Two Southern Boys: December 2013

We all gobbled until we wobbled on Thanksgiving, that was for sure. I was not only wobbling because of all that I gobbled, but because of the half marathon I successfully finished. It was not a pretty race, there was no denying that. I felt like I was back in Ohio and Boston with the starting temperature! But thankfully, I had a partner in crime who was running with me and being able to joke around and have someone to chat with helped distract me from thinking about my icy feet, my cold tush and my red nose. I won't lie, there were some miles in which I wanted to throw in the towel, sit my tush on the curb and summons a bloody mary. But, thinking about the two boys waiting so proudly for me at the finish line is truly what got me through those miles.

It was a balmy 27 degrees, can't you tell?

In our corral all lined up and ready to go!

Finally, at the finish with my two boys!

Oh, this is for me mom? Thanks!

We had Thanksgiving dinner with Jill, Mallory and rest of the McGoff clan. Even Vedder was able to join in the fun and reek havoc on the house! Words cannot express how thankful I was to not have to cook a massive meal. I could barely stand long enough in the kitchen that day to make a sweet potato casserole!

The aftermath of the boys after being at Grandma Jill's.

We broke my holiday rules and decorated the house for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Maybeeeee I was a little bit excited to take down the fall and launch our house into the most magical time of year. I know Landon doesn't have any clue about Santa and Christmas traditions but I knew that his eyes would light up at the sight of all those twinkling lights on the Christmas tree and we couldn't wait to share that with him. I justified decorating early by the fact that Thanksgiving was so late, and I knew that unlike last year Kevin and I wouldn't be able to have a have a marathon of decorating. We did not expect that it would take us 3 days of decorating before the house would be complete. It was all worth it though.

Landon and I putting the first Christmas ornament on the tree.

Lesson: decorating the Christmas tree with a baby in a Bjorn is not recommended. I promptly broke two ornaments after this picture was taken.

All comfy and cozy!

Landon is really beginning to build his palate, and we are now up to green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots and bananas. In the past week or so Landon has really seemed to enjoy eating his baby food. We have figured out however, he doesn't seem to like cold baby food. He much prefers it at room temperature. He's also become a creature of habit and if we don't get him his rice cereal or veggies within a 20 minute time frame, he is not scared to let you know he wants his food and he wants it now.

Dad's in charge, so obviously Landon wore a hat to eat rice cereal and clearly doesn't match.

Besides rolling all over the house, Landon's really been working on sitting up on his own and he's doing a great job. He can sit for about a minute without any help when he uses his arms and props himself up "tripod" style. He can sit for a few seconds on his own without using his arms for support, but usually puppy brother comes strolling by and Landon reaches his arms out to touch him, and in slow motion Landon heads for the ground.

I have to say there are many random things I think about when I'm home by myself, so here are a few:

My confessions of an adoring mother:

I ran errands on Sunday without Landon and I cannot remember the last time I ran several errands baby free. I like to try and do all my errands during the week so that on the weekend Kevin and I can relax and focus our time on being a family. So, because of that I am toting this little butterball all around town. Sunday, even without Landon I found myself still watching the clock to see how much time I had before a feeding, as if Landon was still in the car. And as wonderful as it was running in and out of stores, I had to say I felt a bit lonely and sad that I didn't have my partner-in-crime to chat with through the aisles.

My favorite times during the day are both when Landon wakes up in the morning and from naps, and also when he goes down to sleep. There is something so wonderful to take a break and worry about no one but yourself. Most days, Landon wakes up before I've finished my to-do list and I'm usually wishing for just 15 more minutes. Other times, when I'm finished with everything I sit and stare at the monitor secretly willing Landon to wake up so I can play with him and see his smiling face.

Every night before I go to bed, I sneak into Landon's room to check in on him and I so badly want to pick him up, put him in my room and snuggle him like a teddy bear. Who cares if this teddy bear wiggles uncontrollably, spits up, and sometimes his diapers don't catch everything but hey! One night of snuggling would totally be worth it.