santa baby

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas-time. Things have been i-n-s-a-n-e since I last blogged!

Here's a little of what we've been up to...

*Opening packages: love my Twillypop necklace- thanks AFS & Sara!! :)

*My dad got back from Qatar.

*My mother-in-law retired from Fort Bend ISD!

*My mother-in-law celebrated her birthday.

*Christmas Eve at my in-law's house with the Kennedy clan.

*Christmas at our house with my parents, my brother, and my in-laws.

*Christmas on Boxing Day with the Clark family at my in-law's.

*My dad celebrated his birthday.

*I got sick. (Zicam dissolving tablets are the worst EVER!)

*Liam is LEARNING!

*And... you can call be Betty Crocker, because I baked my little booty off in my beautiful kitchen!

{pick your poison: gingerbread or sugar}

{mmmm, buttercream}

{the experience}

{my favorites- my nutcrackers!}

{gingerbread village}

{gingerbread village- so much fun!}

Liam has been a kook and a half lately- it's silly to keep telling you that he's coming alive, he's changing so much, he's growing so much, he's this, he's that... because it's obvious. He's just a joy and I thought I'd share a few pictures first of him being a goof ball before I move onto his first Christmas.

{this just plain cracks me up.}

{goof ball.}

{this boy loves his kitty. look at the joy on that face.}

{mixing oatmeal one day, i turned around to see him doing this...}

{and he knows what to do with it. scary.}

Liam had a wonderful first Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve having a slow morning around our house while I cleaned in preparation for our family coming over the next day. THat evening we headed over to Zach's parent's house to celebrate Christmas with Steph's side of the family. It was so much fun to see them all- Little Justin was in from California with fantastic news: he's going to be deployed again but NOT to Afghanistan! Hooray! Instead he's doing a Pacific Tour and we couldn't be happier. Bo and Valerie were also able to make the trek from Florida. Bo doesn't get much time away from the flight school, so it was special to spend time with them. They spend every second in Texas doing something. Between their two families, and planning their wedding long distance, they have a lot to worry about. Steph arranged for her best friend, Liam's Uncle Ross, to come over and play Santa for Liam, Jackson, Lindy and Aiden. Christmas is, and has been, a huge big deal for the Kennedy family. When Zach, Bo and Justin (big Justin) were little, they always had a special visit from Santa on Christmas Eve and they've resurrected the tradition for the little ones. It's very special- Santa brought each child one present... and even thought I doubt very much that Jackson and Lindy will be "believers" for much longer, they'll keep playing along. They were a joy this year. The Dostals dropped by to let Santa Ross bring Holly a present so that made the whole Santa ordeal even merrier, because the house was jam packed. Santa also brought along his wife, Miss Trish and his son, Matt. So special. Liam was kind of scared, so Zach sat on Santa's lap with Liam in his... cracked me up.

Christmas day was spent at our house- my parents, my brother and Zach's parents all came over to spend the day. We exchanged presents, fawned over Liam, made a fabulous breakfast (thanks, Mom!), fawned over Liam, watched the big boys play with Liam's toys, more fawning, watched the big boys play with their remote-controlled cars, fawning... made shrimp chowder for dinner.. .it was fantastic to spend the day with my family, in our new home. I wouldn't have traded the day for anything! Liam CLEANED up. Seriously. He got Spike the Dinosaur from my mom and dad, and the Polar Express Lionel Train Set from Zach's parents. Zach and I got him a few age-appropriate toys and a lot of clothes from babyGap. So cute. Zach got a Flip camera and a monitor for his super computer from me and Liam and he went above and beyond with my present. I adore it- seriously, it may be the best present ever in the history of ever in my book. He's so good. It was a wonderful, wonderful day.
(and i totally already spent my Christmas money @ Ashley Brooke Designs. Can't wait for these to arrive!)

{liam with his present that came from the Haaviks- he had the most fun opening this one!}

{with his train.}

{watching his train-he could have watched it for hours!}

{playing with his slinky dog from toy story.}

{watching his spike the dinosaur. we love this toy.}

At the Clark Family Christmas, Liam got to meet his cousin, Madelynn. Madelynn was born 4 months after Liam, and we're so excited to have these two so close in age. Madelynn is the daughter of Zach's cousin Jason and his wife Charlene- Jason and Zach are looking forward to having their kiddos at Aggie football games together (in the future... when the 1000's of dollars you have to pay for season tickets are worth it...). It was so special- so exciting to see these two together! Liam actually has cousins his age on the Clark side of the family and it's such a joy. Now, we found out that Liam is getting another cousin in July! Hooray!

{liam and madelynn with aunt cari}

{one happy aunt.}

FINALLY (promise)... here are a few things we've got on our plate:

{liam is *this close* to learning to crawl. he can get up on his hands and knees, he can rock back and forth, he can get his hands moving... oh lordy!}

{we sat up by ourselves!!!!!}

{... and we know what bowls and spoons are for.}

christmas w/me

My mom emailed this to me and I thought you all might enjoy playing along- and since I know she reads my blog, I know she'll get the response. Thanks mom!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper- I love to wrap presents!

2. Real tree or Artificial? We have a real tree this year, and I'm coming around to it. Especially since I figured out I got hosed because they're way cheaper at other vendors.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving but we were a little later this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year's. I'm always loath to take it down because I love the light it puts off.

5. Do you like eggnog? I do! But not when Cory and Zach put too much whiskey in it. Ouch.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Samantha. 'Nuff said.

7. Hardest person to buy for? This year, my brother! He's been my stumbling block.

8. Easiest person to buy for? I agree with Mom- Liam! He's getting a lot of clothes this year.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't have a nativity scene. I have 4.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail... mine will be coming after Christmas this year. Sorry, guys. I ordered them but they're not being shipped until the 23rd.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hm... I got a mug one year. Woo!

12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Any version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Including the Mickey Mouse one. And the 2 Home Alone movies and most importantly National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Uh- towards the end of October, beginning of November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Unless you mean strategically leaving a gift we got at my in-law's last year... no.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? GINGERBREAD!! And the cream cheese and jalapeno tamales from Bob's.

16. Color of Lights on the tree? Multi-colored.

17. Favorite Christmas song? The Little Drummer Boy.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at HOME! I enjoyed going to Disney World in 2005, but it didn't feel much like Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen (Rudolph) and I say them in an Arnold voice in my head a la Jingle All The Way.

{aside: this question originally came in this form: "Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?" Dear Lord- it isn't reindeer's. First off- it was plural with an 's' you wouldn't use the apostrophe. Secondly reindeer is plural for reindeer. It's not reindeers. Would you say "I saw a bunch of deers in the field?" I think not. Okay- I'm done. Your gammer lesson for the day is over.}

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? My pretty German glass glitter star from Pottery Barn.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open gifts with the Kennedys on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day we do the intimate family gifts.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Getting out in the traffic.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I need a nativity in as many places as possible. That's about it.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Whatever- I'm more interested in BREAKFAST!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A happy baby all day on the 25th. And a couch. I dream about a couch.

winner winner chicken dinner

Not too many pictures this time, sorry folks! We've been busy and I'm being a total *parent* and taking a thousand pictures of things that nobody else cares about.

SO firstly- I have to thank AFS and Sara @ Twillypop for the fantastic giveaway I blogged about earlier. I was the lucky winner and I cannot, cannot, CANNOT wait for my two little beauties to come in the mail. Thank you, thank you, ladies!

Now... how about a bullet list:

* Tomorrow I have to sit around and wait on the DUPure people for the second day in a row. Woo.

* Liam turned 5 months old this past Sunday.

* I have to finish all my Christmas shopping tomorrow- HAVE TO.

* We're still in a state of disorder at this house. I try but it's difficult with Liam.

* My dad comes home tomorrow- we're really excited.

*I need a high chair. Now. I want the one from Boon- in blue and white, please.

* My husband let me put up a small tree in the living room with white and pink lights and nothing but my Mary's Angels ornaments from Hallmark. So we have two trees in our living room. Liam has a small blue one on his dresser that we use as his night light now.

* I really want to plan a family vacation for October of next year- I'm hopeful. I'm not saying where- that way if it doesn't work out, then I won't feel so bad. Ha. But Zach would be able to eat at his food idol's restaurant if we go where I want.

* We put out a few Christmas lights on Sunday- I like it.

* My backyard is a mud pit- which makes trips to potty difficult with Jethro.

* I want to start my Christmas baking this weekend.

* My brother is getting something from Francois Payard for Christmas- Francois Payard is the chef that recently beat Bobby Flay in their Buche De Noel throwdown.

* We've discussed things and we don't think we'll be *hosting* anything at our house any time soon. We want to plan a barbeque for the staff at the Clinic when it starts to warm up. Zach's wonderful at the grill.

* We've also decided not *sigh* to decorate our master bedroom yet. We have two Chinese dragon figures, my favorite clock (it's got Japanese numbers with a pretty rice paper design on the background), and my two Chiang Mai (in Alabaster) cushions for inspiration. We're going to pull a color from the cushions, we want to go with platinum bedding, get a leather upholstered head board and replace the one bedside table and the small dresser with something that works better for us. Zach recently told me he doesn't want to do this until we can *also* afford to replace our ancient (his term) queen sized mattress with a TempurPedic King size. Oy.

* I saw my birthplace, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, pop up on my feed tracker-- who are you, oh reader from OK? Leave me a comment! I'm curious if it's one of my old ISS friends.

* Is it pathetic that I'm actually more excited about the Olympics in February than Christmas? Yes, I'm that into the Olympics.

* I want to go to Williams Sonoma tomorrow. I need this cakelet pan. I'm envisioning a Christmas cake with two tiers- the bottom a large rectangle... the top an eight inch round set back in one corner. I'll need a couple cupcakes to make hills, and I'm going to ice it in white, fluffy buttercream, make my classic Christmas trees that I made last year and add a little snow and some decor to these cakelets and make a snowy village cake. Or just the cakelets. Whatever.

* I have a theme for Liam's first birthday party. It's taken directly from his Zodiac sign. It's going to be cute.

* I finally ordered Christmas cards. *sigh*

* I think I'm friends with too many hunters- I'm tired of seeing dead deer/duck/pheasant pictures pop up on Facebook.

* My husband and I discovered that our gas stove doesn't have a pilot light last night. After about an hour. Oops.

* I am so freaking tired of the Tiger Woods jokes/comments/crap. Seriously- if I have to hear one more "Tiger's new sponsor is Trojan" or "Tiger's only faithful to his caddy" joke... C'mon- really? He's gross, he's a creep. Your obsession with this whole *thing* is pathetic.

* I NEED help from my ladies in the Houston area. Like- NEED. I have to find a tailor. But, and this is a big BUT, I need a tailor I can trust- one that you'd trust with Badgley Mischka. I'm not going to the little old lady at the "alterations" place by Joann's in First Colony. I have to get something altered for Bo and Valerie's wedding in May- I'm not going to do it yet, obviously it'd be bad to alter during the *fat* time of year, but I want to have some recommendations so I know who I want to go to so I can get prices and things. I'm paranoid about the work being of a good enough quality- I don't want it ruined! PLEASE- I appreciate the help!

Okay- a few pictures----

{my boys laying around together. jethro's coming around.}

{yes, my baby wears the jolly roger for christmas, too}

{double fistin' rudolph.}

{glad i stripped him before dinner, less stress for me.}

stocking stuffer

I got around to getting stockings hung yesterday. We didn't have one for Liam and I've been having trouble deciding what to do about stockings.

Firstly- I hate store bought stockings. The first store-bought I've ever had is the one I've got now that I bought at Target for myself and Zach two years ago. They're okay... just okay. My stocking at my mom's is a beautiful cross stitched Christmas tree my Nana made for me. My stocking at Zach's parents is another beautiful cross stitched one that Steph made me after we got married. She even finished one for Liam recently. So precious. I guess I just really love that I never went over to a friend's house and saw that we had identical stockings. I wanted mine unique and special, and I want that for my family.

But at our house? Nada. I've got our two store bought Target ones and yesterday we just bit the bullet and bought Liam one at Wal-Mart just so he'd have one. He likes it- It has Mickey and Pluto and plays music. Perfect for a baby, but not something I want to stick with.

I've added various stockings from both Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids to my cart and never checked them out. I just can't bring myself to do it. I don't want us to have matching ones- I don't want to get in a position where I'm stuck having to buy all new when we eventually give Liam a sibling because we can't find Child #2 one to match... I'm a freak about stockings.

So today I decided to get on Joann Fabrics and see what cross stitch patterns they had because that's what I was planning on making us- except I found something WAY better! They're "felt applique" kits and I'm so excited about them because a) they're on sale and b) they're something I can make myself so my family has beautiful, personalized stockings made by me!

{for Zach}

{for Me- I love the Nativity}

{for Liam}

Seriously- how adorable are those? I can't wait for them to come so I can start working on them. I started to think- and I believe these will be better than cross stitched ones because they're more to my skill level (I don't know how to cross stitch very well) and that way they're different from what we'll have at the Grandparent's houses.

Don't you love that I was even able to find one for Zach that is SO Zach?

I'll post again soon! I have a lot more to talk about but Bitty Boy is rolling around in his crib, yelling over the soundtrack to Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Go boy, go!

most wonderful

It really is the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it?

I can't remember what's gone on since I last posted, it's so busy! We'd gone to the doctor, we'd tried cereal for the first time... Liam's world had changed since then!

We play all the time now. All. The. Time. We've constantly got to have something in our hands or at our feet to occupy this little boy or he gets bored. He has a basket of small toys that I keep on the coffee table, and we frequently let him get on the floor with all his stuff spread out and try to motivate him to move. Not so much. But it's fun anyway. He has developed a certain affinity for two of his toys...

Liam LOVES his Sophie the Giraffe and his Grinch stuffed animal. I mean, it's pretty serious. Sophie and Grinch go everywhere with us. We had to bring Grinch over to Grandma and Grandpa Clark's house with us this evening. Sophie is great, she's easy to stick in his mouth, easy to clean, easy to grip, easy to chew... easy, easy, easy. I love this toy (--- Mer, I got you one for Baby #2 since you mentioned wanting one... ---) and think everyone should get one. No, it's not a glorified dog toy (ahem, Zach).

{telling the grinch what's up.}

I just can't help but think it's so MY child to have my baby decide his favorite stuffed toy is something a little off beat. Rather, it's so OUR child. SO typical Zach and Stefanie.

I've been having a ton of fun getting things ready for Christmas. We're having my parents, my brother and Zach's parents over on Christmas day, so it'll be the first time we all spend Christmas together as a big family. I'm really looking forward to it. My mom and I have a *thing* about a fab breakfast on Christmas morning- so we're pulling out the old standards. Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs, Monkey Bread... and we're going to throw in sausage (ugh), bacon (double UGH!), biscuits, gravy and grits for everyone. And maybe a Mimosa or something...

Liam has been such a helper wrapping gifts...

{watching me wrap his daddy's behemoth gift}

{a family tradition: watching national lampoon's christmas vacation-- liam's first time! the scene: "a little full... lots of sap."}

So I was a little discouraged by the first cereal feeding. I really did expect Liam to take to cereal like a fish to water, but he didn't. Well, I take that back. It only took two tries. He's hooked, so much so that he demands cereal. If I am not being fast enough getting the next helping on the spoon, he's sitting in his Bumbo, with his mouth hanging open, yelling at me. He'll eat it mixed with breast milk, mixed with formula, mixed with water... he doesn't care. We introduced him to bananas... yesterday I think. He IS my child- he doesn't like them. I cracked up at him and his faces. He doesn't like them even a little bit- he scrunches his face up when you mix even the littlest bit in with his cereal. My pickiness is coming back to haunt me (oh yes, I was picky! I- to this day- refuse to eat "squishy" french fries).

{feeding has gotten gross.}

{i got it on my head.}

Thursday last, Liam and I went to the Enchanted Gardens to buy a Christmas Tree- they delivered it that afternoon and we decorated it on Friday, while it was snowing. Picture. Perfect. -- and we know our tree looks sparse: we upgraded from a 5 foot tree to an almost 8 foot tree- it makes a big difference. But Zach likes it, he likes a tree very simple, so whatever!

Finally- the snow. Liam's first encounter. Now I'm bummed I didn't get him that adorable snowsuit I found this time last year. *sigh* Oh well- cute anyway!

{first time seeing snow}

{snowy, sweet home}

That's all for now- my mom and I are going Christmas shopping at the Galleria tomorrow, so I have got to get to bed! Liam's sleeping through the night now (thank you, rice cereal!) so I actually want to go to bed at night because I know I get a good night's sleep. Angel. Anyway- have a wonderful rest of the week!

prayers...

I would like to thank all of you who inquired about my father-in-law today.

Roger went in for surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on his liver. They were unable to cut the tumor out, so the doctors had to burn the tumor away. This is not the result we were hoping for. Now Roger has an even longer, harder journey ahead of him.

After he's healed up a bit from the surgery, he'll have to do radiation and chemotherapy. Again. Hopefully this will be the last time Roger has to fight the cancer(s) he's been fighting since the fall of 2007.

Please keep Roger and Stephanie in your prayers.

afs

Do you follow AFS?

if you don't, you should. she's fantastic. seriously one of my all-time favorite blog reads.

and she's hosting a fabulous giveaway just in time for the holidays!

head over to her blog to check out her Twillypop giveaway- and while you're there, check out the whole blog. you won't be sorry!

thankful.

A happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you!

We had a wonderful holiday- Zach had Thursday off and we enjoyed spending time together as a family. Liam had a big time of it, both on Thursday and the following Saturday- he met his Uncle *Big* Justin and Aunt Jennifer, his Uncle Bo and Aunt Valerie, his Uncle *Little* Justin, his Uncle Johny and Aunt Nancy and his Aunt Hannah. It was an especially big deal that he got to meet his Uncles Bo and Little Justin. They're both Marines- Bo is stationed in Pensacola while he completes his helicopter flight training and Justin is stationed at Camp Pendleton (I think) before his next deployment. To have them both around for the holidays is rare- and we'll get to see them all again at Christmas! So fantastic! Liam loved watching Justin and Bo's just about the best uncle on the planet. He's had a lot of practice with Jackson, Aiden and Lindy.

Liam's been having quite the week of it. Monday we spent time at my mom's house with her and my brother... but Tuesday we had to go to the hospital for blood work for the poor angel and that was a horror. I had to take him to give blood when he was 5 days old and I refused to hold him this time. I told Zach that I'm the meanie who has to take him to the doctor to get shots- it was his turn to feel his heart break while he holds his poor screaming baby. It was awful. Then, to cap off that fun day, Liam went furniture shopping. Whoopee-- but we were successful and will hopefully have at least a couch by Christmas. Today was even worse- we had to get up early to be BACK at the hospital for his 4 month check up... almost a month late. It was just so hard to get in to the doctor between our moving homes and our doctor moving from the offices in New Territory to the Methodist hospital. I don't care where she moves, I'd follow Dr. Shaya anywhere. There's not a pediatrician worth a da*& in this area in my opinion, and she's the best (she's a family practice doctor, so we'll never have to change and the whole family can go!). She teaches me so much- she taught me how to look at his spine to see when he'll be starting to sit up, she taught me a lot about the rear facing versus forward facing car seats, she taught me about the correlation between age at teething and height as an adult... I just love her. She's such a fantastic doctor that she doesn't even take new patients because she's so busy. She made an exception for Liam. I'm so glad she did- it's such a relief to know someone I trust so much is watching out for my baby. If she told me once, she told me fifty times how perfect Liam is today. She said he's an exceptionally strong little boy, that he'll probably be creeping backwards-if not crawling- within the next 6 weeks (!!!!!!) and his build is what is helping him progress so quickly. As nice as it is to see her, it's horrible when she leaves the room and her nurse comes back in to give him his shots. She scoots him to the edge of the table and holds those little legs down with her stomach and gets those shots in him quick- she's good- but once the pain registered today, Liam let out such a cry and reached out and grabbed at my face and just looked at me with this heart breaking pleading look. So hard. Seriously- this has to be the worst thing about being a parent so far.

With that- take a look at the best parts of being a parent!

{posing in his car seat (which he's 4 inches away from being too big for- not too far away!)}

{he loves remotes}

{watching tv with daddy}

{did NOT want to get up to go to the doctor this morning}

{trying rice cereal for the first time...}

{... not sure he's much of a fan.}

{*sigh* perfection. my everythings!}

We're going to get a Christmas tree tomorrow- we've got the Egg Nog ready to be consumed, we've got... *ahem* 1400 lights to adorn the tree... (I packed 1200 lights onto a 5 foot tree- I will probably need more). And the forecast is predicting SNOW on Friday!?! WHAT!?! I've got a lot of Liam's Christmas done. He's getting size 3-6 month clothes from Baby Gap (too cute!) and a lot of those toddler sized Star Wars figures. Zach put a set that was Han Solo and his Carbonite and Leia in her bounty hunter outfit in my stocking last year in honor of our bundle of joy that was on his way. This year... Liam is really adding to his collection: 1) Luke and Lando (@ Cloud City) 2) Chewbacca, the Death Star Droid and the little black Mouse Droid 3) Leia (Cloud City) and Darth Vader and 4) R2-D2 and a pair of Jawas. Seriously- I shouldn't be so excited but I am. He's also got another Baby Schwank blanket I need to go pick up and a Slinky Dog from Toy Story- as well as the BluRay copy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Zach needs to go shopping for him since I've done it all myself so far. We decided there's no point to spending huge sums of money- I want a lot of packages under the tree but we don't have to spend a ton since his grandparents have already gone wild. I decided instead to spend my money on Zach's presents. One of them, he knows about (doh- I cannot surprise this man. He just goes out and does by himself and I'm always left trying to make sure we don't do duplicates). I'm hoping Liam's present for his daddy can at least be a surprise. I have my dad taken care of, we have Grandma Dorothy done... I know what I'm getting my mom... Zach's just got his parents to shop for! Duh- and my brother but he's usually really easy. I guess it's the cold weather- I want a tree and trimmings and trappings and presents! I'm so ready to put it up tomorrow!

That's all for now- I'll post more when the house is getting into some semblance of order. Gah!

sooner than i thought

alright! i got my cords (thank goodness) a lot sooner than i thought i would be able to, and since my husband and big dog are asleep in the living room and my baby's gone to bed already... i'm in the office so i don't disturb anyone.

so enjoy our week in pictures... as usual, you'll see more of liam than anything else. he's too cute.

{liam's gg got this in ireland for him.}

{before we moved in- liam's first attempt at a nap in his new house}

{watching mom put the kitchen together.}

{discovering his feet}

{with his godfather- uncle cory!}

{happy boy in his bumbo while mom and dad work on the speakers.}

{big boy holding his own bottle}

{testing out his new mattress before we put his bed together.}

{the kitchen- no longer a work in progress!}

{jethro and lily got comfy quick.}

{priorities. installing our surround sound speakers.}