New Years in Tahoe

We spent another wonderful New Years in Tahoe.  It's my most favorite time of the year.  Nothing like a cabin trip to bring about pure calmness and relaxation.  The trip was even more mellow for me because I had some amazing helpers.  My boys were in seventh heaven hanging out with the big boys, who seriously sledded down the hill with them dozens upon dozens of times.  Another bonus this year was that our cabin owners got to join us for the first time this trip.  The boys had fun playing with their cousin, who falls right between them in age.  We didn't have much snow this year but it was the perfect combo.  No worrisome driving conditions, beautiful sunshine, and fake snow at the resort for sledding.  I look forward to many, many years ringing in the New Years with family in this gorgeous place.  Now for the photo overload.  

  

Christmas 2013

Christmas was very busy once again for us.  Probably the last year that its going to be this crazy, so we just rolled with it.  We visited three houses and attempted a family movie at the end of it all, but Jackson and I only lasted about twenty minutes.  I was wiped out but had a wonderful time celebrating with lots of family, and most especially watching my boys experience the magic of Christmas.  Jackson was so fun to watch this year and was a champ at opening his presents.  He even enjoyed throwing the wrapping paper into the garbage bag, which was a bonus for me.  We had a bit of a shoe theme in our house as you'll see below.  If you know James at all, then that is no surprise to you.  Christmas already feels like forever ago, so hopefully you won't be too bugged by this big photo recap and hopefully I won't fall behind on blogging again.  

Twas the Night Before Christmas

This year we got a wonderful early Christmas present.  We found out we were expecting baby no. 3 a few weeks before the big day.  It took a little longer than it has the first do go arounds, but we are so blessed in that things work pretty well and pretty easily for us in that department.  I knew it before I knew it, because I had been an emotional wreck for a while before taking the big pee test.  I had felt good otherwise until that point but that's when it struck.  The first trimester.

We definitely didn't get around to all the Christmas traditions this year what with my condition.  Not making gingerbread houses is my biggest regret, but Ben didn't even realize it till well after Christmas, so nothing to fret over too much.  One tradition I don't really enjoy is sugar cookies.  I do enjoy baking with my mom and sister when we have done that, but baking by myself isn't really enjoyable for me.  I especially don't like to do sugar cookies.  So thankfully my mother-in-law made some and let me go home with a big chunk of her dough.  All I had to do was roll out and cut out.  So not a moment too soon, the boys helped me decorate our little trees and deliver them to the neighbors, which luckily I only have four (we live on a small court), just before heading off to our traditional dinner and temple night with the Greenes.

After Jackson let us know it was time to go /\ /\  we went home to open up our eve presents, jammies for all and a few festive accessories for our stuffed friends.  Then it was milk and cookies out for Santa, a little snuggly iPad time, and then to bed.  Christmas Eve was definitely the calm before the storm that is Christmas around here. 

Pixar Studios

Towards the end of summer the boys and I got to go visit Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville.  My mother-in-law had a cake delivery there for their first video game Disney Infiniti.  Basically we felt like VIPs since Pixar is a closed campus and doesn't allow tours.  We explored the super cool campus (these employees are spoiled) and Ben got to play the game under the direction of those who helped make it.  Pretty awesome day!  Can't wait to go back for a movie premier.

One and a Half, plus one month

I never posted this for some reason.  Probably because I had lots more to say about my boy at roughly eighteen months.  Well since he's over two now and I'm trying to get all caught up with my blogging, I guess I'll start by finally pressing publish.

My Jackson is now nineteen months and has just suddenly become a little boy.  There are so many things about his personality that have changed or developed recently.  Certain traits and habits have completely changed for better and for worse.

Let's start with sleep.  I knew I had to have some growing pains in this department with this kid at some point.  From day one he always loved sleep and was good at it.  He didn't need any soothing to go to sleep, in fact he did not like being held).  He started sleeping through the night at a very early age and would even sleep in in the morning and take one solid three hour long nap.  Things started to turn a few months ago when he all of a sudden turned into a night owl.  He used to have an internal clock that said 7 pm is bedtime.  And he would let you know if it was 7:05.  Suddenly the kid could party until 10 pm easily.  I knew the nap needed to be shortened and needed to be earlier.  I've recently changed naptime to 10 or 10:30.  This works most days, but sometimes are schedule just doesn't allow.  If he takes just an early nap he is pretty easy to get to bed by 7:30/8 o'clock.  But here's the other change- he is a huge snuggler now.  Can't go to sleep without me.  He does this head lock thing which I love, because c'mon he is hugging me for dear life, and hate, because most of the time I can hardly breath his little face is so close to mine.  And oh yeah there is also this other little thing.  He's in a toddler bed.  Not by my choice.  No, I miss the confinement so badly.  But the dang little monkey started climbing out of the thing at seventeen months.  Even with the mattress all the way down, practically on the floor.  After getting his foot caught one night and bonking his chin on the side rail another day. we had to make the switch for his safety.  This has lead to him waking up in the night, almost every night.  Yippee.  Usually waking his big brother up in the process (they share a room now).  The two by my bedside is my nightly wake up call.  And to make things as smooth as possible for now I've been letting Ben climb in my bed with daddy and I join Jackson in Ben's bed.  Not too fun.  Gotta get this thing figured out.

I basically adore this boy!