Christmas for new parents

There are like a million books for the first year but none that I've seen (okay, so I haven't looked either) for the first holidays, especially Christmas. 

Maybe it is just us because we celebrate Christmas 3 times but it feels totally crazy. So fun, drama free (most of the time), exciting, but crazy. I wish I had known some of this before this all started so here's a little list. 

1. Take pictures of your entire family. Sounds really obvious but we never got one of all of us. When we were doing Santa, I was filming, Philip was taking pictures, and this theme seemed to go on all weekend. We never got a picture of all 3 of us and I hate that.

2. If possible, do gifts later in the day. On Christmas Eve we celebrated with my family and they didn't come over until 9:30. Austin was able to get up, nap etc. and we were able to get stuff done before people came over. On Christmas morning we were supposed to be over at the Pratt's at 7-7:15 (we were 30 minutes late.. of 7:15). We were all so exhausted.

3. Maybe I was so exhausted because I sang a midnight church service. The service is beautiful but I didn't go to sleep until 2 and we got up at 6. I mean yes when you are in the thick of not sleeping early baby land this is normal (actually this would have been a great night toward the beginning) but when you're also hosting Christmas, etc. that is not enough sleep. I finally realized something has to give. Presents have to start later, I have to not sing the midnight service... something. We had a wonderful time but I was so exhausted, a lot of Christmas morning felt like a haze and I don't want to feel that way every Christmas. 

4. If you enjoy cooking, great.. but if it doesn't work out, you just don't want to, or it doesn't happen. No big deal. We cooked for my family and I planned a very simple breakfast casserole, biscuits, and of course mimosas. For lunch Philip smoked prime rib and I roasted asparagus, potatoes and carrots. That's it. I ran out of time for dessert but I mean I need another Christmas dessert like a hole in my head. I brought leftovers for the Christmas Eve party and brought literally nothing to the Pratt's. It has always kind of bothered me that I don't have anything I bring anywhere that I'm "known for". I thought about making another breakfast casserole after the Christmas Eve service but finally just let go. I really do enjoy cooking and usually stress out about making something "memorable" but this year I really just ran out of time and no one cared whatsoever. 

5. Nothing is really worth all the extra stress. Austin's sweet smile made the day and everything else feel extraordinary. 

I'm sure there is more... but overall the amount of presents, food, outfits, etc. do not matter. Precious moments with friends and family are the best presents of all. As cheesy as it sounds, I truly believe this! 

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne. 

Christmas!

Christmas with a little one was so different and amazing. I cannot get over how everything has changed, this year for the better. Since Mom died I haven't felt like any holidays felt "real" and although things still feel totally different, having a little one to share the holiday joy with really felt magical. 

I bought this Santa suit on zulily. Sometimes you can really luck out with this website... not this time. The suit was 6-12 months and the pants were HUGE... this babe is not small and they were hanging off him and the shirt was super tight. I planned for him to wear this on Christmas morning but there was no way that would work so I just tucked his pants into the diaper (super gross) and took a couple of pics. 

His little bump on his eye is the remnant from a huge fall last week with his babysitter. He fell and well, the floor won. 

Santa came! 

For some reason the boys decided the champagne for mimoas needed to be opened "saber style". I kept thinking "you're gonna poke an eye out".. luckily no one did. 

Ugh, didn't realize this was on manual focus... I'm not organized enough to do manual focus with a baby. I can still blame everything on him still, right?

We always go to the same Christmas eve party. Not only were Knox and Austin celebrating their first Christmases, they wore the same outfit. Totally not planned :) We attempted to take pictures with the boys together, but Austin was way too interested in roughly touching 7 week Knox. Austin was really interested in Knox but attempted to show his interest by punching him in the eye. Knox was a good sport, totally laid back and didn't care whatsoever. Thank God. 

Santa has started stopping by this party every year. Olivia has always loved seeing him. Austin on the other hand only loved seeing Olivia. I think my boy might have his first real crush. She was a good sport at first but then when Austin began biting all of her toys, she had other ideas :) 

I wish I could say I had pictures of Austin but he was so scared I had to put my camera down and save my baby from the apparently evil, scary, Santa. 

Christmas at Grandma's. Yes, he is playing with the box. Opening presents here was a bit stressful for Mommy because for some reason we hung out for 2 hours in a room with white carpet and breakables everywhere. He really did a great job and although this child is anything but calm, we managed to keep him in the same room (for the most part) without breaking anything, so I'd say it was a success. 

Already taking my cash. 

After Christmas at the Pratt's and a great nap for Austin, Dad and Ben came back over. We were trying to see Ben as much as possible... his trip was way too short!

Hate that there is a shadow in the background but this sweet face sums up Christmas. Our little boy had so much fun with presents, parties, family and friends! We feel so blessed to be gifted this precious little boy.

Merry Christmas 

Santa

This weekend we went and saw Santa. Austin is very scared of strangers right now but we hoped for the best. We attempted to go last week and waited for 45 minutes and then some gawky teenager came out and said, "Santa's gotta nap for like an hour or so...so like just come back". W.T.F. I realize not everyone has kids and I'm pretty thankful this "elf" did not have experience with his own child, however everyone should kind of know that kids don't exactly have patience for waiting for hours. Apparently you are supposed to purchase a "fast pass" prior to going to see the big man. My liberal, everyone should be equal, self hates, no loathes this. I mean, how rude...shouldn't we all wait the same time? But since so many other people buy the fast pass the wait time is just ridiculous. We decided to come back the next week and buy the unfair fast pass. I'm so glad I let go of my prissy beliefs because cutting in line was so. awesome. The next week we went back and waited literally 3 minutes. The whole time Austin seemed really interested in Santa. I thought I might be wrong and he might really love playing with his beard or something like that. 

Started out happy!

Interested in Santa! 

And then this happened...

Yeah, it was a huge failure but I can't lie I love his hands. Instead of panic over Santa I like to think about it as Christmas jazz hands. Yes, this is pitiful but won't this be a great picture for senior ad? Look out class of 2031. 

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne. 

10 month

This Mom wants back in the game so I took some 10 month pics of the most roly poly boy I've ever known. This child never sits still unless reading a book every great once in a while. He is so fun and completely all over the place pretty much all the time. 

I guess it really doesn't matter I didn't take 9 month pics with a tie. He takes them off every. single. time now anyway. What do others do to prevent this from happening? Almost the second I put it off he is dying to take it off and chew on it. 

Like this. 

He loves to stick he tongue out now. Not so sure if this is the best habit but man is it cute. 

He's also started whistling.. or trying to anyway. Philip does it to him all the time and said he was going to get him to whistle which I did not believe but then last month he started. He does it all the time and it is so hilarious. 

I'm so glad I caught this picture. He has been blowing these raspberries since he was 4 months old and still thinks it is the funniest thing ever. Good Lord, he is such a boy. 

This is the view I see of him most days. Trying to get. out. anywhere. 

He has started "cruising". (my how terms change when you have a baby. I used to think cruising was when you rode around in a car but now it means your baby is walking with aid of a couch or some other stable piece of furniture) He is starting to get kind of brave and move from the coffee table to the couch but still holding on to something. 

I registered for this chair kind of on a whim and am SO glad I did. It is currently his favorite thing in the house (besides all the stuff we don't want him to play with like the remote, my phone, the cable box...how do they know?!) He loves climbing on it and just giggles so hard. The only issues is that he gets so excited he flails himself around and has fallen off a couple of times. 

Some Stats: 

Height: 30 inches

Weight: almost 22 lbs 

Teeth 8 with 2 cutting right now!

Food: Quit liking Mom's homemade food (was kind of sad about it but also kind of relieved to stop making it) so he's eating those organic food pouches, oatmeal, and some solid foods. 

He loves: banannas, blueberries, teething crackers, squash, peas, bread (this kid loves carbs.. I feel responsible), baby yogurt, pretty much every single fruit, and veggies that taste like fruit :) 

Dislikes: avocados, raspberries, beets,  salmon, eggs (not really dislike had an allergic reaction.. super scary!) and most meat we've tried. 

I can't believe we have a vegetarian baby. I'm going to start telling people he's concerned about his carbon footprint. Try to beat THAT in Mommy wars :) 

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne. 

hello....crickets... hello....

Why yes it has been an eternity since I've last blogged. I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. November kind of sucked. We had some good times, but after 2 ear infections, 2 colds, lots of rides in the car and many sleepless nights, I am extremely thankful the month of "thanks" is over. 

Work was its normal crazy and Austin being sick on top of all that was insane. I also was sick a little and even landed in the ER one night, so this terrible mother didnt. do. the. tie. pictures. 

I thought about it lots of times and even attempted it once. Getting a sick babe to smile for the camera was just a disaster so I think I'm deleting those pics. I thought about just faking it and doing 9 and 10 together and never telling but I must come clean. 

Luckily we took  professional 9 month pics (sans tie) with our friend Evin. 

Here are some of the better pics with Austin :) 

Obvi they are way better than anything I would have taken anyway. Maybe I could photoshop in a tie? 

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.