Trial Run with Santa

Going downtown to see the tree at Westlake Center Thanksgiving weekend has become something of a tradition for us.  It started long before we had kids and while it's changed a bit since they arrived, it's something we look forward to doing.  So yesterday, we decided we'd go after Beau woke up from his nap, have dinner at Icon Grill, see the tree, the Macy's star (which will always be the Bon Marche star to me, sorry Macy's), the carousel, and do a little shopping.  Aside from the potty emergency at dinner in which Mommy was caught unprepared but that Daddy handled with ease, the evening went pretty well.  At 7:30pm (close to or after both kids' bedtimes)  I spied with my little eye, that the line to see Santa was pretty short.  After letting Lainey a chance to check him out through the window, she agreed to go in and talk to him.  Amazingly, it all went well. Lainey wasn't too keen on sitting on his lap but loved the rocking horse.  Beau checked him out pretty good and didn't start crying til the very end and that was probably due to him being out past his bedtime.  I predicted that he'd be the kid to pull off Santa's beard and he sure tried!

Unfortunately, I only had one lens with me and it wasn't the one I would have chosen had I known we'd be visiting Santa.

It's been a busy weekend with too much turkey and pie eating, putting up lights, falling down cement stairs, visiting Santa, and photo shoots in Mommy's new favorite location.  Today is all about football, crafting and relaxing!  Next weekend   will probably involve getting  our tree, more photos and possibly Christmas cookies!

I can't help but think sometimes:

This can't be my life.

I never dreamed I'd be this happy.

 I am so very blessed.

Lights

I think this is the earliest we have ever gotten our Christmas lights up.  If we didn't have a couple of elves (aka Grammy and Grandpa) to help us, I don't think we'd have gotten them up for another couple of weeks.  

And to make the day extra memorable, Lainey tripped going down the front stairs and gave herself a fat, bloody lip.  After all the bleeding and crying had stopped, all Mommy could think about, besides that my poor baby girl was bloodied up, was that we were having family pictures done the next day and how fabulous she was going to look.  Oh well, now we have a day after Thanksgiving memory.

Thanksgiving 09

I knew something was going to go wrong today when last night, I was not stressed out over the meal AT ALL. I was calm as a cucumber, very unlike me the night before cooking a big meal.  I shook it off, went to bed and woke up this morning to a frozen turkey.  Not good.  We got it thawed in time to eat today thankfully but ended up undercooking it a bit and in the end, came away with something that resembled a Griswold turkey a little too much for my taste.  On top of that, my potatoes tasted good but were full of lumps even though I hand mashed them and ran them through the mixer, the gravy was runny, and the green bean dish was just "off."  Not my best meal.  I should note that I am a very harsh judge of my cooking abilities, or lack thereof, and usually am fairly happy with the results of my thanksgiving efforts.

However.....this is Beau's first Thanksgiving, one of the many many blessings in my life along with Lainey, Robert, my in-laws, sister, Dad, Mary Liz, Lainey and Beau's birth mommies and everyone reading this.  I am so thankful for all of you and love you all very much.

Definitely on the Naughty List

Holding hands

Beau and Lainey held hands walking into the mall today. It was so cute. You should have seen Robert and I trying to snap pictures with our phones.  Another reason I need to replace my p&s that just died. Like I need a reason to buy a camera.....I NEED a camera on me at all times. It's a serious medical condition. At least in my opinion anyway.  Anyway, the moral to the story is, maybe there's hope for these two yet! I just might be able to leave them in a room together and not hear Beau screaming and fighting for his life as his sister squishes him.  That's my Christmas wish Santa.

National Adoption Day

I can't describe the emotions behind this photo other than to say it's probably my favorite photo ever.  Lainey was a day or two old and I had finally gotten a chance to just look at her, this child I'd wished and prayed for and soak it all in.  I'll never forget that moment.

Happy Adoption Day to two very special women in my life whom I owe my happiness and will forever be in my heart.

Lunch with Daddy

I asked Lainey what she wanted to do today and she said, "Let's go see Daddy!" so we called him and luckily, he had time to have lunch with us today.  Since it's been quite some time since we had lunch with Daddy during the week, we decided to wear a dress.  While we waited for Beau to wake up from his nap, we had a little photo session with the pumpkins out on the porch.  At lunch Lainey shocked us by eating all of Robert's sushi.  The girl won't touch anything resembling potatoes (except french fries of course) but she asks for salmon sashimi.  Proof that women really do not make any sense from a very early age! But, in this case, I'll gladly take a child that likes and asks for sushi over one that eats nothing but potatoes, any day!

My head hurts

I don't know how he did it but it hurts to look at it.

On a happier note, he loves drinking from a cup.

Little Miss Baker

Lainey has developed a fondness for cooking and baking these days. She loves to help us cook and has assisted with cookies, pie crusts, dinners, pancakes, etc.  She remembers what utensils were used for cookies and when helping us put away dishes, asks to make cookies again. Well, not so much ask as demand, "I gotta make cookies Mama."  My hope is that she becomes a better cook than her mother.

My Boys (and their matching shirts)

Robert has had this shirt for a couple of years and before Beau was born I bought one for him to match.

Face of an angel

Another first

After many attempts on my part, Beau has finally decided he'll try a sippy cup.   

I love babies hands and love how this pic has them in focus. 

"You really love documenting all these silly firsts don't you Mama?"

Weekend Fun

Future Annie Leibowitz (minus the money troubles).

*******

Beau discovered Veggie Booty tonight and couldn't get enough of it.  If you haven't tried it, don't.  I think it tastes like dirt but kids seem to love the stuff. 

Robert is eating popcorn instead.

Two peas in a pod

Blessed

My babies

Grammy went home today and we are all missing her.  She takes such good care of all of us. It's almost worth getting sick so we can have her back.   Almost, but not quite!!

Yesterday, after playing a little t-ball outside, we took out the "pinano" and had a dance party.  Lainey was pretty good about showing her little brother how to play it.  She danced around the house like a little maniac, having Daddy chase her while Beau was mesmerized by the keys when they lit up.

I spotted Lainey on the couch watching "Ice Cream" or as we know it, Ice Age and gone was my baby.  She is a preschooler now and the moments where I see the baby girl I brought home almost three years ago are getting rarer.  Now she answers me with full sentences, has opinions and thoughts all her own and is not afraid of expressing her wishes.  Lately I've gotten pretty stressed over her strong will and have trying to find ways to "fix" it.  It occurred to me that I get hugs and kisses every day and that parenthood is a marathon, not a race.  So instead of trying to "fix" it, I'm going to work with it and guide her as best I can.  And those precious moments in between, I'm going to savor and burn into my memory and heart.