The Holidays with a 6 Month old... Or How My House Turned Into Santa's Workshop.

The holidays have come and gone and they were magical. It was fun to be a family on Christmas morning and open gifts together. (Monkey liked eating the wrapping paper.) It was fun to see him react to each new toy. He also thought it was funny when Mommy hugged her new Kitchenaid Artisan blender.

After the present opening though... the boy looked like this.

But when he woke up he was excited to play. We weren't home for too long though. We were soon off to Grandma and Grampa's house for more presents and dinner. Then off to Nina and Papa's for dessert and then presents.

As always, we did our stocking's on New Years and welcomed the new year with Grandma and Grampa in the morning and with more family in the afternoon. All in all it was fun and hopefully next year we can do more, like go to see the lights at the local shrine. (Health permitting, of course.)

Happy New Year everyone! My resolution this year is to enjoy the time I have with him this small. He is growing so fast!

Christmas Time is Here!

It really is! I would have written sooner, but between the boy and I both being in the hospital (We are fine... a case of ALTI for him and Pneumonia for me) the season has been shorter than usual.

But I love the Christmas season, so the past week has been Christmas overload. We almost finished shopping.... we have a couple of gift cards left. The house smells of Christmas trees and cookies and we brought the boy to see Santa. We even dressed him like Santa.

So as you can see... he looks so cute. So we pack him up and take him to the mall the SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!! We were crazy. But it worked for us. We got in the long line with everyone else with an infant wanting to see the big man. The line was an hour or so long and when we got up there I thought he was going to lose it because he was hungry and tired.

Instead... he looked at Santa, looked at me and took this picture.

It made my holiday season. I love the Monkey!

When we got home, I noticed something.... his bottom front teeth are working on making an appearance.

Apparently all he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth.

Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa!

Merry Grinchmas!

See... I love this time of year. The family holidays are coming fast, and I barely have time to breathe before another one is upon us. Christmas season is always super hectic for us (although I am taking steps to change that) so I demand to start the celebrating early as far as one thing is concerned...

The Grinch.

You see I am a huge fan of the cartoon about the big green menace that steals the Who's pudding and steals the roast beast. And it always saddened me that I only had 30 days to watch the hell out of it. Then I realized if I was planning for a holiday, holiday themed entertainment is appropriate.

So I created Grinchmas. Grinchmas is the first somewhat acceptable day that I can watch the Grinch. I placed it on November 1st, and Mr. was not allowed to overly complain.

So last night with childlike glee, I removed the Blu Ray from the shelf and turned to my 5 month old. "Wanna watch the Grinch?" I said excitedly.

As if he understood he started talking his baby speak. I took this as a yes. A diaper/pj change later and we were cuddled together in our rocker, and listening to the familiar chimes of the opening Welcome. From the moment the snow appeared on the screen, my Monkey was entranced. The Grinch came on and he smiled at him and then Max appeared and he was pointing at the screen and getting exited about the doggie. It was too adorable for words.

He loved it. I chalk it up to the general awesomeness, but really, it is probably the music.

My husband, who is a staunch "no Christmas until after Thanksgiving" guy, felt the same glow of happiness that I did. As we were going to bed he said, "Christmas is going to be so much more awesome now that we have the boy!" His enthusiasm made me smile.

That moment.... Me and my son in the rocker, my husband on the couch and the Grinch on tv will live in my memory as long as I live.

Countdown to vacation!

Twas the day before Christmas Eve and all through the office
Excitement was stirring , even with the big bosses
The gifts were all stacked in the conference room with care
In hopes that 12:30 soon would be here...

I love Christmas! It is one of my favorite times of year, and today is the last day I am at work until after Christmas!

I am looking forward to spending time with family, baking, eating, and relaxing (I wish Christmas was on a Friday every year!).

Our schedule is as follows:

Tonight: Bake a boatload, finish my wrapping and finishing my parent's homemade gift. Hubby is out with his HS buddies and then home to help.

Tomorrow: Wake up late-ish, hit the foodstore for some cheese for a crackers and cheese platter, pack up our sleigh and head to Newton to visit my grandparents, picking up my cousin at the bus station along the way. Then go home and relax with some eggnog and Irish Creme and the Grinch!

Christmas Day: Wake up about 7 and do presents, while watching the 24 hours of Christmas Story on TBS. Then shower, dress and pack up for the trips ahead! First stop, my grandma in Holliston and my family (who meet us there). I am looking forward to a great visit with my parents, who we really need to see more. I was going to go visit my Grampy's grave, but with the snow, we probibly won't be able to get up the hill, so I think that could be out. Then it is off to East Bridgewater to my sister and brother in laws' house for Christmas with my in-laws. Where we get to give toys to our adorable niece and drop off toys for little baby peanut. (our soon to be niece or nephew!!! Coming June 26th, 2010!) We also get to see our Brother in Law's family who are awesome! Then as tradition, we go to my husband's Aunt and Uncles' house for their annual Christmas gathering. There we will distribute the gifts for the cousin's little ones. (One is one years old and one is due on New Years Day!)

After that we head home to colapse in front of our lit christmas tree to enjoy a quiet weekend at home! (Maybe seeing Sherlock Holmes, but not doing much more than that!)