{Not} Living Vicariously

Project Life - Week 46 (aka Christmas)

Since it is done, might as well get through the week of Christmas also...This first page is non-Christmas stuff. He went shopping with me for the first time sitting up in the cart. Once he got used to it, he loved being able to look around. We also got a present on December 26th of him figuring out how to clap his hands. Of course now he uses it to sign "more" instead of the actual sign. At least we know what he means.

We also discovered the joy of long johns in this winter we are having. I can't believe how cold it is this year. (I am also wearing long johns quite a bit!)

Next we have my first insert. My brother got to come out for Christmas and we all enjoyed Christmas Eve at my parents house...feeding the donkeys, making exotic "creme brulee french toast" breakfasts, and even enjoying a blow up yard toy inside the house (see cold winter comment above!). To round out this insert, I also included a shot of Tadpole enjoying his gift from Santa...

Next we have the stocking opening, another shot of the donkeys, playing with a snow globe, and just playing in general...

Presents and fun on the Taylor side of the family...

Then quiet Christmas day at home...

And the gifts he received. If you can't read the card below we decided to practice WNWR gift giving. He got something he wanted, something he needed, something to wear, and something to read. Additionally his book was related in subject to the Heifer International gifts we gave this year (a flock of geese and a flock of ducks). Plus, of course, Santa did come and brought him his wonderful walker/rider car...

This first Christmas was a lot of fun. He was old enough to know that it was special, yet young enough that I could manipulate the calendar to our benefit. We'll see if next year goes as smoothly...

Now, to finish up January's pages since we've hit February. I should also mention, this album will finish with his first birthday (party) in a few weeks. However I have enjoyed Project Life so much I am continuing it but with a family* annual album which means I'm doing two albums concurrently right now. Why yes, that does mean it is even easier to get further behind! Luckily I was smart and watched Becky Higgins show how to prep an entire album in advance and realized that I was making this first one a lot more complicated than it needed to be, because of trying to journal every detail of his first year. Going forward, I'm going to enjoy less journaling/more ready made cards and possibly even more ephemera.

*Just because I call it a family album, it will still be mostly Tadpole. 99 out of 100 pictures taken in this family are of him...

Created by Becky Higgins, "Project Life provides an ultra-simple solution that helps us get those pictures into albums without draining our time, energy, and wallets." Learn more about it here.

Project Life - Weeks 43 through 45

Baby is down for the night (I hope!) and while some watch football, I'll do a quick blog entry. Here we are at the beginning of December. The little boy got to show off with lots of cookies (from my annual cookie exchange) and play with Papa Billy's trucks.

He also had his photo taken with a very grumpy Santa! and had lots of fun in the bath. Boy does he ever love the bath...water baby to be sure. He played "with" a friend - well actually they do a good job of ignoring each other most of the time. That's the age they are at. He also perfected his "How You Doin'?" pose...

We hit ten months old and really have not had any growth spurts. I look forward and dread the day both when he crosses the 22 pound mark (car seat decisions at that weight...).

Newest favorite toy would be the flashlight and we are starting to spend a lot more time with Grandpa and Nana since they've gotten moved to Tennessee and in their house. Grandpa and Tadpole spend hours together doing a whole lot of nothing. It's the best!

Snowflake cookie this month. Stinker didn't want to cooperate. We probably took 150 or so pictures and this was the best we could do. I definitely pouted!

We started to walk (thanks Grandpa!) and haven't stopped since. While at first he imitated Frankenstein, he has now perfected the Starfish walk - five points out for balance...

Then it was up to Kentucky for a cousin's birthday on Winter Solstice. So much fun (as always), lots of tasty soups and warm pajamas.

A few early presents came through, as you can see he was more interested in the hangers he was carrying than his actual gift. I sure do love them this young!

We did get a shot of all the cousins (plus two honorary ones), they will be named on that blank card. And next up is Christmas week. That spread includes my first inserts...to go along with first Christmas!

Created by Becky Higgins, "Project Life provides an ultra-simple solution that helps us get those pictures into albums without draining our time, energy, and wallets." Learn more about it here.

Project Life - Weeks 38 through 42

Catching up guys - I actually finished these pages a few weeks ago but didn't get around to taking pictures of them. Starting off with Halloween:

The weather was atrocious on Halloween. Rutherford County changed trick or treating to November 1st. However we went down to my parents' house that weekend so no costumed kids for us. We still had fun dressing up as the Harold family! Tadpole also figured out how to balance on his own...

The next week we went to Arrington Vineyards to celebrate my second cousin's birthday. The biggest thrill was we actually got some photos of the three of us together.

Tadpole is fascinated by all things whirly swirly in the wind and would have spent "hours" staring at this piece. Sorry about the glare below. Some days I just can't get the light right in my room.

Oh the joys of the tricycle. This was great fun! I got dizzy by the end of us going in circles...We also hit nine months old and stayed about the same in terms of height and weight. I keep wondering when he is going to break the 22 pound mark. (Just so you know, even today he still hasn't!)

We did some fun nine month photos - I love the crazy kid one below... And the one of him in the stock pot... And the Christmas shot...

Next came our cookie of the month photo. Why yes he got to nibble on it. He looks so big sitting there in his chair. He also got to play with the kid who lives across the street from his babysitter. I work with his mom.

First big boy breakfast! Boy did he enjoy that...

And then we had Thanksgiving. Oh that was so much fun...

Turns out he was allergic to his Christmas tree :-( so it had to go outside on the porch. But that is okay also as it still looks pretty out there and we will still plant it.

That would be November...and Tadpole is up from his nap so December will come later.

Created by Becky Higgins, "Project Life provides an ultra-simple solution that helps us get those pictures into albums without draining our time, energy, and wallets." Learn more about it here.