Saturday, November 28, 2009

illumination

After a couple of trips to Lowes and endless runs up and down the ladder by the hub, the Christmas lights are complete! Now, seeing the inside decorations, we scream Pottery Barn-esque traditional. But we went a little crazy with the outside this year, spurred on by the hub's love of LED lights.


Candy cane lights...


And what did we find in the mailbox today? That's right! This note just made me feel all warm and gooey inside. It's not often a stranger goes out of their way to give you a compliment. Talk about some Christmas spirit!



Now, on to the inside decorations. This is where I like traditional and timeless decor. I want you to walk into the living room, and feel like Clark Griswold could walk in behind you at any moment. I get eat up with the little things, like Britton's personalized snowman stocking and apothecary jars full of shiny ornaments.

Our Department 56 village - Christmas tree lot, grocery store, piano store, and hardware store...

Our beautiful tree...

The mantel and fireplace...

Village from the snowy perspective...

My thrift store ceramic tree find...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

thankful

Britton's first road trip was a success! We went down to visit the hub's aunt, cousin, and grandma, and had a wonderful visit. We had a rocky start, as Britton didn't seem to be into the whole "being strapped down in the car" thing. We picked up Grandma at the airport and ended up giving Britton a bottle before hitting the road. By the time we got there, Britton was in good spirits, and the entire way home she giggled with Grandma.

Today we woke up bright and early, and I got antsy to start Christmas decorating. The hub rolled his eyes, but eventually the spirit got him too and he was setting up a Department 56 village. Then we took family portraits for our Christmas card (no previews here!) and then we made Thanksgiving dinner.

Today, as every day, I am thankful for my family. Not only the family you are born into, but also the family you choose. I am thankful that Grandma got to spend Thanksgiving with us. I am thankful for my beautiful baby girl and sassy doggy girl. I am thankful that I get to live in America. And, finally, I am thankful for clear starry Oklahoma nights.

Cotton fields and sunset...

Good car passenger...


Not snow...cotton...

Carrie, Judy, Britton & Sandra...

Generations...


I know I said we don't decorate until the day after Thanksgiving, but I got itchy to do it this year...


First Thanksgiving...


Britton loves the tree lights...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

elephants amok

I have a slight obsession with elephants. I love them. Elephants and penguins are my favorite two animals. There's something about them being so sweet and loving and needing protection that makes me turn the channel during "Planet Earth" when either of these two animals are in danger. Britton's nursery doesn't really have a "theme." The bedding has flowers and polka dots, and one wall is pink. I wanted to surround her with a warm and fun room, one that could grow with her. And part of that meant that I could indulge in some elephants.

Picture I swiped from the internet...

A stuffed elephant I found at Barnes and Noble while pregnant and decided I had to get it...

The bank Auntie Jessica got Britton at her shower (it's actually silver, but reflecting the pink wall)...

And, our newest acquisition, the humidifier which looks like an elephant, and vapor comes out of the trunk!

Monday, November 23, 2009

i made my choice


When my mom was in town, I had a job interview. And in the middle of last week, I got a call offering me the job, which I accepted. My first day back at work will be January 4th. I won't be practicing law, because frankly I don't want to take another bar exam and the hours are ridiculous. I'm working for the same company as the hub, but a different department, where I will be handling leases of mineral rights. Going back to work has been a decision that the hub left up to me, but in all seriousness, there really wasn't much of a choice. Unless I wanted to default on my student loans or deplete our savings account, a second income was a necessity.

And, in truth, I like take-out. I like BabyGap clothing. I like Pampers Sensitive diapers and wipes. I like Disney World. I like Vegas weekend trips. I like special formula at $53 per case that makes Britton a happy camper. I like my great credit score. What I don't like is leaving Britton. We found a great daycare for her, costing a little less than our mortgage (seriously), but the place is new and qualified and safe. They even have video cameras in the room so I can check in on her during the day.

But I don't want to miss a thing. I don't want to sit in my office while Britton rolls over completely for the first time, while she speaks her first word, while she crawls and then walks and then runs. So I'm savoring these last six weeks with her, and soaking up as much of her as I can. I've already framed pictures of her to put into my new office. Going back to work after nine months off will be a huge adjustment. Going back to work as a mom will be an even bigger adjustment.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

sleeping like a...well, you know




I have fallen prey to the new-mom phenomena of thinking the worse about every transition. I used to agonize about how to transition Britton from the hammock to the crib, and have the five thousand google searches to prove it. I read how you should put your baby to bed awake but drowsy and thought to myself, "Yeah, right."

But I also read that parents of babies who previously had colic will often go through very elaborate and extended rituals to get their baby to sleep. And how this excessive intervention can actually make sleeping worse for babies. I am guilty. Britton's bedtime routine was more superstitious than a baseball player. I was convinced that any slight deviation would send her into incessant crying and those sleepless nights my memory won't let go of. Essentially, I was creating a lot of work for nothing.

I put Britton in her crib for naps, awake but drowsy. And you know what she does? She falls asleep. Sure, she might play around for a little bit, or cry out or fuss, but she does go to sleep. We don't let her "cry it out" because with Britton, a cry means: (A) gas, (B) needs to burp, (C) hungry, or (D) wet diaper. Those are your options, and none warrant leaving her crying alone in her crib.

At night, the routine is down to bath, then bottle (with a little rice cereal to help prevent spit-up) in her nursery with the lights down and ocean waves playing, a little walk, swaddle, and bed. No more long drawn-out hour upon hour of rituals. Whew! And without those long nights of sleep intervention, everyone is getting more sleep. Yes, the hub and I have turned into our parents. Bedtime at 9:30 (or earlier), up on weekends at 7:00. And the thing I hate to admit - I like it. We get more done, fit more into our day, aren't rushed on errands. What's next, complaining about my old lady bones?

Friday, November 20, 2009

milestones

Now, I don't think these qualify as child development "milestones" that people freak out about if their child is reaching them at a certain point. I don't really pay attention to those, unless the absence of them signals something important. So, in this house, we celebrate everything! Like...

Hanging out in the Bumbo chair!

Still loving grabbing some pants...

Watching that box that has bright lights and sound...

Somehow ending up sideways at the end of the crib (this picture is of our video monitor and yes, that's her sleep positioner two feet away)!

Playing with something besides hands and feet - Winnie the Pooh snuggly makes an appearance...

And then Winnie the Pooh stays in the mouth...

Winnie the Pooh AND the Bumbo...we're reaching milestones, people!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

the good and the bad (no ugly)

The Good

Britton almost rolled over today! She pulled her legs up and swung them around, turning her body over. I ran to get the video camera and spent a good ten minutes begging her to do it again. No such luck. So, I forced her into a re-enactment.

Laying on the ground, watching "Martha Stewart" make some gross celery root gratin dish*, and thinking about rolling...


"Hmmm, I rolled over and mom is freaking out. Awesome. Is she getting the video camera? How about I be stubborn and pretend to have no idea what she wants me to do?"






The Bad



Yes, that's Sadie napping with a Christmas moose toy. A toy she dragged out of the Christmas gift closet and put on such a pitiful display that I felt compelled to give it to her now. Except it was meant for Boomer. Because Sadie already found her toy last night, and the hub felt guilty and gave that one to her. So, she's napping because she's exhausted from playing with TWO new toys. If she keeps this up, her stocking's going to be empty!

*I know doctors and experts and such recommend that babies and children under two years old don't watch television. But she isn't being forced to watch episodes of "Cops" or "Grossest Medical Procedures V" and she likes the flashing lights, and I can't leave the television off all day or I'll go nuts, so it's ok.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

best gift ever



Dear Santa,

I've been a good girl this year. And I can think of many gifts I want, but what I really want you can't put under the tree on Christmas. I want to freeze time, and memorize every detail of my beautiful baby girl. I want to always remember the softness of her hair, the sweetness of her laugh, the fire in her cry, and the peace she has when sleeping. I want to always remember the color of her eyes, like the ocean before a storm. I want to always remember her contented sighs when she is eating. I want to always remember how difficult it was to get to this point, so that I will always be grateful that she is a part of my life. I want to always remember the first time she grasped my finger and wouldn't let go. And, finally, I want to always remember that she has taught me that the purest of human instinct is to love, and be loved.


Sunday, November 15, 2009

sorry, hands

Alas, Britton has gotten so much enjoyment from playing with her hands that we didn't even need to buy her toys. Well, we bought them, but she ignores them for the much sought-after hands. But, she's moved on to bigger and better. Britton's new favorite toys are her feet. She stares at them nonstop, so much that in the car we think her head has fallen down and she can't pick it up. But she can - she's just choosing to stare at her legs and feet. And now her hands have discovered something else fun to grip - pants.



"Ohhhhh, legs are cool and pants are fun..."

Friday, November 13, 2009

Cammy's visit

My mom came to visit on Wednesday and is staying until tomorrow morning. Her flight here got delayed (damn you, Norfolk International Airport! And you're not even "international" so that's false advertising!) so she missed her connection in Chicago. But, she got on another flight and made it here. Britton has been having fun hanging out with her while I have been indulging in a one hour massage on Thursday and a job interview and sushi with the hub today. Yesterday Cammy and I went shopping and found Britton the cutest ever Christmas dress for her picture with Santa. And being the sheltered person I am, I had my FIRST Philly cheesesteak!

We then tried for HOURS to get Britton to smile for a picture - a big laughing smile, but like the diva she is she wasn't having any of it and wouldn't cooperate. Of course, the minute we put the camera down, she was gumming it up. Tonight we are all going out for barbeque, because that is what you do when company comes to visit you in Oklahoma. Cammy's going to try brisket for the first time, and I am getting my standard barbeque sandwich with cole slaw on it. Yum!