Thanksgiving 2009

We had a wonderful Holiday this year. This was Jake's 2nd Thanksgiving...he was walking around, eating cornbread, banana bread, picking up pumpkins, and being a social butterfly. He was quite the entertainment for the evening. It was our 1st Thanksgiving at our house and my 1st Thanksgiving cooking the feast for 22 people! We do every other year with our families, this year was my family...and we had it at our new home. It was quite a joy and a challenge, but we made it through just fine. I prepared the menu weeks in advance from MARTHA STEWART.com.The menu consisted of: Herb Rubbed Turkey (thanks to the Gormsens for lending us their Roaster Oven- wow! did that save us space in our own oven!!!!), "Simple Stuffing," Wild Rice stuffed Squash, Homemade Brie, and Homemade Ceaser Salad and dressing, and Banana Bread. Everyone helped as well, we had homemade cornbread, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, roasted veggies, squash, pumpkin pie, cheescake, and lots of great wine. The kids had a nice time too with "make your own sundaes" after dinner. It was a nice time. I really was not that stressed...well, thanks to everyone's help, especially my wonderful husband-who did LOTS of tasks around the house days leading up (and my 7-month pregnant sister, Loren & Brandon for staying a couple days and helping) and Karen and my mom for coming the day before- Karen for her use of 4 more china settings and her beautiful flowers, and for both of whom washed all the dishes afterwards (whew!). We have lots to be Thankful for...our beautiful, healthy, and smart Little Boy is a blessing beyond blessings...and our wonderful families and friends, a new nephew on the way, and our new home to build a lifetime of memories. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Some pictures to share...









(Jacob being the "ham" at the dinner table~)

Every Girl's Dream!

A couple posts ago, I was talking about "What a Boy" Little Jacob is...he likes to make lots of messes, loves wrestling with anyone who is up for the challenge, and LOVES anything he can get his hands on...but back to the messes, he loves making messes, but LOVES to clean up. Here's a preview of what a gentleman my "Little Boy" is turning into and a dream for his future wife (in 28+ years- I'm not ever going to be ready to "share" him one day, but "she" will thank me, "she" will thank me- he's a helper!))...(please note: he even checks for dust! OMG!)

The Worst Day

(The scene of the accident)

It was Friday. The week was over. Jacob and I were just finishing up our dinner (I ate without Rocky that night because I was going out to a "Simply Homemade Party" that I was so excited about), waited for Daddy to get home, just had a bath (since I was leaving early), and were getting ready to have our cookie. Jake was sitting nicely in his high chair (now that he was finished eating), he proceeded to smear the left overs all over his tray, and make a bigger mess for me to clean up.  I got up and walked to the kitchen sink to get a washcloth (my back was towards my child for not even 2-minutes), and all of a sudden I heard a big BOOM. I turned around and ran as fast as my body and soul would allow me, instant crying and screaming...Jacob had managed to climb out of his high chair and landed on the back of his head!!!!!!  I know we are supposed to stay calm during emergency situations, but I did let out a huge scream. As I picked up my baby, he was rubbing his head, looking at me with tears rolling down his eyes, and screaming - I know he was thinking, "mommy, why didn't you save me?  How could you let me get hurt?  I'm just a baby!"  I know he was thinking that. Besides being terrified, I cannot imagine the pain he endured.  All I could do is walk with him for 35 minutes while he was hysterical. I did speak with the doctor. Jacob passed all of the tests:  no vomiting, he was alert and steady in his walking, no blood. He did, however, have a huge bump on the back of his head (huge). We needed to get through the night. We were instructed to wake him every 3 hours. The point of waking him is to make sure he knows where he is, who he is, etc...so the one thing I asked him (because it is his new favorite thing- he asks everyone who is around)- is where is your belly button?  He passed that test through the night as well. It was awful. An absolute nightmare. I failed my son. It's okay. Please judge. (Because who doesn't?) Did I strap him in his high chair?  No . I did not.  But, I am ALWAYS  right there, I NEVER leave the room. He NEVER tries to climb out. Well, now he did...while I was right there...while I was in the room. Can I forgive myself?  So far, not going to happen. I have such a hard time writing this story, I feel like I am reliving it all over again. Later that night, I awoke myself and Rocky to me screaming from a nightmare reliving the evening. I am grateful for my healthy, healthy, strong baby. I will always strap him in and will never take even 1-second for granted. Oh, and about my plans for the night...well, I didn't actually make it. Lesson learned.

What a Boy...

Jake loves the outdoors, anything toy cars, running everywhere, and making lots of messes...but, he does like to help me clean up as well. What a good boy!

Halloween 09 , Halloween 08, and Halloweens Past

Some pics from last year (I never posted) vs. this year. Jakey is such a big boy this year (take a look at Jake at 1-month old!!!). Also, though last year, I still was only a month postpartum, literally still recovering from the c-section, I still found a way to dress up for Halloween...this year, not so much...but, the REAL fun began this year, when Jacob actually got to dress up and enjoy the Holiday. Also, some OLD PICS of the good 'ol days when Halloween was just about us adults...how we used to "do it.."

(Last year, my costume was a "50's Housewife," Rocky was "Donny Brasco," my mom was "Suze Orman," and Brandon in this pic was...that's obvious.) Karen was a "Care Bear."))

2007-we were all did a "train crawl"- that year, I was a "Rocker", Rocky was a "Dr. McDreamy (who had a lot to drink!)"

2009- Jacob was a CHICKEN!

Happy "Fall-o-ween"

13-months old and loving every moment of Halloween..Last year, Jake was a little over a month old, we were just worried about keeping him warm enough . This year, it was all about the costume, the "Fall experiences" (pumpkin farms, petting zoos, carving pumpkins, playing in the leaves, caramel apples, cider donuts, and a few sniffles to go along with it), and trick or treating...well almost, trick or treating in his costume while being pulled around in a wagon...and loving every moment of it. Later that evening, we celebrated with great friends. Thanks Gormsen Family for hosting. Once again, a great time!!!

We had a wonderful Halloween this year. With Fall being my favorite season, we really took advantage of each weekend being together as a family...visiting the pumpkin patches/farms and fall festivals, drinking hot cider, taking walks outside, carving pumpkins, baking banana bread and apple pie, and dressing up for Halloween!!! Now that Jacob is quite the walker, it's been lots of fun...watching him walk in his little uggs, run outside into the leaves, and take my hand as he leads me to the pumpkin patch...

This year, Jake was a CHICKEN for Halloween. I thought it was so cute. He wore it proud.

Happy Halloween!