Another Lunchtime Photo Shoot

Why am I always taking pictures during meals? Because the best lighting in our home is there! I don't even need a flash or slow shutter to get pics in our eat-in kitchen!

"What is the meaning of life, anyway?"

"Pardon? What do you mean 'I'm so silly'?"

"My what?"

"Oh this? This is my napkin hat."

"I thought it was obvious. Sometimes I wonder if you are one card short of a full deck, Mom"

No, son, just one year short of a full night's rest. Those expressions were worth it, though.

What a difference a year makes!

Or maybe not... the pants still fit! Yey for wool and it's stretchy goodness! Courtesy of Tante Teresa

December 2010

January 2010

New November Video

There are some new video clips up - go check it out!

November Video Clips

Playdate Fun

Today we went to this super awesome indoor play center with our mom's group. Joseph and I *both* had a great time!

Just like the Olympics, right?

Let's play "sit on Mama's lap"

Baby? What baby? No baby here.

On the Balance Beam

Bouncy time!

Visit with Santa

I am a mean, mean mama. I know someday I'll laugh at this picture, but I feel just a wee bit sad from the event today. It took him almost 10 seconds to get that first scream out, he was so upset.

So sad. So classic.

Santa has a twinkle in his eye, though. Ha!

FO: Knit-a-palooza

We had intended this weekend to be full of house projects, but since we did not close on time (grr) I turned my attention to more noble pursuits: finishing my baby-knit list.

Unless you are new to the blog or have short-term memory loss, you know that I had about 487 new babies to knit for this year. OK, slight exaggeration. But my excel spreadsheet (yes I know, nerd) shows 16 babies. Good grief!

I've spent nearly the entire year behind on baby knitting. Luckily I aim for larger sizes, so hopefully no one will receive a too-small item. (If you do, just jam it on them for 30 seconds and send me a photo! I'll never be the wiser!)

The good thing about these nature-imposed deadlines is that I really improved my knitting this year and had tons of fun with new friends. My knitting looks better than ever! The sad news is that I had to give it all away! So I'm declaring 2011 the year of knitting [mostly] for me (and my men)!

Without further adieu, here's all of my progress from this weekend!

Snug little sweater for Miss Shelby (needs buttons still)

Flirty Cloche for Clara

Still need to sew on the flower...

Cable pom hat for Baby Roberts

Baby Tate's faux cable hat

In the works... an eyelet sweater for Emma

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're thankful for all of our family and friends, who are such an important part of our lives!

Caught with his pants down

Everyone gets caught with their pants down, from time to time. It happens to poor Joseph more frequently than most, though, since he's got such a skinny bum!

I found him like this when I came in from another room. Being the incredibly mean mom that I am, instead of helping him I ran for the camera!

This was with a cloth diaper. Can you imagine if he wore disposables???

Sleep, baby, sleep

We've been having issues with Joseph's sleep since the time change. He typically goes to bed around 7-7:30 and has been waking up around 5am. According to things I've read, he should be sleeping in total about 13 hours a day at his age. His naps are not consistent, and range from 1.5-2.5 hours (1.5 being the norm and 2.5 being an awesome exception).

I think on average he's been getting about 12 hours of sleep every day. I'd like him to get more, but I'm not sure what to do. Currently we're doing some "controlled crying" in the morning, and I'm hoping that'll get him up to 11 hours overnight (and at least till 6am for mama and daddy's sakes!).

I'm considering moving his bedtime to 8pm, but he tends to wake up at the same time in the morning regardless of how late we push bedtime. On the other hand, I don't want to be unrealistic by thinking he can consistently sleep 11+ hours overnight (from 7:30-6:30 ideally).

Any ideas from the parents out there? He's 20.5 months old. Is his bedtime to early? Expectations too high? Is this just a phase we have to ride out? He crashes quickly at night at his current bedtime and is usually exhausted by nap time since he's up at 5am.

Hot Date

Joseph and I went out to breakfast on Friday to The Flying Biscuit. It's a GREAT place to bring kids. Food comes out fast, there is lots to look at, and they have crayons, of course.

We had a delicious breakfast, and Joseph did awesome. He played with the crayons, drove his cars around the table a bit, and had fun looking at all the big trucks zooming by outside. He used his manners and did not break any plates by banging his fork (which has happened at home). He even ate a fair amount of food! Success all around.

Mama draws the best shapes

"Dah" = Green Triangle, don'cha know.

"Oh, look, another truck! I think that makes is 537 now"

Can't you just hear him saying "ooooh wooooow"