11 Months

So today we say Happy Birthday to Bo AND to Pop! Bo turned 11 months today and Pop turned...we'll just keep it at Happy Birthday!! We are estimating his weight to be about 24 lbs, that is us getting on the scale and then putting him on there with us, so we could be off. What I can tell you is he is very close to being in 24 month clothes!!! Which is no surprise considering how much he eats. He still loves ALL foods. We really don't have any "new" news to report. The only new things include learning how to open the cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom which means we will be getting locks very soon. He loves to crawl into the laundry basket when it's full of clothes and has attempted to climb into the dishwasher while the door was down. Still just explores all day, NEVER sits still, his favorite toys are still his empty formula can, boxes, and now wrapping paper tubes. Oh...and he's also learned to unroll the toilet paper roll in the bathrooms!

We've been very busy getting ready for his first Christmas. We've had Christmas parties and playdates, lots of shopping and looking at Christmas lights (his favorite). He's gotten presents from his friends which were very sweet and thoughtful. We will be loading up the car and heading to MS on Tuesday. It should be very interesting since Bo is not a quiet, passive child...he hates being in the car seat just running errands so I have a feeling our 9 hour drive will take more like 11, hopefully we'll make it by Christmas Eve. I am so, so excited to be going home and sharing his first Christmas with my family. Happy Holidays to all!!

Santa and Me

Saturday we took Bo to meet Santa. We got there and honestly the line was not that bad, considering I had seen it twice the size a few days before. When we got there Jarrod went to check everything out and comes back to report that the wait is an hour. Which normally...not that bad, with a 10 month old...different story! Jarrod then headed off to get us both coffee, waiting in long for an hour with 100 kids was not his idea of Saturday fun! Lucky for us we made friends with a little girl behind us. She was four years old and had brought her list to give to Santa so we were able to talk about that for a while. The best part was she pulled out this stuffed Big Bird and Bo went crazy!! She was so nice and let him play with it while we waited. We had a discussion with Santa about this and I heard he ordered one late that night for Bo!

As far as the picture taking...he wasn't full of the beautiful, Bo smile, but he wasn't crying either. A little uncertain I would say. While we were waiting for his pictures we were watching the little girl behind us as she talked to Santa and gave him her list. When she was done her eyes were absolutely huge and she ran to her mom and dad and said "Santa said he wants chocolate chip cookies and milk." She was so excited! It was so refreshing and heart warming to see her childlike innocence. I can't wait to experience that with Bo. I can guarantee you that from now til Christmas she is going to make sure they have chocolate chip cookies and milk in their house!

How much longer????

We're getting closer!

The "official" picture. I love how Santa in TX wears black cowboy boots!

With Visions of Sugarplums...

My First Pair of Shoes...

With the weather getting colder Jarrod & I decided it was time for Bo to get his first pair of shoes. A pair of socks just isn't cutting it. So today Bo and I headed off to Stride Rite, which is funny because I remember shopping there when I was little. He has a wide foot so they were able to fit him and help us find a good pair. The pair we got will actually help him once he starts walking. He did really well with them on. All he did was untie them, which I expected, but he didn't try taking them off so that was a relief!

Paint Party

Yesterday my friend Cheryl and I took the kiddos to a place called Ceramics Bayou, it's a paint your own pottery place. We knew that her 3 year old, Cameron would do great. The little ones...Bo & Givanna were going to be a different story. I have to say Bo loved it and did fabulous. The only negative is that they didn't have high chairs (they really should invest in some) so that meant we had to hold the little ones while they painted. I changed Bo into a shirt that could get messy and let him go to town. The owner was great and really helped us. I wanted Bo to just freestyle and do his own thing. She helped to put the paint on the items and he just played in it spreading it all over. He loves feeling different textures so the paint was fun for him to play with. We don't have the finished product yet, because they have to fire and glaze it, but we will in a few days. Here are a few pictures. I don't have any of Bo painting because I was trying to keep him from covering everyone in paint! Just imagine Bo doing the same exact thing Givanna is in the pictures.

one of Bo's unfinished masterpieces

Twas The Night before Christmas

The Night before Christmas for MOMs

'Twas was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode,
only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
while visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
she descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."

The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,
same double chin. "She'll cook, she'll dust, "
she'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & the Restless."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered.
"My dream come true! "I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... and I 'm wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."
The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.

"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."
The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal. "
That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, "
Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, " for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
when they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said,
"Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right.

Author unknown

Playing in the pantry

Bo loves to stand and play in the pantry. I think it's because the lower shelf is just his size! I try to keep boxes and things that are safe for him to pull down. He'd stay there all day if I let him.

Working really hard to get the wipes container where he wants it!

Oh Christmas Tree

Saturday morning we headed out to find a Christmas tree. We knew from searching last year just to go to the Home Depot close to our house. The Christmas tree places were all so expensive and honestly the trees weren't even that good.

So after running errands we made the stop to pick out a tree. When we got there they hardly had anything, we were really disappointed, but we saw there was a huge truck behind the lot and we had a feeling it was full of trees so we decided after Bo's nap we would come back. Before we left we ventured inside to look around because I can't go to any store without just "looking", even Home Depot! After we had been inside a while we came out and noticed they were unloading the truck so we thought we'd wait a few minutes just to see. Next thing we knew they were unloading 6-7ft Noble Fir Trees, which is exactly what I wanted! We opened one up and I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I kept thinking it looked larger than 6-7, I think it's more 7-8, but we had them cut the trunk so it came down some. Put it this way Jarrod is 6'5 and it was at least a foot taller than him. So what do you do when you have almost an 8ft tree and you're in your Honda Accord...you tie it to the top of course (oh how Jarrod loved me for this one). Thank goodness I have a wonderful, loving, and very patient husband!!!

They are NOT plugged in and I know we weren't doing good jobs as parents, BUT it kept him out of the tree! We'll start electrical lessons tomorrow.

The star is crooked, but we had to bend the very top branch so the star would fit!

Trying to get him to sit still for a picture..yea right??

Hence the reindeer

HHMMMmm...that looks like a fun ball to play with (I later had to move it)

Bo's 1st Stocking

I got this in a few weeks ago and have been meaning to post it for a while. Isn't this adorable? The reindeer is a brown corduroy material, such a little boy stocking! Now Santa just has to get busy with things to fill it with!

Chocolate Mounds

Growing up my mom made Chocolate Mound Cookies every year at Christmas. They were my absolute favorite!! I started the tradition last year and plan to continue for many years to come. They are super easy and super delicious so I thought I'd share the recipe with everyone. I will be making these soon to share with our friends!

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
4 squares (1 oz. ea.) unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners sugar or granulated sugar

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. In small bowl, combine flour and baking powder; set aside.

2. In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat eggs, granulated sugar, Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, chocolate and vanilla 2 minutes. Beat in flour mixture until blended, it can get kind of hard to stir. Shape dough by level tablespoonfuls into balls, then roll in confectioners sugar.

3. On ungreased baking sheets, arrange balls, 2 inches apart.

4. Bake 12 minutes or until tops crack. Immediately transfer cookies to wire rack and cool completely. Store in tightly covered container.

The Reason for the Season

I thought I'd pass along something I found on another blog that I visit often. With all of the hustle and bustle that comes along with the holidays it's easy to loose sight of the true meaning behind the season. She posted some great ways to get the kiddos involved whether it's reading and explaining scripture to them, making an Advent Wreath, other craft ideas, etc... Bo is a little young for these things, but I know many of you have older children so I hope you enjoy some of these ideas!

Have Fun & Enjoy!
http://www.sermons4kids.com/advent_calendar_manger_scene.pdf

a list of Bible verses for each day
http://www.christiancrafters.com/adventwreath.htm

this is a cute color page of an advent wreath
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mpaperadvent.htm

Christmas Blessings!

First Thanksgiving

This past week we have been one busy family! Jarrod's parents, Grandma Sherry and PaPa Lee came to Austin to spend Thanksgiving with us. We had such a wonderful visit. I think we had something going on just about every day.

The day before Thanksgiving we decided to check out Dinoland, which was a wonderful exhibit here in Austin. They had 30 life size dinosaurs downtown at Zilker Park. Thanksgiving day we stayed around the house watching football and eating all day! I survived hosting my first Thanksgiving. We had all of the traditional items like turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, green bean casserole, and my favorite...baked macaroni and cheese and Bo ate it ALL. To finish it off I made a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie!! Friday morning we woke up early and headed down to San Antonio to take Jarrod's parents to the Alamo and Riverwalk. It was a fun road trip and Bo did fabulous!

Saturday morning we woke up again and headed downtown to the Children giving to Children Parade. It is an annual parade here in Austin benefiting "Blue Santa" which is put on by the police department. They collect toys for children here in Austin who would normally be without. Everyone takes a toy and towards the end they stop the parade and collect the toys from everyone. It's such a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and teach children about giving.

It was such a fun and relaxing holiday for everyone! Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday as well!