Smurftastic

Visit this Smurfy link click here for a view of the blog written as if I am a Smurf.

Simply Smurfy! If you want to smurf your own website or any website check it out. Smurf the Web The site is not that great, but all you need to do is put the URL in to the box and hit [go].

Cody and the push cart

Happy Christmas!

Santa's on His Way!

We are blessed. Happy Christmas.

Winter Wallop 09

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OMG we love the snow -- snow days, snowed in, TJs famous hot cocoa, hot lentil soup, all those good things.

Cody is 10 months

The Christmas spirit is really with me this year. It must be because of the 10 month old we have crusin' around. Cody has such a big happy smile. The past 10 months have been magical and to watch our little one grow and develop has really given me perspective on life in general.

Last night after dinner we were hanging out by the Christmas tree playing with Cody. TJ supported him with his fingers. You know the baby hand gripping the parent finger while standing. He stumbled his way to my open arms. Cody is on his way to walking around. That just may be our Christmas miracle this year. What took thousands of years for our species to walk upright and how this little one does it in 10 months outside of the womb. A-mazing.

He is right along with his development emotionally, mentally, socially and physically. He is on a good sleep schedule and really only fusses for the usual kid related irritations; tired, hungry, teething (8 so far and a few on the move but have not broken through), frustrated at a toy, bump bumps, over stimulated, on and on. He has a good appetite and is not too much of a picky eater as everything is still new and interesting on the food front. We tried some tofu and avocado recently. They are good bite sized and easily dissolved finger foods. I even went so far as to coat the avocado in the baby oat cereal to give it some traction for Cody’s little fingers. Bananas and the avocado tend to get slimy. It seemed to help and he enjoyed. He babbles and talks to us. Plays thoughtfully with toys but still puts almost everything in his mouth. He listens pretty well with the “no’s,” but if we give him an inch he is all over it, pushing the boundaries. He is good with the dogs, playing ball with Percy and hugging on Nellie. Likewise with the dogs and Cody. Again they realize they get something from this little master that benefits them. Whether it is waiting for that Cheerio to drop or pat on the back -- they are fast friends these days.

Back to the Christmas spirit topic. Seems like every holiday I pick one icon to use as a theme for creating stuff and decorating. Halloween this year was a spider and so far Christmas has been Santa. We have an electric heater that looks like a fireplace, so we have a mantle to hang stockings on and for Santa to visit properly. Maybe I am going through the natural transition a parent goes through to start the Christmas magic with Santa. Ho, Ho, Ho!

I really enjoy the Christmas tree and gazing upon the ornaments and reflecting on this good year and grateful for such wonderful family and friends.

the chickadee weeps

If you look up at the stars
and have a wondrous feeling - - - -

If your heart delights
at the antics of a chickadee - - -
If a little toad winks
as you pass by - - -

- - - - or you wish he would - - - -

Then Gwen Frostic Prints
are created for you ...

I am sad to say there will be no Gwen Frostic calendars this year. Due to reasons involving the bank they are not able fulfill the orders placed for the holidays. It hard times for a small creative business to stay up and running and hopefully all the blocks will be preserved and **hopefully** be printed and for sale one day.

Real live Kewpie doll in da' house

It was bath night with a real live Kewpie doll. Yup, a real happening Friday night here out in the country.

Fare the well old oak tree

I will miss you old oak tree. I think I painted you on my nursery wall. I will tell of your life before the houses that went up around you. Back when the cows grazed in your shade. Fare the well old oak tree.

-- Looks like they are bringing it down this week sometime. I wish I could be there. ---
Photo credit: Louise Krafft/The Gazette

Fun with shower theme

UPDATE: Here is me hugging TBA. I am excited to meet him.





I started out making the cards to go with the thank you favors for a friend's baby shower and soon was inspired to create a "Oh' Boy!" card with the nautical theme of her nursery. Then created a more neutral "Oh' Boy!" card and of course had to design a "Good Girl" version. You know you want a set for all your baby on the way friends.

Take a peek.

Grandpere and Grandmere daycare

Grandpere and Grandmere visited with us the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Monday they took care of Cody and had a ball. Cody showed them how to use the clicker properly. He is quite the genius you know. HAHA He knows the clicker and TV aka "big magic picture box" are connected somehow. While they got to spend some quality time with Cody-O, TJ and I carpooled into work wishing we could have taken a "sick day" but at the insistence of the elders we were shooed out the door and off to work. Dad loves to take formal family portraits so here is his handy work with my Photoshop enhancement. I use the word formal in contrast to candid.

ThankFULL

There was no internet connection at the beach house so I did not have a chance to post the happenings during our Thanksgiving adventures. I pledge to update with lots of pictures.

I also hope to update other postings from throughout the year before we head into 2010. There are lots of pictures and adventures.

Cody is Nine Months!

Crawling since my Dad’s wedding in October, standing and pulling himself up of anything that will let him; Nellie (our lab mix) is very tolerant of the pulling and tugging or “hugging.” He pushes our library stool around the kitchen like a little old man getting around the room. His other favorite is the round bucket laundry basket turned upside down that gives just enough friction to keep him stable. He is speedy with these “walkers” as he gains more confidence and balance. He “walks” better and better everyday holding our hands as we hunch over guiding him, providing the encouragement that parents do. He claps at his accomplishments and smiles so big and bright the sun would be jealous. The only thing keeping him from cruising up the stairs is the cutes pants and socks he wears so that is easily remedied by going pants-less and up the stairs in a onesie he goes. Great way to wear him out. We try more and more to let him get to the places we need to go. “Come on Cody we are going upstairs to take a splish splash bath, let’s go…”
I swear I hear words from him in his babble so I know he is listening. His toothy smiles have 8 to show so far and one on the move. That number nine woke everyone up last night. He is usually a good sleeper and goes down when we read his signals right. **Very important to all those other new parents out there, observe your baby (we all stare and watch our newborns lovingly but really think about what they are doing and how they do it) and you will learn he/she is communicating from the very beginning. He is a flirt with the ladies and loves to watch and attempt to get the attention of other little children. He calls “dada” by name a lot of the time and “dogha-he” comes out more and more when playing with the dogs. Mama is more a middle of the night call out and when he bumpbumps. He plays ball with Percy and Percy will drop the ball to him as she makes her play ball rounds to everyone in the room. Which has been a godsend since Percy will play ball all day/night and this gives purpose to the little master they, the dogs, have come to understand is part of the family. We had some dog trouble for a couple weeks but they had the dog-flu and not-getting-enough-attention-flu, so there were messes in the house. But with Cody (and mommy and daddy too), playing and loving on them all is right in the dog world.

Nine months is a great age. GOOOOOOOO CODY!

Chick-O-Stick

The morning host for the the vibe station brought our department some of his childhood fav candy. Very nostalic. Kinda reminds me of a butter finger with a tiny hint of coconut.

Cody cashes in