The Magic of Christmas

I have always loved Christmas. The lights, the music, the shopping, the traditions...all of it. When it's over, I'm always sad as all the glitter and light disappear from my living room. It went by so fast this year. I could've used an extra two weeks of Christmas this year. And that's what I'm realizing about life with a little one, especially at this time of year. It FLIES.

Christmas was so much more fun with the little guy running around. He's not old enough yet to understand any of it, but to see Christmas through a child's eye...that's the magic.

As I get older, Christmas is still a magical time, but has become a little bittersweet. Spending Christmas at home in the house I grew up in, so many memories flood in of Christmases past. Can it really be that long ago that I was sitting under the tree opening up my gifts from Santa? And now I'm no longer the child, I'm the mother. But, I still feel like that little girl inside. How can it be that I'm the MOM and almost 30 years old?? Is that right? You mean Santa isn't real...huh?! :)

Pardon me, I think I'm just having a quarter-life crisis. Thank you John Mayer for giving a name to my special kind of craziness.

And I missed my Papa this year. More than I have in a long time. I missed the smell of the log cabin and the pipe tobacco. I missed his hugs and his voice. And I think that's another part of Christmas that changes as we get older. We miss all the people that we've spent it with in the past. And I wish he could have met Henry. They would've been best buddies.

Sniff...sniff....alright I'll get back on track, I promise.

We were blessed to be able to spend a whole week at home. Usually, Henry and I will go down for a week, and Marc is only able to come for a couple days, but this year he got to spend the whole week.

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, I'll call it the 7 days of Queso. I believe we injested that beloved blend of Rotel and Velveeta at least once a day for 7 days straight. Awesome.

Besides gorging on Mexican food, we spent a lot of time just relaxing and playing with Henry. His walking improved like crazy over the trip. When we first got there, he was still a little shaky on his feet but by the end he was practically running. Running like a drunk, but running still.

He LOVED his Uncle Jojo. Now, he rarely meets a stranger but he walked right up to Joey and nestled up against his chest like he was his best friend. Um, he's never done that to me!

We watched the movie, The Other Guys, twice. If you are into quotable Will Ferrell comedies, you must check it out. We were dying laughing! I even got a present from one of the characters. It got a little out of hand. Why I got scratch off lottery tickets from "Dirty Mike and the Boys" (aka Marc), I will never know. It doesn't even make sense. And why I received scratch off tickets from my husband...that's also strange.

We tried to go see Santa on our yearly trip to Bass Pro Shops, but there was a two hour wait! Seriously? It was just like that part in The Christmas Story where Ralphie and his brother get in what they think is the line, only to have that mean old man tell him the line starts back THERE! That was us...I thought it looked pretty short. Dur.

The closest we got.

We rode the carousel instead. Henry tolerated it. I think he's inherited his mom's hatred of rides that go round and round.

This is blurry, but you can see the joy on his face. Ha!

By the time it was time to leave, I really just wanted to stay and have Christmas at Bass Pro in that front lounging room with all the deer heads and the roaring fire. So cozy. I think this longing to spend the night at Bass Pro goes back to one of my favorite memories from childhood. When I was in Girl Scouts, we got to have an overnight campout in the MALL! Best idea ever. I love the idea of camping, but not so much the outdoors. Why not camp indoors in one of my favorite places to go as a 7 year old? Genius.

I think Henry's favorite present was his 4 pack of Chuck trucks. It's a fire truck, a blue pick-up truck, an ambulance, and a dump truck. He kept saying, "Whoa" as I was unwrapping them for him. Although, it seems his favorite toy lately is not a present he received at all, but my very own red CVS card. If we're out shopping around and he's fussy, the CVS card works everytime. He's actually really studying me when I swipe my credit card in the machine. Give him a couple more days, and I think he'll actually be able to do this. He's pretty smart.

"Mom, why are you always talking smack?"

This will go down as the Christmas Marc fell in love with his Droid. And the love affair continues....I might need him to leave the Droid at home when we go on our Bahamas trip. It's getting pretty hot and heavy.

So excited for our Bahamas trip! Here's the place we're staying, A Stone's Throw B&B in Nassau. I have been working out and watching my diet like a mad woman to try and get ready to get into a bikini. Normally, those areas don't see the light of day till at least June so there's some work to be done. I won't be able to wear my pajama jeans on the beach. Just kidding, I do not have a pair of pajama jeans, although they are tempting. Hey, at least I didn't buy the Shake Weight to get my arms in shape!

Happy New Year to you all!! Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Cheers!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy

Fall Escapades

This post is so late due to a crazy work life as of late, but better late than never!

Is the word "escapade" ever used besides that lovely 90's gem of a song "Escapade" by Janet Jackson? I remember I used to think she was saying "...let me take you on an ice capades". I always wanted to go to the Ice Capades, so the song appealed to me. If I don't know the words to a song, I usually just make up my own. That's what all the cool kids do.

We have truly had some memorable fall escapades this year with Henry. I've visited more pumpkin patches in the past three months than I have in my entire life. Each one had something memorable to offer.

One had the best kettle corn I've ever had. Actually, I only got 2 bites. This guy got the rest.

One that looked just like "Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin" except not animated.

One where I saw two donkeys, um how should I put this....having a fun time together?

You thought I was going to post a pictures of the donkeys, didn't you? You have such a dirty mind.

A young family with 2 kids was also there to witness it.

Overheard conversation:

"Mama, what are those horsies doing?"- Little Boy

"They look like they are having fun!"- Little Girl

"Ah nuthin. They ain't horses at all. Nah, they ain't horses at all!"- Deep Southern accented Grandma. Horses she knew would never do such a thing. For shame.

Henry and his best girlfriend Maddie having a Ritz Cracker snack in the patch.

This look exemplified his mood that day. Even after the cracker snack, something was just not right. I'm calling this shot "Before Ice Cream".

Hmmm...let's give it a try. Chocolate in a waffle cone. Delightful.

"After Ice Cream". Pure joy.

We also took a trip up to Blowing Rock to see all the foliage. Blowing Rock is such a cute little town, but not the place to bring a baby. Strollers are not allowed in any of the shops. And it was freezing!! We had a lunch at a fancy cafe while we were there. It was very quiet inside, so I was a little worried about how it would go with Henry. He was so good! Maybe because he looked the part. His sweater vest and collared shirt fit right in with the sophisticated atmosphere. Ron Burgundy would've liked this place. It smelled of rich mahogany.

"Can I get some service up in here?! Waitress!!"

Poor baby was teething during Halloween and barely tolerated having to wear his tiger outfit. We went trick or treating around the cul-de-sac and then hung out in the driveway to hand out candy to all the kids. It didn't really cross my mind that it would actually be me and Marc holding out the candy bucket, so it was actually us grown ups trick or treating. Awkward. He looked very cute in his costume. I'm glad we went the tiger route. I considered dressing him up as a hamburger.....oh, who are we kidding. That would've been adorable too.

Henry continues to amaze me at the big boy he is becoming.

A couple things he's started to do.....

- He can now walk 5 or 6 steps without falling.

- Loves climbing up the stairs.

- I can tell (mother's intuition) he is starting to understand a ton of words. His newest word is "Go". He likes to say that we're playing fetch with Betsy. He likes to head butt Betsy and burrow his head in her fur.

- He's starting to dance when music comes on. His favorite song is "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" by Usher. He likes it when I sing Miranda Lambert's "House That Built Me" and "The Airstream Song". Or maybe I just like to sing those.

- Still loves peek-a-boo and can now play by himself. He'll go around the corner or pull a shirt over his head by himself to "hide".

- He's starting to like eating with a spoon by himself.

- Pots, pans, and spoons are his favorite "toys". His favorite toys that are actually toys are his school bus and dump truck.

- This kid loves books!! It's getting to be where if I'm reading and I stop, he lets it be known that he wants me to keep going! He's obsessed with anything with a truck or car on it. I caught him reading the back of the newspaper with pictures of cars for sale on it the other day. I feel like I'm raising Joe Dirt. I better get me some issues of Auto Trader.....

- Speaking of Joe Dirt, he's grown quite a mullet. But it's little baby ringlets, so I just can't cut it yet!

- He now has 8 teeth. 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top.

That's all for now! Lots of fun times coming up with Christmas almost here. Can't wait!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy

Little Gym Drama

I decided to take Henry to Little Gym after work on his real birthday. They have a free introductory class, so why not? We went to the 5:45 class. He had just had a big bottle of milk and some snacks, so I thought we were all set and just threw in some goldfish just in case.

He acted like he had never seen people before. He was so clingy and would not let me put his down. Still acting like he was hungry, we went in the waiting room and had a few more goldfish. He would come alive for a minute, but then back to the clinginess. It was so NOT his personality...just strange.

The girl running it came up to me and said, "For the shy babies, they usually get excited when the balls and the bubble time starts."

Um yeah honey, this baby ain't shy. He's just having an off day! Enough with the 3rd degree!

So, we got home, both of us plum worn out. I'm still wondering what was going on with him.

I look down and my fly is undone.

OMG- how long has it been this way?! I was sitting indian style during little gym letting it all hang out! No wonder I thought the parents were giving me dirty looks.

"Hey, let's welcome the weird child predator lady!"

Henry was trying to tell me to get the heck out of there and save us all the embarrassment.

We can never go back there.

.....flashback to traumatic childhood memory.........

I am 14 years old. I weigh maybe 80lbs soaking wet, but I think my new perky 32A's are quite niiice. I buy a bathing suit at the sexy bathing suit place known as The Gap. It is a beige bikini with flowers on it. In denial over my pale skin from an early age, I decide that once I get a tan it will look really good. Right now, it frankly resembles my skin tone just a wee bit.

Fast forward to a hot summer day when I decide to try it out by laying out in the backyard. I go out to get the mail to see if my new Seventeen magazine has arrived. We live across the street from a park. I strut my stuff out to the mailbox and hear these boys yelling, "Whoa, look at that girl!"

I am so excited. I must be looking hot to get catcalls from across the street.

Two days later, we receive a call from the local police department.

Apparently, an indecent exposure claim was filed stating that I walked out of my house in the nude.

Commence tears & much humiliation. The ordeal was solved when a private investigator and my whole family walked across the street and forced me to walk outside the house in my bikini again to make sure we were telling the truth.

My dad decided I would never wear that bathing suit ever again.

The sad thing is, these moments do not stop at age 14.

A guy from The Little Gym called on Saturday to try and re-schedule our visit.

For a minute, I thought it might be the cops.

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, and Betsy

How Bout Them Apples

I tried to get Henry attached to a paci. He picked his thumb.

I tried to get Henry attached to the special teething giraffe that all the magazines talk about. He picked a wet rag.

I tried to get Henry attached to a stuffed animal or a blankie. He picked apple cores.

He is obsessed with chewing on apple cores. This occupies him for an hour at a time, no joke. He will carry the apple core with him around the house. We gave him one last night and I thought we would have to put him to bed with it. He cried real tears when we took it away.

Thanks to mom and Marie for the great tip. It is a miracle worker.

This picture cracks me up. For some reason, I just picture him saying "Would you like to try my apple core?" in a Forrest Gump voice. "They's my magic apples. Mama said they'd take me anywhere!"

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, and Betsy

Don't Be Tardy for the Party

Henry had a wonderful time at his 1st birthday party!

We did a farm theme complete with his new Fisher Price Farm and pig, cow, and chick cupcakes. My mom and I stayed up till midnight making these. And I have to tell you, cake decorating is not my bag. I think it's because I have serious man hands. Or at least I felt like I did putting tiny mini m&m's and jellybeans into the frosting. My hands were just too big to perform this delicate task. Dang German genes! Big shoulders and man hands.

All of Henry's dear little friends came to the party. He had so much fun playing with them.

David playing with the ball pit. What a hit that was with the kids!

Little Madeleine in her leopard print skirt. She is so fancy.

Caroline falling in the balls! She's about to have a new baby brother any day now.

Cute little Aubrey! Thanks to Aubrey's mom, Amber, for taking all these great pictures.

Presents!!! Henry got so many gifts. What a lucky boy! A puzzle, lots of books, clothes, a dump truck and a tractor, a Cozy Coupe, and a Tickle Me Elmo that rolls all over the ground like a possessed creature. I'm just waiting for him to go off one night when I go downstairs to get a drink or something and scare the crap out of me.

Daddy reading him his fun Elmo card, while Henry pops open a cold one.

What a personality! He was a tad cranky before his guests arrived, so we didn't know how the party was going to go down. But as soon as the first guest got here, Mr. Social was ready to deliver the charm! He didn't know quite what to think about his 1st cake experience. He kept feeling it in between his fingers, tasting a little bit, and then dropping it on the floor for Betsy. Too bad dogs can't eat chocolate!

His real birthday is in 3 days, so it hasn't quite hit me yet.

What an incredible experience this first year has been! Love my little man to the moon & back!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, and Betsy

Soaking up the local color

Every year there are so many fun things to do once fall rolls around. Mind you, it's a little more challenging when it's still 95 degrees out, but we make it work.

A couple Saturdays ago, we decided to head up to Latta Plantation to walk around and check out the farm animals. We pull up and here this loud "boom" as soon as we get out of the car. Little did we know, it's the day of the Revolutionary War re-enactment! We had got there right as the British and American's had finished their battle.

So, Marc, being the epitome of cool (heehee) decided that he felt a little bit dorky, but me, being the complete opposite of cool, was pumped! I changed my major to History for a semester in college, so I consider myself somewhat of a history buff. History buff meaning I enjoy watching the History Channel occasionally when there is nothing on Food Network, Bravo, or HGTV.

Everybody was dressed up in period costume and acting the part. There was a blacksmith, knitters, soldiers, cooks, ax throwers (I didn't understand this one), slaves, farmers...the whole bit. I walked into the little kitchen building where the cook was watching over his fire. I felt like I was walking back in time, until I noticed the Harris Teeter brand jar of relish sitting at his table. C'mon man, you blew it!

Taking a picture by the Conestoga wagon. He wasn't really having it.
Whatever happened to the Oregon Trail game by the way? Loved the game, even though I always died of dysentery.


The next weekend, we decided to give the Cabarrus County Fair a try. It was actually a lot of fun! They had a huge petting zoo inside one of the warehouse buildings.

Inside animals=no bugs=awesome. Henry's still a little young to care about any of the animals. He just likes people the best. He liked flirting with all the little girls hanging around.


Lots of old school John Deere's hanging around.

The carousel went a little faster and the horse went a little higher than I thought.

Whoa! I'm such a wimp with rides.

Thank God we didn't get the scary carnie in the picture.

You know, the constant yelling and antagonizing as I walk by your booth isn't going to make me want to spend $30 on a huge, over-stuffed Scooby Doo. Lay off carnie. Keep your small hands where I can see them.

I entered Henry in a diaper derby. This is basically a race on a mat where they crawl from one end to the next. He started out strong, got in his crawling stance....and stayed there. My hopes were dashed. His first attempt at sports, ruined. Until the lady came up to me and said since there were a total of 3 babies in the race and he was the only baby in his age group, he won. Yay!
I knew it was time to go when I saw a shirtless man eating a corn dog. Can anything top that?

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy

Travelin' Man

How old was I when I had first flown on a plane, you ask? I believe I was 12.

How old was Henry? 2 months

How old was I when I had flown on a plane 5 times? Hmm...probably around 23.

How old was Henry? 11 months

The boy was born a globetrotter.

The past month has been busy with all kinds of travel and activities.

Marc and I participated in Lowe's annual Swing for Charity golf tournament in Orlando, which meant a trip to Nana & Gramps in Tampa for Henry. He was such a good boy! I just hated to leave him...especially to play golf & shmooze with Lowe's people. Can I at least get a spa trip in there people? Get with the times. My golf skills were few and far between this trip. I thought dressing the part in my new black skort like they wear on Big Break Hawaii and black & white plaid golf shoes might up my game. Oh, and a Titliest visor! Epic fail.

I got to at least partake in the delicious Ritz Carlton food while playing. Shrimp kabob in one hand, Corona in the other, golf club in the......ah, ran out of hands. Mostly hung out in the golf cart and got a tan on my legs. I can deal with that!

And then the week after, it was time for my fall NYC market trip. The weather was absolutely perfect and all my meetings went well. I was so sad to be leaving my baby....again...but once up there, I had a really fabulous time. It was the end of Fashion Week so all these fashionistas and model chicks were walking around. Those girls better watch out. Walking the streets in my jeggings and gladiator sandals, black frame glasses on due to itchy ragweed allergy affected eyes, carrying my stuff in a Dunkin' Donuts plastic bag because I forgot my purse; if that's not fierce, I don't know what is.

We ate at this really trendy place in the Meatpacking District called The Standard Grill.

I had the best burger ever! I was ready to spot some celebrities kanoodling, but alas, I never get the celeb spotting love. One of my colleagues just happened to run into Nick Lachey while eating in a restaurant, but me, nada. Hey, I wouldn't mind running into a c-list former boy bander!

In the whirlwind of all this travel, Henry has transformed into a little whirlwind himself! He is EVERYWHERE. Where he used to only crawl when there was a remote that he needed to get to, now he is doing laps around the living room & kitchen. He's fast too. I turn away for 5 seconds and all of a sudden he's at Betsy's food bowl about to partake in the deliciousness that is Iam's dog food. At least it's not Ol' Roy.

Case in point. I had picked up the bowl just in time.

He's also become a master escape artist during diaper changes.

Exhibit A, B, and C.

Thoughtful conversations are also a hobby as of lately. It doesn't really matter if I don't understand what the heck he's talking about, it is VERY important! He enjoys giving rousing speeches standing in his crib to his audience of his stuffed giraffe and ceiling fan. He's started to point at both of them while he's talking. "Listen to me, people!"

Here he goes again, spouting another one of his theories at the mall playground.

Seriously, his talking skills have improved so much. I can now understand "mama", "dada", "ossa" for "outside", and "baba" for "baby" or "bottle". He claps now too, but only while he's eating. He enjoys it that much! I've noticed lately that any time I turn the ipod player on, he's not dancing, but he's wiggling his feet and hands and sometimes clapping. Much like his daddy, he seems hesistant to bust a move.

I can't believe he's almost a year old. What a big hunk of love this boy is! Now that travel is done for a while, I'm having fun starting to plan his birthday party and getting ready for fall and decorating the house. Can't wait for cool temperatures!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy