Cuteness Defined

A Very Veggie Party Preview

Once the party started, I didn't take one picture.  Other people did, and I hope to procure them soon!  For now, here's a sneak peak.

Spencer was so excited about his party.  Pizza, cupcakes, presents.  That's a lot of goodness.  By the time it finally started he was about to burst.  Friends and family made his day so special, and it was so sweet to see how much he enjoyed all the hoopla.  The expressions he made while everyone sang to him were priceless.  I can't wait to see pictures.

Thanks to everyone who sent cards and gifts, and thanks to everyone who took time out of their weekend to come to the party.  Spencer had been asking about who was going to come all week long, so know that your presence was not taken for granted.  

He had so much fun that he ended the night in a screaming, hysterical fit.  I don't in any way see that as success, per se, but I do know that he was not bored today nor did he feel luke warm about the experience.  He's duly overstimulated and overjoyed.  

"O, Christmas Tree"

Thanks to Barney, Spencer loves the song "O, Christmas Tree."  Thanks to my aberrant personality, Barney doesn't conjure up images of nails running down a chalk board.  WE are the kind of people who decide on purpose to care for other people's children forty hours a week.  We're special.

Two Christmases ago, I deemed it an impossible year to have a tree in the house.  It was the right decision. Last year, it still seemed like an impossible dream; but it was equally impossible to imagine not having a Christmas tree in our home for our then two year old sweetie pie.  That was the year I stalked the dollar section of Michael's and bought cute, non-glass, non-sentimental, and seemingly non-breakeable ornaments.  And it worked as planned--fun, kid-friendly tree--fun, non-crazy mom.  It won't be making the cover of any design magazines, but I wouldn't trade one day of our toddler-crazed Christmases for all the perfect, Pottery Barn-esque Christmas trees on Pinterest.  ["Phoebe doesn't like Pottery Barn???"]

This year, I added some new kid-friendly ornaments from the Target dollar section.  I know, gettin' a little crazy!  Anyway, it ended up a little too busy for my minimalist dislike of extraneous decor, but Spencer loved putting each and every ornament on the tree.  He did not rest until the entire box of ornaments was empty (thank goodness I'd had the sense to store all the breakable ones separately, or it would have gotten ugly).  He could not wait to put the (Target dollar section) star on top of the tree.  So, we did that first.  And it still looks gimpy and ghetto, even though I had intentions of fixing it at nap time.  And, yes, I do have the overwhelming Monica-ish desire to "fix" the tree every time I look at it; but sleep deprivation and two little lovies will do a world of good to a somewhat OCD would-be-perfectionistic mommy.  I'm growing, people.  Cheer me on. 

        

Decorating the tree with Spencer this year was like all the Christmas movies and commercials want it to be.  His little eyes danced and sparkled.  He was enthralled, impressed, and so proud of his work.  We listened to Christmas carols, we talked about each ornament, he amazed me with his attention to details and his fine motor competency.  (Kids do so well when they want to do something).  

He asked to eat his dinner sitting next to the tree.  He asked to read our Christmas books sitting next to the tree.  And he invited his alligator and sea turtle to join us.  He still talks about the tree, sings about it, walks around it, and eats candy canes off of it daily.

It can't be good when your regular pictures look like "instagram," right?

Almost three is still very much a tactile learning stage for him.  I want him to get to touch the tree, and manipulate and play with the ornaments.  I want him to learn about Christmas in the ways in which he is comfortable learning.  We stretch and work and insist on speech and language and manners and self-controld and all the other ways in which he has to grow up all year long.

I want Christmas to be sweet, easy, and full of grace.  'Cause that's what Christmas is.

Two Babies For Which I'm Thankful

This one has discovered the joy of not smiling for the camera.  Lovely.

Evie Rose checkin' out Mimi--one of her great grandmothers.  (Thanks for this picture, Melinda!)

Spencer had three Sister Schubert rolls for his Thanksgiving meal.  I don't blame him.  If I weren't trying to lose forty five pounds, I'd be eating yeast rolls exclusively as well.

Another picture from "Aunt" Melinda.  It's the best one of Evie and my parents to date.

Spencer had his first iPad encounter.  He was definitely interested.  Melinda had some good preschool apps.  I have no worries that Spencer will excel in the world of technology when it's time for him to do so.  No, he is not wearing any pants.  And, yes, he's definitely still wearing socks and a button down.  

Evie got to change into comfy clothes too.  I was jealous.  Did you do that on holidays as kid?  Mom would get us all dressed up, and we'd spend the whole event asking when we could change out of our dresses.  I was never a fan of "special occasion" clothing.  As much as things change, they really just stay the same.  

After carb-loading at lunch, Spencer had the traditional bowl of chocolate ice cream for dessert.

We spend the day after Thanksgiving at Nana and G-Dad's house.  Evelyn wanted to be like this--promise.

Spencer will be three in a few days, and this was the first holiday where all the "extra" people and festivities did not bring out the worst in him.  He was not laid back or "easy" by any means, but he was not screaming.  And that goes a long way.  It is those sort of things that remind me how grown up he is.  He handled it all like such a big boy, and I was so proud.  Evelyn was held by any and all like a pro.  Honestly, it was really nice.  On the other hand, I really missed her, which I know sounds weird.  And by the end of the night after Thanksgiving she was screaming for me and no one else would do.  It took her a few days to get to where she'd let Jonathan hold her to sleep in the evenings, which had become our routine.  I think we're back on track now.  Just in time for almost every member of my family to have a birthday and Christmas.  I love this time of year--if only it were 75 degrees and sunny--it'd be my favorite.

My Two Month Old

Baby Evelyn,

You're two months old.  And you're precious.  And many days I still can't believe you're "ours."

You grin and talk, and you're thinking about giggling for us.  You sleep well at night, waking up usually once and sometimes twice.  Every now and then you decide you'd like to hang out in the middle of the night.  I love you, but that's really not acceptable.

You love to watch your brother, and you love to be held.  You still love to be put in your swing.  You're eating well, and growing great.  You weigh 12 lbs. (79th) and are 22.5 in. long (56%).  You still have a lot of hair, and you've lost at least half of it.  You've had quite a time with cradle cap.  It's still really bad some days, and it's not on your head at all, it's on your sweet little face.

The day you wore a Feltman bros. dress to church, you also wore baby leg warmers.  I hope you don't come to resent your Mom's eclectic, quirky sense of style--if you can call it that.  It's more of a utilizing-what's-already-in-your-closet tendency.  I promise (to try really hard) not to embarrass you once you know what's going on.

You love to be swaddled, and you do have a little bit of a fussy time at the end of the day.  Most of the time we can get you settled down after thirty minutes or so; but sometimes it takes a little bit longer.

Speaking of being up in the middle of the night, you need to know that your Daddy is amazing, and I could not be a good Mom to you without his help.

You truly seem to have such a sweet disposition.  We love you so much and can't wait to see what your third month has in store.