M was a very, very lucky boy this Christmas - one of his favorite presents is his tricycle.


He immediately spotted it on Christmas morning (and the fact that we put a new stuffed doggie in the basket turned it into the ultimate magnet for our son.)


He's still a bit little to touch the pedals, but it has a handle at the back so we can push him around and he LOVES it! Plus, it's the same brand Elmo rides when he's in the park with his daddy! (I've had this song stuck in my head for a week!)



We had an iconic parent experience one evening the weekend before Christmas when we assembled all his presents.



It was a "how many grownups with graduate degrees does it take to figure out instructions," type of evening.

I've never had that much fun being that frustrated!

What happened to November?

No, seriously...where'd it go? Our month got off to a rocky start with ear infections for both M and his daddy, but ended with a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. Throughout, I took about 10 photos and not one was good!

M playing with Uncle Morgan. (The shirt is from Provincetown and says "PEE town")

I've been thinking about what holiday traditions I want to start with my little family. Last year was J and my first Christmas together (for the prior 10 years (!) we gone to our separate families) but with a four-month-old we didn't have much time/sanity to think of traditions. Some of the ideas I like:

• Advent calendar - I like the experience/activity ideas that Uncommon Grace has listed
• Read a Christmas book every day of December - I've started our collection with The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
• New ornament for each child - I like the thought of giving M a box of his ornaments when he has his own home.
• New jammies for Christmas Eve - I love new jammies... I'm thinking of these for M
• Hot chocolate and cookies on Christmas Eve
• Cinnamon rolls for breakfast - perhaps this recipe
• A long family walk after Christmas lunch then a cozy afternoon of Christmas movies

But back to the "where did the time go," question - when did this little lump:

grow up to be such a big boy:

An old vid of M enjoying his dinner, he's such a ham sometimes:

Halloween!

My baby elephant...

Now we are one

M turned one while we were on vacation. We planned to have a party with family and friends on the Cape today, but ended up heading back to NJ on Thursday because of Hurricane Earl. (Which turned out to be only slightly more than a stiff breeze... *grumble*) I'm a bit bummed that he didn't have a first birthday party, but I know he won't remember it. Instead, J and I got our favorite pizza and a little cake. M liked gnawing on the pizza, but wasn't so sure about the cake! It was pretty wonderful to be home with my boys.

So, happy birthday my precious little boy! I really can't believe that it's been a whole year since a became your mama. It's been an incredible 12 months and I love you more and more every day.

One year ago...

It was my first day of maternity leave and also M's due date. I was preparing to go to my final doctor's appointment. And by preparing, I mean probably lying on the couch watching tv. Not, unfortunately, doing something useful like having breakfast. Something I regretted five hours later. Instead of spending my first day of maternity leave having breakfast at my favorite diner, getting a pedicure and doing a bit of last minute shopping, I ended up being sent to the hospital by my doctor because my BP was high. I spent the morning hooked up to machines, starving. I was so grateful at 1pm when the nurse told me I was being induced and let me sneak out and get food at the hospital Au Bon Pain.

It was my first lesson of motherhood - always have breakfast, because kids are unpredictable!

Happy Birthday GramAnna!

Today is my wonderful, beautiful Gram's 92nd birthday. Gram has inspired me in so many ways with her energy, creativity and her positive outlook on life. I have so many happy memories of spending time with her during our summer trips to Maine. I think my favorite memories are the small ones – helping her dry dishes after meals, walks down Pott’s Point, the grown ups having drinks on the porch while I explored the chest of family memories, picking blueberries for buckle (best dessert ever!)

She always let me have free run of her fabric stash – a true gift to a budding little sewer! And her stories, I love her stories. About fifteen years ago she started writing down stories, vignettes from her life and sending copies to the family. It has been such a wonderful gift for us and for future generations. I cherish each and every one, rereading them often. From the everyday to the momentous, I love having a chance to know so much about her life.

Gram wearing a suit she made.

I was so glad to have her meet M, the newest little branch on our family tree, in May. M is a carbon copy of my husband – we joke about needing a “maternity test” – but every so often I see a little glimpse of Gram in him. Something about the way he looks at you and the set of his nose. And it always makes me smile.

So, happy, happy birthday Gram! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Gram with her four daughters.