Holiday Card Choices-please help me or i'll tell you're children the truth about Santa

Ok people, it's holiday card time and I'm in a quandary. Photo #1 is cute, loving, happy, smiley, and does a nice job capturing the sibling love (that is oh so fleeting). But the issue is this: daddy dressed them this day, Syl's hair is a lion's nest (is there such thing?) and it's not very holiday-ish.

Option #2 is the planned holiday card shoot. They are color coordinated, down to the freaking hand-knit hats. But the sun reflecting off Syl's shirt gives Easton red-face syndrome, there sibling love is not as apparent, and Syl was as moody as a pre-teen girl. I really don't know where she gets her snarky attitude.
So vote, people! This is really important stuff that you should not take lightly. The fate of baby Jesus lies in this one holiday card. By the way, I am poor and only send out about 20, so if you vote, don't think you're getting one. I mean come on, I'm giving you the sneak peak right here!!

Don't let me forget to tell you about our tour of the MOST AMAZING SCHOOL WE CAN"T PHYSICALLY AFFORD TO SEND SYLVIA TO. Because I'm going to cry right now about it. And I've got to start hooking to cover tuition. Cuz wouldn't that make an excellent essay when she wants to get into college?

Get Your Boxes In!!!

Hey you! This week is the drop-off week for the holiday shoe box giftaway at Samaritan's Purse.

This link tells you what to do, how to do it, and where to bring your boxes. We have finished assembling ours and I'll be taking Sylvia over to the spot on Saturday, during Easton's nap, so she can see the process all the way through. I was a bit overly ambitious with the all homemade concept, and went with an all art supply box (plus a toy), but I don't feel guilty about it. We only did 2 kids, 1 girl and 1 boy, but it's a start. I was pleased with Sylvia that she didn't want to keep everything for herself, and I'm hoping to do some more charitable work with her soon. The consumerism rages in her, and within me, and it's so important to teach the gift of giving. I need some lessons myself, so it'll benefit us both.

And that is it for today, the baby just woke up. Surprised? Not one bit.

Whatcha Talking Bout?

Sylvia was an early talker, and remains to this day to be leaps and bounds ahead of her peers with communication. Am I bragging? Though I'm proud of my daughter, she has the sass and attitude of a pre-teen girl, thanks in part to her ability to hold real conversations, retain information, and soak up sarcasm from her mama. It's not quite bragging, because what she excels in fine motor, she lacks in gross motor skills, you get one or the other (unless you have both, and to you I say good luck with that). Gross motor, for you non-parent readers, is the physical stuff, like running, riding a bike, bouncing off the walls like a monkey-child. Sylvia discovered at 2.5 years old that jumping on the couch was fun, and she learned this from her gymboree classes, it didn't occur to her naturally. Most 18 month olds are climbing couches and taking scary leaps off of them. No, Sylvia could tell you why it was important to not put oneself in danger, but she wouldn't do it.

Fast forward to the second born, my son that sleeps in 5 minute increments, the one that is proving how different each child can be. He doesn't say anything. At 1, Syl had so many words that I stopped writing them down. She could say stuff like Wedge (our dog), kitty, mama, daddy, hot, up, stop, go, ect. Easton sometimes spouts a dada, and he used to say mama. But I'm always around, so what's the point of knowing that one?!

So the other night, we were having a fire in our chimenea out back, when E decided he should attempt to climb in the burning cauldron of hot coals and flame. We held him back, holding our hand out, and repeated "hot" to him. Now, his new favorite thing, is to hold out his hand and say "hop" to everything around. He's got a lot of catching up to do if he wants to keep up in conversatsion with his mama and big sister, but it's a start.

Little Sweepers

It's not that we make them, they really enjoy yard work. So why not sit back and sip some coffee whilst the wee one clean up those pesky leaves? And yes, they are for hire.

11 Months Old (young)

Stats:

age: 11 months

weight: 20 lbs (all this movement has kept him slim)

height: 25"

movements: lots of crawling and cruising, took 1 step accidentally, no walking

favorites: music, dancing, banging on drums, smacking the guitar, patting boobs, eating boob, doing whatever sister is doing, yelling 'dada', mama, the cats, turning off lights, the dog water bowl, stairs, crawling up all playground equipment and throwing himself down the slides head first with total glee

A year ago, I was anticipating another 6 weeks of pregnancy (guh!). Easton had his own plan of arriving 2 weeks early, thank GOD since he was 8.12 (double guh!). He is such a mover and a shaker, a wee wind-up toy ready to go upon arrival of the ground. This morning, as all 4 of us were snuggling in bed (don't worry, every one slept in their own beds), Easton was going back and forth from nursing on my side to turning is head to snuggle with Sylvia on his other side. It was so simple, so sweet, so beautiful. These moments will be fleeting, I know how siblings work (I had 2 older brothers). The universe is telling me to slow down, appreciate what is right in front of me, smell the goddamn roses, ya know?

Yet 11 months is all about going. He is so quick, and when you dart towards him to save him from impending danger, he quickens his crawl, turning to laugh at your rapid attempts. His joyous glee reminds us that he's in charge, and we are mere pawns in his rituals. I'm ok with that (for now). He can dictate my days, take charge of my nights, and rule the roost with his charming ways. He is delicious, full of warm snuggles, and as happy as they come.

I'm not going to detail the difficulties of this age, the troubles with sleep/teeth/consistency. No, I want to remember the last month of his first year on earth as pure love and total joy. For Easton is my first son, and my last child, and I want to smother him with kissies till my lips go dry.

Give It Up

As Sylvia gets older, the consumerism surrounds her. She never watches commercial tv, so the little she sees of "junk" toys are at preschool, at friends' homes, at the stores, and as presents. It makes me nauseous to see some of her toys and realize that the plastic in them will always be on this planet. But that is life here in America, and my motto this holiday season is 'be the change' (original, right?!).

After researching ideas for the thrifty family to give/donate/volunteer, I stumbled upon this organization. It's perfect, it's affordable because you choose everything yourself, and it's totally kid-friendly. I also decided to be overly-ambitious and hand make many of the offerings, hoping the children that receive it will appreciate the non-plastic (though I'll never know, I can only hope). Sylvia is super excited about the "shoe box" gifts we will be putting together, and we are keeping it slow and simple by only doing 2 (1 boy, 1 girl).

For the first gift, I've followed this tutorial and finished the first kitty in less than an hour. Sure, it's not perfect. But it's handmade and heartfelt, and that's whats important for Syl to learn. Hopefully, some child can snuggle up to him and enjoy the thought that went into getting it into her arms.

Though it is a religious organization, there are local drop boxes and it is a highly recommended group. And they donate here and abroad, which I think is important to cover both. Nuf said.

Complete!

First finished quilt. There are several mistakes, but most are minor. Mainly it turned out more square than anticipated. I guess that's why they say measure twice, cut once! This is Sylvia's Christmas present from me, though she's already spied it in my hands. I'm going to wash it and put it away for the next month, hoping her toddler memory will work in my favor. Plus, do I really expect a 3.5 year old to be over the moon about a quilt made by her mama? All I really want to happen is for her to enjoy sleeping with it, sitting on it, or wrapping her cute little self in it for a movie. And maybe to not throw up on it.