Tuesday, December 24, 2013

I got Christmas Tagged!

I have been tagged by my friend Kera for the "Annual Christmas Tag" hosted by Lanaya from the blog Raising Reagan.
It is a getting to know you, Christmas style, post. I'm excited to participate! Thanks for tagging me Kera!

1- What do you love most about Christmas time?
I love the overall feeling of Christmas time. It feels so cozy and loving and all about family. I love getting to see my family and decorating the tree. Especially now that I have Olz. Last year Joe and I started our family tradition of getting a new ornament for the tree each year. This year being one that we had made from Megan at Ornaments for Adoption. It says "first we had each other, then we had you, now we have everything" and a little picture of our family. And Olz was conceived on Christmas so now that's extra special! TMI! Sorry!

2- Do you celebrate the holiday in style or is bah-humbug for you?
Hm.. Probably somewhere in between.

3-  Are you leaving anything out for Santa Claus this year so he remembers to leave your presents?
Not this year. Next year.

4- What is the one gift you are most looking forward to GIVING? {It can be to your kids, another family member, etc ~ remember to be discreet if they read your blog!}
The 365 day rip away calendars we made for my parents and Joe's Grandparents. I think they are going to love them. We already gave Joe's mom hers.

5- What is your all-time favorite Christmas movie?
Charlie Brown Christmas! I absolutely love it and love the soundtrack! It's one of the few good memories of my biological mom that I have.

6- What is your all-time favorite Christmas song?
Blue Christmas when Elvis sings it. It was my Gramma's favorite and it reminds me of her. It kind of makes me sad now because Christmas is blue without her!! But I love it so much.

7- If given the opportunity would you participate in an "Ugly Sweater" party and what sweater would you wear? Peruse one on the internet or even in your own closet and show us!
I would! And I'm not looking at pictures right now! LOL

8- Have you started any Christmas traditions this year that you plan on carrying forward?
So far just decorating the tree as a family and getting a new special ornament each year.

9- It's Christmas morning, what does it look like outside where you live?
Wet. Not snowy. Just wet and dreary.

10- You just found yourself standing under the mistletoe...who comes up to give you a kiss first?
Joe, I hope!!

My Tag-ees:
-Andrea and -Ivy!

Monday, December 23, 2013

3.75 Month Ole boo

Ole has learned to roll all the way over. He rolls around the room now.
 In this pic he had started on his playmat. Notice the stuff moved out of his path. He loves being able to do this. He is constantly trying to flip over to his belly. This surprises me as only about a week ago he HATED being on his belly. But hey, a boys gotta try his new skills.
He is also way more talkative and smiley in the past week. It's hilarious and so much fun. He responds when you talk to him like he totally knows what you are saying and what he's trying to say.


 In all those pictures he smiled "for the camera." I also think he's starting to look more like me and less like Joe! When he was first born everyone would say "oh! He looks just like Joe!" But now I see myself in him and I love it. 

He also had his first non-well visit doctors visit on Sunday. My little sweetness was SO fussy. I hate to brag but this kid is never fussy. So I knew something was wrong. He kept tugging at his ear and pulling away from the breast while eating. I thought he might have an ear infection. He didn't, just a head cold. I was so worried I made myself sick. I'm so glad to know nothing was wrong. I hate not feeling in control of situations and having my baby be sick was the worst feeling. I checked in with my parents today and he seems to be back to his normal happy self. Thank goodness.

 I loved waking up and seeing snow. Both these pictures are out our bedroom doors. I love it. So peaceful.
 We took Cuba out to play in the snow. She LOVES it.
We took Ole out to check out the snow. He was a fan for about 5 mins. Then he got fussy so we took him back in the warm house.
 Gramma got this outfit for Ole's first Christmas. This is also right before we headed into town to see the doc. He looks like such a big boy here.
Joe let me open a present early. He said he likes this picture of me because he thinks I look like a little kid opening their presents Christmas morning.
 Trying to get Ole used to his crib. He flipped himself this way and hung out for about 10 mins. Hoping to make the transfer from our bed to his crib soon.
 Daddy and Ole taking a snooze.
 Morning snuggles with Daddy before getting ready for work/Gramma's house. Ole looks like my Dad's side of the family here. He also is growing up so fast. I can't believe it.

Every week he is just doing more and more. I love watching him grow. I know some people get sad as their babies grow or miss the newborn time.. but I love watching the process of him becoming his own little being. I know he's only 3.75 months.. and maybe some day I won't feel this way but for now I can't wait to be there every step of the way.

Things that are coming through about Ole's personality:
-He's loving. He loves to snuggle and to be kissed and hugged and loved on. He's trying to kiss back a bit and it is just too sweet.
He also has started looking us straight in the eye and rubbing our faces. It makes me want to cry. He just looks at Joe and I with so much love in his eyes and just rubs our faces. It's beautiful!

-He's a perfectionist. If he can't roll over correctly on the first try he gets so frustrated and yells. Not cries..yells.

-He's a yeller. Hopefully this stays funny and cute.

-He's a dog person. Every time that kid sees his dog he lights up. The cat? Not at all.


Monday, December 16, 2013

3.5 month old Olz

I can't believe another week has flown by. Ole is 3.5 months and getting funner and funner by the day. He laughs now. Which is hilarious. The first time he laughed-laughed I was changing him and he started to do his fake, fussy cry. I said to him "Ohhh! Poor Ole!" and he laughed. Apparently he's already in to sarcasm! I said it to him again and again he laughed. It was so cute it made me cry.

He's starting to teeth pretty hardcore. It seems like his mouth is bugging him pretty bad for about half the day now and it has affected his sleep. My poor guy. We use a baltic amber necklace for part of the day and it really seems to help. He slept through the night 4 nights in a row, then the 5th night he got up about 8 times... crying. :( He has never woken up crying so I knew he was hurtin'. Last night he seemed to sleep a bit better.

Ole is also mimicking what we say. He says "mama" and "ut-oh!" I love it. I love that he says "mama" but I think "ut-oh" is my favorite. He says it while I'm changing him. It's hilarious. Even better when his mouth is full of his hands.

We got our Christmas tree and stockings this weekend. Ole loves the lights on the tree and was fascinated when Daddy was putting them up.

Joe and I had a date day. We ran errands, went to dinner and went to the casino. We only stayed at the casino about 10 mins. It reminded me too much of the person I used to be and I ended up leaving in tears. Not sure why it affected me so much but I realized I am in no way the person I was a year ago. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I love my little family and I like to do things that are actually fun now.. not just drunk fun. All I wanted to do was get home to Ole and put up our Christmas stuff while listening to Christmas music. I guess it didn't really hit me how far I've come until then. I was so sad in that moment we were leaving and thinking back on who I used to be but in this moment I am so grateful. We have come so far.

 Ole in his sweet new camo pants.. Daddy making him "General Olz" and boss me around.
J
 Nothing hotter then a babywearing Dad mopping.
 I told Joe I wanted him to take a picture with me for "date day" and this is what I get.
 Ole in the headband we got for my coworkers daughter. Pretty boy! ...Can't wait to show him this when he's older.
 Ole snuggling "happy monkey"
 Laughing at Daddy
 Joe and his one man bonfire in the middle of winter... Weirdo
 So excited that he loves stuffed animals now. Telling happy monkey about his day.
 Me and my boy!
 Our Charlie Brown tree and new stockings. Can't wait to use them forever. After we got home we realized that both Joe and I's have glitter and Ole's doesn't. Sorry Olz!
 The little tree that could.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Life Updates - Ole is 13 weeks

Not a ton to note this week. Ole is a rolling over champ. He can do it every time now. He is starting to like it too. If we hold him on us on his belly he gets excited to roll over on us. 

Ole is also a sleeping through the night champ. I don't want to jinx us because it's only been the past 2 nights in a row. But it was amazing. 10-4 the first night, 9:40-4:45 last night. He's a big kid.

I worked Saturday and Sunday this past weekend since we got a new computer system at work and had to input all the exams that were scheduled. I missed Ole like crazy and I think he missed me too. Here's the pics of after I got home:


 These next pictures are this morning.. he must have been tired because he just fell asleep cradled in Joe's arms. Never in his life has he done this. He always has liked to be on his belly facing your body and either nursed or rocked to sleep. Joe just carried him all cradled and he fell asleep. So sweet.



 In the last pic Joe looks bored/exhausted.. he's fine. He won't ever let me just take a good picture! Unless I catch him off guard.

In other news I miss my Joe love. We haven't had a date in a couple months and I miss our time! I love Ole and growing as parents together but we get no alone time. Hopefully this weekend! 


Monday, December 2, 2013

Our 3 Month Old.

Olz is officially 3 months old. And he rang in turning 3 months old by rolling over. I knew it was coming soon but when he did it, he did it so fast and perfectly it was like he'd been doing it forever. It was extra special because he did it in front of Grandma York. I had been telling her about how he can lift all the way up on his hands and holds his little head and chest up and scoots around and I put him on his belly to show her and boop! Right over. He didn't even practice first. Just right away. We were so proud. We tried to get him to do it again but he hated it. Once was enough. It was so cool.
Ole also celebrated his first Thanksgiving. We dressed him up like a little old man:



 He looks like my Dad in this picture. 
We first went to Joe's Grandma's for dinner. It was delish! And we got a generational picture:
(Joe, Joe's Mom Margaret, Joe's Grandma Pat, Joe's brother Towner and Ole)
Uncle Towner loves Ole:

 When I was pregnant Towner told me he wouldn't babysit Ole. Now he tells me he can't wait to babysit him. This kid melts me. When we were leaving Towner bent down and gave Ole a kiss and told him he loved him and rubbed his head. He's so sweet with him. Margaret told me he's always saying "when will I get to see Ole? I want to hold Ole!"
We also went to Rebecca's for appetizers and desserts! That was delish too! I was sad my Dad missed him on his first Thanksgiving but I sent him pictures.
Ole slept in on Thanksgiving:



 Ole is already, to my dismay, a dog person. Our cat Zappa isn't Joe's favorite animal in the world and when I was pregnant I would say Ole would love Zappa and Joe would say "no, he'll love his dog." Joe was right. Ole LOVES his doggy. He HATES Zappa. Whenever I show him Zappa he cries. Whenever he sees Cuba he lights right up. Even when he's fussy. We call Cuba over and he smiles at her and tries to touch her. Cuba of course loves this. 

I can't get over Ole's lips. When he is sleeping they look even bigger then when he's awake:
 And finally... it snowed for the first time at our house last night. It was crazy waking up to see snow. I shouldn't have been surprised since we are in the mountains but it was shockingly sweet. Since it's one of my work days we bundled up our little stinker for the trek to Gramma's.

Here he is in his sweater his Great-Grandma made him. These pictures melt my heart! I love this boy! He's so freaking cute.