Christmastime :)

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I wish I had taken more pictures, but all the opening of gifts seemed to get in the way! Mom and Dad came up to join us and Sheila traveled over from her house in the morning. We started the morning with coffee and a Potato Basil Fritatta. It was delicious (an Ina Garten Recipe)

Erik and I received many wonderful gifts including a vacuum from Sheila. I have now vacuumed the entire first floor and underneath every possible piece of furniture. It has never looked so clean in here. I love having a clean house! Sheila also gave me a lovely sweater & jacket. The best gift from Sheila? The pasta boat! Just kidding ;) I got the NEATEST casserole carrier. I realize that last sentence probably makes me sound very domesticated, but I don't care; it is really cool.See how the casserole dish matches the exterior!? Cool, huh?

Mom gave Erik some great pizza making ingredients and metal pans that help crisp the crust. He was really excited to use it last night as he doesn't have to worry about sliding the pizza on to the pizza stone any longer. It worked perfectly. Mom gave me some a Praise Vocal Music & another music book that will come in handy when I have to sing solo's at church. I'm also very pleased by the gift of a teeth grinding night guard she gave me :) I've used it every night since Christmas and my jaw is much less tense.

Karl received wonderful books, cds and more from Mom & Dad, a set of lego's & talking kangaroo from Sheila, and an awesome sweater & hat set from Aunt Lele. I really love the hat.

Lee also knit me a gift! I got this awesome mustard yellow purse. The inside fabric is so 'me' & she included the leftovers :)

One of the best gifts, though, was purchased with gifts from Dad & Sheila. We were able to buy a new dishwasher! Hallelujah! Thanks to Erik for installing it yesterday. It works perfectly and my glasses are gleaming.

You'd think that was it, right? But no, there was so much more! Too much to list. Though, I do want to tell you that Erik gave me a wonderful pasta maker attachment for our kitchenaid. I am itching to make some homemade ravioli or lasagna with fresh noodles!

From my last post I mentioned that I had gotten a gift for Erik that requires a party. Here it is! A Beer & Chocolate Tasting Kit. It includes the chocolate and a guide for which beers to buy. I am looking forward to inviting Erik's friends over and giving him a fun night.

Karl is exhausted still thinking about presents. Merry Christmas!

The Sleeper

I got some delicious Belgian beers from my madre for my birthday - a solid indication that adulthood has set in. Apparently she got them at the traditional store for Belgian beers, "Costco" (pronounced "Coas-a-co").

But that's not why we're in your google reader, you're here for pictures of the cutest baby this side of the Mississippi! We do not disappoint.

First he thought it was hilarious to try on Daddy's shoes...

Then he decided to make a seat out of a pack of paper towels...

After falling off of those several times, he decided the coffee table was safer.

Then he fell asleep in his high chair. Check out the little foot kick as he has a dream, and the video below...

Christmas Tree :)

We gave in and decided to get a tree this year. Erik says having a tree "...is the work of a drunk man. Ok guys, let's cut down a tree and put it inside our house. And we'll decorate it! YEAH!".

Anyway, we bundled up and headed out to find our tree. We picked a small 5 1/2 footer and I think it looks great!

We don't have a tree topper (I wish we had a sweet little angel like the one I read about at the Conlin's- you can click on the link to the right to see it). Though, I found one today that was just beautiful. It was a silver and glass star that was made in India and was sold at the fair trade store. Because it's fair trade it usually costs more and I just didn't have the ability to spend $28 on a topper. Also, Shevitz' I almost bought you this great cd for your kid's that had different Jewish songs from around the world, but I didn't. Let me know if you want it and I can go back :) And, Lee, I was going to buy you this really soft baby llama wool from the same store, but it was so expensive and I didn't know how much you would need to make something.

...It's the thought that counts, right guys? haha!

I did get Erik something really cool that I hope to post about after Christmas. We'll probably have a party to use it :) And Karl is getting a noise maker from Africa. I bet Charlie will eat it in a week or two. Expect a post about THAT, too.

OK, back to the tree. We brought it home and Karl was very curious. Even more so now that we have ornaments on it. We've had to convince him that he doesn't need to pull on them or put them in his mouth. Instead, he has decided to unwrap presents under the tree. They are now safely on our kitchen counter. The joys of a little one :) :)

Picture time!

Holiday Party!

Karl and I went to a holiday party hosted by the midwives who delivered Karl. It was a great time and so nice to see how much their practice is expanding. They are even thinking about opening a birth center! Very exciting. More exciting is the possibility of me working with them as a doula.

Lately, I have been feeling so blessed in my life. I love singing and have found a joy in teaching. My voice studio is expanding and I am even taking on a few beginner piano students from church. I don't make much doing it, but it is a lot of fun. This bit of income should allow me to finish my Masters degree sooner than we thought. Hoorah!

I also really find that I am addicted to births. I wish that they were all on the weekend so I didn't have to worry about Erik taking a day off, but I am only doing one a month, which is working out well.

Anyway, the real reason I am posting is because I took some pictures of Karl at the Holiday Party and wanted to share them. Here he is!

Here Karl is eating a crayon, a new favorite thing to do. I don't know where he finds crayons, but he ends up with wax around his mouth. I'm glad they are non-toxic. This picture was taking a few moments after I found him eating a cookie he found on the floor. Awesome.
Being a boy and 'playing' the xylophone with a truck.
Pushing a baby stroller around the room. The stuffed snowman behind him was a casualty of the stroller wheels. Poor Frosty.
Trying to take off all the ornaments on the tree (just one reason Erik & I are on the fence about getting a tree this year).

Look at this profile! THE CHEEKS!
Still eating part of the cookie.
Talking to himself.

Love this one.

Thanks for the sweater vest, Nana!

More Updates :)

Karl: Lately, I feel like I have been living in a sitcom. Between Erik, Charlie & Karl there is always something amusing going on. Karl has been getting in to all sorts of mischief at our house and has hit the phase where we 'put things in' and then 'take things out' of whatever container is around.

I found in the bottom of an empty laundry hamper a tiny baby hanger and a stuffed teddy bear. Clearly, the adults in the house didn't put that there. Last night, after a shower I came out to our bedroom where Erik informed me that Karl had been working like a madman pulling my dresser drawers open and pulling out all of my (now unfolded) pants.

Erik: Still has been riding to work, but is talking more of the cold on his way to work than ever before. I wonder how long this will keep up. Part of me hopes he makes it through the entire winter just so I can brag to my friends "Oh, my husband? No, he doesn't warm the car up before he gets in it. He gets on his bicycle and warms himself up on the way to work".

Erik also appears to have perfected pizza dough making, even if there is little time for the dough to rise. It's delicious, cheap, and faster than ordering. Plus, we also find that we eat significantly less pizza since we are making it ourselves.

Erik has lost 10 lbs since riding his bike and making pizza. I have lost 4.

Claire: I feel ever busy with life. Karl loves being with me and recently started running up to me and hugging my legs. I think it is the cutest thing in the world. However, it makes walking difficult.

I am waiting patiently for a woman to go in to labor (she was due Dec 1st) and was hoping that it would not happen last night as this morning I had to direct my 5 year old bells ringers at church for the 8:15 and 11am service. After church at 2p I have a dress rehearsal for all of my singers who will perform next weekend at the retirement home. It should be a busy day.

Karl waiting for Cherub Choir to start;

Erik has been so kind to give me breaks from the baby to do all of these musical extra curriculars and I was even able to go see a screening of the movie "Consuming Kids" through the Holistic Moms Network in VA. It was a great film and has me even more up in arms about the commercialization of childhood. If I could convince Erik that we need to homeschool Karl and throw out or TV's I would be a happy woman.

I want Karl to have the opportunity to be a kid and grow his imagination. Electronic toys take away active play and do it for him, so as much as he seems to enjoy them I think I will slowly get rid of them when the batteries dies.

I am also hoping that all of Karl's toys, clothes, bedding will not be associated with a tv show or movie (like Winnie the Pooh, Charlie Brown, Clifford, Elmo, etc). I want to promote active play without having characters already established for him. If he has a bear I don't want him to assume that it talks and is friends with Eeyore. I want him to decide on his own and use his imagination.

If you want to give Karl and gift and don't know what to get him, here are some ideas: books, blocks, balls, a generic doll or stuffed animal, wooden toys, bubbles, bath toys, piggy bank.

You might think this is a bit crazy, and maybe it is, but it's what I feel is best for Karl. (And, ignore the fact that Erik decided on Simpson's characters to portray us)