Not enough hours in a day

I am not sure what I was thinking when I pledged to do a JW post daily this month.  Not only are we planning a birthday celebration, with many guests, but we are also trying to get the house decorated for Christmas.  And all the shopping, cleaning, and organizing that go with both.  Not to mention the daily - you know like eat.  So it's late (for me) and I wanted to pop in quickly to share a JW post.

James and my SIL had a work event last night, so I kept my nephew.  To be honest, I was a little stressed about it given the length of my To Do list.  On nights when James is late, I try to run errands with JW so Daddy doesn't miss any time at the house.  JW and I left a little early to get my nephew from daycare and ran 2 errands (not a total bust).  When we got home and came home, I fixed dinner for my nephew. I got him situated at the table with dinner.   Not to be left out, JW pulled up on the table - not sure how, I guess he's getting tall - and was "eyeing the prize."  So I gave JW a snack in his high chair and they ate together.

forgive the iphone pic. 

(yes - if you look closely, that's macaroni in JW's hair.  He's a mess!)

Still feeling a little flustered, I grabbed a beer (don't judge) and sat in the comfy chair with JW so he could have his bottle.  Not to be left out, my nephew came and stood by the chair.  I could tell he wanted to join us.  So, I invited him up and we all snuggled while watching The Polar Express on ABC family.  A few minutes later I looked down and JW had grabbed my nephew's hand.  They sat holding hands for a bit (probably only a few seconds, but the moment somehow seemed longer).  And in that moment, the flustered feeling I had went away.  That moment made my night.  These little boys are cousins and are blessed to be growing up together.  Just another reminder to enjoy each little moment as there is peace in many of them.

Now, even though my list is a mile long, my eyes are starting to gloss over and I must go to sleep!  Until tomorrow!

50 weeks

JW is fifty weeks today.  That's 10 weeks longer on the outside than on the inside.  I was looking through pictures today and feeling sentimental.  I can't believe I'm planning his first birthday party and that in 2 weeks he will be one.  How did the year go by so quickly?!  He seems to learn something new each week and looks more and more like a little boy every day.  My baby is growing up. 

No pictures today, but over the next two weeks, you'll get picture overload.  I think I have 6 months of updates to get done!  Hopefully tomorrow I will get at least one done!  (along with buying Christmas gifts, planning and buying for the party, and prepping the house for visitors.) 

Dec 5

JW is doing a great job eating. There really isn't much he doesn't like. Chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, yogurt, and mandarin oranges are probably his favorites though. He loves eggs just like his grandma - with cheese and pepper!! He eats a fair amount of Cheerios as well. We just started those about a month ago when I decided the puffs were too expensive!! He does eat. Fruit and veggies as well. Carrots and peas are easy (I buy the cans of peas and carrots). He loves apple - though I really think he is just sucking the juice from it because we end up with pieces of apple all over the high chair tray. Peaches are good too. Going to try blueberries and other berries at next trip to the store. He ate a couple bites of my pizza this weekend and liked that as well. Unfortunately James and I eat dinner late (after he goes to bed) so he has his own meal around 4:30. I trying to feed him leftovers from our meals so that we aren't having to do anything special for him. He drinks pretty well from a sippy cup. My current dilemma is when to start whole milk. I only have about a week left of formula and I really don't want to buy anymore. But, we'll still be a week away from his birthday and 1 year doctor appointment. Any one feel strongly one way or another????
Any other food ideas?

Yesterday he ate some leftover black beans and I think he loved them. What do you think?





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Dec 4

Yesterday was a fun day in our house.  One day a year we are a house divided.  Our college teams play each other in basketball.  Fortunately this year my team came out ahead - if only by 1 point!!!  JW got in on the action too!!

JW watched the first half in this outfit

And the second half (and the rest of the day) in this!!

He's watching intently!! 

Dec 3 JW Post

So I missed a day already.....But 2 posts today!!

JW has been doing swim lessons.  This week was his third week.  He's the only one in the class, so it's 30 minutes of 1-on-1 time.  He has been doing great!  He loves the water.  Below are 2 pictures from yesterday.  If you look really closely, you can see him kicking!  I have a couple videos, but I need to edit them and upload to youtube...I'll link later this week, but wanted to keep up with my daily posts. 

Don't mind the blurry face - I didn't think our teenage instructor wanted me to post his image online! 

Look closely - you can see the feet kicking!!!

Miss Me?

Most of you probably didn't notice I was gone.  But I was informed at Thanksgiving (spent in Ohio with my family) by my grandmother that she "checks the blog everyday."  Um, yea, I think she's looking for updates on sweet great grandson.  And who am I to deny her that.  So, I will make the month of December JW month, after all it is his birth month and we have a big birthday coming up.  (we're starting a day late.  Late is better than never, right??)  Every day this month I will post something about JW - recent pics, monthly update catch ups (I think the last one I did was month 4 - I'm a little behind), and just whatever it is he does to put a smile on our faces.  So to start off.....Here's one from our Thanksgiving trip.  I'll be sure to post more!!

Yes, I know it's blurry.  JW was showing the Buckeye love while in Buckeye country.  Unfortunately his love was not enough for them to beat Michigan the next day.

Getting Organized

So I finally bit the bullet.  I ordered an Erin Condren planner.  Zulily (click here for invite) had a $50 voucher for $25.  And I had a $15 credit....so I did it.  I ordered.....

www.erincondren.com

 The Life Planner in Lattice (grey and yellow combo).  Now, I just have to figure out how I want to use it!  There are so many stickers, which events go on the monthly view, the weekly view?  Goals and To Do each week....yikes.  There's room for everything its just a matter of where to put it (Feels like my house sometimes).

I did this hoping it would get me on a path to organization.  I feel like I have no method to my madness.  I mean the laundry is getting done (though more slowly than usual) and we're eating well (thanks to meal planning!).  Everything else is just a mess, or at least that's how I see it.  My closet needs cleaned up again and I need to switch out my warm weather items for cool weather items.  I started organizing in my office, but only got through the pile of papers to shred (and made a mess in the process.  I think my shredder has it out for me!)  You can barely see my desk.  You can't walk into the closet (not all my fault) and its just a plain disaster.  Then there's JW's room.  It's not even finished.  Pictures have been sitting on the floor to be hung since end of May.....yes, it's that bad.  I need to take the curtains down to have them hemmed and a trim sown on.  All the things he has outgrown are thrown in his closet. (can we take a second to talk about how fast he is growing?!?!  It's crazy!)  We're trying to redo our living room area (its not really a room as its part of the large open space with the breakfast area and kitchen).  It's taking forever because we can't agree on anything (sorry babe).  But we are making progress.  Couch is ordered.  A separate post on the living room work will come.  I've had quotes for our landscaping redo since first of October.  (and 2 dead bushes in the pots outside that haven't been addressed.)  My fall decorations are sitting on the landing in the box.  We're behind on thank you notes, we've got a birthday to plan and the other holidays are coming up.  So, bottom line, I've got to get organized and focused.

Here's hoping my new planner will pave the way!!

JW's First Halloween

It took us a bit to get organized on Halloween night (we were making last minute decisions to order a couch....YEA!!!).  But once we did it was a fun night.  I think JW had a great time and his costume definitely kept him warm.  James took him trick or treating - if you can call it that for a 10 month old - while I passed out candy to the little ghosts and goblins (and scary prom queens - what was with that theme this year?).  I was a bit scared for the evening as JW did not take an afternoon nap.  And of course I was right.  We got him in his costume a little before 6:00 and that did not go over well.  He started crying and trying to rip it off.  So off came the costume and JW went down for a nap.  About 45 minutes later he was up, dressed and ready to go!!  Here are a few pictures from the night. 

little man is crawling everywhere.  Little monkey crawled right up to mommy

yes, its nap time!

Post nap.  Doesn't that look warm and snuggly!  He kept all the pieces on all night!

It is hard to tell, but he is actually smiling here!

I love this face.  I could just eat those cheeks right off! And those lips, so sweet!

On Sunday evening, James carved the pumpkin for us.  Since it was right before bath time, we let JW get in on the action. 

Then it was definitely bath time!!

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween!!

(my pictures are a little blurry.  I've been playing around with the settings on the point and shoot to try to get better pictures.  It isn't working out as well as I would like....)