Christmas 2008

You'll have to forgive me. My computer is giving me hell and I can't move the photos around where they belong; therefore, they're all mashed together at the top in no order...sorry! 

               "Hot Stuff" on her new scooter! 

My little man!

Me and my babies!

It's Snow White!

Santa delivered, yet again!  I've been holding onto all of Salem's gifts since last Christmas, so I was thrilled to get some of my closet space back for other storage necessities!  Some of the items Santa brought her this year were:

* "Silver" ---her riding horse

* ESPN basketball hoop 

* Rose Petal Cottage indoor house

* Princess scooter and helmet that she LOVES

* Grow with me Barbie skates (the ones you put your shoes into)

* Barbie walkie talkies 

* Princess dress up trunk

* books

* Hungry, Hungry Hippo game

* Makeup brushes...she's obsessed and carries them around in her scooter basket!  

* A booklet of over 500 tattoos; so next time you see Salem and she has tattoo sleeves on both of her arms, don't ask!  

Andrew went out and did separate shopping all on his own for the kids and didn't tell me.  He bought the kids clothes, dvd's/books and did a great job!  I was super duper impressed! Okay, so the clothes were all Florida Gator colors, but hey, at least they came from POLO!  

I was thrilled with what Santa brought me as well.  I received Starbucks gift cards...THE BEST GIFT EVER, THANK YOU SANTA!, peppermint hot cocoa mix to go with my new hot chocolate pot from Williams- Sonoma, Tommy Bahama perfume, running clothes, all new bathroom decor set from Pottery Barn and PB gift cards, candles, and my camera was also part of my Christmas.  This will come as a shocker for most of you, but I was jazzed to get the newest released Pat Green cd!  I know, I'm NOT a Texas fan and can't stand most country music; however, I DO love me some good ol' Pat Green!  He was just here for a concert in November, but unfortunately, we had to miss it do to delivery conflicts with baby Tavin. One of my favorite things to do is get together with HARB, drink, dance and sing to Pat Green!  Andrew has even become a fan, even bigger shocker!  

Out of guilt, I also decided to do a LITTLE bit of cooking today.  I woke up this morning, made breakfast, Andrew smoked salmon, and whipped up a few side dishes and pumpkin pie to go with the ham.  Nothing major, but I now feel better about myself.  

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!!!

Just Wondering....

Is there anyone out there, other than myself, that DIDN'T do any holiday cooking/baking?  Other than a few side dishes for dinner tomorrow and a pumpkin pie, I, once again, ordered my ham from the New Braunfels Smokehouse.  With us being alone, I just don't see the need to cook myself into a mad frenzy!  I would get myself all worked up (for nothing) because my children would be screaming for me while I frantically tried to cook up a ton of goods and for what.....just so Andrew and I can get fat??????  No, not this year!  I'm trying to loose the baby weight, not gain it all back and then some!  I hope you all enjoy your wonderful breads, casseroles, baked goods, etc.; I AM jealous and I'm sure Andrew is too!  

Salem's Ways

Andrew and I have been given new names from little Miss.

Andrew: "Andrew Daddy"

Me: "Noel Mommy"

She'll occasionally try to sneak a fast one on me and just call me Noel, but I lay the smack down on that one!  

Baby's 1st Christmas!

Proud big sister with HER baby Tavin!

Last night, we (along with our friends Kris & Dawn), took the kids Christmas caroling in our neighborhood. Caroling might not be the correct word usage. It was more along the lines of jamming out to Christmas tunes from a portable cd player while walking and sharing a bottle of wine. We'll do just about anything as long as it involves getting together with friends and having a drink or two...or 3, or 4, or....

Loving my phil & teds double stroller!

The big event of the evening was dressing Tavin up in the baby outfit I wore for my 1st Christmas 26 years ago! I'm sure my parents are having major flashbacks comparing the 2! I must also add that these photos WERE NOT taken with my kick ass, brand spankin' new camera/GIFT of mine...MINE!!! I'm tired of being critiqued by another adult in this household whos name I'll so kindly not mention. I can't even touch the damn thing without some nervous sound coming out of his mouth. I think I've come up with the solution of only using it when the certain someone isn't under the same roof as I am. It's a shame.

Our Rock Star!

If only......

I could get both my children to nap at the same time, then life would be really grand!  

Been busy

Goodness, where does the time go?????? I don't even know where to begin! For the past month, we've had non-stop guests (my mom & stepdad, Andrew's parents, Kelly & Glenn Ott, and one of my best friends from Alaska, Kim, just left 2 days ago.) You can also throw in giving birth Tavin, Thanksgiving, my birthday ( the 6th), Christmas decorating, sick kid, doctor's apt.'s, picture apt.'s, sitting on Santa (well, Tavin sat on Santa; Salem was scared shitless once she laid eyes on him), and I can't even remember what else...but I know there's a ton more under this sleep deprived mind of mine!

Tavin's 2 week well baby checkup went as planned...he's right on track and growing like a weed! As of yesterday, he's out of preemie diapers (Salem wore them for the first 2 months of life), he can fit into "some" newborn sets, and is my little snuggle bear. He LOVES to cuddle up with mommy and sleep; I just love it!

Weight: 6 pounds, 14 ounces

Height: 19 inches.....what the heck? Tavin was 19 1/2 inches at birth. Someone told me that it's "normal" and babies shrink in size after the cone head goes down. Tavin never had a cone head to begin with. He came out to darn fast for such a thing to occur. Oh well, I'll let it go that they said my kid shrunk!

Head: 35 cm.

I have bucket loads of photos to share with you; however, I'm still trying to figure out how to use my birthday present to its fullest! Yes ya'll, he delivered! Andrew surprised me with the camera that I've been asking for for years.....okay, months (Canon Rebel XSi!) I love it, but dread the learning process that is associated with new gadgets.

Medela Micro-Steam Bags

These are a MUST HAVE for any mom's out there! With my dishwasher already filled to max capacity on the top shelf with all of Salem's plastic pieces, I could hardly find any room to shove Tavin's bottles (speaking of, yes, I had to give up breast feeding the other day due to lack of production.) So, I am forever grateful to a girlfriend of mine who introduced me to this wonderful invention! For $5 you get a pack of 5 sterilization bags that can each be used up to 20 x's per bag ,and all you have to do is fill it with your accessories, pour 2 oz. of water in the bag, microwave for 2 minutes and taaaaaaa-daaaaaaaa.......you have clean, ready to use bottles! If you're breast feeding, it also works great on all pump pieces/tubing too!

Pass the word along or grab a bag for any new mommy out there! Trust me, they come in very handy!