Relaxing Around the House

After Christmas being so busy, it's nice to finally just sit and relax around the house. During this time I snapped some pictures that I wanted to share.

I have an iPod that plays video which has come in handy since I'm at the doctor's office every week now. I put a couple of videos on there for Harris. We have used it one time when we went out to dinner one evening and Harris finished way before everyone else did. I put on his Elmo video and we were able to get ten more minutes of eating time in. The unfortunate part was that the headphones were made for adults and they kept falling off of Harris. I'd been looking for kid sized headphones and did not really have any luck until Brian spotted some while Christmas shopping. My aunt Nicki gave Harris some money for Christmas and we were able to use that to buy some children's sized headphones at Target the other day. I wanted to see how they fit, so we tried them out that evening. They worked great and Harris wouldn't even acknowledge us everytime we tried to get his attention. I don't really want to over use them, but I think I'll keep them in my purse for emergency purposes (ie - trying to finish a meal out).

He's watching the Sing-a-Long Bare Necessities.

Friday there were fat snow flakes that were falling that morning. We spent some time just watching it come down.

I've been bugging Brian about getting a new computer for about a year now. He finally decided that he was ready to build one for us. He ordered all the parts and a partial shipping containing the case came on Friday evening. Harris had a great time just playing in the box that evening. It was like Christmas all over again.

I think it's a bit dry in our house - too much static electricity.

I just love the way he looks when he's concentrating really hard. It's like he can't be distracted by anything.

Here's a link to a video I took of Harris several weeks ago. It just cracks him up everytime he watches it. When I made the video, I turned the monitor around so that he could see himself as the video was recording. He really liked that, but he wouldn't stop hitting the camera. He must want practice at hitting the paparazzi's cameras for when he becomes a star.

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u109/hellokittyjodi/?action=view&current=M2U00213.flv

Our Christmas

Our Christmas this year was quite busy. Christmas Eve we had Brian's Mom's side of the family over to our house for dinner and fun. The day was spent cleaning, cooking, and baking. I think I over did it and paid the price that evening by being very tired. Harris had a good time opening gifts and visiting with his aunt Carrie & future uncle Andrew, Grandma & Grandpa Roemke, and Great Grandma & Grandpa Fiedler.

Brian put Crown Royal on every Christmas list that he was asked to give so it was no surprise when his first present he opened contained a bottle. Of course I'm jealous somewhat. I find it funny that when I tell people how I do miss drinking with this pregnancy some will say, "Well one drink won't hurt you." The problem is I want 4 or 5, not just 1 - so why even go there?


Harris received a handmade toy box from his grandparents. It is huge and has rope handles, a piano hinge, and caster wheels. It's become Harris's favorite thing to climb.


Harris went a little nuts with all the paper.


Christmas morning Santa had delivered lots of presents for Harris and a clean house for Momma. Thank you Santa!

Harris did a great job opening presents this year. He made it through about 1/3 of them before getting bored and wanting to play with what he had opened already.

The Elmo truck was a great hit.

He liked running around in his new Elmo slippers too. What would Christmas be without some fuzzy slippers?

Later that day we spent time with my family. Finally we concluded our Christmas celebration on Thursday night after going to Brian's Dad's for pizza and presents. It's good to finally relax now.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas this year!

18 Month Checkup & Attempted Santa Visit

Yesterday Harris had his 18 month checkup. He is quite healthy and seems to be growing more and more. He also received his immunizations and is up-to-date. We now don't have to go back until 2yrs and then yearly after that. Yay! What a minute....we have a second baby on the way and will be starting this all over again. Sigh....I guess we'll still be at the pediatrician's office quite often.

Below are the stats from Harris's checkup:

Weight: 24lb 10oz (31 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 23lb 6.5oz (31 percentile)
Height: 33.5in (79 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 32.25in (78 percentile)
Head: 19.31in (80 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 19.25in (87 percentile)

This year we put the Christmas tree in the den which is gated from Harris. I'm so glad we did this because it would have been a nightmare to stop him from playing in the water and pulling down ornaments. Even the few times he's been in the den, it's been a challenge. After his checkup we came home and tried to do a few pictures in front of the tree. Harris didn't cooperate that well, so I didn't really get one that I wanted. There are some cute ones though and I'll share those below.

After Harris had a nap and lunch, we went to Jefferson Pointe to visit Santa. It was very cold being out in the wind. Santa's shift didn't start until 3pm so we had to wait about 10 minutes before getting in line. While waiting we went into Williams and Sonoma to look around. Santa made an appearance before his shift at the store and Harris just kept pointing and staring at him. We thought it was encouraging that he was so interested in Santa and that perhaps this year he'll really get something out of this.

We got in line at 3 and waited our turn. By the time we got to the door Harris started throwing a fit. He screamed and cried like he was having a breakdown. He didn't want Brian to hold him. He didn't want to be in the stroller. I don't know if it was because he was cold or the fact that we were waiting in line and he couldn't move, but the Santa visit was not going well and we hadn't even gotten to the Santa part yet! After 5 minutes of crying and screaming, we decided to skip the Santa visit and had to make everyone backup out of the line to let us out. This was not the day dream version of the Santa trip we had imagined for Harris this year. That's how it works with kids though.

Brian had stuffed his hands in his coat pockets to keep them warm while waiting.

Santa's cottage is so cute!

We're at the door, but the breakdown starts.

Mom & Dad surrender and put Harris back in the stroller to leave. Wet tears are still present on his right cheek.

We ended up going to the food court and let Harris play in the kids area. He had a great time and the tantrum was soon forgotten.

We know that playtime is soon over when Harris starts trying to wonder out into the dining area. He stops at the entrance to the play area and looks at us to see if we are watching him. Either way he'll start to make a break for it. After he's done that a few times, we know it time to go.

"Are momma & daddy watching?"

"I know I can get away with it."

That evening we had peas for dinner which Harris likes. I just thought this picture was cute so I put it in here.

We might try another Santa visit this year, but we might go to the mall so that we can be out of the weather. Wish us luck :)

Snow

Well this is only the third weekend in a row where we had plans that were canceled due to the weather. It's not even officially winter yet and it seems like we've been hit hard with freezing rain and snow.

Today all of us got out in the snow for a bit. I didn't do much but take pictures. Brian did lots and lots of shoveling and Harris tried to help but mostly played. This is the first time Harris has really been out in the snow and he loved it. He became frustrated when he had problems getting up after a fall but he managed ok. After a half hour I took Harris kicking and screaming inside the house to get warm and settle down for a nap. He was not happy at all to come in.

Here is Harris in his new snow pants from Grandma and Grandpa. They fit very nicely.


All smiles about being out in the snow.


Only a few problems getting up.

Harris wanted to help Brian shovel the driveway.

Brian decides to bury Harris in some snow.

This shovel seems to be a better size for Harris.

Waking Up Is Hard to Do

Just wanted to share some pictures from the other morning. Most mornings Harris wakes up pretty happy. I usually hear him babbling to himself and I let him slowly wake up for about 10-15 minutes after that. This morning he was ready to get out of the crib right away.

These are some great hand-me-down boots that were my nephew's. They are about two sizes too big for Harris, but I thought they would be great for a couple of trips out into the snow (especially after I went into meijer and the cheapest pair were $30 - didn't seem worth it if he would only wear them a few times). Harris loves the boots. I put them on that morning and he tromped all around the house. A half hours worth of entertainment ain't too bad for a pair of boots.

This is the fork I used when I was a baby. My mom gave it to me shortly after Harris was born and I thought it was adorable. I had to get one picture with Harris holding it. Thanks Mom for keeping it all those years :)

Insomnia

This past week, I've really been suffering from insomnia. I'm able to get to sleep just fine, but find myself waking around 4 or 5 am. I try to limit my water intake in the evenings so that I don't have to make many bathroom trips in the night, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I suffered from insomnia when I was pregnant with Harris, but I always blamed work for it since I thought about it most of those nights laying in bed. Now since I'm home, I guess I can't use that excuse.

This morning I decided to work on some photos from the other day. Enjoy.





Harris loves to play peek-a-boo.

We keep a bungee cord on the pantry doors to keep Harris out - fancy childproofing isn't it? Of course he notices every single time we leave it off and tries to get into the pantry.

Harris was really impressed with all the snow we had on Wednesday morning. He looked out the window a lot that day.

Spending so much time with Harris, I've really learned to read his face. Even now looking at this picture I want to say to him, "What do you have in your mouth?" He has a way of holding his mouth that I've learned to recognize. Sure enough, as I was looking at a couple of pictures taken after this one, I see he has in his mouth some......ok I don't know what is was so I'll call it crud found on the floor.