Xmas 2011: A Photo Overview

Disclaimer:  A million photos to follow.  I tried to edit...but I'm not one for editing anything:) I did leave them smaller than normal, though, so the post didn't seem so overwhelming.  Okay, who am I kidding...it's overwhelming...but enjoyable just the same.  Here's our Christmas journey.

Christmas #1- Hubs' extended family

 Mommy/T cookie making

 B cookie eating (her cookies of course)

 Christmas #2 - All the Aunts, Uncles & Grandparents on both sides (except my brother who came later that night)

 it was madness!

My parents (aka Grams & Granddad)

 opening their light sabers

 T & B exchanging gifts...so cute!

 The ladies (Grams, Aunt Cindy, Mimi, me, Aunt Noelle and B)

 The Guys (minus Uncle Brian) Granddad, Papa, Uncle Brent, T, Daddy& Uncle Jay

 Christmas #3 - Christmas Eve at our house

 Pre-slumber preparations for Santa with T

 T's message to Santa...straight from his mouth through my hand (but he did write his name)

 Post-kid adult fun (too much) playing LRC

 Me and my "moms"

 Tebowing for Jesus

Christmas #4 - Christmas Day - my loves with their matching PJs waiting on the steps

 Checking out what Santa ate

 Sweet loot

 love that the kids look like they're opening together

 Uncle Brian unveiling the big Santa present...a new bike for T!

 he had to try it out immediately!

 big gift (and the other gift he asked for repeatedly) a remote-controlled monster truck

 B with her big gift (reminds me of my trips to the dentist or doctor)

 My babes

 B in her PBK anywhere chair from Grams & Granddad

 B surrounded by her loot

 Christmas #5 - Dinner at Great Grandma Neidas

 Great Grandma Neida, the gracious host

Christmas #6 - Hotel fun with my extended family (our family is so HUGE we can only celebrate in a hotel party room...it's true)

B's make-shift bathtime in the hotel sink

 Uncle Brian came with us for the hotel fun

 Annual family bowling

My Uncle, and a Granddad to 6 and 1 on the way (doesn't he look exactly like my Dad?!)

 B and his "cousin"...actually my cousin's daughter, Arley.  They have since demanded additional playdates

Choo Choo, North Pole Here we Come

This year we headed back to the north pole on our local north pole express.  T was very excited to see Santa, Mrs. Clause and have "warm chocolate" (he gets mad when we call it hot chocolate because he doesn't like it hot...lol).  We enjoyed spending time with our family and our good friends the Frantz family.  We truly enjoy this tradition.

B and I (not my best photo)

 T & Logan

 The fam on the train

 T, B & Santa

 The Frantz kiddos with Santa

 Lily & her mommy, my friend Melissa

 Daddy & B outside of Santa's house

 Sending his letter to Santa

 The fam post Polar Express

A Virtual Happy Holidays

This year I didn't get my act together in time to get all my Christmas cards out.  If you're on my list, we love you, but Mama was just busy and not organized enough to put that on top of her list.  I apologize.  So instead, we sent out virtual greetings via facebook and now the blog.  So...Happy Holidays, from the Scherman Family Four (they were cute...in theory...but...life gets in the way).

Baby Girl Turns 8 Months

Time is flying by at warp speed.  I truly can't believe B is 8 months today.  WOW...double WOW. 

Here are B's recent monthly stats:

Age: 8 speedy months (and my favorite number I might add)

Stats: When we last weighed her at 7.5 months, she was just shy of 15 lbs. 

Size (diapers, onesies, etc.): We finally transitioned her into size 3 diapers, and I'm so glad I did.  She has lots of room to grow.  Her clothes are mostly 9 months now, she's in a few 6 or 6-9 items.  I'm already buying 12-18 months stuff...incredible how quickly she grows out of things :(

Sleeping: More times than not, she is still waking up at least once for her binky (sometimes twice) but I can now get through an entire night without feeding her.  She usually wakes up to eat around 5-6am, then will go back down to sleep until 8:30-9am.  She is an absolute breeze to put to bed.  I nurse her to sleep, insert her binky, put her down on her back (she immediately puts her hands on her hair) and turn on her sheep to rain, and she's out.  Recently she's been waking up facing the other direction...so not sure how that's going down.

Eating: We are still BF, but I've noticed a substantial drop in my pumping output during work.  Instead of being able to accumulate 2-3 extra bags to freeze every week, I'm lucky to get 1 or 2.  I am just keeping up with my MIL.  I still have 7 bags, and she takes 2 weeks to go through 1 IF I provide her with the morning bottle.  I get down on myself sometimes when I am struggling with producing...but I have to remind myself to be proud.  With my son we were already supplementing with some formula mixed in with BM when I was at work, and be has had nothing but mommy's milk since day one.  I am accomplished in that.  I just get frustrated about pump production and not making it to my goal of 1 year.  I think I'll make it another month, at least, but who knows.  I'm struggling. 

As far as food goes, she's doing amazing...and we still are making our baby food.  I'm very proud we haven't spent money on that either.  She's eating the same schedule as last month, but last night she got her first table food, wheat noodles.  I'm excited to finally start transitioning her, but her lack of teeth is holding me back a bit.  T started at 9 months, so that's my goal with B.

Milestones:
1. first table food 12.13.11
2. pulling herself up for the first time
3. sitting in a restaurant high chair 12.10.11
4. Trip to the zoo lights & polar express

5. lots and lots of consonants - bbbbbb,dddddaaa,mmmm,gggggaaaa,hhhaaaaa

6. blowing bubbles/raspberries

7. big belly laughs

Memorable outings: Zoo lights & buying our first tree

Favorite toys/activities: binky, jumperoo, her purse/keys, the little bristles nuby teether, walker, baby einstein exersaucer, vibrating teether, hair, being held by mom, laughing at her brother (he can make her laugh like no one else)
Funny moments: B is very vocal and frequently squeals or says ba ba ba really loudly when we're shopping.  Recently, she has decided the grocery store is the perfect place to practice her raspberries, loudly.  I find it cute...but who knows what the rest of the patrons think.
Looking forward to: B's first Christmas, and watching her and T experience it all.  I am also looking forward to having some time off with my babies.  We are also thinking of going to Chicago for New Years to spend time with friends I haven't seen in forever.  I hope it works out.

Look at these two loves of my life:)

Milestone Monday: Holiday Hoopla

Wow, the Holiday hoopla has officially begun...aka a ridiculous amount of festivities, errands, wrapping, decorating, and overall holiday madness that fills our free time to the brim.  This weekend was quite an example of said holiday craziness, but a good one just the same.  Any time I have to spend with my family away from work is definitely a blessing, regardless.  So...what were we up to this weekend??  Here's an overview...

T received his video from Santa.  The site is called Portable North Pole, and it rocks!  If you haven't done this yet for your kids, you HAVE TO try it.  I was so impressed at how personal you can really make it.  T was so enthralled and engaged in the message from Santa, and he was so proud he was place on the "nice" list this year. 

After Friday night's neighborhood adults-only progressive dinner, where I proceeded to drink 3 different "themed" martinis at each house...we woke up Saturday morning to breakfast with Santa at T's daycare (and no hangover...thank God).  It is always nice when the daycare provides us with a chance to see Santa, so we can avoid the mall lines (aka hell).  T told Santa he wanted a bike and a remote-controlled monster truck.  I was just relieved he was consistent in his wishes since Santa has already shopped and wrapped :).  ::phew::

B was so interested in this white bearded fellow.  She didn't cry, but boy did she grab at his beard.  I think all the daycare staff gasped a little when she took a big handful and pulled.  That would have been quite a tragedy in front of lots of little ones. 

Santa saved the day, and his beard, with a jingle bells toy.

My cute kiddos with Santa.

We finally got our tree.  And is it up?  Yes.  Decorated?  Ummmmm....  At least some lights right?  Well......

T's big milestone for the weekend was moving from his carseat to a booster with a back.  It was a big deal for him, and for us.  I have to admit I was both excited and sad.  My boy is growing up wayyyy to fast :(

He was so excited it was called the "Big Kid" booster.  39.99 at Meijer...can't beat it :)

On Saturday night we braved the freezing cold temps to see the Zoo Lights, and I do mean LIGHTS because we saw not 1 single animal.  The entire night was a comedy of errors, from start to finish.  We were almost a hour late due to traffic getting to the zoo parking (note to self:  NEVER, EVER go again on a weekend),  the lots were all closed to we had to find a spot in BFE on the street, Bryn screamed all the way into the zoo due to the cold, they said our zoo pass (which we've had for 3 years now) didn't let in my husband (and this 19 year old thinks she's gonna fight with ME on this?!  ummm....no), we lost B's binky and were searching all over the gift store only to find it hidden in the hood of T's coat (she must have dropped it), I forgot wipes, B wanted no part of her car seat or the stroller, only my arms, so I carried her all night long, did I mention it was FREEZING and a claustrophobic NIGHTMARE (like a million people...no joke), the 1st grader we were with threw a temper tantrum, T couldn't feel his feet or hands, when we got to BW3s afterwards they were showing a UFC fight RIDICULOUSLY LOUDLY I might add, on basically every screen in the whole place (great for 5 kids under 7...awesome), our food took forever, and the kids were literally passing out at the table.  We TRIED to have fun...but as you can see from the long list of ridiculousness...it was quite a fail of a night.  Oh well.  The kids liked the lights...I think. 

Our friends the Frantz Family, with Connor (7), Logan (4) and Lily (1)

The bundled up Scherman Family Four

B's big milestone of the weekend was finally sitting in the restaurant high chair.  She loved it, and so did we.

My little loves trying to eat amidst the UFC bloodbath occurring around them...classy.  Oh and did I mention it was a BW3s on a college campus?!  Can you say kids in a bar?!  : /

Sunday was pretty normal...lots of errands, laundry and football.  Although the weekend was eventful, every moment with my hubs and my kids is a true pleasure.  I'm so lucky! Happy Monday all.  I hope your holiday hoopla is going much more smoothly than mine. :)

Why Are Kids so Germy...and other Randomness

Why have I been MIA...well...I'm sick...again!  You'd think that as a kid that went to a babysitter AND a teacher, I would have immune cells with superhuman strength.  Ummmm....not so much.  I am disgusted to think of how I even acquired this illness.  Why must high school students be so dirty?  Don't they know how to wash their hands, cover their mouths and remain at home when they are contagious?!  Obviously not.  So the end result of said grimy students is a killer case of laryngitis and a cough that won't quit.  Not exactly ideal for a gal that talks for a living. 

And how, might I ask, do you breast feed your sweet (still healthy, as of now, FX) baby girl without coughing your germs all over her?!  This morning I was feeding B and I felt a terrible cough coming on.  The problem is, when I cough, she startles from her sleep and/or bursts into tears.  I'm holding in my cough and kinda doing the throat clearing thing...and at some point I can't hold it in any longer.  If baby girl wasn't done feeding, it was too bad.  I hurriedly put her in the crib, inserted binky and booked it out of her room to unleash the cough of all coughs.  It's lovely.  On top of this illness, we have had a jam-packed week, and the multitude of activities will carry over into the weekend.  I just don't have freaking time to be sick!  DO YOU HEAR ME BODY?!  So I'm pumping vitamin C and multivitamins into my body at a rapid pace, and hoping the chills go away soon. 

In other news...not much.  :)  B is starting to become quite mobile, now deciding that her back isn't as fun anymore.  She is now deciding on her own to flip to her stomach (which is a good sign for being mobile soon).  I am also now frequently finding her facing the other direction in her crib when she wakes up in the morning.  I'm pleased to see she's FINALLY taking an interest in being mobile.  She is such a chill baby that it just hasn't been a priority for her.  T is doing wonderfully at school.  I had a very reassuring parent-teacher conference with his preschool teacher.  I now feel like his lack of "listening skills" isn't just him, the whole class suffers from temporary preschooler hearing loss.  I felt happy T was just a "normal" 4 year old.  I was also glad to hear he is soaring academically, and the teacher thinks when he acts out, he's just bored.  I know hubs is pushing for another year of preschool, but I truly think he's ready to move on to kindergarten.  If his maturity catches up to his brain, we'll be in good shape come August. 

Our weekend is full of fun events.  We have our progressive dinner on our street tonight.  We do have THE BEST neighbors around, so it should be fun...as long as I don't cough on and disgust them.  If I continue to cough, I might have to excuse myself early, which is a big bummer when we have a babysitter at home (aka Aunt Cindy).  On Saturday, we're having breakfast with Santa, getting a tree (finally), and going to Zoo lights with some family friends.  Sunday is wide open for football, cleaning and laundry (as per usual).  I'm eager to get some more shopping done too.

On a completely unrelated note, if you have in the past or have now a baby that is between 6-9 months, what is your normally daily feeding schedule?  I got this mailer from Gerber, I believe, that says she should be eating 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, along with ~24oz of milk.  I was taken aback by that, since we're still on mostly breast milk, with cereal in the morning (with puffs, mum mum or some yogurt) and then an evening homemade puree with some finger food snacks.  She's feeding 5 times a day still too.  So...what's normal?  Weigh in please!  I completely DO NOT remember.  I guess I could look back on the blog in 2007-2008 to see what we did with T.

Hope you stay warm this weekend!  I'll check in again soon.