December Blog Challenge

Robin, in her oh-so-subtle way (scroll down to comments) has issued a challenge on the Littlefield's blog: blog each day in December. So I saw her little "blog every day" and I raised her a "make each post title a line from a Christmas song."

So now, I'm throwing it out there to you. Play with us! Each day in December, post something-- not necessarily something interesting, just something (this may be especially challenging for our tri-annual posters out there.) Come on...it'll be fun!

I'm resting up for the big kick-off day. See you on Saturday!

Good News and Bad News

The good news first...the Pilgrims are gone from our neighbors' yard!




The bad news...penguins and snowmen took their place.



Fantastic.

Sorry it's blurry. I was scared I was going to get caught. If I would have had more time, I would have gotten a shot of the wooden cut-out (lit up by its own spotlight, of course) of Baby Asher in the manger with a sign that says "the reason for the season." I could only assume it was Baby Asher because he had blond hair and blue eyes. And unless middle eastern babies looked really different 2,000 years ago, there's no way that could be Jesus.

At least the Pilgrims were the right ethnicity.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Check this out: The 20 Worst Foods in America!

Or don't. Depends on if you are a "knowledge is power" or a "ignorance is bliss" kind of person. Bottom line--American's need to eat at home more.

This Week in Pictures

We went to a wedding on Saturday. This is where Asher and I spent most of our time since he is now a non-stop talker.



Tye and Bethany and Asher and me. Those boys love a good wedding!




This is Noel. He really wanted to be in our picture but he tried to make it look like he didn't.



Here are a few from Thanksgiving. I never really got a good picture of his outfit but it was really cute!





Asher gave thanks and then enjoyed the traditional feast of peas, pears, and Gerber puffs.



Our family.

So here's how my birthday went down

I'm sure you are all waiting for the details of the actual birthDAY. Thank you for your patience. Here's what happened.

I decided that it would be a nice birthday treat for Kris and I to get to spend some time together. I thought it would be great for us to have a little time that wasn't consumed with pureed veggies and diapers and toys that make noise. As it turns out, happiness for us is pretty much synonymous with all of those things...and the little boy who necessitates them.

We attended a wedding on Saturday, the day before my birthday, in a part of town that is known for its great restaurants and shopping. So the plan was that my mom would come pick Asher up after the wedding and then Kris and I would go eat and shop and then come home, SLEEP LATE, and then go pick up Asher around lunchtime the next day. I think I thought that I could revert back to the pre-Asher days where sleeping late was the best thing that could happen to me.

But that is no longer the case. I missed that little guy SO MUCH! I had no idea how emotionally unprepared I was to be away from him overnight. A few hours is fine, but a whole night is another story.

So even though I am distraught, we go to bed, fully intending on taking advantage of being able to sleep late. Didn't happen. At 6:15 my phone rings. Of course, when you awaken from a dead sleep and your child is not at home with you, you assume the worst as happened. I frantically answer the phone. Guess what! WRONG NUMBER!!!

I was ticked! Now I was wide awake with adrenaline coursing through my veins. The only reason that Asher was spending the night away had just been ripped from me by idiotic wrong number guy. Great start to birthday. I lay there, trying to calm down and lower my blood pressure. I finally started to dfirft back to sleep and then guess what! The phone rings again. Yes, it was my wrong number friend.

Something in me snapped. I pick up the phone and proceeded to let this guy have it. I was furious!!! I was yelling at him and words that I thought had long left my vocabulary surfaced. Kris grabs the phone from me and hangs up. I fall on the bed and burst into tears because not only do I miss Asher more than I can bear, I have said ugly words, one in particular, that made me feel horrible. Happy birthday to me.

So I am bawling my eyes out, I'm exhausted, and I am now a sailor. Great. Kris decided we just need to get ready and go over to my parent's house to get Asher. So that's what we did.

Of course Asher was having a great time. He loves his grandparents and was quite content to hang out over there. I think we were way more excited to see him than he was to see us, but that's OK. We stayed there for a while and then had lunch with my parents and then went home.

And that was birthday. Lessons learned include: Sleeping late isn't possible anymore. Don't sleep with the phone on my side of the bed. In the future, when I wake up on my birthday, I want Asher (and any other children that may come along) to be there or it just won't be right.

The Best Poem Ever

My friend, Robin, who is pretty much the Poet Laureate of the blogosphere, as evidenced here, here, and here, wrote another incredible piece that you must read, which you can do here. Seriously, she has outdone herself with this one.



ps--Birthday month still in full swing. Loving every minute of it. Turned 28 on Sunday, but there are still 10 days of intense birthday fun left.

Asher Jump Up

Ok--really bad photography, but I took this picture and thought about how the first time I put him in it, he could barely see over the top of it. I told him to knock of this getting bigger stuff, but he doesn't listen.

Wrong.

This just is. It's wrong. And a little scary. Life-sized pilgrim cut-outs? Come on! Where will the yard crap end? These particular neighbors don't even have young children to somewhat justify this.

My neighborhood has the unfortunate disctinction of not always having the most tasteful or understated decorations for holidays, but this blows me away. Where would you even purchase something like this? Is there a whole Yard Crap store that I am unaware of?

Okay, I'm done now. I feel better. Thanks for letting me get that out.

Birthday Month: Day 15

Birthday month is going great, thanks for asking. What makes it extra special is that I have a husband who lets me get away with a made up thing like birthday month. He humors me quite often, which makes me love him even more. He tells me--everyday, mind you---"Happy ___ day of birthday month!" And yesterday, for the 14th day of birthday month, he and Asher gave me these beautiful roses.

Aren't the lovely? They made my day! (I know, Robin--I should have cropped out the bottle and dish soap, but that required several more steps that I am unwilling to take right now.)

So the birthday joy contiunes. I love birthday month!

Little Drummer Boy

Asher's favorite toy is the drum he got from the Andries. He is always practicing. He's very dedicated to his art.


Almost as dedicated as I am to keeping a clean house, as you can tell.




He also likes this toy that he got from Carson.



We have big fun over here.

O, Christmas Tree

I'm just not that into you.

It's not that I am anti-tree. I enjoy the symbiotic relationship that we have with our photosynthetical friends...I do. And I occasionally make tree-friendly choices when presented with the opportunity to do so. I think trees are fantastic.

It's not that I'm anti-Christmas tree, either. I love looking at other people's Christmas trees. When other people put them up, I thoroughly enjoy gazing at the colorful ornaments and sparkling lights. Again, fantastic.

The thing is, I'm anti-hassle. While I like Christmas trees in general, I have no desire to spend the time and money that it would require in order to have one in our house. I have felt this way for quite some time. Kris and I have never had a tree. And now that I am on the brink of having a crawler to contend with, I feel even more justified in foregoing this tradition.

I know, I know...poor Asher--Mrs. Bah-Humbug herself for a mother. I'm sure I sound pretty Scrooge-esque, not putting up a tree for my child's first Christmas. I feel confident that he will not be permanently scarred. In fact, I think hearing the words, "no, no!" eighty times a day as he tries to attack the tree would be much more of a drag for him than just omitting the tree altogether.

So no tree again this year. But when you get yours up, invite us over so I can take Asher's picture in front if it ;)

An Update and A Picture

Here's a numerically-themed summation of what's been going on...

--It's day 10 of birthday month.

--Asher turned 9 months old on Wednesday.

--I bought 8 items at Whole Foods this week, one of which being Burt's Bees Very Volumizing Pomegranate and Soy Shampoo and I really like it.

-- I have 7 more pounds to lose before I reach my goal weight, also referred to as "wedding weight."--my weight at the best wedding I've ever been to. My goal was to have it gone by my birthday. That's probably not going to happen. But since starting South Beach, I have lost about 40 lbs. Since giving birth, I have lost 66. That is both exhilarating and disturbing.

--It's been 6 days since I last posted.

--We had dinner last night with a family that has 5 children. If this mom and dad wrote a book on how to raise children, I would read it...twice.

-- I put 4 ingredients in my salad tonight: walnuts, dried cranberries, Fuji apples, and organic lettuce. Plus olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I guess that's 6. Never mind.

-- Kris has less than 3 weeks left until Thanksgiving break. This is the time at which he will realize why being a teacher is not so bad. We are looking forward to 3 days with him!

--We went to 2 birthday parties today and they were super fun.

--I am currently looking for songs that have the word "one" in them. I plan on downloading them from iTunes and playing them as the background music for Asher's 1st birthday. If you can think of any, leave them in the comments. Thanks!

Work Hard, Play Hard

That's what Asher always says.





Here's where we're at regarding crawling. He does get up and rock on his knees, but usually this is as far as he gets.

Latest Blog Crush

Being the hardcore crafter that I am...ok, want to be...I find myself reading crafty blogs often. I thought I'd share my latest find.

Sew, Mama, Sew has a ton of cute, vintage-inspired crafts that I just may get around to making. I love stuff like this! I want to be all vintagy cute! It's coming...I can feel it.

And in honor of birthday month, she is posting a fun craft each day to make for gifts. I mean, she didn't say it was for birthday month, but it is November and we are talking about gifts so I can only assume she somehow heard it was birthday month and wanted to join in the merry-making.

So go make something cute (for me. Because it's birthday month. Are you ready for me to stop saying birthday month yet?)

It's Birthday Month!

Welcome to November everyone, also known as Bithday Month! This marks the beginning of a joyous season which, I feel, is really the high point of the year. I posted an explanation last year, but for my newer readers, here it is again, just so everyone is on the same page. Of course, I'll be 28 this year, but we will be adhering to the same guidelines as last year.

"I do not feel that one day is an adequate amount of time in which to celebrate fully, so I begin the festivities when the month begins. So we are on the coutdown to November 18, when I will turn...27! It is sort of like Hannukah, but without the menorah. I would like to receive a present each of the 18 days. Sometimes, I accomplish this by purchasing my own gift, and I am fine with that. I'm not talking major giftage--just a gesture...some candy, a tasty beverage of some sort, a magazine. Then, on the big day (again, November 18,) we culminate and I release all restrictions on size and cost."

To kick things off, Kris and I worked up a little number for you. I hope you like it!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

(ht: Ari)

Let the birthday fun begin!