Big boy on a little chair

A month or so ago we had friends over, so we had the portable booster seat out. M picked it up and carried it across the room, put it down next to the chair where J usually sits in the living room and curled up in it with Blankie and Doggie. We decided it was time to get him his own chair. For Christmas we gave him this mini chair from Ikea. We put it next to Daddy's chair - I love seeing my guys sitting together.

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!

Holiday Traditions: Winter Books

One of the family traditions I'd like to create is reading special winter/holiday books during December. Merritt has started picking up a book, walking over to the closest parent, and tugging on our leg until we sit down and read to him. He won't sit through a whole book, and often wants to look a the pages in his own order - two pages forward then one back, etc. - and sometimes he'll "read" to us in his sweet little jabber. I love it! I like the idea of special books for the seasons.

So far we have:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren

Ok, only 22 more to go! (Not that I want to get them all this year...perhaps one or two a year) I've been finding inspiration on various mama blogs but have no idea what would be good this year.

M and Daddy reading.

One year ago...

A teeny, tiny M being burped by Daddy.

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.

Looking back

Playing, originally uploaded by linseyclair.

M at four weeks playing on his mat for the first time. He still has a bit of the awful impetigo, which covered his face in a rash during weeks three through five. This was the first day he showed an interest in toys, so I put him on the mat and he batted it around a bit. For such a little thing, it was so exciting. (Not as exciting as having my cute baby reemerge from the gross rash, but still pretty nice.)

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.