Christmas 2009

Snow place like home

As I type, and I can't believe I'm about to type this, it's snowing. Glorious snow. It made me start to think about reasons why I love it when it snows:

1. There is excitement everywhere. Especially here, since most folks don't know how to drive in it or deal with it. It's rare in these parts. Usually we get ice instead of snow. The local meteorologists probably drink 4 espressos in order to deal with round the clock severe weather updates. Not to mention the absurd run on grocery stores for milk and bread.


2. The soft silence that envelops everything. It's as if the world is sleeping away, enjoying the respite.


3. Watching for cardinals. They are my utmost favorite bird, and we are fortunate to be able to see them daily. I really don't think anything can compete with the stark contrast of a fire-cracker red bird perched amid the white snow. Simply breathtaking.


4. Making snow cream. If you've never tasted it before, I liken it to manna from heaven. Quite literally ;) All you need is 1) snow 2) sugar 3) vanilla 4) milk/cream. Mmmm so good.


5. Nesting. I love how families get together and stay indoors for the day. Board games, hot cocoa, slow cooked meal, and movies are my perfect snow day. And throw in a couple of blankets too.


6. Contrary to #5, but...enjoying the outdoors. For every hour spent indoors, there's a healthy balance of being outdoors in the snow too. I love piling on the dusty snow gear and getting wet, cold, and hot all at the same time! Building snowmen, making snow angels, throwing snowballs, taking a walk.


7. Watching my dog play in it. She knows she doesn't get to see or feel the cold, white stuff that often, and consequently gets hyper. I love seeing her tracks in the snow.


8. Feeling as if you're in a snow globe. I like to picture my home in a snowglobe :)


9. Legitimately singing "Winter Wonderland." Frolicking and playing, "the Eskimo way." ;) Though I still would love to be able to hear sleigh bells ringing!


10. Making comfort foods. My mom's tradition is baking chocolate chip cookies, but I might start one of my own: baking bread.

A Cure for Chaos

We interrupt your hectic day to bring you 50 seconds of peace...

Encouragement from the Duggars

One of my favorite books is The Duggars: 20 and Counting. Currently, Michelle Duggar is pregnant with #19. It details the long, unexpected road that they're currently on (and loving). I was re-reading the chapter on "Training and Correcting Little Ones," and I found such a timely gem. I hope this encourages any fellow moms:

"If you are a parent of little ones, we know what you're going through. We know how hard it is, how tired you get. You're constantly changing diapers, cleaning up messes, and correcting and training. Sometimes you feel like you could pull your hair out! We know all about those long, exhausting days. But, having gone through them seventeen-going-on-eighteen times, we urge you to take time to enjoy these days, despite your frustrations and exhaustion. Leave the house a mess now and then, and simply spend the day playing with and enjoying your children. Because here's the truth we've learned by heart: each day may pass slowly when you're tired and weary, but the years pass quickly. Today your children are totally dependent babies; tomorrow they will be grown and gone.

One day we were driving down the road when all of our children were small and buckled in their car seats. Jim Bob looked back at all those little faces and said to Michelle, "These are the best days of our lives, and we don't even know it!" (emphasis mine)

Avocado, get in mah belly!

On Friday, the 27th, Caleb tried his first ever food. I skipped the rice cereal, because I thought he just might enjoy the flavor of avocado better than that. Plus, I've read some interesting information regarding the need for rice cereal versus whole foods. All I did was place some avocado in a mesh feeder and Caleb did the rest. His first look was one of confusion, but a few seconds later he gummed away happily at the feeder. I am so proud of how well he did with real food for the first time :) I hope Caleb will love guacamole as much as his momma does!

Easy and Cute Thanksgiving Craft

This year for Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun for Caleb to make a craft and share with his grandparents. We decided to make a baby hand turkey. Instead of tracing his hand, we did it the fun, messy way; with paint! I also added a topical Bible verse on thanks.

What you will need:

Cardstock

Craft paint (I used "burnt umber," think terracotta)

Baby wipes

Fine point markers (red, yellow or orange, and black)

Paper plate

Small sponge

How you do it:

1) If you want to add a Bible verse or other Thanksgiving sentiment, open a Word document, type it out, and print on your cardstock.

2) Wrangle baby completely out of their clothes, in nothing but a diaper, and sit in Bumbo seat. Make sure you're wearing an old shirt yourself.

3) Squirt out about a silver dollar amount of paint onto paper plate. Attempt to sponge paint onto tight-fisted baby palm. Repeat. Again. Pry once more, this time with an enthusiastic, coaxing message: "Juuuust oooopen!"

4) Get more paint on you instead of baby. Leave fingerprints all over your countertop for later cleanup.

5) Squash baby's half open fist onto cardstock. Sweetly coo, "Hold still!"

6) Grab baby wipes immediately and wipe everything down. Ironically, baby obediently opens palm for cleanup.

7) Admire your baby's cute, unidentifiable hand turkeys. Not to mention, those turkeys are missing a few feathers if you know what I mean.

8) After drying, draw eyes, beak, wattle (that red thing that hangs under their neck, and yes, I had to google it), and legs with colored markers.

9) Pat yourself on the back. You just earned a "Creative Mommy" badge :) And the grands will surely love you for it.

Becoming Aware: Choking Hazard Test

I learned of a simple, free, and possibly life-saving tip the other day. To check on choking hazards for your baby, simply test the object with an empty toilet paper roll. If it easily slides or fits through the tube, then it's definitely a choking hazard.