Tis the Season

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.  

Our new favorite morning activity. family snuggle time!

Oh I think I'll just nap here mom.  Thanks. 

Somebody is warming up to his brother… 

"Get in my bellyyyyyy"

"Please, no pictures."

A little cold weather snuggles. 

Daddy making him laugh uncontrollably.  

Wait, doesn't everyone wear antler ears while playing in their saucer? 

This child seriously hates the cold.  Good thing Uncle Joe and Uncle Doug got him this super warm snowsuit! 

Landon watched Mom drink tea, he figured he could give it a try.  One of our new favorite toys now?  A cup. 

Team Santa!

"I mustache you a question."

"I'll have the fish for dinner."

Best.  Friends. (Almost.)

Silly daddy. 

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His saucer is his new favorite toy! 

    

  

Happy Baby, Happy Life!

Happy 5 months Landon!!

Every time I take one of these pictures I can hardly believe yet another month has gone by.  I fear that November will fly by even faster than previous months with all the fun holiday festivities!  Time, SLOWWWW DOWNNNNN!!!  

I thought it would be fun to see the progression of pictures so here they are!  

 

I neglected to brag in my last post on how I FINALLY have a baby that will nap for a solid two hours every afternoon.  I have to say, a two hour break for baby and for mommy is just what the doctor ordered for my case of insanity.  I never knew two hours that go by so fast, and that I could accomplish so much in such a short amount of time!  The trick to getting him to nap?  His monkey pacifier, shutting the door and a few days of a pissed off baby crying in his crib (not that we still don't have that every blue moon.)  After a couple days of this combo we were napping like a champ!

Our third annual Friendsgiving, and our first with Landon was a success!!  We absolutely love hosting this super fun event every year and we're so glad that all our friends look forward to it.  It really is a lot of fun.  This year we had not one, but four babes there!  We love watching every one's lives change from year to year, whether it's our friends getting engaged (two of those this year!) or them adding little ones to their lives (3 new and one on the way!)  Friendsgiving brings us all together and it's fun to see how much changes from the last year.

By the end of the night Landon was super ready for bed.  We tried to take this picture with Molly, his future wife and he was just not happy about it.  I love how Molly looks like she's trying to comfort Landon as he screams.  

After a successful few weeks of rice cereal we were able to move onto other baby foods!  We have introduced sweet potatoes and bananas and the jury is still out on these.  When you feed them to him at first he makes these faces like you've just fed him my mom's hamburger stroganoff.  Then he opens his mouth for you to feed him more!  He can't seem to make up his mind.

Due to our helpful puppy brother we have had to move from feeding the babe from his boppy to his highchair!  Vedder was always near by waiting for Landon to hold out his hand to clean it off, and then Landon would get distracted by watching his brother!  It was just a circus.

Sweet potatoes!  I'm not sure how much made it to his stomach and how much stayed on his face! 

First time in my highchair!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Freaney!  I love it! 

I'll take some more food please.  

                                      

Somehow puppy brother still finds a way to help with clean up.  

Highchairs can also be used to help mom cook in the kitchen! 

I am gearing up to run my third half marathon!  Now that I've successfully completed my longest training run, 9 miles I feel like I'm in a good place and I'm beginning to feel excited to go run!  I'm mostly excited to cross that finish line with my boys (2 out of the 3) cheering me on!  I won't be breaking any world records but hey, not many people can say they ran a half marathon 5 months after having a baby!  Now to keep my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates!

Here's my race course!  

Jill and I recently went to dinner and a musical and she asked me how being a parent was, and I told her it's the hardest and most rewarding thing all at the same time.  There are so many pros to being a parent, ones that I never even knew I was going to love.  For example, there's no better cure to a bad mood than to look at your baby and he flashes you the biggest toothless grin, or the excitement and giddiness of trying something new with him, as simple as sweet potatoes, or just plan watching him and his curiosity while playing with a new toy.  Nothing in the world can express the way it just melts your heart.

Landon in the magical bouncing chair.  Favorite.  Thing.  Ever. 

As you can see, someone has discovered his feet.  This fun new trick is especially fun when you're trying to change his diaper.  

Watch out Daddy!  He's a hair puller! 

A rarity in this house with this wiggle worm.  Daddy somehow managed to get him to nap on him. 

Nothing like being all snuggled up in a towel after a nap! 

No silly Mommy, you don't need to fold me!

I just can't put this book down! 

Practicing sitting up!

I wish I could have caught this one on video, Landon was talking to Vedder.  It was so adorable!

Not happy about being bundled up for the cold!  He's definitely a Southern Babe!

Visiting our friend Emilia!

Just sitting in my chair like a big boy!

Just a little tub beer.  (Or trying to drink from his bath tub cup)

A lot of people have been posting things they're thankful for on their Facebook each day.  It's a constant reminder to me of how I have so much to be thankful for.  As I write this blog I'm reminded that I have a happy (a very happy might I add,) healthy baby who I couldn't be more thankful to call my own.  A wonderful, loving husband who is more than I could have ever asked for, and a sweet, kind puppy son who has been there for me through thick and thin, in his own puppy way.  I could write about 20 pages of things that I'm thankful for.  I am an incredibly lucky person.  So to all of you reading this, stop and remember what you have to be thankful for, I'm sure it's a lot more than you think!!   

Cookin up a Storm

It seems like ages since my last post... and so much as seemed to have happened since then!

We've had our first Halloween, our first rice cereal, we're rolling all over the place!!!  Where to begin?

We started rice cereal shortly after my last post.  The doctor told us that we could start it if we wanted, and after Landon woke up twice in the middle of the night, hootin' and a hollarin' for a bottle, there was no need for further discussion.  We were starting the cereal.  I have to say, it's so exciting trying new things with the little guy.  Whether it's a new toy that he's now old enough to play with, or rice cereal it's fun to see how he reacts to things.  I'm happy to say, rice cereal was a hilarious success.  For some reason Landon finds cereal time rather hilarious and for the most part he's giggling and smiling the whole time.  The only downside to it?  When someone has a mouth full of cereal and sneezes... all over you.  I knew it'd happen eventually, so I can say I wasn't shocked when it did.

The first time eating cereal! 

Busting out our PJs, while eating rice cereal, and desperately trying to watch the forbidden magical box... 

Puppy brother is an excellent helper in the clean up department. 

Landon is now a rolling pro.  If I need to do some things in the kitchen I'll put our rolly polly on his mat, and I swear I'll look away for 2 minutes and he'll have rolled himself completely off the mat and rug and will be hanging out on the hardwood floors!  

Oh hey!  Just mid-roll!  

Rolling towards his brother! 

Our first Halloween was a success!  We walked around with the neighbors and their adorable bumblebee.  We did not go to any doors to ask for candy (as we'd basically be grown adults asking for candy for ourselves,) but it was fun walking Landon around on his first Halloween!  Next year will be more entertaining when he can walk himself and go door to door.  

Our family of jack-o-lanterns.  I clearly carved the best two.  The cat with the witch hat and the smiley face.    

A little Halloween treat from mom and dad.  Puppy brother was too excited to open his presents to let us take his picture. 

A chef and his bag of flour. 

Cutest chef I've ever seen.  

Our little family on Halloween!

Not exactly a happy camper...

Trick-or-treat is a lot of work.  

I finally had to break down and realize that Landon no longer fits in his 3 month PJs (maybe it's because he's no longer 3 months...)  So today I went through his drawers and his closet and I packed up all the things that no longer fit.  It's insane how fast they grow out of things, and it's so sad packing up tiny little shorts knowing that he won't ever wear them again!  We now have two full boxes of clothes that may be worn again, if Landon were to have a little brother.  (Don't get excited this won't be happening any time soon, and it's going to be a girl anyway.  I need an equalizer, I'm out numbered 3 to 1 as it is!) 

Our new favorite sound in this house, is the sound of Landon giggling and nothing makes him giggle more than when Kevin lifts him high into the air and then brings him down low.  He even makes roller coaster noises to accompany this game.  Vedder however, does NOT like when Kevin and Landon play this game.  He gets all worried that Kev's going to hurt him, barks uncontrollably and Kev has to show Vedder that Landon is okay, in which he proceeds to give him a million kisses and checks him over.  

Puppy brother has had some terrible issues with his allergies, and had to go in the cone of shame. 

Do you play in your activity saucer with your face? 

Just a boy and his dog. 

Telling his puppy a secret.  (He really was whispering in the puppy's ear.) 

Playing in his activity saucer! 

Our new favorite thing is working the pole, if we had a daughter I'd be concerned.  

My southern blood can't handle this cold!

Someone fell asleep at the food truck parks, all cuddled up in my legs. 

Feeling a little witchy.

Lastly, Kev begged and pleaded me to enter Landon into the Gerber baby contest.  I'm not one for entering these contests, but when you DO have the cutest baby ever it does make logical sense.  Here is the link to vote for him.  If you scroll to the bottom there is a vote button.  You can vote once a day for this little stinker... so by all means, please do!  

https://www.facebook.com/Gerber?sk=app_586462271392312&app_data=192970