Merry Christmas?

Somebody's getting a lump of coal this year...

Thanksgiving Tidbits

Our Thanksgiving started a little early this year, when we celebrated on the Sunday before by sharing a meal with my grandparents and cousins. It was a beautiful day outside, and BB enjoyed playing in the back yard, and practically ruining the new shoes he got for his birthday. Luckily, this Chuck Taylor fan was on it, and ordered him a much sturdier, real pair of Converse All Stars on Amazon the next day. Unfortunately when they arrived they were a size too small. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new pair, while also trying to decide if I should consider those his one Christmas present from us, or still get him something else (Lucky for us, BB is too young to understand what "we're poor as dirt, so Christmas will be slim pickins' this year" means).

Cousins

 

On Wednesday Mr. Bo, BB, my dad, and I drove the hour it takes to get to my other grandma's house so that we could spend the day with her. We loved being there, and she loved having us there. She was more than thrilled to see BB, who she had not seen since he began walking. 

On Thanksgiving Day, Mr Bo, BB and I traveled two hours to spend the holiday with Mr. Bo's extended family at his aunt and uncle's house. Lucky for us, my sister lives not too far from there, so that evening we joined her and my parents for dessert at her house. Also lucky for us was the fact that the following Saturday some friends of ours would be getting married in the same town, and my sis was generous enough to share her home with us for three nights so that we could stay in town until the wedding! The best part was, she also kept BB for us the night of the wedding so we could enjoy the evening with our friends. During our extended stay I was able to take BB to my aunt's house for a visit (she also lives close), and do some black Friday shopping with my mom. I got a great pair of boots from Charming Charlie. BTW, if you have never been to a Charming Charlie before, you are missing out. They have awesome stuff that is very reasonably priced, even when it's not black Friday. Of course we all snacked way too much on leftovers that weekend, as well as Dunkin' Donuts breakfast, and ungodly amounts of Chinese food.

Sitting at the Big Kid Table

There was a photo booth at the wedding!

Helping his Aunt K decorate

This Holiday season I am thankful to be a part of a family that, in the midst of big changes (some good and some not so good), is still filled with love, generosity, and forgiveness. I am thankful to have been blessed with wonderful in-laws and their extended families, who have never made me feel like anything less than one of their own. I am thankful for a beautiful son, who is filled with so much curiosity, energy, and passionate emotions, and who keeps me on my toes 24/7. I am thankful for a supportive, patient, generous and loving husband and father to our son, who is so much better to me than I am to him. I am thankful for a home that I complain about too much, but is more than sufficient for our little family. I am thankful that even though we can barely afford to live paycheck to paycheck, at least we get a paycheck and always find a way to make ends meet. I am thankful for the time that I have been able to spend at home with BB, and also for the job I know God has waiting for me. Most of all I am thankful for a loving Lord and Savior who has not let me down yet.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Happy Birthday Baby Bo - The Party!

Even though BB's birthday wasn't until the 13th of November, we decided to celebrate a few days early with friends and family. Last Saturday around noon, BB woke up from his morning nap to a house full of people who love him. We decided to keep the party "small" and only invited Mr. Bo and I's family members and relatives, but it still ended up being a lot of people. It was so much fun, and BB loved it! He got lots of new toys including a basketball goal...

a new push-toy...

and some new hats...

He got a lot of other fun toys and clothes too, and even his first dollar bill to put in his piggy bank. After the presents BB got to indulge in his first ever cupcake. Everyone enjoyed watching him start out by timidly touching his finger to the icing, before digging his entire face into the cake. He doesn't get many sweets from his dad and I, so it was a real treat!

He also got sips of soda and other sweet bites from family member throughout the day. Can you say "sugar high" ?!!?....

Later in the week we used some of the money that BB received from wonderfully generous family members who were unable to join us at the party to purchase a toy box for his new toys, a winter coat, and these new shoes...

It has been a great week, and a great way to kick off the second year of our sweet boys life.

P.S. 

Mr. Bo and I didn't get many good pics from the party, so if anyone who was there with a camera has any shots to pass along, we would love to see them! :)

Happy Birthday Baby Bo

Today the love of my life turns one.

"I have died everyday waiting for you

Darling don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

All along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more"

(Almost) Friday Funnies

If you're like me, a majority of you're time on  Pinterest is spent viewing the "Humor" section. Let's face it, I don't cook therefore I have no need for new recipes; I'm lazy not crafty, so screw the DIY projects; I can't look at the fashion and style section because all it does is remind that it has been more than a few months since I have been able to afford to purchase a new article of clothing; And my house is clean enough without all those fancy-schmancy organization schedules and DIY cleaning products, thank you very much. Besides, I'd much rather laugh than learn how to make an Avacado Feta salad anyway (but boy does that sound yummy).

Yes, Definitely.  

Inappropriate? Yes...Hilarious? YES!

Haha...midget gasoline thieves

Mind. Blown. 

Because who doesn't love a classic SNL sketch

True that

Pumpkin Patch Pics

This afternoon while I worked (at the church where I work part-time) Mr. Bo and his parents took BB to a pumpkin patch. I was disappointed I had to miss out, but enjoyed seeing the pictures they came back with...

This one makes me LOL!

Checkin' out the Chickens

Luckily it was a warm day, because apparently he didn't want to keep his shoes on

Hay Ride

                                       

The Adventures Of Baby Bo: 11 Months

...Better late than never, right!? It has taken me awhile to get around to writing this post, primarily due to the fact that our internet connectivity has been on the fritz lately. Also, BB and I haven't been at home as much the past few weeks, so I haven't had as many opportunities to sit down and write like I usually do. On October 1st I started baby sitting for some friends of ours to help supplement some money until I find a job. So far it has been going well, but it's hard getting used to not being able to get as many household things done when I'm not home all day. ANYWAY, enough about all that, and more about what you all really came here to read about; The Bambino! 

On October 13th BB turned 11 months old. In less than a month he will be a one. year. old. Really!?!? You'll forgive me if I continue referring to him as "Baby Bo" even after he officially becomes a *tear* toddler. You'll also forgive me if I continue to do so when he graduates college. This week I mailed out invitations for his first birthday party, and if I can get through the day without being a blubbering mess, it should be a lot of fun.
The most exciting news I have for you this month is that BB is walking! And not just toddling around, but full-on-walking around like a big shot. He still crawls about 65% of the time, most likely because it is quicker, and because he hasn't figured out how to get up from sitting without pulling up on something. Still, Mr. Bo and I are amazed at the fact that literally within 48 hours he went from taking his first steps to being able to walk the full radius of our downstairs by himself. He has also started clapping, and doing "so big." He is even beginning to say words like "uh-oh" "mama" and "dada," although we aren't sure he really knows what he is saying when he does.
He is still a good eater, but has been going through definite phases where he doesn't eat as much, or he is really picky about what he eats. Meal times always seem to me like a mad dash to keep food in front of him without him scarfing it all down before you can even get the next thing on his tray, or to get foods in front of him that he approves of that day, before he starts squealing, whining, and making a giant mess with the food he doesn't want. It has been nice being able to give him bites of the stuff that we eat too, instead of always making him his own meals.
His daily routine has been thrown for a loop a bit lately, due to the a fore mentioned  babysitting gig. I was spoiled by the 8 a.m. wake up calls I was getting before. Now however, it is me getting him up at 6:30 a.m. so that we can leave the house by 7, and he is back to going to bed at 7 p.m. as opposed to 8. He has been handling both of these times well, as he is getting ample sleep at night. It is his day time naps, though, that are more of an issue. When we stayed at home, I functioned around his nap routine, where as now I am having to force him to nap around my routine. For example, in the morning BB, E (the little girl I baby sit), and  myself walk E's brother to school. Then, in the afternoon, we pick him up. We have to leave the house by 3:30 in the afternoon to pick him up, which means for BB to get his usual 1 1/2-2 hour nap, he has to lay down for an afternoon nap by 2 p.m. at the latest. This in turn means that he has to lay down by 9 a.m. for his morning nap so that the two naps don't run too close to one another. The problem is he is rarely ready for a nap at these times, which makes for an unhappy BB when he is expected to sleep before he is tired. After almost three weeks though, I think he is getting used to his more structured schedule, and at least doesn't cry as much when I lay him down. On the bright side, he gets to hang out with a cute girl all day :).

Fishing For Ducks

"Does this smile make me look fat?"

Neighborhood Watch

Peek-a-boo

Play Ball!

Blueberry Waffles for Breakfast

This Week in Entertainment

What Mr. Bo and I have been watching lately....

Shame on me. I have been sucked in, and boy am I in deep. I'm talking about the first ladies of Bravo t.v.; The Real Housewives. More specifically, The Real Housewives of NYC. These women are some of the nastiest, meanest, most terrible and self centered women I have ever seen...and Monday evenings you can find me soaking up every over the top, dramatic, wonderfully addicting minute of it. While in the past I have been known to catch a random Housewives marathon episode here and there, never have I watched an entire season from beginning to end. But alas, the NYC season finale is next week, and I have yet to miss an episode. Perhaps this season's redeeming factor has been that, among all the cray-cray chaos that is Real Housewives, there has risen a beacon of light: Carol, a Housewife after my own heart. She portrays a sense of class that puts every Housewife from every other season to shame. LuAnne may be right, money can't buy you class, but even the countess could learn a thing or two from the princess. Ah Carol, so calm, cool, collected, and wonderfully forgiving, she is the one and only housewife I truly admire. Then there's Ramona, the Housewife I love to hate, and Aviva, the Housewife I used to love but now I just hate.
If the phrase "Ramonja" means nothing to you, good. You should probably keep it that way. But if you feel like joining me on the dark side, then meet me Monday night for some Ramona Pinot Grigio, some Sonja in the City hors d'oeuvres, and some good ol' fashioned cat fights!

Because I fear I may have writer's remorse soon after posting this, I feel I need to redeem myself by telling you about my other most recent obsession: Dowton Abbey. A little more refined, yes? Although I was pleased to see the show did get some Emmy nods, and even a win for Maggie Smith as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, I still think this is the most underrated show on television (perhaps because it is on PBS). I just finished watching the first season on Netflix, but will be a little more hard fixed to find a way to watch the second season as it is not on Netflix yet. As it is described on the Netflix menu, this show "chronicles the comings and goings of the upper-crust Crawly family and their assorted servants" throughout the WWI era. It touches on such topics as social class, women's rights, and even homosexuality, yet is not nearly as sensationalized as most drama on television (maybe why Mr. Bo chooses to watch Breaking Bad instead). If you're not already watching the show yourself, you should be. Take my advice and don't give up after the first episode, because (in my opinion) it was a bit slow to start....but it's about to get so good, so give it chance. Plus, if you're like me, you will have fun imitating their English/Irish accents when talking to your children, and saying fun things like "good sir" and "mu' lady."

The Adventures of Baby Bo: 10 months

Last week our not-so-"Baby"-Bo turned the big One-Oh...months that is. He is so active, so animated, so darn smart, and it is hard to believe how much he changes month to month.
Two weeks ago BB went in for his 9 month check up with the pediatrician. He is still as healthy as can be. He weighed 22 lbs (85th percentile) and was 29 inches tall (75th percentile). We didn't have to get any routine vaccinations or booster shots this time, however I did go ahead and get his flu vaccination over with, which he handled incredibly well (unfortunately he did not handle me accidentally pinching his neck in the car seat buckle a few days later with as much stride).
 I have started stocking up on some fall/winter clothes for him, and have been surprised to find that he is already wearing 18 month clothing. Finding pants has been particularly difficult, because while the 18 months pants may fit around his Michelin Man belly (and sometimes they are even to small!), they are way too long. I am also having a hard time finding shoes for him. I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but BB has never worn shoes. During the winter he always wore socks, but I can't even say that much for him this summer. He's been bare-footin' it since May! If anyone has any suggestions for finding well fitting shoes for a beginning walker with fat feet, I'm all ears.
While BB is still crawling, he really wants to walk. I spend more time than I would like, hunched over holding his hands so he can walk around, even going up the stairs. He definitely does not like it when I let go, and he isn't shy about letting me know. He also has a push toy that he can pull up on and walk around with when my back is about to break.
Now that Mr. Bo has gone back to work, my days with BB can seem pretty long and lonely. I try to keep busy, and get out of the house at least once a day, even if it's just going for a walk around the neighborhood. We visit my grandparents about once a week, and I try to schedule some play dates as well. I have also been attending a Conscious Discipline study through the church where I work part time. I have to leave BB in the nursery, which is great with wonderful sitters and lots of fun toys, but BB's separation anxiety keeps him from enjoying any of it. Talk about feeling like the worst parent in the word for wanting two hours of adult interaction! Sheesh! So, if anyone has any suggestions on dealing with that, once again, I am all ears!
A majority of our week is spent at home, where "we" play and explore all day long! We are having fun learning parts of the face, like nose, ears, and mouth; simple words like "mama" and "daddy," and a few meal time sign language phrases like "more" and "all done." BB loves playing with his music table, anything electronic with buttons (i.e. remotes and cell phones), chasing his Spider Man ball around the house, and his best friend is still the cat.  He also loves getting dirty outside, and incidentally dislikes taking baths.
 Oh to be young and care free...

 

Morning bottle

Giving kisses through the window

Say "Cheese!"

Belly laughs