Bear with me...

I used to make fun of girls I knew in college who were in the "mommy" classes.  I think their major was called Human Development and Family Science.  I was taking REAL science courses.  Right!  Isn't it nice when stuff like that comes back to bite you in the butt (you'll learn about that soon enough I'm sure).  I wish now that I had taken a child development class or two!

Your father and I are still learning everyday.  You provide us with ample opportunities.  Neither one of us wants to see you struggle too much.  And, I hate cleaning up huge messes.  Needless to say, we haven't let you feed yourself as much as we should.  I've been trying to let go of those things.  As I type this, you are "eating" rice Chex and yogurt out of a bowl yourself.  It's probably a good thing I gave you a lot...there is probably half of the yogurt on your face, hands, and high chair.  But darn it, you're doing it yourself!

It only went downhill after I took these photos :)

Needless to say, you enjoyed tub time soon after breakfast!

Christmas at the Coast - 2011

This was a fun-filled Christmas weekend.  We drove to Bandon on Friday to stay with Grandma Colleen and Grandpa Bud.  Grandma made us venison stew and corn bread.  Then, you, your Dad and I and Grandpa went to Shore Acres to look at the lights.  I forgot to charge my camera battery so I only got a couple pictures.  It was beautiful...both the night and the lights.

Then, on Christmas Eve, we went for a walk with Grandpa at the mouth of Sixes River.  What an amazing day!  The wind usually is screaming out there.  That day there was almost no wind, the sun was shining, and it was warm.  The ocean was rough and the waves were pretty crazy crashing on the beach.  You kept pointing at the waves and looked like you were thoroughly enjoying yourself.

That night we had Mexican food with Gordon and Carolyn...pork carnitas that Grandma made, tamales we brought from a bakery here in Salem, avocado salad (which you ate almost all of), beans, rice, tortillas, and salsa.  After we ate dinner, we opened presents.  You finally have this opening presents thing down.  Grandma and Grandpa Jones got you a rescue truck (they brought it over early so we could take it down with us and open it in Bandon).  You were literally vibrating with excitement waiting for your dad to get it out of the box for you.  I have never seen you so excited about something.  It was pretty crazy!

For Christmas Day, we went to Bob and Jerene's to spend time with the Shaffar family.  I fell down on the job there and didn't get any pictures.  Maybe Jerene will send me some!  Anyway, you had fun interacting with everyone and it's always fun to see you together with Ellie.  You got a billion clothes, a pop-up tent thing, and a few other things.  

Today, we came home.  On the way, we stopped in Florence at our favorite coffee shop.  You love the whipped cream they put on the top of my drink!  Then, we put you in the Ergo pack and walked around downtown.  We didn't buy anything but had fun looking at the toy store and all of the art galleries.  We came home through Corvallis and had waffles for dinner.  Seems like a lot for such a short weekend!  I'm glad I only have to go to work for three days this week.  Then, we get to have another long weekend for New Year's!  

By the way, you are the best Christmas present a mother could hope for!  Thank you so much for being my son and for showing me the joy there is in the little things in life.

Fun with Auntie K and Annie

Today, Aunt K and Annie came over to play with you so your dad and I could go out and celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary.  We can hardly believe we've been together this long.

They were feeding you dinner when we left.  Apparently, you had fun knocking towers down.  One would build a new one while you were knocking the other one's tower down.  When we got home, all three of you were snuggled together on the couch watching A Christmas Carol on my laptop.  Auntie K sent me a picture of you throwing a fit on the floor but I think I deleted it.  Other than that you were pretty darn good.

I think, perhaps, you had more fun than your dad and I.  We went to Northern Lights and had dinner and watched a movie.