christmas recap

Happy New Year! I hope your 2017 is off to a bright start.

I thought I'd do a quick holiday recap before we get too far into January. Plus, I need to share all of the adorable photos I took over Christmas, right?

Are you ready for photo overload? Here we go.

The kids met the big guy at a Breakfast with Santa this year. One of them was more interested than the other.

holiday cheer: christmas brunch

This holiday season we are blessed to have almost all of our family coming to town. My brother, sister-in-law, and sweet nephew arrived this week from Cairo (yes, THAT Cairo), and my brother and sister who both live in Seattle got in yesterday. Todd's brother, our sister-in-law, and niece and nephew will be in from Denver next week and we cannot wait. The only ones missing will be my brother-in-law and sister-in-law-to-be and we will miss them dearly but can't blame them for wanting to enjoy a sunny vacation this year.

Needless to say, all of the family in town means that we get to spend a ton of time with them and these two weeks are going to be family packed and the best kind of busy.

a holiday recap

With my mind on all of the possibilities of a new year, I never took the time to reflect on our holiday season on the blog. We ran into a lot of snags the week of Christmas to the point that it was starting to feel comical but despite that we still had a lovely holiday season.

We enjoyed Wells' first Christmas and we think he did too.

holiday cheer: christmas playlist

As you look forward to Christmas, I hope that it's a joyful season for you and your family. If you need help getting into the holiday spirit, I guarantee that these songs will help.

1. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Sufjan Stevens
2. Patapan/O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Mindy Gledhill
3. Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
4. Christmas Song by Dave Matthews Band
5. Hark the Herald Angels Sing by Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors
6. Silent Night by Priscilla Ahn
7. Auld Lang Syne by Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis
8. This Holiday by Brooke Annibale
9. Angels We Have Heard on High by Sixpence None The Richer
10. Another December by Holley Maher

These songs will be a great backdrop to any upcoming gathering you might be hosting and I've put them together in this handy Spotify playlist for you in order to make it really easy for you to enjoy them. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. If this playlist doesn't help, listen to Do You Hear What I Hear? by Whitney Houston. That song is a quintessential favorite and if it doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, you're destined to be a Scrooge all season. Just sayin'.

holiday cheer: stocking stuffers

Everyone, it is Christmas week! Can you believe it? I have had so much fun shopping for the kids this year. Elia is at a great age where she is starting to understand the true story of Christmas and that this is a very special season. We went to visit Santa a few weeks ago and before that visit I asked her what she was going to ask Santa to bring her. She told me, "Angels and... Baby Jesuses." Sweet girl, that just warmed my heart.

Throughout the season, we will continue to share the good news that Baby Jesus has already come and that he wouldn't have fit in her stocking anyway. A few years ago, we went back and forth about whether or not we would be a family who "does" Santa and in the end decided we would. Opening stockings is one of my favorite traditions and I just love shopping for them. The best part is that you can fit great, inexpensive gifts for kids in their stockings.

If you're still looking for a few suggestions for your kids, here's a peek at what our kids are getting in their stockings this year. Thankfully, they're still too little to read the blog so no surprises ruined here! Many of these stocking stuffers are available on Amazon so if take advantage of your Prime account they can still get here before Christmas Eve.

'twas the season 2014

I know, I know. It's already 2015 but 2014 was just days ago and I neglected to post at all in December.  So to make up for that, here is a quick recap of our holiday season.

Saint Nicholas Day 

 Santa Parade

Advent Alive

Stockings

Family Christmas 

Teepee Surprise

Popsicles with Tio

Christmas Morning Skype with Cousins

Ice Cream Treat

Coolest Girl at Brunch

Happy to Be Out in the Sun 

Dad's Birthday

NYE

Snowy Fun for All

We've been blessed with visits from most of our siblings and lots of time with family over the past few weeks.  Despite being hit hard with a cold bug, we've enjoyed having most of the past two weeks off from work and school and are looking forward to everything that the New Year brings.  Hoping you all have had a wonderful holiday season!

christmas cards

One thing I love about the holiday season is receiving Christmas cards from so many friends and family members.

We had a great photo shoot this summer but I was thinking that it might be fun to have a holiday themed photo of Elia for our card, instead of a summery one and thought I'd try to take some photos myself.

I just had to share the results.  Below is the best shot I got outdoors.

 We moved the party inside and the photos didn't improve much,

At least her outfit was cute.  Can't wait to see how your holiday cards turned out!

thanksgiving week

After a two month hiatus, there is nothing like the beginning of the holiday season to kick start a family blog.  We have spent the last week enjoying lots of time with both of our families, relaxing, and getting ready for the marathon that is December.

Elia loved playing with her cousins this week, especially Madeline who taught her all about being a two-year old.  Elia can't wait to try all of her tips out when she turns two this spring.  She liked seeing Griffin, too and if you ask her, she would be happy to confirm that he is a "bebe", as she stated every time she saw him.

The girls kept busy playing with marshmallows on Thanksgiving before we settled in for a delicious meal followed by much-needed naps for kids and grown-ups (at least me, not sure about the others, I was too busy napping to notice).

Tradition called for the annual cutting of the family Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.

It was cold but Elia was a trooper and helped us pick the perfect one.

Today, we went to meet a reindeer.

Look closely and you'll see is in the background, she was not at all interested in petting the creature but we sure enjoyed looking at them.

The train though, she would have watched the train for hours.

After dinner tonight we got to work on trimming the tree and I have to tell you, we have discovered a better way to add lights to your tree.

Look at all of those lights!  We have never been able to achieve such full light coverage without the configuration of the lights being quite visible before.

The key? Add your lights vertically.  Stop wrapping your tree with lights and just go up and down.  It works and it's easy!  Thank you, Real Simple, for the tip!

Now we have ornaments to add.  Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday season be filled with joy!

resolutions and a recap

It's hard to believe that almost three weeks have past since Christmas.  Elia's first Christmas was a wonderful one, filled with quality time spent together as a family and lots of joy.

Elia made a few resolutions for 2014.  Here is her list:

1. Learn to crawl forward.  (She's got backwards down.)
2. Go swimming.
3. Say "mama".
4. Stand up on her own.
5. Learn to walk.
6. Eat more solid foods.
7. Have a birthday party.

She's already making progress towards a few of her goal.  Today was her first swim lesson.  She absolutely loved it and is quite the water baby.  Goal #2, complete!

She also decided to work on #4 today.

She'll be standing on her own in no time.  And the, watch out world - walking will be just around the corner, it seems.

I hope everyone's New Year is beginning with all good things.  Cheers!

holiday cheer: christmas sugar cookies

I'm not the only person who has fond memories of baking Christmas cookies with my family. My mom would let me and my siblings help roll out the dough, pick whatever shapes we wanted from our vast selection of cookie cutters, and of course, we each got to decorate our fair share of cookies after they were baked.

What I think of as my mom's recipe is actually my paternal grandmother's recipe and, I have to tell you, it's the best one out there. The cookies are chewy and the orange zest and extracts lend just enough citrus to make them taste light and fresh. They're also just slightly salty but the icing we use balances that out perfectly.

Do yourself a favor and make a batch of these cookies before your family gets together this week. They will thank you.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. grated orange rind

1/4 tsp. lemon extract

1/4 tsp. orange extract

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add beaten egg, orange rind, lemon and orange extracts. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth. Chill until firm. 

Place dough on lightly floured board or between parchment or waxed paper and roll thin with a rolling pin. Cut with cutters.  Place cut cookies on greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for about 12 minutes.  Repeat with remaining dough until all is formed into darling sugar cookies to be.

To decorate: 

Mix 1 tablespoon milk with food coloring. Add powdered sugar by the tablespoon until mixture is  thick. Use this to hold on colored sugar, cinnamon red hots, chocolate ants, etc.

Year in and out I look forward to making these cookies and I can't wait until Elia is old enough to help decorate them with me. Let's hope her cookie decorating skills don't peak at age six like mine did.

Happy baking everyone!  

What is your favorite holiday baking recipe or memory? 

holiday cheer: baby's first christmas

We are getting very excited for Christmas around here.  The day after Thanksgiving, Elia found the perfect tree for us.

We've also met one of Santa's reindeer.

And even the big guy himself.

It's so much fun to expose Elia to so many of our favorite holiday traditions.

With only a few weeks until Christmas, I thought I'd do a quick gift roundup for all of the little ones left on your shopping list. I'm a fan of classic toys with minimal lights and sounds so that Elia can spend more time figuring out how the toy works and growing that little brain of hers instead of encouraging an environment of constant entertainment.  Here are some of my favorite holiday-themed gifts for babes:

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1. Melissa & Doug Slice & Bake Christmas Cookie Play Set

I think every child has memories of baking and decorating cookies growing up and it's certainly one of my favorite traditions.  This wooden cookie play set will allow your kids to practice their baking skills all through the holiday season.

2. Maileg Rudolph Reindeer

This sweet stuffed reindeer is such a darling toy and perfect for snuggling up with on cozy Christmas evenings.

3. Hohner Kids Handy Jingle Bell

Elia loves shaking or banging on just about anything that will make noise right now. I looked everywhere for a baby-friendly jingle bell and I finally came across this gem. At only $3.25 plus free shipping, this is the perfect stocking stuffer for a baby!

4. Olivia Helps with Christmas

There is something about this little pig that I find downright charming. We only have one other Olivia book but as Elia becomes more interested in books, I hope Olivia becomes a favorite and can't wait to read this with her every December.

5. Santa Sack

We believe in keeping Christmas gifting pretty low-key so I don't anticipate every needing a whole sack to fill with Elia's gifts. This Santa Sack is so cute though that I could see buying it to hold seasonal kid's items.  I'm sure any kid would get a kick out of opening this bag every year as the holidays approach.

6. BabyLit: A Christmas Carol

If you haven't seen these books before, check them out now. BabyLit takes classic novels and makes them baby friendly by focusing on counting, colors, etc. I love the idea of exposing kids to literature young and The Christmas Carol is such a favorite - I just love this!

7. Uncle Goose Merry Christmas Blocks

I've been a huge fan of Uncle Goose blocks since I discovered them a few years ago. They have everything from classic blocks to foreign language blocks (Arabic, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Swedish, French and more!) and even hieroglyphic and Braille blocks. Beyond this, they are made right here in Grand Rapids so by buying them and from the area, you'd be shopping local, which is a huge plus.

8. Manny & Simon Reindeer and Sleigh Wooden Push Toy

There is something beautiful about the simplicity of push toys and this sleigh and reindeer set is just gorgeous. I love the smooth, clean lines and I think that between the wheels and antlers, this would keep E busy for hours.

Now you've seen some of my holiday favorites for babies, what are some of your favorite toys and gifts for the babies in your life?

holiday cheer: home decor

Technically, this is a lifestyle blog and, you may have noticed, our current lifestyle is baby. Still, life can't be all bottles and diapers so I thought I'd write a few posts on holiday goodies and ideas.  It's a little early to post about Christmas but, of course, it's always good to be prepared and I know that I will be cutting down my Christmas Tree in just over a week. Plus I spotted this today so I'd say the holiday season is upon us!

I'm one of those people who loves a festive home but doesn't like to go overboard with decor. A few baubles here and there, a few gold and silver accents, a live Christmas tree, and some evergreen-scented candles and I'm good to go.

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1. Illume Balsam and Cedar Garland Glass

I got last year's version of this candle as Christmas gift and I loved the look of it so much [gold polka dots - what's not to love?] that I kept it out on my desk all year long. The balsam and cedar scent fill our living room with the scent of Christmas all season long.

2. West Elm Boxwood Round Wreath

In my opinion, boxwood makes for the perfect wreath. Faux or real, it tends to look great and doesn't need to be accessorized with extra glitz. Hanging one each of the small and medium above a fireplace would be so darling. These wreaths would also be great on a front door in the spring - I have a similar one on our door.

3. J.R. Watkins White Pine Hand Soap

J.R. Watkins is the best and their White Pine Hand Soap is no exception. It's a limited edition to get to Target and stock up!

4. West Elm Papier-Mâché Animal Sculptures

Okay so maybe this doesn't quite fit into my subtle holiday decor aesthetic but last year I kept seeing white reindeer busts pop up and this silver version is so fun. Plus, who isn't looking for something different to put above their mantle?  This fits the bill.

5. Threshold Faux Fur Ivory Throw

Nothing says winter wonderland like a cozy fur blanket. At $34.99 the price is right on this one so cuddle up!

6. Threshold Pine Tree Snowglobe

Snowglobes remind me of childhood; there is something so magical and enthralling about the snow falling around the figurines. The white tree puts a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite.

7. Lindsay Letters O Holy Night Canvas

Beautiful song, beautiful lettering, beautiful art. Lindsay Letters prints are scattered around our home and I've had my eye on this canvas for a while. For a more economical option, check out her prints and make sure to browse her shop for other holiday and home prints.

I hope you like these goodies and have a fabulous time decking your halls in the coming weeks!

comfort and joy

Comfort and joy.  For us, those two words sum up the last ten days or so rather nicely.  Todd and I have spent lots of time with family and lots of time with each other.  We've had time to really, really relax - sleeping in late, reading, taking our time to get the house in order, indulging in late night TV marathons.  It's been pretty fantastic.

Christmas is always a wonderful time of year and the perfect prelude to the coming season.  With just over 100 days left until my due date, we continue to look forward to meeting our little girl with excitement and joy.  Mini received quite a few Christmas gifts from excited grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, and even Santa knew she'd been a good little girl.  Yesterday, I washed the cutest and tiniest load of laundry I've ever done.  It was so cute that I've already folded it and put it away and that NEVER happens this quickly.  It's hard to believe that our daughter will be here, wearing those tiny outfits in just a few months and we are just continually blown away by the generosity and love that my pregnancy has been met with.  Our little girl is already so loved by us and so many others - we are all so, so lucky.  Have I said that already?  If not on the blog, I have to Todd, almost daily.  It's amazing and overwhelming in the best possible way.

So, in the next 106 days, we will put together her crib, paint her nursery, do more cute laundry, and wait for her with all the patience we can muster.

Oh, and this thing...

Rumor has it, my belly will continue to grow.  I know, some days, I can't believe it either - it seems impossible that my belly could grow any larger but with 15 weeks to go, I still have room to grow (though I'm not sure I can say the same for some of my pants...).

Despite my growing belly, I still feel great.  Still no weird cravings although I've eaten more Frosted Flakes in the past two weeks than I had in the last ten years.  Todd went to the store the other day and came home with three boxes for me because they were on sale...and they don't last long around here.  What can I say, they're grrrrrreat!

I hope that all of you have had a wonderful holiday season too - comfort and joy all around.