This isnt Max's first snow, but it is the first time he is seeing it and knows what it is.  Though it was freezing cold on Saturday morning, I bundled him up and let him run around the front yard while I was getting us ready to head to the pharmacy - our big trip of the day. 

I cant wait for the snow that we actually get to play in, shovel, and maybe even go sledding.  I know he will love it. 

I havent been terribly good at taking pictures lately - feeling a bit disconnected with my camera.  I mean I totally missed Theo's Six Month post.  (Poor guy ... I'll have to make it up to him somehow.)

Anyway, Christmas came and went in a flash this year.  Probably because I was knee deep in making gifts, one that is still sitting on the kitchen floor that needs finishing, and each time Max walks by it asks when he can play with it.  Soon... I hope...

The few moments I really wanted to get on camera I found myself just being a part of the moment.  For example, Max picking out the cookie, plate and cup for Santa.  Then putting them under the tree.  Then putting the Santa key on the front door knob (because we dont have a chimney).  It was a precious moment.  One I know I'll remember for ... well, ever. 

So next year I'm thinking I need to have a holiday party.  If for nothing else but to have reason to do this:


via

How cool is this??

The horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary last week has really shaken me.  I am constantly thinking about those kids.  I am finding I am hugging Max more throughout the day.  Today I went to daycare three times, where I usually just go once, to see Theo.  I piled everyone in the rocker tonight and we hung out just a bit longer than usual. 

Those families have all my prayers this holiday season.  There is nothing I have or will do that is as important as spending time with my boys and praying for those affected. 

I've been avoiding the laundry, dishes, lunches and bottles tonight.  Christmas is crippling me - just with all the things that I need to do, what I want to do with Max and Theo.  I want to make it special for them. 

I read about this little girl tonight and broke down.  Look at her innocent face. 


I literally just want to bring her home.  Yes, Yana has Downs Syndrome.  Yes, it would be an tremendous amount of work and would probably kill me financially.  I just cannot fathom the care she is receiving if its true about the orphanges. 

Jeannett at Life Rearranged is raising money to assist Yana's forever family.  If you can find it in your heart this season, can you join me in donating to Jeannett's cause?  It wont be me bringing her home, but I want to do what I can to make sure she does get a chance to be with people who will love her, care for her, make her smile, laugh, and make Christmas special for her.   

pinterest

pinterest

Totally inspired by Soulemama. 

I have these evergreen shrubs in the backyard that are totally overgrown and the flower bed is a giant mess,and every year I say I am going to rip them out and plant something more appealing.  Well each year comes and goes, and I never get around to landscaping this particular bed.  Then Christmas comes along and I am very thankful I didnt rip them out so I can make myself a fresh wreath for the house.  Or use in a centerpiece.

This year I decided for a couple of reasons that I would do my best to make gift giving special.  I'm not sure if others feel this over-commercialism of the holiday.  I do especially when I see all the sales for items so so cheap that it makes me wonder exactly what it costs to make these items - you know t-shirts, shoes, electronics, games, etc.  And the over-abundance of these items in the stores only means an over-abundance of items in people's houses.  And which means half of this stuff will be in garage sales this summer. 

So when it came time to start thinking about gift giving, I really wanted to do something from the heart, something handmade.  Yes, this is taking up a HUGE amount of my time.  We are talking late nights, ignored children for an hour or two on the weekends, lots of trips to the thrift and craft stores for supplies.  But I think in the end the receivers of my gifts will appreciate these more than a gift card, or something that they would never use. 

What are you doing for gift-giving this year?

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After the holiday, when everyone has received their gifts I will post everything I made. 

The holiday cards have been ordered.
The 'elving' has begun.
The holiday music station on Pandora is getting plenty of play time.
The holiday movies (Christmas Vacation, Elf, White Christmas, Deck the Halls) are in the DVD player.
The magic seen on Max's face when he looks at the tree, priceless.
The joy Max expresses as we drive home in the dark, and says, 'Look at THAT house!', priceless.

'Tis the season.

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ps - Thank you to my niece for putting up and decorating the tree for me.  Its beautiful.  You cant see it but there is a section on the tree, bottom left, where Max added ornaments.  Like 8 ornaments on one branch.  I will take pictures and savor this.

Each year I receive several adverstisements in the mail from Shutterfly, Snapfish, Tiny Prints, Minted and a few other online places for christmas cards.  When I flip through the beautiful pages I see these awesome pictures that coordinate with the card.  So when it comes time for me to put together our christmas card, the anxiety jumps like six levels because it has to be perfect. 

Well, this year it will be nothing of the sort.  Getting a two year old and an infant to look at the camera at the same time is close to a miracle.  To get a two year old to smile nice and not with some phoney smile all the while saying, 'CHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSEE'.

I was able to get a picture that will suffice for the card.  Its not my favorite, but taking these photos this morning was awesome...just see these:

Just one for now from the weekend.  Might be my all-time favorite of the three of them. 

I havent posted about Max is quite some time it appears.  I've been trying to balance the documentation evenly amongst the two boys, but sometimes one is easier than the other.  Theo does get more attention because of my fear of not capturing something that I captured of Max (because I had the time as he was the only one!).

Obviously Max is older and meeting different milestones than Theo.  Each and every single day Max has something new he throws out at me or my favorite, he will walk by me in the kitchen and say, 'Im talking to you' or 'just a minute mama'.  Or like last night, we are struggling with our bedtime routine (as always), and I closed the door and well he didnt like that.  He knew he was supposed to be in bed, and he got up from bed, opened the door and ran right back into bed.  My frustration released and I laughed. 

I watch Max, witness his growth, in awe of how smart he is, how strong he is. 

I love him.


2012 school picture.  Just look at how grown-up he is?? 




The Twinkies received scooters for their birthdays, and they are pretty savy with them.  This past weekend when spending time with them, Grandma found we might be in a pickle over Thanksgiving. 

Three boys, two scooters. 

She took Max to pick out his own scooter.  This was his first turn on it.  Didnt get the whole 'put your one foot on the ground and push' thing.  Monday night when we got home, he wanted to try again.  I turned on the light in the garage, put his helmet on and went in the house.  I hear this little voice, 'MAMA! I put my foot on the ground!'.  I dropped what I was doing, ran to the garage and watched him try to manuever the scooter - steering and pushing with his foot.  He's getting it, more practice and he'll be an ol'pro!  SO proud of him. 

Its a very rare occasion these days that I get out by myself for fun.  Usually when the kids are with Grandma or cousin Sara, its so that I can run my errands in a timely fashion, not to have fun. 

This past Saturday night was a total last minute deal for me (that means there was a week's notice in planning).  I met up with Mel2 in the city (a friend who also is named Melissa). 

Can I just say that no matter how many times I am in Chicago city limits, or even looking at the city on TV or in pictures, I get this feeling of 'home'.  I love my city.



I enjoy Mel2's company because she is a city girl, a foodie, and a career-minded person.  She and I relate on many levels.  Her last boyfriend-ish up and moved...WHO does that??  Anyway, I digress.

We started the evening at the Trump Tower/Hotel.  One of the elevators was covered, I mean covered in gingerbread and frosting.  Um, yum.  If it wasnt treated to stay like such, I would have taken a bite...literally....yes, I would have....I have that kind of cooth when it comes to gingerbread.  (could you imagine the elevator doors open and here I am taking a bite out of the wall, licking the frosting from my fingers!!)



 Of course the hotel was decorated Trump style - always over-the-top and the best.  It was gorgeous.  My only picture doesnt do it any justice.


We went to Roots Pizza for dinner.  Had the best grilled ricotta, yes I said that ... grilled ricotta.  It was creamy, salty, sweet served on plain white toast.  Heaven!  The Northerner salad was delish, one of my favs. 

After dinner, right when we were going to wallow in men, we walked next door to the Bleeding Heart Bakery and delved into a giant cakeball.  Look at these things:


As we walked back to my car, we passed up probably one of the very last record stores.  This has got High Fidelity written all over it. 


Sweet Home, Chicago.

Since becoming a parent my thoughts on money and how to spend it have changed.  Since becoming a parent to two kids, it changed drastically.  Gone are the days of not blinking at spending $100 for a pair of shoes. 

The biggest area of adjustment in my budget was my food bill.  Certainly gone are the days of eating out.  I've been doing an awesome job of brown-bagging my lunch, and making sure we are home for meals.  I might go to the grocery store a bit more now, but the money spent goes a lot further than just one meal. 

Today is a perfect example, we were at the Jewels (as us Chicagoans say) to pick up some items for dinner.  On the list too was cake mix, so we stopped there last on the way out. Max picked up this, and says, 'Chocolate muffins please.'


My initial reaction was, 'eh...well...' and before I could get out a full answer, I saw the price tag.  Ready for this???  $4.59.  That's right, four dollars and fifty-nine cents.  In my head I was all, 'ARE YOU KIDDING ME? FOUR DOLLARS for a muffin mix??', though the words that came out of my mouth, 'Why dont we try this instead?' pulling the small Jiffy box of chocolate muffins off the shelf. 

I have no problems making these for him, but not at that price tag nor ingredients.  I looked closer at the muffins on the Reese's box and its simply a chocolate muffin with a peanut butter streusel.  Simple.  I'll google peanut butter streusel when I get home.

So for $.89 I took the Jiffy box with us, which I think Max had a better liking too because the box was small and he had better control over it. 

Without further ado, our Peanut Butter Chocolate muffins:



How did I make these?
-Follow the directions on the box for the muffins.
-Found this recipe for Peanut Butter Muffins, and just used the streusel topping. 

A parenting win this weekend! (Thank heavens, because Im starting to feel defeated by the teething!)

Here you are five months old now.  I cant believe how fast you are growing.  It almost makes me sad to know that I'll never get these days back and therefore I want them to last forever.  Then on the flip side, I am SO excited to see you grow and meet your milestones and express more of who you are.  Just dont grow up too fast, okay?

At five months,

-you celebrated your first Halloween, though you were sick, so you had to stay in the house with Ginga and cousin Sara. 

-you are sitting up just about by yourself, very little support is needed and you dont wobble over too much. Way to Go!

-still working on the rolling over, though there are more and more signs of it; it probably helps when I give you more floor time.

-on the verge of cutting your first tooth. 

-starting to transition to stage two foods, expanding the palate.  Just like your brother, you dont like anything green, only orange. 

-you absolutely adore your brother, constantly watching him, smiling and laughing.

-you laugh when I yell at your brother.

-you have the chunkiest legs, I just want to eat them up! (in other words, a good sign of strength!)

You simply amaze me every single day.  I've fallen head over heals for you.  I worry so much that I dont spend enough one on one time with you.  Especially during the week, so I find the weekends are usually us just hanging out - all three of us.  I love it.

I love you.

Love,
Mama
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Just some random photos I took last weekend of Theo. I was prompted by second child syndrome - felt the need to snap every move, smile, moment to catch up to what I captured of Max.