{Not} Living Vicariously

Eleven months old!

I'm still behind on so many posts...however I've made it to January in my "catch-up on Project Life" goal. Which means I'm really not far behind there. I just need to get the pages posted. However, that won't happen tonight. Instead, we're going to wish Tadpole "Happy Eleven Months" and I'm going to get back to cleaning up and getting ready for another work week.

We really don't have much to report in terms of changes. He still weighs 21 1/2 pounds and either he shrunk or we did a really bad job measuring his height last month (I'm guessing the latter...) as today he measured 28 1/2 inches again as he did in November.

Christmas Eve and Day

We did have a lot of fun this year. Ten months is a pretty good age. We spent Christmas Eve out at my parents as my brother was flying back to the West Coast on Christmas Day.

When we got there, we walked in to see a big blowup Santa on a rocket. Tadpole promptly went over to investigate.

How sweet is that?

Then it was time for breakfast. We started off with creme brulee french toast inspired by the recipe at food52. Ours didn't quite look like his, but we didn't care! We all enjoyed it with scrambled eggs and minced ham, coffee, juice, etc.

After that we decided to go feed the donkeys...

And let someone open up his presents before naptime...

Nana doesn't want Aaron shooting deer on her property so she is trying to coerce Tadpole into being on her side.

Grandpa did say this could stay at his house.

And Uncle Ryan has held off on the Big Wheel until next year but did want to provide his nephew with some independence.

Then it was time to "help" build the grill that Aaron bought to keep at his in-laws house. He "needed" it to cook dinner. I agreed! We had Keeneland prime rib with horseradish sauce (check out the video on youtube for the secret to the best prime rib ever), Ree Drummond Brussels sprouts and Burgandy mushrooms, my mother's marinated carrots and rice pilaf, and Bitty's homemade french bread. For dessert, well let's just admit we brought home our slices of banana creme and caramel pies as there was no more room in our bellies!

We all slept well that night and Santa came! (Santa doesn't wrap gifts at our house.)

Hmm, what is in here? I must investigate.

Someone headed straight to his car and his eyes were as big as saucers.

Look at me! I can make it go beep beep and all sorts of things.

Oh. Mommy and Daddy got me presents also? Not too exciting...

For the record he got something he wants (a frog pull toy), something he needs (a new sippy cup to practice drinking NOT from a straw), something to wear (an 18 month outfit), and something to read (Don't Fidget a Feather in honor of his Heifer International gift - a flock of ducks and a flock of geese).

He was pretty fascinated by the snowglobes his G got him.

He drove his car All Day Long. We got a great 3 hour nap out of him. And then we went for a nice walk on a beautiful day and (insert sap here) knew that our greatest gift was being a family.

And that sums up Christmas 2013 for us.

Happy post post Christmas Day!

Yeah yeah yeah. I couldn't even take five minutes to wish you guys a Merry Christmas on the day itself. Or even Happy Boxing Day yesterday. And forget about the wishing you well on Christmas Eve. Good thing this is just for fun! Anyway...

Back on December 18th my parents, brother, husband and I went to Catbird Seat for dinner. I could be blase and just say "cross that off the bucket list" but that wouldn't be a true expression of my feelings. The experience was beyond amazing and sharing it with my (able to eat real food) loved ones was what made it so. It deserves a post by itself so I'm going to try and get to that before year's end. (Deadlines are fun, aren't they?)

Then on the 20th, the three of us headed up to KY for the weekend to celebrate.

Someone helped us pack the suitcases...

Someone also kept borrowing K's hat to wear during the birthday party (yes we are all in our pjs - it is Winter Solstice!)

And we got a decent picture of the family.

He was allowed to unwrap one present...what did we do to make you mad Granny Rita?

Yes, it talks, it sings, it makes all sorts of noise.

And when we got home, someone helped unpack...

There goes week 45! I'd like to get a Christmas eve/day post up next. And the restaurant review as well as a cookbook review. Not to mention my Project Life pages... Don't hold your breath though. Last night little man figured out clapping and I spent more time than I'd like to admit watching him joyfully clap clap clap.

Where'd my little baby go?

Wow am I ever far behind. This time of year is just crazybusy and we love every minute of it. However I can't believe how much time has lapsed since my last update! Since Thanksgiving we have:

Gotten Tadpole his first Christmas tree. We did a living one and it will be planted at Grandpa and Nana's house after the holidays. (We did also find out it was affecting his allergies so now it is on the front porch, decorated with just lights. And I LOVE it!)

Daddy and Tadpole went to breakfast with Santa while I got ready for my annual cookie exchange. We did get a print of him on Santa's lap. Neither one of them looks all that happy, but it will go in his Project Life album.

Tadpole charmed everyone at the cookie exchange and when I needed a photo for the cookbook I make the attendees every year, he happily obliged. Like the backdrop? It is the tree skirt my maid of honor made me for a wedding gift. She knew exactly what I would love!

Later that night we went over to Papa Billy and Honey's house for the annual candy making weekend. Tadpole had so much fun with Papa Billy's trucks. And he really started to understand the concept of walking. He cruised around their circular coffee table for hours. I was dizzy just watching him.

He turned ten months old and didn't want to cooperate for his picture. However he now weighs 21 1/2 pounds and is ~30 inches tall. How big is he? So big...

We also took 157 pictures (love love love digital photography!) trying to get one last cookie picture for our 2014 calendar. This was seriously the best shot we got. I think I'm more glad than sad that this theme is done. I also need to say that my son looks so much like my brother in this picture it is scary. No wonder my MIL is always saying he is "all Taylor." I'm just glad he has his daddy's disposition. Pretty much always happy. Especially since we let him gnaw on the cookie.

We spent much of the weekend of the 14th at my parents' house and all the practice crusing came together. He now walks! With and without the chair.

And that pretty much sums up the past few weeks. I'm now off work until after Christmas but that doesn't mean I have any extra spare time. I just hope that in between the chores, I get to play some too. I need to catch up on Project Life! One last photo before I go. My Very Talented Photographer got some great shots at the nine month shoot. Here is the one we used on our Christmas card.

May the wonder of the season bring you lots of joy!

Weeks 39 through 41

Wow am I ever behind! However, this is my favorite time of year and I tend to overcommit myself. So, while I wait for my butter to soften (I'm about to make this), I'm going to quickly share a bunch of favorite photos from the past three weeks.

 

We went to Arrington Vineyards to celebrate my cousin's birthday and actually got a family shot out of it. Wow!

He was fascinated with their spinning in the wind toy. This is similar to the face he makes when he sees the wind chimes. I love how easily he can be amused right now.

He also "helped" in the kitchen and is becoming our A#1 best sous chef!

So there you have week 39. Now on to week 40. You already saw how tall he is at nine months.

 We did go see the family that weekend and here we are playing on the trampoline.

Tadpole also got a splinter somehow and we had to do "surgery" . . .

Plus how funny is he in his winter hat? Love that boy!

Now for week 41 . . .

I also LOVE him in his froggie hat. How can I not just hug him and squeeze him and kiss him all over?

Another shot of him "helping" in the kitchen.

And here are both of my boys. I am so very lucky to have them in my life. They are my blessing and my joy - perfect for my favorite holiday!

Now, while the cake bakes, I'll alternate between cleaning for tomorrow and working on my scrapbook since I'm home alone. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow . . .

Nine months old and counting

Unofficially we hit 21 pounds and 28 1/2 inches today. We'll see what the doctor says on Thursday at the nine month checkup. Hope you stayed warm wherever you were today - we had snow spitting around!

Week 38

You already saw Halloween. Other favorites include

I love how much fun he has with a simple box.

He graduated to a "big boy" stroller for this walk. We still have our regular stroller. This is the one that stays at my parents' house and he was quite impressed with himself.

I have been told that puffs are highly addictive to toddlers. Here is proof positive!

Hope you enjoyed this week . . .

Week 37

You've already seen most of my favorites from week 37: the cookie pictures. However there is also the first driving lesson from Grandpa

and a playdate with our friend N

plus reading one of Mommy's favorite books: Moo Baa La La La

It was a fun week.

Week 36

Argh! I just lost the entire post. Let's try again . . .

Some favorites from this past week are:

Tadpole loves the windchimes however sometimes the wind won't blow. Then we have to help them out. He does a great job of grasping it and waving it around. The music might not be so wonderful, but we are practicing motor skills.

He was very excited to get his newest box from The Honest Company. And I was happy to get our next shipment of diapers and wipes. I *love* their wipes and cute designs.

Out at Grandpa and Nana's new house, he had to inspect everything, including the piece of paper on the back of the bookcase. He is going to have so much fun with them (he is having a sleepover tonight while Mommy and Daddy have their annual October fancy dinner date!).

And that sums up week 36. While it almost time to choose favorites from week 37. Boy does time fly!

Week 35

Well, the dog barked and naptime was over. At least for a little while. However that tired little boy has gone back down again. So now I'm going to share some other favorites from Week 35. Most of these are also from the weekend up in KY . . .

He got to play with the puppies at G's house. They had never been around a baby before. It was quite fun to watch all of them.

A tree was planted at the farm in his honor. He got a semi-dwarf golden delicious apple tree. We love apples!

We got pictures of him in the family gown. Shortly after this he was on the ground and we have grass stains to clean off. Oops!

He played on the swing with Daddy's cousin.

I'm a bad parent. I let him eat McDonald's french fries. Boy did he ever enjoy that!

And last but not least, one from home . . .

We are so thrilled that he already shows an interest in cookbooks ;-)

On to week 36? Please puppy, don't bark and wake up your baby.