The Accidental Boilermaker

Christmas morning we opened stockings before loading up the car to drive to Decatur. The drive went very well but Jameson was done with the car and ready for some snuggles. After dinner we opened presents.  Evelyn did a good job helping everyone.  Monday morning we visited my Aunt Martha and saw the twins. Evelyn and Jameson with Katherine before she had to drive home. Jameson coloring with Mimi. This is me pretending to be happy after Jameson woke up several times Monday night. Really I'm saying more coffee, lots more coffee.

It's Christmas Eve!  We were supposed to have dinner with some friends, but plans changed and we instead had a nice evening at home. Evelyn helped me make snowmen sugar cookies for Santa this morning. And after dinner we opened presents. Not too long ago Evelyn broke a mug of mine, so for Christmas (with Nate's help) she gave me a new one.  It's hard to tell but the mug has two owls - a big one and little one : )  Nate said she picked out the mug all on her own. Evelyn got a Nemo ornament and a light up Elsa doll from Jameson.  Unfortunately Elsa did not light up or sing, despite multiple battery changes.  Evelyn understood that the doll was broken and did not get upset, but I still ran to Target with her in the hopes we could exchange it for a new Elsa.  The trip was a success and Evelyn was very excited for a working doll. Evelyn gave Jameson a build-a-bear monkey that she built herself.

Today was a day of firsts.  Nate took Evelyn to see her first movie, Moana.  Nate said the movie is very good and that Evelyn loved the whole experience.  When they got home, Evelyn told me she wanted to go see Moana again tomorrow with me : ) Then tonight Katherine took my dad to his first Blackhawks game!

Jameson is 11 months old!  And he is a pretty active little boy, so it was tricky taking pictures this morning. No new teeth for Jameson, but we've been trying more finger foods to encourage self feeding.  No signs of standing on his own or walking yet but he still loves the walker.  Just in the last few days, Jameson has picked up a few signs.  He can sign more, all done, and no.  In addition to mama and dada, he sometimes will repeat night night at bedtime. Sleep has been the worst.  Jameson falls asleep no problem, but consistently wakes up around midnight and then again around 5-5:30.  It doesn't sound so bad, but it is exhausting.  We've tried a few different things and nothing seems to make a difference.  Maybe once the holidays and travel are over, we will attempt again.  Thankfully he and Evelyn still nap at the same time for about 2 hours. Today's it is too cold to go outside craft was mittens! And th...

It has been very cold this week; too cold several days to leave the house so we had to find some fun ways to pass the time (we also watched a lot of movies).  Tuesday Jameson got to finger paint for the first time. Wednesday we made apple cinnamon muffins.  Thursday some friends came over to play. Friday we braved the cold (because we hadn't left the house in two days) to do some shopping at the mall.   Today it was warm enough to actually be outside, so we went ice skating! Really only Nate and Evelyn skated.  Jameson and I watched. Evelyn had a blast.  She could walk really well in her skates and could stand briefly on the ice without being held. I thought maybe she'd be afraid once she got moving, but Nate said she never once was scared. If she could, I think Evelyn would have stayed out all night.

We got our first big snow of the season, about 6 inches.  Evelyn got to play in the snow twice.  Once in the morning just her and Nate. Nate made hot chocolate for her when they came inside. After naps, Jameson got to play outside too. He was I think a little overwhelmed by the snow. Evelyn helped Nate shovel. And then she built a snowman. I suspect tomorrow we will be outside at least once to have more fun in the snow.