Ramblings

A friend of mine has been posting every day in December (hi, Pippa's mom!), and it got me to thinking... wouldn't it be nice if I could do the same?  It would.  But it won't happen (because, HELLO, December is half over already, and I've been finding it hard enough to even post once a week).  Anyway, I just have to post some of the interesting tidbits that have been happening around here.

Baby Food-Itis.
I started feeding Bram vegetables.  This is a big deal.  I do NOT like making baby food, but I hate the bought stuff even more, so I make it anyway.  That said, he did NOT want it.  Nope... not at all.  It took over a month to finally get him used to the idea of cereal, and even then he still didn't grasp the concept of 'open the mouth to get the food'.  It's like he thought if it touched his lip it should automatically be sucked inside or something.  And he also loved to spit it all out.  And grab at the spoon to send the stuff flying... and then examine all contents of said spoon that were now on the highchair.  Who said babies don't have fun?  Anyway, I was not looking forward to carrots and peas and the like... both of which tend to stain easily.  I did make them... (I have loads of peas in the freezer now, haha)... and he did NOT want to eat them.  Nope.  I tried carrots every day for a few days... and I don't think he ate a single spoonful.  It all went back out onto the bib... and he wouldn't open up for them.  Tried peas... same thing.  Last week tuesday, we went out for supper and my sis-in-law babysat for us.  She had bought babyfood sweet potatoes.  Said he LOVED them... was opening his mouth and practically lunging for them.  Why can't he eat llike that for me?  Tried peas again the next day... no luck.

Thankfully, on thursday evening, we made yams.  I fed those to him... and he ATE them!  WOO!  The next day I tried carrots again... and he ate the whole thing!  Same with the next day!  And Sunday I gave him peas at the gathering... and he ate them all!  Hardly a thing on his bib!  Today as well!  Today we actually fed him carrots at lunch and peas at supper.  First time feeding him solids at lunch.  Cereal is a breakfast staple.  Tomorrow I think I'll try bananas with the cereal... see what he thinks!  I'm SO happy! 

Next up is meat.  Blech.  I hate making meat into baby food.  I generally mix a little bit in with veggies for a meal but blech.  Pulverized meat?  Ick.

Christmas Blues
I finally decorated the house on December 6.  Lots later than normal.  Decided to go with red and blue.  Pink thrown in for good measure.  I was lucky to get a whole bunch of ornaments on sale at Canadian Tire.  2 bags for $20... and lots of good stuff too!  I think it looks wonderful!  M loves the lights.  That's all she talks about.  And the presents, of course. 

I haven't been doing as much this Christmas as last year.  Probably because I was pregnant last year, haha.  No, I did paint a project for my niece and nephew (more on that later), and I worked on making cards (just photo ones this year, not handmade as well).  I want to make my husband his yearly ornament, and I also want to make footprint ornaments for Bram's toesies like I did for M's 2 years ago.  I did manage to sew a stocking for Bram today... and put those up.  And I printed some family pictures to put into frames for my inlaws.  Beyond that... we bought gifts.  Well... that's partially true.  I am doing some baking for the inlaws yet, and I did make a little something for my husband''s side of the family... but we pulled tickets in my family and so we bought those items (it's just easier).  And I'm not making goodies for everyone and their uncles sister's husband this year (hahaha... random).  It was too much for me last year, and it is definetly too much for me this year.  I have hardly done any Christmas baking!  I made one batch of chocolate cookies (which need their peppermint icing yet... mmmm) and a lemon square.  That's it.  I want to make my white cookies yet... that one requires a lot of time (rolling and cutting and rolling and...).  I wonder what the best way to get my daughter involved in baking would be... for a two year old... maybe cutting a few cookies out?  And maybe helping ice a couple?  I'm sure she would eat more of it than would end up on the cookie though, haha.

We managed to get all our Christmas shopping done in about a day... last week wednesday.  We stopped in to see Santa while we were at the mall in the city.  M did NOT want to sit on his lap... although Bram was totally good with that.  He started trying to taste test Santa's whiskers.  To get M in the pic, I had to sit with Santa as well.  Too bad my husband didn't join in... would have been a cute family pic.  M didn't mind Santa too much once it was all over and he gave her a candy cane.  Then he was alright.  :)

I can hardly believe we still managed to go shopping that day.  I was sick.  The night before that, Bram woke up and would not go back to sleep.  I was trying to get him down for about 2 to 3 hours.  No fun.  At 2 am, no less.  Finally broke down and fed him (he didn't seem hungry... didn't even go for eating until he was so exhausted from crying).  He didn't really eat much, but it seemed to soothe him enough to put him out for 4 hours.  I was sick after that.  Flu-ish like feeling sick. I knew I had caught something the day before already, but this was the only day we had for shopping and we had better take it.  So we did.  And I dealt with it.  I was so glad to get back home and into bed.

Does anyone else find their husbands virtually impossible to shop for?  Mine wants the same things all the time... Star Wars and Transformers... movies and books... in those categories.  I have to start getting really creative for Christmas for him... and this year my brain juices are all dried up.  Ah well... there's always next year.

Toys Toys Toys
Sometimes I wonder why we bother?  Kids have far too much fun with boxes and empty plastic bags and bubble wrap.  Really. 

Anyway, I noticed something recently.  My daughter likes to organize.  She got a farm animal set from my grandma at the gathering yesturday, and she stacks all the animals nicely, lining them up.  She brings in a few other animals and a 'baby' (actually a doll that doesn't bend that goes with a car she has) and lines them all together.  She was stacking them on her 'laptop' as well.  It's so cute.  Oh, and she has to include Bram as well.  She made sure to give him the sheep while she played with the rest.  So very cute.  I love that she is sharing.  And these toys are ok for him to chew on... they are soft and rubbery and large enough that he won't choke on anything.  Kinda like cheap versions of the little people brand animals.

I have been going through her toys lately... getting rid of the stuff I don't see her play with much.  Less to leave all over the floor.  It's not gone completely... just in a box in the basement.  That box is over full right now.  And it's Christmas... meaning more toys.  Where do parents find the room for all this stuff?  I feel like a daycare!

Anyway, that's all for now.  I gotta go help my husband wrap some gifts.  :)