Leon's Third Christmas

We are just returning from a world wind trip home. In less than 2 weeks we visited 10 states, changed sleeping locations 4 times (5 if you count naps), and spent over 50 hours in the car. We had a great time but it was quite exhausting!

Leon and Elsie made out like bandits with toys and new clothes. Leon went sledding and made snow angels in the snow. Elsie was carried around in someone's warm arms (her favorite) all day and night. And for me this was perhaps the most special Christmas because Leon was old enough to appreciate it. He helped decorating the tree, has been singing carols, vaguely understands the concept of Santa Claus, and so on.

I'm kinda sad that it's all ending so soon.

To Work or Not To Work

That is the question and has been the question since I was first pregnant with Leon. I think every mom who knows me is tired of me talking about this. I can't figure out if I should be a SAHM (stay at home mom) or a working mom.

I've done both. For Leon's first 5.5 months I was a SAHM and I lived it. We had our routine down walking/running along the waterfront followed by breakfast and naps. On some days we went to mommy and me yoga and on others we went to playdates. Then I with one of them.

Which will it be?

Holiday Cards Are Done!

We did a photo shoot a few weeks ago with a great photographer here.  I made our cards with some of my favorite pics.  Enjoy!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Four Months

Elsie is four months old! She is weighing in at 18 pounds! The nurse who weighed her insinuated that Elsie was overweight and that I should monitor her feedings. Um how about no! She's perfect! I'm not concerned that she's chubby. She's a baby! Get over it!

Another Member in the Village

Ok so I know I've said before it takes a village to raise a child (African proverb).  I just added another person to my village!  A babysitter!  I have a baby sitter.  Ugh, I feel so old saying that.  I used to be a baby sitter.  She is more like a mother's helper because I haven't actually left her alone with the kids yet.  I actually would never leave her with both.  Nothing against her but a toddler (like Leon) and an infant is a lot for anyone to handle.  The last two weekends my baby sitter has come over from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.  During this time I have been able to get Elsie down for her late afternoon nap, make dinner, and clean up.  I highly recommend finding some young energetic person who wants money to watch your kids!

Three Months Old

Elsie is three months old.  She has her very first cold.  Not too many things are more painful than hearing a three month old cough.  It's so sad because I really can't do anything about it.  But she's happy.  She's nursing and sleeping so she is ok.  She can sit up (leans way forward, great yoga posture) by herself!  She babbles in her own language.  She is very loved by her brother and everyone else.  The three months has gone by quickly. It's hard to believe in another three months she could be eating her first solid foods and maybe crawling and then three months after that perhaps supported standing.  

Este es mine!

Leon's favorite word is MINE.  Seems like that's a thing for toddlers.  Instead of saying, "This is mine."  He typically mixes up his Spanish with English and says, "Este es MINE."  Two of his favorite things are his cholas (flip flops) and his lunch box (bolsa).  I curse the day (ok that's a bit strong) I purchased those Old Navy on sale flip flops.  Because he is forever tripping up in them or putting them on wrong and wincing in pain because the divider is between the wrong toes.  And he loves his lunch box to death.  His teachers in preschool have told me that Leon is doing really well EXCEPT that he wants to carry his lunch box everywhere.  He doesn't want to leave it on the table.  He wants his snacks by his side all the time.  We did a three hour hike this weekend and Leon carried his lunch box most of the time.

I have to admit the fascination with his lunch box and his flip flops is cute and understandable.  We live in an area with amazing weather.  So sneakers and other shoes are not as nice as open toe shoes.  And I love making his day care snack.  Every night I get excited about what treats to put in his lunch box.  I have been placing Halloween stickers in their recently.  Today he had a small cookie, mandarin oranges, graham crackers, and cheese sticks.  Tomorrow he'll have slices of bell peppers, fruit snacks, cashews, and probably a few sweet potato chips.