A Christmas Whirlwind

This was one weird Christmas for me. Wonderful, blessed and happy... but weird. It begins with the fact that this was the first year since I moved out on my own (age 18) that I really didn't decorate for Cmas. We did put up a tree and we even put lights on the tree... but that is about it. Luckily- my friends Deb & Tony sent us an ornament w/ all of our names on it- or we wouldn't have any ornaments on it! We also hung some garland w/ lights around the living room. I mean- I do have a 2 year old I need to think about here... Cmas lights are essential.

I was feeling a little guilty about the lack of festivity around here... but decided that the only one really thinking any thing of it is me and to let it go. Being that there have maybe been two nights since Oct 12 that I've slept for more than 4 hrs. straight... slacking on holiday decor is allowed. All Timmy cared about was getting a Cmas tree- which was something I definately wanted to put up.

There ended up being a little bit of a theme to our Cmas.... TRAINS. Geo Trax & Thomas all the way man! It was a lot of fun to watch Timmy get so excited. Tommy got spoiled as well... just wasn't able to show his excitment as well :)

Misc Pics of Cmas Celebrations

Museum of Science & Industry...TRAINS!

Not wanting to spend another day stuck inside because of this CRAZY cold weather, we decided to go to the Museum of Science & Industry. Bonus of the day... not only did Tim get in free (all IL school teachers get into the Chicago museums for free!) but that teachers can bring a guest in for free! Score!
We started our day off by going thru the tractor/farm exhibit. Timmy got to "drive" a big John Deer tractor and him & I also sat on a cow to get our picture taken (keeping those WI roots alive in him!). We saw a lot of thing but the best by far (and were we spent the most time) was of course where they had the trains set up. This is a HUGE model train display- with model city of Chicago & Seattle. They also had a big engine there- that we got to climb up and play in. It turned out to be the first engine to break 100 mph.
Timmy was amazingly good today. And this time- we actully got a picture or two of Tommy. (usually he is always in his car seat in the stroller when we are doing fun stuff downtown).
No more messing around though. It's a couple days away til cmas and I have major things to do yet!

PIcs from Museum of Science & Industry

Deb & Tony visit

My friends Deb & Tony came for a brief visit today. They are originally from Wisconsin but now live in Texas. They had plans to drive up to WI for Cmas and swung over our way to meet Tommy and visit. They totally went out of their way to make it here and it was such a blessing to see them again!! The last time they were here it was to meet Timmy when he was just a couple of months old. They haven't changed a bit (how do people do that??). Although I'm getting better about not freaking out over my "not so picked up house"... I still had to apologize for the condition of our house. That is when Tim told them they should come on over when we don't have a newborn. Then we are a little more put together. AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!

(and I accidentally deleted the picture... I'll try to get a copy from them to post)

Pics of Ice Storm ... what a pain!! (Timmy had fun:)

Tommy Boy

Yesterday was Tommy's 2 month check up. He weighed in at a whopping 12lbs 9oz and was 23.5 inches (75th percentile for both height & weight). The doctor commented on what a happy baby he is (Tommy smiled at him the entire visit).

He still isn't the best sleeper, but he isn't the worst either. For awhile he was only getting up once (around 4am) to eat but that dream is long gone.

We love our "big" little guy!

Pics of trip downtown 12.14.08

A trip downtown

We love living so close to downtown. In about 20 or 25 min drive- we are in the midst of everything (but don't live there thank goodness). Yesterday (Sunday) we went to the Kriskringle Village. It was fun, I think the best part was the wonderful smell. But it was really, really crowded. So we walked along Dearborn and then State St. We saw ABC 7 doing their news and we stopped at D&D for a warm drink and snack (which put Timmy in a great mood). On our way back to our car, we saw a bunch of camera men standing outside this door. Turns out IL's wonderful (wonderful as in pathetic and embarrassing) Governor was inside the building and they were waiting for him to come out. So we waited with them. My closest experience to being part of the paparazzi ever! Turns out good ol Rod found a back door no one knew about. I wanted to ask him about the money he was sitting on that would go for paying for Timmy's (and so many other's) speech therapist. But he got away.

I'll post some pictures... Tommy was sleeping in his car seat the entire time so there are not pics of him what so ever. This has happened every single time we go downtown. I swear... we are taking him with us!

Another visit w/ Mikey

On Saturday we went up to Mikey's house (Tim's nephew)... which happens to be one of Timmy's favorite places on earth. One of the reasons is because Auntie Chris sets up Mikey's GEO Trax every time Timmy comes for a visit. I told Timmy last weekend that "next Saturday we get to go to Mikey's house to play Geo Trax" I told him this in an effort to leave Gammy's house (we were having a family birthday dinner and Timmy didn't want to leave Mikey's side). My plan worked great- Timmy stopped crying and made it to the car. The only problem was he thought we were going to Mikey's house that very moment. He was none to pleased when we pulled into our own driveway.

Every day this past week Timmy would ask "Timmy play w/ Mikey Geo Trax?" and I would have to explain that wouldn't happen until Saturday. WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I THINKING?? How is a 2 year old supposed to have a sense of time?

Luckily- today (Saturday) came and Timmy got to play w/ Mikey & Geo Trax.

I have made mental note... don't talk about things more than 15 minutes ahead of time!!

Mom's nite out

A few of the moms from the mom's meetup/playgroup that the boys & I are a part of had a little Cmas party. It was a great time... wonderful food, tasty drinks and to top it off... we played Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, I participated. Made it thru all three rounds thank you very much. Bonus part... I didn't pull anything!!

Pictures 11.9.08

Where's the "PAUSE" button??

I know that time usually flies by really quickly between t-giving & Cmas- but this year it seems even crazier. I wonder if I will ever lose the feeling of being a day late and a dollar short. Sometimes I wish there was a secret pause button somewhere so I can push it and just take a deep, long breath. And really, really look at my boys. They are growing up too fast. Timmy is learning all of these crazy words. The other day we were eating lunch and he said, "hmmmm... delicious Mommy" Where the heck did the word delicious come from? It was the cutest thing! And Tommy... the boy is HUGE- so tall and really growing. He has the infant look- no more newborn. He loves to smile and he is starting to "coo" a lot more often. Nothing like a flash of his smile (sometimes he only raises one side of his mouth and does a kind of 1/2 smile... it's too cute) at 4am while you are feeding him. My favorite though is when he smiles so big there is a little dimple just about his mouth on his left side. One of the biggest prayers that Tim & I have said for both boys (starting before their births) is that they would be happy. A genuine happiness that is embedded in them. We also prayed that they would both be ticklish but that is more for our own selfish reasons :)

So... Cmas is coming at it's usual pace and I've decided to go kind of bare minimum on the decorations (less to have to put away later and less to have to keep Timmy out of... picking my battles). I'd rather have time to play or color or build a blanket fort.... which is the closest thing I have to a pause button.

T-giving Recap

I can't believe how quick this past week has flown by. We stayed in the area for T-giving this year. Our first time doing so! We went to Tim's sister's (Christine, Tom & Mikey) for a wonderful dinner. Tim's Uncle Mick & Aunt Toni came from MI and joined us as well... really cool to see them! A funny thing that happened during dinner... Tim sat next to Toni and accidentally splattered some sweet potatoes on her. Luckily Toni is a saint and laughed. A mere 2 mintues (if that) later- Timmy sprayed milk (via his straw) all over Mick- who was sitting next to him. A definately "like father like son" moment.

I also endured my first Chicago-land "Black Friday" shopping experience. I went w/ my friend Elizabeth (mom of Bella- Timmy's favorite playmate) and we were in Toys R Us by 5am. We hit a few more stores- having great success. I did miss how close the stores are in Oshkosh and there is definately less people out and about that day up there but at least there weren't any fights :)