Christmas 2009 - at home

Santa was very good to Jacob this year...

But knowing how our boy needs his morning milk, we let him enjoy it on the go as he really didn't want to part with all his Christmas booty.

Although, keeping him moving from one to the next was difficult as he wanted to spend time with each.item.received.

Even his beautiful, hand-made (courtesy of my Aunt Char) was over flowing with Santa's goodies...

Loving my little boy...

Since December 16th, I've had the rare opportunity to experience Jacob 24/7. No.Breaks.


This time has been wonderful and trying all at the same time. He is entering the terrible 2's, developing a mind of his own and sprouting wings. One minute he is wonderful and loving, the next he is trying my patience with every ounce of his independent soul. His desire to be his own person, and his desire to please me is an internal conflict I had hoped would wait until we were dealing with his teens... But like his mommy and daddy, he is starting this struggle at an early age...


(side note: Can I say how annoyed I'm annoyed this struggle is starting before we mastered potty-training, as this struggle is setting up a major road block on that path, but he is not old enough for bribes to work yet)


And it is wonderful and sad all at the same time. I love watching him grow. Looking at pictures today, and seeing how much he has changed over the past year renders me speechless...


How about you?

...and I'm the Grinch...

Or so Mr. M tells me this morning...

I had the Christmas tree down before he left for work this morning. I mean, it took me mere minutes, as we only had lights on it. Lights, that is, that came on it, as it is a pre-lit tree.

However, my day with J has been much more fun with one less thing for me to say - No! Jacob! to that additional thing...

As I was just interrupted by his drinking his juice, to then spit it on the floor, I obviously have my hands full...

However, I am the Grinch because I'm so tired, I have not downloaded my pictures, nor do I have the energy to do so today. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I doubt it will happen then either.

I do promise to get them up soon...

To our wonderful and generous family, thank you for all Jacob's toys and clothes. We sincerely appreciate your generosity.

We are back & waiting on Santa...

J & I are back, but I have not downloaded all the pics... Quick summary:


We had a great time seeing Grandma & Grandpa P. Wish Mother Nature had cooperated just a bit more, but so grateful that she did allow us to make our home before Christmas. (I seriously doubt Mr. M would ever forgive me if she hadn't...)

Very grateful to Grandma & Grandpa M for braving the ice storm to pick us up at the airport.

As a tease, since it will be after I get Christmas pics up before I will get back to really posting trip pics... Here was some of our fun...


In coats, socks, and pants one day....

Braving the elements to catch some 15 degrees warmer rays the next....
And yes, I was the only one loving (read: stupid or desperate) enough to get in the water with him... In all honesty, J didn't even make it that long...

But, we did get some pics AND THAT makes it worth it, right?

Just let Daddy keep thinking those sneezes are related to flying.... SHH!!!

And now, we are off to bed to let Santa pay his friendly visit at Casa de M.

Sorry!!!

Sorry, I've been totally not posting... And I admit, it will be bad for a bit longer...

J & I have been finishing up Christmas shopping, doing laundry, packing, and playing... If you caught that packing... and wonder what it means....

J & I are headed to see Grandma & Grandpa P in FL. Sadly, Mr. M will be home watching the house & the doggies, as he will be working.

We will be home in time for Santa's arrival, which is good, as I hear he has some fun things for a certain little boy...

In the meantime, Have a Very Merry Christmas!

22 Months

Jacob, I cannot believe it, but you are 22 months today. Where has the time gone? You've changed so much in these 22 months, and yet, with each change, I end up feeling like I can hardly remember what life was like *before* you could do these things.


I'm constantly amazed and enamored by you. Your mere existence has made my world so much better, so much more full, and my heart is bursting with love for you. Dreams for your future, while not mapping the course, just the overwhelming desire to help you become all that you want be and who you want to be.


In the meantime, I'm just going to sit back & enjoy you being you...

Whether it is watching you be silly trying to ride the golden goose, or sleep in your new 'big boy' bed... I'm at peace, when I'm with you...

Holiday Pictures - 2009

Last Saturday, Aunt Liz blessed us by accompanying me & J for our 2009 Holiday Christmas card pictures. I cannot tell you what an event saver it was to have her there...

First, Portrait Innovations was a bit over-booked. Then there is the whole, I set the appointment up for 10:40 thinking it'd be perfect timing to get in, get out & go eat. Only, as I previously stated, they were over-booked. running.way.behind. Which made for a hungry little boy, who was to over-stimulated to settle and snack on the cheese & crackers I brought. Although, Aunt Liz did try...

Here are some pics! Enjoy!

Big Boy... Big Room...

Over the weekend, J has officially beaten his crib and his pack-n-play. We no longer have any ability to protect him 100%.

However, we are trying...

I converted his bed, and re-arranged his room to fit his new state of being... He now has full access to all things in his room, but there is a gate at the door. A gate that I even have serious issues when I try to walk over it, so I know he will not be climbing over it any time soon.

His diaper pail, well that is on the move now... When J is free in the house, it gets locked away in his room... When he is in his room, well, it gets moved to the hallway... See, he thought it was a toy...

eeeewwwweeeee!!!!

Anyway... Here are some picks of his new & improved room...

Dancing to his own tune....

I hope he always keeps his love of having fun....

Exploring Nature

On Saturday, we took some time to stretch our legs on the way back from my brother's by stopping by my Aunt & Uncle's to say good-bye before they head to Florida for the winter.

J loved all the space to roam around in... Checking out nature, picking up rocks...



















Mostly, he loved NOT letting me get the picture I wanted... Which was of him on these stairs decorated for Christmas, so I could put it in a frame next to the one of me on those same stairs about his age...

Black Friday 2009

Some shopping, mostly traveling... Daddy working...


J & I started the day out early... Okay, early for J, but a typical work day for me. Heading first to Lighthouse Place Mall to catch the early morning sales at Tommy & Ralph. Then we stopped for McD's breakfast, diaper change, then back on the road for Uncle Jeff's & Aunt Kristi's.


J is such a good traveler... Granted, this time we (meaning Mr. M) bribed him. We set up a portable DVD player in my SUV so J could have Elmo (or as he says it with exuberation "ELLLLLLLLMOOOO") in the car. J was positively delighted to have Elmo on the go, so delighted in fact - he crashed out for a good 2 1/2 hours. (Which gives me hope our upcoming flight to Florida will go smoothly, since it will just be the two of us as Daddy is working)


Once at my brother's, J was delighted... He had so much 'new' space to run & explore. Cousins to terrorize... an Aunt & Uncle who were caught a bit off guard by a certain little man's "busy -ness"... Stairs to climb, then try to walk back down... Christmas trees to undecorate... (oh boy, I'm not looking forward to our tree going up) It was a whirlwind of fun...

















Jacob was soo good playing with Camryn, although I think she was a little shocked at his walking into her house with her toys, and taking over like he owned them... We obviously need to work on that a bit... As for Miss Mal's, well... J is a bull in a china shop... If we stayed much longer, I'd guess Mal's first word to be "Gentle" as that is what we had to keep telling him. He was enthralled by her. Kept saying "Baby", and wanting to touch her... My finger is just recovering from the teeth marks left when I said "would you like to come nibble Mallory's toes like I do yours?" Obviously, it was a good thing I protected those toes with my fingers or Mal may just be missing her right foot toes today...


Then in the morning, we joined them for their weekly Panera outing for a bagel breakfast.

















Memory Shots....

and.... of My little Man....