the sweater

Wannabe hipster or Mr. Rogers...?

We were debating that very thing this morning before church, then realized we were running late and decided to roll with it...whatever it is.

Either way, I think it's safe to say he pulled it off.

Note: Both tie and sweater were Shane's back in the day, so we wanted to be sure and put them to good use.

blessings in disguise

Sometimes it's nice to have a reminder that the Lord is watching over you.

I had that reminder more than a few times on Wednesday evening.

You see, we had a snow storm arrive in D.C. around 4pm. And for some reason that's exactly when OPM decided government workers could go home because of the storm. So we were all on the road at the same time, adding to the usual traffic situation and barely able to see because the hail and then snow were coming down so hard and so fast.

I should have left the office at noon.

There were so many near misses along my way, I have no doubt that guardian angels were protecting me as I inched along. My little Honda Civic certainly wasn't made for such adventures. It barely made it out of Christian's babysitters hilly neighborhood. From there we had several hills to go till we arrived home. And several cars spun out of control around us up all around us as we crawled along, skidding, sliding, praying all the way.

I rolled into our parking lot two and a half hours after I left the office, my heart beating fast. Finally safe inside the apartment, I breathed a sight of relief, said a quick prayer of gratitude and called Shane to let him know we were safe.

And then, before we had a chance to settle in and prep dinner, I got to see everything Christian had eaten for lunch come up and onto our couch. At first I thought maybe it was a fluke. He couldn't be sick. He didn't have a fever. He was acting normal. But then it happened again.

For the next 24 hours we watched everything Christian tried to consume (after a while, we just stuck to water), come back up. And in just about every corner of the house (of course).

But even as I took pile after pile of nasty smelling bedding, towels, pillows to the laundry, all I could think was: thank goodness he held off till we walked in the door.

There is no way we could have it safely home in that crazy storm if my son had been in the back gagging and hacking up everything in his stomach.

It was just another reminder that the Lord knows me, and knows me well. He knows I can only handle one crisis at a time. And for that I really am grateful.

On top of those blessings, we also were blessed with power the entire duration of the storm, even while friends in neighborhoods near and far reported outages. The simple ability to do laundry and run a bath for Christian each time he needed a rinse was a gift I will not soon forget.

things i'm loving lately about christian

How he says his long, drawn-out "hi" to me several times a day (he can also make anything into a phone and say "hi" to that too).

How he now tells to "sit" next to him and pats the couch or chair while doing it (it's kind of becoming an order).

How he surprised us at 5:45am the other day by coming into our room to snuggle, overthrowing our plan to exercise before work (that's what we get for hitting the snooze button repeatedly -- but who can resist?).

How he insists on getting out the two-pound weights and moves around on the yoga mat when he sees us working out.

How he still points to our neighbor's door each time we arrive home because he misses her Christmas wreath with the teddy bears on it.

How he can use the Wii remote to select options on the TV better than his own mother.

How he still does the "happy dance" whenever we're getting him a cup of milk.

How cutely he says "shoe" and "two" these days.

How he still says "mmm-mmm" when he likes what he's eating (he's the loudest eater!).

How he says "no" even when he means yes (okay, I don't always love this but he says it so sweetly most of the time that sometimes it cracks me up!).

How he repeatedly says, "la luna" when he sees the moon.

How he still likes to blow kisses to everyone, and he smacks his lips while doing it.

How he makes ordinary things seem exciting by say "wow" and "woo" (such as when he sees the street lamps outside or an airplane fly by).

How he cannot resist sniffing a flower, no matter how many times I ask him to get off the table (or how many thorns the rose bush sticks in him).

How he uses "mama" to alert me to whatever he finds interesting at the moment.

How he LOVES to brush his teeth, or at least eat the toothpaste.

How he enjoys petting my hair as if I am his pet.

How he insists on climbing into my lap while I type on the computer.

new year's bowling

While in Idaho for Christmas we discovered Christian is quite the little bowler. So on New Year's Day we spent some time bowling a little closer to our home here in Alexandria.
I'm not sure why we didn't think to take Christian before now. This kid hasn't met a ball he doesn't like.
He would patiently wait and watch the ball all the way to the end. Then he insisted on giving us high fives at the end of each turn.
The plan was to go bowling and then write down our New Year's resolutions. We didn't really get to the second part. We've definitely got some we're working on but we still need to write them down and make them official....especially since February is just around the corner.

the escapee

I walked into Christian's room tonight and found him standing on his window sill.

We're so lucky he didn't fall backwards.

When I heard him yelping for help I was slightly annoyed, figuring I'd find him in his crib begging for some milk. Of course, my feelings changed when I opened the door.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So I called Shane in for his reaction.

To get to his window Christian must have climbed over his crib onto the dresser (where he knocked over the stereo and speakers we use to play him lullaby music) and from there stood up and crossed onto the window sill. He then probably enjoyed a minute or two looking out the window into the parking lot before realizing he was completely stuck. He couldn't bend his knees to let himself down without pushing himself away from the window pane and risk losing his balance.

Again, we're so lucky he didn't fall. I don't even want to think about what could have happened.

Of course, Christian was completely unaware of any real concern. He was just relieved to be freed from the window sill but also weary of being scolded. Instead he was hugged and allowed to sit on his dad's lap for a few minutes while we watched the end of "The Social Network." So much for our tough parenting skills. ;)

Before we left to spend Christmas with Shane's family in Idaho, Christian escaped from his crib two nights in a row. Once we found him on the dresser, once we found him standing on the bottom rail of his crib trying to get back in. We planned to convert his crib to a bed when we returned but held off when we realized he hadn't escaped since. Now I guess we have some decisions to make. For starters, it's probably time to get that dresser far away from that crib.

For those of you with kids, are we right in thinking we need to ditch the crib at this point?

P.S. For those wondering, we both enjoyed "The Social Network" -- there were a few moments where I was worried we needed to do some editing but the story was well-paced and very interesting. Although now I really don't like Mark Zuckerberg.

christmas in idaho

Looking back, I did not take nearly enough photos during our time in Idaho. Luckily, I know others were much more diligent, so I'll have to fill in the blanks by gathering photos from them.

Memorable events not pictured include a live nativity with real animals out on a dairy farm on Christmas Eve (followed by homemade donuts and steamy hot chocolate), ditching Kayla at the Idaho Falls Temple so she could get officially proposed to, and a quick cross-country ski trip (my very first!).

What I have is a random mix, to be sure. But here they are.

Christmas morning fun

Reading a book from Uncle Keith

Christmas family dance (yes, Kayla is now a brunette -- she's seen the light -- ha!)

Riding a "horse" at the Idaho Falls Museum

Cute Dustin posing in front of the tree

Did you know Shane's brother, Keith, is getting remarried? He has four boys and his fiance, Janae, has four girls -- it's the Brady Brunch expanded! (Can't wait for their big day, Feb. 5!)

Men and their tools...need I say more?

Christian loved sledding. He honestly couldn't get enough of it. We finally dragged him kicking and screaming back to the car because we couldn't stand the cold any longer.

He definitely prefered to have the sled to himself. This kid still has no fear. I'd start him out and Shane would catch him at the bottom. But he did ride in a few laps now and again.

Christian with Grandpa Larsen -- he had a fun time stealing his cane and carrying it around the house

All the boys lined up

If only I'd had my shutter speed ready to go -- the dog licked Christian, he freaked out, pushed him away and then Shane brought him back to made amends so he wouldn't be scarred for life. Too cute.

easy minestrone soup

We made this minestrone soup for dinner tonight and it was so scrumptious and simple I thought I would share. It's low in fat but full of flavor. Definitely will make it again. A little parmesan and some fresh whole wheat french bread top it off nicely. The recipe comes from Two Peas and Their Pod. I'm tempted to try the cooking duo's Spinach Mushroom Cannelloni next.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 (14 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese-optional, for garnish

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add in zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes. Stir in vegetable broth and water. Add beans, macaroni, oregano, and basil. Simmer until vegetables and macaroni are tender-about 35 minutes.

2. Season soup with salt and pepper and serve warm. Garnish with parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serves 8-10

21 months

This little guy turned 21 months old on Saturday. I can't believe he's nearly two!

He is one very busy boy. Here are some of the things he's into these days:

Climbing

He climbs on anything and everything. The tops of our couches, along our heating units and sneaks onto the window sill, and recently he's surprised us by climbing out of his crib and onto his dresser. We found him on the dresser one night crying because he couldn't figure out how to get back in his crib. (While up there he managed to dismantle his stereo too.)

Hugging

This kid is a hugger. He hugs people of all ages but he really loves to hug babies. I think he's scared more than a few new mothers but he really is so sweet around kids smaller than himself. He also gives a little sigh when he hugs: ahhh. And if you're lucky he'll pat your back. Melts my heart.

Kissing

He'll give you a kiss if you ask for one but even cuter is him blowing you a kiss. He does this smacking with his lips that is just adorable. It's a nice sound effect that carries well over the phone (just ask his grandmothers).

Growing

We got back from less than two weeks in Idaho and Christian had stretched out significantly. All the sudden he can reach and turn all the door knobs in the house (instead of just the front door). We're not the only ones who've noticed he's lengthened a bit. People at church kept commenting on it too.

Talking

He's still got a long ways to go in the talking world but he's definitely made some huge improvements lately. In Idaho it seemed like he was pulling out a new word every few hours. He's been playing with a greater variety of sounds lately and is more willing to copy us. My favorite right now is probably: shoe. He's so cute making that "shhh" sound.

Shhhing

Speaking of the "shhh" sound, if Christian thinks you are sleeping, he's very quick to "shh" everyone around him. Funny thing is, he seemed to think the stuffed animals on our neighbor's Christmas wreath were sleeping, so every time we came into our apartment during the month of December we had to "shh." He cracks us up.

Brushing

He hurries into the bathroom and grabs his toothbrush out of the drawer as soon as I start to suggest we brush his teeth before bed. I think it helps that he now uses some kiddie tooth paste but still, it's nice to see him excited about it. He's not as excited about letting me help him brush so we're working on "sharing" the brushing responsibilities. He also loves to comb my hair and his hair.

Bathing

Nothing new here but he still loves his baths. He runs to the tub and often still has his clothes on when he crawls in. He's also decided he likes the shower again. It was really nice the other day when I was able to get out before him and work on my hair and make-up while he continued to peek-a-boo around the curtain at me.

Balling

This kid hasn't met a ball he doesn't like. He got a new mini football for Christmas and didn't care to open any more gifts. He also got a basketball hoop for here at the house from Santa and its the best idea we've ever had. It entertains him for hours at a time while I make dinner and do dishes and such. Best $35 we've ever spent. At the park he can watch people play tennis for 10 straight minutes and he loves to swing a bat or pitch a ball. It's also impossible to keep him off the court when he spies the youth playing basketball at the church on Wednesday nights.

Sharing

He's no pro but I'm told he's a pretty good sharer. His babysitter raves about his willingness to share and never pick a fight. I think he struggles a bit more on Sundays at nursery but if we mention the word share he immediately lets up if he and another kid are after the same item. Shane and I are sure glad to see him developing this skill. Especially since he's an only child at the moment.

Caring

Like I've been pointing out, Christian really has a gentle heart. He's very passionate at times but also quick to show love. If he thinks you've got an "owie" and especially if he's the one who may have hurt you he's so quick to show remorse it's almost painful. He reaches out immediately for the hug and tears up almost instantly and has to be reassured that everything is going to be okay. Too sweet, really. I think I'll keep him.

Laughing

Christian has a fabulous sense of humor. He's a showman. And he likes to make you laugh. He pops out to surprise you from behind a wall and is all giggles. Or he'll chase you around the house. He loves to wrestle and be tickled.

Playing

Like all kids his age, he's constantly playing. He loves trains, cars, balls, etc. But really, he doesn't need much stuff to be entertained. He loves to be swung around, hang upside down, fly in the air, climb on my back, ride on Shane's shoulders -- you name it. He's very physical. Very active. We love it. Most of time. ;)

Okay, I'm sure there's much I'm forgetting since I'm writing this past my bedtime but for now, I'll leave it at this.

to buy or not to buy

{For those of you on Twitter, or any hard-core Real Simple fans, you may already have seen this. But for the rest of the world, I thought this "Simple Tip" was worth sharing.}

Being that is definitely a good year for saving more and buying less (frugality is the new black, I guess you could say), it might help to ask yourself these four questions before buying an item and bringing it home:

1. Do you already own something that serves the same purpose?
2. If so, will you get rid of the older item and replace it with the newer one?
3. Will this make your life easier/fulfill a need/save time and money?
4. Have you researched to find the best product at the best price?

Maybe I'm the only one who will benefit from this tip but I'm thinking not. Way to often I find myself running into places like Target for a few listed items and I walk out with three times what I came in for.

P.S. Real Simple has announced it will be posting a new "Simple Tip" everyday for 2011. Yay!

sending christmas cheer

We didn't send out Christmas cards this year.

I thought we'd do them after we returned from Mexico but between Shane's law finals and both of our very busy work schedules, the first three weeks of December flew by before we got a chance to think about them.

And by then it was a little too late.

Shane accused me of being a grinch. And then I reminded them that he could have worked on them too.

He didn't have a response to that.

I then thought about trying for New Year's wishes but once we boarded the plane to Idaho that dream sailed too.

Still, I really hope to mail one out next year. Only because I really enjoyed all those we received from friends and family and I don't want to get dropped off your mailing lists!

Thanks for keeping us in the loop and sending pictures of your beautiful, smiling faces. With all that was going on, it really made a difference to get some Christmas cheer through the mail. You truly made our days (and weeks!).

Love you guys. XO