A second tooth for Christmas!

This Christmas was full of firsts. First Santa visit, first Christmas with a baby, first everything! Although, amongst the firsts was a pivotal second.

This Christmas Day Monster popped his second tooth! It definitely wasn't as fun or as easy as the first one. This Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day Monster spent the majority of the day with a low grade fever. Accompanying this low grade fever was some whining and grumping.

Murphy's law states that your Monster won't be feeling well on his/her first Christmas.

However it wasn't all bad. We made plenty of "firsts" memories and have tons of solemn-faced Monster photos. It wasn't until part way through the day that I realized Monster has a bump with a slight slit on his gums right next to his first tooth. The thought of it just makes the song "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" pop into my head.

Monster got spoiled this Christmas by his grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and... Well, his own body!






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The Official Santa Photos - Photo Blog!

Earlier I posted a blog about the adventures in Monster's first meeting with Santa Claus. We didn't get the huge Monster smiles we normally get when the camera comes out... But we didn't have tears either. We tried twice, and these are the photos we got out of the whole process.

I myself prefer the second one because of the Santa and his beard. It's all real! His red suit isn't quite as flashy though.

Santa and his very real beard! What was even weirder was seeing him out of costume at a local restaurant last night enjoying some pasta.

Santa Photo -- Photo Blog

Part of the fun of Christmas time with children is going to a local mall or department store to have them sit on Santa's knee and tell him just what they're wishing for.

This being Monster's first Christmas, visiting Santa was crucial. Not so much for the candy cane or for Monster to whisper his wish list in Mr. Claus' ear but for the amazing photo op. I didn't go all out and dress Monster in his finest clothes because in all honesty, I prefer his normal clothes. I mean, I am the one who picked most of them.

Our first meeting with Santa was last Friday. We plunked Monster down on his knee and backed away so the photographer had enough room to shoot the photos. We were kind of expecting a HUGE Monster-like smile, but we were also prepared for tears at the same time. No offense Santa but to an unsuspecting infant you're a creepy guy in a bright red suit.

Much to our surprise we got neither reaction. Even after we served up our best comedy acts! Monster sat on Santa's knee staring at him with cautious wonder. No smiles. No tears. We weren't disappointed with the photo but we decided to try again.

4 days later we went to our 2nd Santa at the other mall for another try. Exact same reaction; no smile, no tears. Well, can't say we didn't try! This isn't the official photo, just one I quickly snapped with my phone, but you get the gist. ;)







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Family Traditions - The Christmas Tree 2010 - With Photos

Setting up the Christmas Tree each year is a family affair.

Everyone piles into the truck and drives down to pick out the best tree. Up until this year, by everyone I mean "Hubbs and I". The most important factor when picking out at family Christmas Tree, is that it is REAL. The tree has to be tall enough to be able to touch the ceiling once the star is on top, and has to be full, glorious, but spacey enough to display each ornament in a perfect green hole.

There is never a theme when it comes to colors and ornaments. Actually, the theme is "Christmas Past" as every year we proudly display ornaments as old or older then we are. Plus some we've collected each Christmas since we've been together. Each different, crazy ornament has it's own story and it's own special place with us at Christmas.






This year is Monster's first Christmas so a new ornament was most definitely in order. A babies first Christmas ornament that I will keep safe and cherish until he is grown and has his own Christmas tree. This ornament was picked out by his grandma (my mom) and is a baby boy teddy bear on a carousel horse.






I presume my mother will pick up with the Christmas tradition my grandmother started with her grandchildren. Each year she purchased a new Christmas Tree ornament until we (her grandchildren) were 16, at which time she got us all tree toppers. The idea was so that we when were grown and moved out of the house we'd have something to work with on our very first Christmas alone. I still have almost every single ornament on my tree even after all these years.

It'll be a Toy (Story) Filled Christmas!

One evening a few weeks ago our dear friends Mr.&Mrs. LAM invited us over for dinner. It was a fanatic time, full of hamburgers, hockey and laughs!

They (at the time) had two little boys (if you fast forward to now, they have three!) so of course it wasn't one of those situations where you feel uncomfortable bringing your baby over. The whole family welcomed Monster with open arms, of course that was because he wasn't crawling and getting into absolutely everything like he is now. Haha. ;)

Their boys are throughly obsessed with the Toy Story movies and toys. They had a Buzz Lightyear doll and right away Monster was drawn to it! He is a huge hard plastic doll, so he's not easy to break, plus he has cool buttons that make him talk when you press them. This year for Christmas we've already purchased Monster the Woody doll, and one of his grandma's are planning on getting him the Buzz doll he liked so much.

We've also purchased the toy chest set of 3 blu-ray versions of the movies. Of course, it's not really something Monster should be watching right now, but we have an extensive movie collection and had planned on adding them to our Classic Disney section anyways. I'm probably more excited about Monster unwrapping that gift Christmas morning then he will be, because I want to watch them noooowwww!!

Christmas Traditions

I have decided to start calling myself a 'Christmas Enthusiast'... I'm pretty enthusiastic about a lot of things, but this year I am over-the-moon for Christmas! How could I not be? I have a son to share it with!

I've been thinking about different Christmas traditions I had growing up, Hubbs had growing up and the ones we've made typical since becoming a couple. I'd like to have a few new develop this year in our little 3 person family because of our new addition. When I was little I remember always asking to open "..just ONE present?" on Christmas Eve, and always being denied. I get it. Christmas is on Christmas... But I'd like to start a tradition with my little family that we all get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. And it will always be Pajamas. I'm sure that a lot of families do this so it's not really a new idea, but it's new and exciting to me!

I was also reading a blog (I think?) recently that described the families stocking tradition. I've always had stockings, and they've always been filled with little treats and small things like lip gloss, or batteries (if I got a toy that year that required them) and that was great! I love when Santa brings me a stocking even now! This blogger's tradition however was slightly different. She filled her stockings with small treat-like things that the kids could eat for breakfast. In my mind I'm picturing individually wrapped muffins or cinnamon buns with fruit, nuts, a juice to drink and maybe a small chocolate treat.

I think that idea is just FANTASTIC! A breakfast stocking! It would be such a challenge to come up with new things every year... Obviously this year it would be the most realistic. Anything "treat" like, I wouldn't let Monster eat at this age, and any toys that are small enough to fit in the stocking probably aren't age appropriate.

Stay tuned for Christmas Traditions - Part Two

Christmas Shopping - Part One: Scout!

It's absolutely no secret that I am ecstatic about Christmas. I am all but peeing my pants in anticipation for Monsters first Christmas!

We started our Christmas shopping about a month ago but yesterday and the day before we bought a few more gifts for Monster that I want to talk about.

One of my favorite March Moms is a fantastic mother and blogger (Click here for her facebook fanpage). She also knows what she is talking about when she speaks because she is well researched. For awhile now she's been talking about Scout (from Leap Frog) and how that was one of the first gift she bought her Norton.

I will admit, at first I had never seen one or even heard of it. Friday while shopping at our local big box store I found Scout and immediately fell in love him! Scout is a Leap Frog learning toy that can be programmed and updated with your home computer. Not only that but he can "learn" your childs name to make it a much more personal stuffed toy. Scout is plush and cuddly, perfect for infant hugs!





Now I just have to try and hold out until Christmas to give it to my Monster! More Christmas blogs to come folks!


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Early Christmas Preparation

Hubbs and I have a huge family, and a lot of people to shop for at Christmas time. Therefor Christmas preparation usually starts in October for us.

By this time last year we already had half of our shopping done. This year, not so much. This year is the most important Christmas of my life so far, and that's saying a lot considering I got engaged three Christmases ago. This Christmas is Monster's first Christmas, and first Christmas as a parent.

Is it difficult to see why I am heart-racing-at-the-thought-of-Christmas excited? I didn't think so. I've already walked around the Christmas aisles of our local big box store a few times, dreaming about decorating.

Now, I'm not insane, I have not actually started to decorate... Unless you count the Christmas Countdown App on my phone, or the Countdown Chalkboard hanging on my front door? We're merely in the shopping and planning stage.

I apologize in advance for the many Christmas related blogs to come! :)

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