One of Those Days

You know those days where you just want to run outside and scream at the top of your lungs and then run 500 miles and then go shopping and spend this paycheck and the next, and then eat something ooey-gooey and chocolatey just to make things feel better?

Well, yesterday was NOT one of those days. On the contrary, it was a next-to-perfect day. Winston was just a perfect little angel all day long.

He napped well, he snuggled lots (but not too much), he played on the floor by himself while I did some easy house cleaning and dinner prep. He smiled and giggled lots and scooted for toys and for me. In addition to all of that, I was able to read and study the scriptures for longer than usual, read for leisure, and even catch up with some tasks for work. I rarely get so much done in one day while home with him.

And to top off the night, Winston giggled and laughed and giggled some more after being put in his PJs and playing on the bed with his blanket. After about 5-10 minutes of laughing, he suddenly stopped, sat up, crawled up to my face and gave me a few big [slobbery] goodnight kisses. What a sweetie.

Here's hoping today doesn't go the opposite way.

And here's a cute little video of him kissing me yesterday.

Wanna know something strange? He'll kiss me, my mom, his aunts, even some uncles and cousins, but he WILL NOT kiss his Daddy. No matter how hard we try. Even when he's freshly shaven. It's a mystery.

Scoochin' to Victory

Last Thursday Winston complained and complained (and complained) as he scooted to get my cell phone. The best is his victory cheer at the end of the video.

Just 4 days later he's almost a pro--much more speedy.

Up next for us? Running around the apartment baby-proofing what we thought was already baby-proofed.

Facebook Status in 2009

Facebook has this cool application (I'm sure you've all seen) to combine all your statuses for the year, but it didn't have room for all the ones I wanted on it. So, with the help of the app, I re-did it. Viola:

Melanie in 2009

Is pregnant with a baby boy! ~ Is excited for the mandatory furlough in March. ~ Going through baby names. ~ Baby boy is here! 6 lbs 7 oz, 20 ½ inches. ~ Loves watching her little guy try to burp. ~ Wishes she had internet at home. It’s been days since I checked my email and there’s a TON. ~ Is getting really good at typing with one hand while feeding/holding Winston. ~ Back to work and have Winston with me. ~ Took the day off yesterday and had a girl’s day/night out with the family. ~ Moved. Cried more than I expected. Arrived safely last weekend. STILL unpacking. ~ Enjoying her newly purchased car. 2005 Mazda 6. Yum! ~ Finally got internet and a new macbook. How did I ever live without either? ~ Should be sleeping, but baby is sleeping, so I’m working…and checking in with facebook ~ Yum…better than sex brownies. ~ Loves Papa John’s pizza. ~ Had a great reunion with Merrill 210 girls. ~ Enjoying the rainy day. ~ Recovering from watching my cute nieces & nephews (5 kids under age 6). I need a nap ~ Watching baby sleep. He’s so cute & snuggly. Why do they grow so quickly? ~ Spending the whole day tomorrow with Nancy Thacker making Christmas goodies. ~ Way too sugared out.

A House to Make a Home

During the course of this week, Sam & I placed three offers on a home. The first two were not accepted, but the final one finally was. We're going to be buying a home!! Woot, woot!

All that needs to happen is a smooth path to closing--no surprises in the inspection, everything A-ok with the finalization of the mortgage loan, etc.

It's a HUD home and needs some work. It will be an exciting adventure, to be sure.

More details to come.

On a more serious, less-exciting tone, I can't help but think of the irony that we are getting a nice place to call home when hundreds of thousands, if not more, people in Haiti are now homeless. My heart is humbled and aches for them. May God bless them and comfort them at this time, and continue to send the much-needed relief.

Months Gone By

I was browsing through photos trying to find one of my mom for her profile pic on facebook and I just kept laughing and smiling over and over at some photos of Winston.

Here are some from months gone by.

All Suited Up

I've been told and I've said myself that little boy clothes are just not as cute as little girl clothes. How can they be? How can stripes and sports beat cute little ruffles and flowers and sparkles?

Today, I take that back. Look at the cute little suit I got for Winston last week (on clearance at Babies R Us).

Every time I go to a baby clothing store, I glance through the baby suit jackets covetously. They are too pricey for my budget. But this time I got a killer deal.

The jacket was clearanced to $17. And all clearanced items were buy one, get one for $.99. AND I had a 20% one item coupon. So, I got 2 jackets (one a larger size for next year) for about $14 (or about $7 each).

And you bet I was more than willing to spend that to see this handsome Little Sir dressed up for church.

He looks so much older in a suit, but his little prancing feet show he really is still a baby after all.

I can't get enough. He is so cute in such fancy little-man wear.

And [the holidays] Came To Pass

This was the first year since being married that Sam and I did not travel for the Holidays. Not that we usually go as far as NYC, as we did last year, but we've always been at someone else's home.

It was wonderful to be in our own beds without filling up the car with luggage over and over again and without worries of bad-weather roads.

By some fluke, we had our very own Christmas Eve together, too. My family decided to do their regular Christmas Eve stuff on the Saturday prior to Christmas. Sam's decided to do theirs on the 23rd. Our day went a little like this:

Breakfast: Holiday Ham & Cheese Bake

Then the making & eating of Carmel-Pecan

Cinnamon Rolls & Fantasy Fudge

For Dinner: Take-out cuisine from India House restaurant in Sandy (I'm thinking this will be a traditional Christmas Eve Feast in our family for years to come.)

We then enjoyed a couple of our favorite Christmas movies-- The Nativity Story and The Santa Clause.

We also read/listened to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with my mom's voice reading to us (she got the cool & to-be cherished record-your-own-voice books at Halmark). Winston kept looking around the room for his Grandma.

Winston got to wear some new jammies and was full of cuteness in the evening.

Christmas morning was all to us. Winston was excited to have some new brightly-colored objects to explore.

The rest of the holidays were spent with family, shopping, and lots and lots of eating.

I've decided I have a love-hate relationship with holiday goodies. I love the taste and the only-once-a-year specialities. I hate the over-full stomach day after day and the sugar-coated teeth. I miss it when it is gone, but glad it's only once a year.