The (Im)Perfect Christmas

"Christmas is not always perfect"

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks as I was sitting in church with my little family on Christmas Eve.

You see, I had this image in my head of how Christmas was going to be this year and in one word that image was perfect. Everything was going to be perfect. The food and gifts and clothes and kids behavior and light and cards and cookies-All of it perfect.

Only in reality it wasn't.

Drake was tired from a fun Christmas at Nana and Papa's the day before and was acting up. Charlie was fighting a virus and was not himself. My hair dryer broke 15 minutes before church leaving me no choice but to go to church with wet hair.  This Christmas was not turning out to be the perfect image I had in my mind.

But after hearing those words from our pastor, I knew he was right. Christmas does not have to be perfect because the reason that we are celebrating the season is perfect.

That evening as we sang "Silent Night" by candle light I found peace in letting go of my image of perfect and replacing it with all the blessings my imperfect Christmas held.

Here are some of my favorite memories from Christmas 2012

• My whole family together at my parents house. And all the people there that love my kids so very much. Best gift ever.


• Seeing Drake's eyes light up when he saw his 1st big boy bike.


• Watching Charlie experience the magic of Christmas for the 1st time.


• Parents who are willing to stay up really late with a sick baby and love on him.


• Knowing that Drake was listening to the sermon because when the Pastor said that "Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem without any family" Drake shouted loudly "What?!? No family?!?! They HAD family"


• Watching Drake hold his very own candle for the 1st time while singing "Silent Night"


• Starting our own Christmas Eve traditions-just our family of four.


• Listening to Drake laugh and laugh at "Charlie Brown Christmas"


• Watching Drake run down the stairs to see what Santa left him.


• Hearing Drake tell everybody that he saw "Merry Christmas"


• Enjoying a lazy morning at home on Christmas morning enjoying new gifts, a yummy breakfast and time together.


• Watching Charlie find the smallest pieces of any new toy and try to eat them.


• The appreciation of a Grandma and Grandpa who made thoughtful gift choices that were perfect for each of the grandkids personality.


• A yummy Christmas dinner with family.


• Watching cousins play.


• Going to bed on Christmas night and thinking that you are blessed beyond measure for the people in your life.

Yeah, I guess you could say that our imperfect Christmas was pretty perfect in it's own way.

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours.....

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Wishing you all a blessed and joy filled Christmas!

Charlie is 9 months old!

This month has been a big one for my sweet little Charlie.  He seems to be growing at a more rapid pace than ever and is learning something new every day!

Here is what Charlie is up to at 9 months:

• Eats 2- 3 six oz bottles and 1 eight oz bottle (before for bed) a day. He is usually eating 3 tubs of baby food a day as well. This month he also started feeding himself puffs and yogurt melts. We give him slices of apples to chew on and have given him little pieces of table food here and there.


• We stopped giving him a bottle when he woke up at night. Along with that we decided to do a little "sleep training" (I really hate that term) while we were at it. After a few rough nights, it is now smooth sailing with us only having to get up once a night to run in and replace a paci.


• This kid can crawl like nobody's business. He loves to play with toys so he has not been into too much stuff he is not suppose to be into yet.


• He really started pulling himself up on things this month. He even has attempted to take a few steps while holding on to something.


• Poor little buddy had a rough month of sickness. At the beginning of December he had RSV and a double ear infection and just lat week he got hit by the same flu bug that took down the rest of the family.


• He loves to clap and is working on waving. He says mama and dada and makes a bunch of other sounds.


• Big brother and Skinner are still his favorite things to watch. He could sit and watch them all day.


• He loves to snuggle and is usually content just hanging out in your lap watching the world.


• He goes to bed around 6:30 and sleeps until around 7:30. He takes an hour nap in the morning and usually another hour nap in the afternoon.


• We are suppose to go to the doctor on Thursday for his 9 month visit but I already rescheduled for after the 1st of the year due to the big snow storm we are suppose to get, so weight and height will have to wait. Edited- On January 3 Charlie weighed 19.7 lbs and was 29 inches long.

I say this every month so I might as well say it again- Charlie is amazing-pure and simple as that. He is the sweetest baby and I just can't get enough of my little Charlie Bear.

Love you Biggie!

Taking Care of Your Skin-My Skin Care Wish List

 

I don't know about you but I have not always been that great about taking care of my skin.  In college, I would come home from a long night out and go straight to bed without thinking twice about taking my makeup off or washing my face.

As I have gotten older, I have developed a pretty good skin care routine-I wash and moisturize my face twice daily and have seen a lot of success with this routine.  However, as I'm aging I have started to see more wear and tear on my skin and would like something that could help minimize the damage. When I was looking on the Doctor's Dermatologic Formula website and saw the Revolve, I knew I found something to add to my skin care wish list!

The Revolve   is a micro-polishing system that allows you to do a at-home polish leaving you with finer lines, an improvement in skin tone and evenness and less noticeable pores Basically it give you microdermabrasion results that you can do right in your own home!



You know what the best part is? The P&G Doctor's Dermatologic Formula Site is having some amazing deals going on right now!

Through Jan 31, 2013 you can get the Revolve 400x at $45 (retail price $98) with FREE SHIPPING by using code- DDFMICRODERMA

Better yet, stock up on more skin care essentials from the DDF Store as your 2nd product is  half price with  free shipping (through Jan 31, 2013) use code DDFSKIN

I would love to get the DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew I hate greasy moisturizer so this sound like it would be the right choice for my skin!



I have also been much more careful about protecting my face from the sun as I have gotten older and I think DDF Weightless Defense Oil-Free Hydrator (UV Moisturizer SPF 45) would be a great product to help me do that.

 

It would sure be amazing if Santa decided to bring me some of these products on my skin care wish list this year. HINT, HINT!!

Disclaimer-This post was sponsored by BlogHer and P&G. I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

Just Pretend I'm Oprah

You know who I miss?

Oprah.

You know what I miss most about Oprah?

Her Favorite Things episode.

Every November I would get so excited to watch it. Basically arranging my schedule how ever I could so I would be able to watch it live. I would dream of being an audience member on the show and how I would probably be one of the people jumping up and down and screaming at every new item she revealed  To say I was a hardcore Favorite Things fan would be putting it pretty mildly. The whole show was just pure magic to me.

Anyways, I miss the Favorite Things show so much that I thought I would try to bring back a little Oprah into your life by presenting you with my Favorite Things. Before you start screaming and jumping around, know that unlike Oprah, I do not have 500 billion dollars so you will have to buy all of these things with your own cash money, OK?  Now that we have that little disclaimer out-of-the-way we can get started!

(In my best Oprah voice) Presenting Katie's Favorite Things of 2012!

 Old Navy Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans

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 These jeans are amazing and so comfortable! To put it in perspective, when I am at home you can pretty much be sure that you will find me in a pair of yoga pants. These pants are so comfortable that  I might even choose to wear these over yoga pants. You heard me right. These pants are > or = yoga pants!!! The only downfall is that you will probably have to go up a size. I was all depressed thinking that I should be a size smaller than I was but felt much better after 2 other people told me they had to size up as well.

Liz Lange for Target Maternity Cami

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I have a super long torso and have the hardest time finding a cami that is long enough to wear underneath shirts. When I was pregnant for the 1st time I ran across these Liz Lange (at Target) Maternity camis and have never looked back.  I love that even when I am not pregnant these camis fit perfectly ( they have a lot of stretch to fit your belly if you are pregnant) and are so comfortable. I have no shame in wearing something that is maternity even if I am not pregnant. If it works it works.

Fisher Price Little People Toys

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Little People toys are my favorite toys for both of my kids. I love that Drake (3) and Charlie (9 months) can safely play with these toys together. Charlie mostly chews on them while Drake makes them talk and develops all sorts of crazy situations that they get themselves into when he plays with them. I also really like that they encourage imaginative play.

The Good Nite Light

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If you have a child who takes it upon themselves to decide when it is time to get up in the morning you NEED this product. You set the built-in clock with what time you want you child to go to bed (we have ours go on at 7:00 pm as a cue that bedtime is getting close) and the moon appears at that time. Decide what time you want your kids to get up (our is set for 7:00 am) for the day.  The best part? It works!!! Drake stays in his room until the sun comes up leaving us with a well rested kid and a happy momma!

 Shutterfly Personalized Calendars

 

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In January I ran across a coupon code for a free calendar from Shutterfly. There is nothing better than free so I got started creating my own calendar. I used pictures from the previous year, so for example, on my January 2012 page I used pictures from January 2011. I can't tell you how much fun it has been to see how many changes have taken place over a year. I can't wait to get started on my 2013 calendar!

Target Debit Card

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I love Target. I also love that Target has its own debit card. We try to stay away from store credit cards and so you can imagine my excitement when last spring I caught wind that Target had a debit card that works just like your bank debit card but with the added bonus of 5% off your purchase! 5% does not sound like a lot but let me tell you it adds up fast. I am embarrassed to even tell you how much we have saved this year just by using this card (it is printed on the bottom of every receipt). I love saving money and I love Target so when the 2 combined it equaled a happy Target marriage for me.

So that wraps up my Favorite Things of 2012. I hoped to feature about 10 items but seeing as it has literally taken me a week to write this post, I think I better wrap it up before Christmas is over!

Disclaimer-None of these companies have any idea who I am. I have worked with Shutterfly in the past but they don't know I'm writing this post. However, if any of the companies featured love that I wrote about them they should contact me and give me free stuff.

Just joking.

No, really email me!! :)

BabbaBox Review

Drake will start preschool next year and although he thrives in the area of imaginative play and can easily spend hours playing superheros, cars or building Legos he struggles more when it comes to arts and crafts and activities that cause him to sit down and create. We have made it a goal to really work on these items with him this year to prepare him for preschool in the fall.

Santa Pictures: More Than Meets the Eye

Last weekend we headed to Bass Pro Shop  to visit Santa.

Charlie was first up. I told you this kid was sweet and boy does this picture prove it. He was in love with Santa, all the attention being on him and all the camera flashes. Also? A baby in a bow-tie  cheesin' it up on Santa's lap? Cutest thing ever.

Drake was up next. Poor guy, he had everything he wanted to say all planned out but when the time came he was a nervous wreck and coud only  mutter "I want a bat cave"  between his trembling little lips.  But despite the nerves, he is such a handsome little guy (who looks more like 5 than 3) perched up on Santa's lap.

I love these pictures so much as they express both boy's personality so perfectly.

But upon closer examination the photos started creeping me out a little.

First, the reindeer will not quit staring at me!!! I make eye contact with him every time I look at this picture. I'm going to admit defeat, you win the staring contest reindeer, I blinked. NOW QUIT STARING!

Then there is  the pacifier that is seemingly attached to Santa's belt. I am beyond curious what that is all about. The logical explanation is that some little girl dropped it while on his lap, but that still does not answer the question as to WHY it is attached to his belt. Also, are his little "elfs" not noticing this pacifier just hanging out? It's just weird. That is all I've come up with. Weird and Creepy.

That Santa, he  is always much more than meets the eye....

A Lesson in Forgiveness

I think of myself as a patient parent.

I hardly ever yell.

I pick my battles.

I try really hard t be a good role model for my kids on how to handle your emotions.

But Wednesday? Wednesday was another story.

I woke up in a grumpy mood. Charlie had been sick since Monday night and sleep was hard to come by in our house.

I do our morning routine alone each week day because Ben is long gone before the kids even wake-up. We have our Monday-Wednesday (the days I work) mornings down pretty well and there is not a lot of wiggle room if we all want to get to the places we need to be without being late.

Wednesday morning Drake was really taking his time in everything that he did and had very selective hearing. I usually would have just reminded him calmly to get his shoes on and ushered him out the door. But my nerves and patience were shot. And I lost it. I yelled. I yelled about something silly like getting his shoes on. I was mad, Drake was sad and Charlie had no idea what just happened.

I proceed to hastily and angrily gather the kids and load them into the car. As we were on our way to daycare, the guilt hit me. I felt awful that I had lost my temper for something so silly. At that moment I looked in the rearview mirror, caught Drake's eye and said " Drakie, I am so sorry I got angry with your earlier."

Without missing a beat he looks up and says "It's OK Momma" with the most calm and sincere voice.

And just like that all was forgiven and forgotten as he started chatting about the things he was going to do that day.

A lesson in forgiveness.

From my 3-year-old