think outside the box.

Here is that confidence I was talking about. Those are Conner's shoes from a few years ago that he never really wore. She found them, and while they are at least a size too big, wanted to wear them. She loves to come up with outfits and she adores her brother, so this was a winning combination for her.

This month I decided to push even further into the world of "clean" eating and have been making all of Zane's food. Here he is enjoying avacados. Or is that peas? Who knows, he pretty much likes it all and it has been somewhat, emphasis on the "somewhat" enjoyable making it.

Other than being rotated from baby item to baby item, and eating, Zane stayed busy in December being mighty cute and wanting very much to be able to move more than an inch. It's coming buddy, trust me. Just give Mommy at least a month or two of the beautiful phase of sitting independently without being mobile.  Please?

In other news, Alaina dressed up a lot. Oh wait, we       covered that.

When I think back to last month and think what we did, most of what I can really remember doing is just DOING. Doing laundry, doing errands, doing, doing doing. 

While "doing things" is a part of life, I do pray I can continue to adjust my priorities so that turning "doing" into "done" is not the most important thing. That having a clean (and empty) kitchen sink, empty laundry hampers and clean toilets is not what is going to make my children feel loved nor will it create memories that will last in their mind forever.

So when they want to pile up a million pillows and drag half the toys in the house under Conner's loft bed so they can hang out together, I say yes. Those are the moments that I need to be "doing" more of.