Christmas and a general update

It has been a few years since I actually felt excited about Christmas.  Last year was fun, but Fiona was too young to do anything other than lay there and be adorable. This year she still didn't GET it....but she enjoyed ripping paper and playing with some new toys.  It made Christmas a bit more fun for me, and I look forward to the years to come with her.

It was our turn to head to Swift Current for Christmas this year.  We were excited to get away and spend time with Jay's family.  We hadn't been to Swift Current as a family since Fiona was 7 weeks old at Thanksgiving of 2014!  Fiona traveled well both ways and slept like a rock star while we were there.  She even cut her 4th molar while we were there.

Fiona is now 16.5 months old.  She has 12 teeth and only has 4 eye teeth and 4 more molars until she has her full set of baby teeth.  It felt like she teethed forever before all of her first molars showed up, but once she cut that last one, we got a few days of happy Fiona.  Happy Fiona is such a joy, and sleeps 14 hours each night and naps 3 hours each afternoon and never whines.  Haha....honestly, I think she went through a growth spurt right after Christmas because she WAS sleeping 14+ hours/night and napping 3+ hours each afternoon.  It was nice, but kind of strange!

When Fiona was teething for her molars, each time she would be working on a tooth she would get a runny nose.  This past week I thought maybe she was starting to teethe for her eye teeth, but after a couple of days I realized that, no, she has a cold.  She has a really runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and has not been going to bed very well at night.  It is unusual for her to cry when I put her to bed but the last few night she has.  Hopefully, it will clear up soon!

Fiona's grandpa built her a toy box for Christmas!  We weren't able to bring it home as our van was already packed to the brim with gifts and food to bring home, but next time grandma and grandpa come to visit they will bring it up for her.  It will be nice to have a place to store her toys!

As always, it was such a joy to watch Fiona interacting with her grandparents. They adore her and she had so much fun at their house. Grandma kept us well fed and we sure enjoyed the lovely turkey dinner she cooked on Christmas day! Because Fiona was teething while we were there her appetite was a bit iffy, but she loved grandma's cabbage rolls!

Fiona is definitely transitioning into toddlerhood.  Even though she will always be my baby, she is growing and changing and turning into a little person more and more.  She has quite the little personality.  She loves to dance.  I am not sure where that comes from....maybe her grandma Clara? Or her cousin Will? Haha...certainly not her parents!  She can certainly throw a good tantrum when she doesn't want to do something....usually when she has a tantrum it means she is tired or hungry. And they don't typically last very long.

She got a play kitchen and some play food for Christmas....and so far she mostly just likes to throw things on the floor and suck on the food....but I am sure it will be well loved by the time she outgrows it in a few years.

I am not sure if I could list all of the words that Fiona can now say.  But she is trying to say words more and more.  She knows the word 'more', and calls her self 'Na-no' when we ask if she can say Fiona.  She is usually generous with 'hi-you' and 'buh-bye' once she gets comfortable with someone.  She has started calling Kiwi 'Key'.  When she sees pants or pajamas she says 'pa' over and over again until I say 'yes, Fiona it's pants/pajamas' She likes to give da-da a 'pu' (push) around the house. When she gets her hands on something new, or something she shouldn't have, or gets really excited about something you get a very big 'oo-ooo-oooo' from her, which Jay and I find absolutely adorable!

More than the words she can say, or tries to say, she understands so much. Usually in the evening, after bath time, and after a bit of play time (usually a pre-bedtime dance party) she will say 'na-na' which means night-night and will reach for my hand and hold my hand and lead me to the top of the stairs to head downstairs for bed time.  She doesn't always initiate it, but if I say, "Fiona, should we go downstairs?" she will usually grab my hand and head for the stairs.  She can now go downstairs.  I don't think I would trust her on the stairs on her own yet, but she has climbed down without any help from me.

She still enjoys her bath time.  I have been surprised recently when she likes to lay back with her head/ears in the water and just 'float' in the tub.  She is not so much about the splashing anymore.  We are registered for swimming lessons that start tomorrow, and though I am looking forward to them, unless her cold resolves by then, I think we might have to skip this week's lesson.

Four months old!

I had to share this amazing photo that Jay took of our little girl!  She is so lucky to have such a talented daddy :)

Even though she had a lousy night, and short naps today, she broke out this heart melting smile for the camera tonight. 

I love the two little outfits I got for her for Christmas.  The other one was in the Santa photo, and our family photo, however it is a bit small, as she is growing like a weed.  This one still fits quite well, and I think she will wear it to grandma and grandpa's house on Christmas day.

Fiona got to meet Santa!

We braved the mall on this very crazy busy Friday before Christmas to get a photo of Fiona with Santa!  At the Lawson Heights Mall you bring your own camera and take your own free photo with Santa.  I was impressed with the Santa there.  I thought the Midtown was the only Santa with a real beard....but this was a top notch Santa too!  I have this issue with Santas with fake beards....they seem creepy to me.  But this guy was really great!

I didn't know how Fiona would do, being handed to a complete stranger, especially one in a crazy outfit....and I had to wake her up to take her out of the car seat, so she was still a bit sleepy.  She did really well though.  No smiles, but at least there weren't any tears or pouts.  Though, I do find something really funny about photos of children freaking out on Santa's knee.  Haha!

We've been busy!

I had kind of hoped to keep up on this blog a bit.  But life with a newborn has been so busy!  When baby is sleeping I am trying to get something productive done, or sleeping myself.

I can't believe Fiona is a few days away from 4 months old!  What a whirlwind these last few months have been.  I would say that after the first month passed, that I finally felt like my head resurfaced and I could breathe a little bit again.

Fiona started sleeping through the night fairly consistently around 2 months old.  That has made all the difference, getting good sleep.  I also have slept so much better since we got the baby monitor and I moved back upstairs.  There have still been a couple of times when I have stayed downstairs after getting up to feed Fiona during the night...but those feedings are becoming fewer and further between.

She is such a content, sweet baby.  My heart just swells with love when I think about her.  So full of smiles and giggles and coos.  I am loving the more interactive side of her, and I imagine she will only get more and more interactive as time passes.  She is rolling over quite well from back to front and front to back.  She hasn't really figured out that she can use rolling to get places...but once she does, I am sure I will have to watch her like a hawk!

I decided this week that is time to try and get her on a bit of a schedule.  Her bedtime was varying anywhere from 930-1130pm.  I really wanted some evening time to myself, and to spend with Jay!  I had been feeding her 5 times per day, and decided to try 4 feeds per day and she seems to be doing well with that.  So, for the last couple of days she has eating at 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm then to bed.  It usually takes her a while to settle to sleep.  Some days I almost wish she took a soother, because I think it would be easier to settle her back down by plugging her cry hole, haha...but once she settles in, she sleeps really well.  I just feel like I pick her up to settle her more than I would like, but it seems to work. 

She has been doing really well in the Woombie, but with all of her rolling, I feel like it is probably getting to be time to get rid of it.  I am thinking I will wait until after Christmas to start working on putting her to bed without it.  I am sure it won't be the disaster that I am picturing, but she has just been sleeping so well in it, I am a little scared to see what she will do without it.  I will probably start with putting her down for naps without it....then move to night times.  Maybe she will be able to self soothe better if she can suck her fingers at night....I guess we will see!

I am getting excited for Christmas!  I know that Fiona won't have the first clue about what is going on, but I think it will be a fun day.  I am thankful that we get to spend the day with Jay's family and my family.  I am sure Fiona will enjoy the excitement, and hopefully we can get a good nap or two in, so she isn't too fussy!

Merry Christmas from our little family! :)

Good Friends

For about the last year I have been getting together on a pretty regular basis with my good friends, Karen and Arleen.  We probably plan a get together about twice per month.  It has been so nice to spend some quality time with these girls.  It was more difficult in the past with Karen living in Langham and Arleen living up at Christopher Lake.  But now that we are all within a 45 minute drive of each other the get togethers have been plentiful.

Our next planned get together is in a couple of weeks to do a bit of Christmas baking.  We are planning to make some sort of rolled and cut cookies and decorate them.  It will be nice to spend a day together just baking and hanging out.  I have never had good luck with rolled/cut cookies so I hope to pick up some tips so that I could make them again in the future and not feel like pulling out my hair before they even get in the oven! 

I sure have dropped the ball :P

I haven't blogged in a long time.  Wow. 

Maybe I should do another one of those 30 day blog challenges.  But then I feel obligated and the quality of the content takes a dip (because seriously, when I am inspired to write, it's pure gold :P).

Christmas is sneaking up on us again.  Tomorrow is one month until the 'big day'.  We did a large chunk of our shopping yesterday.  I think I only have to shop for my nephews and one other gift that we know what we are getting, just haven't picked it up yet.

This year must be the least amount of shopping we have ever had to do.  My family decided to just forgo gifts and we were instructed that if we would like we could make a donation, or just buy ourselves a gift.  I honestly don't mind because it usually comes down to asking the person what they want and going out and buying exactly what they want.  And really, where is the fun in that?

Jay and I have decided to only buy each other one small gift to open on Christmas morning (otherwise Christmas morning at home, with just the two of us is kind of boring....), and we are going to shop for some good deals on a new TV on boxing day/week and treat ourselves to a nice new TV.  It's amazing when you think about getting a TV you think, oh, maybe just a little bigger than what we have.  I think ours is a 28 or 30 inch.  I was thinking maybe 42 inch.  Then you go into the store and look at them, and I honestly think we will probably end up getting a 55 or 60 inch now.  I figure we do most of our watching from our kitchen anyway, so we need a good size to be able to see it, haha.  And our eyes are only going to get worse over the years, right?!  If that's the reasoning, maybe we should just jump straight to the 80 inch.  Then when I sit on the couch and watch a movie it will feel like being a movie theatre!

I had thought about putting up the Christmas tree today.  But I think I would enjoy doing it more next week.  I have been feeling a bit 'blah' lately, and I think I would rather put up the tree once I am feeling more cheerful.  I am starting to feel a bit more optimistic about life and Christmas, so I think next Saturday, December 1st, Christmas (decorations) will arrive in the Finkbeiner household!   

Giving Knitted Gifts

I have thoroughly enjoyed making and giving gifts to various people this Christmas season already.  I am glad that I have been able to spend less, and put more thought into gifts than I probably ever have before.  I have never been very crafty, but knitting is sure up my alley.  I would like to share a few photos of some of the things I made this fall to give as gifts for Christmas.

This first picture is a hat and mitts that I made for my coworker's baby, Jesse.  I didn't know how big his head was, but took a guess and it fit him quite well.  I was able to give it to my coworker on Friday when we had our Christmas lunch together.  I am happy with how it turned out.  It's an easy pattern that I think I would try again.

Of course had to have a picture of Jesse modelling his new duds :)

This next photo is a coffee cup cozie that I knitted for each of my coworkers.  I was fascinated with the owl cables when I saw this pattern and wanted to try it.  It was a really quick knit, and once I sewed on some button eyes and stitched in some beaks and feet I thought they were pretty cute.  I also gave each of them a gift card for Starbucks so they can try out their cup cozie!

I previously shared photos of the Gryffindor scarf and the Mario hat that I knit for my nephews.  Tonight our family got together to celebrate Christmas, since Jay and I will be heading to Swift Current.  I gave the boys their gifts, and I am glad to say they were happy with them.  Of course they liked the DS games we gave them, but Will was quite thrilled with his hat, and James was happy with his scarf once I told him that it was a Gryffindor scarf.

I made a couple of other gifts that I unfortunately did not get photos of.  I made finger puppets for Aurelia and a cabled hat for my sister's birthday.  I have a couple of projects in mind for the new year.  One, as a baby gift for friends and one is a completely selfish gift for myself.  I am hoping to buy myself some beautiful, luxurious, possibly expensive yarn and make myself a nice knitted hat and possibly a cowl.  However, we will have to see how my arms hold up.  I have not knit in at least a couple of weeks and I don't plan to do any until after Christmas.  Busy weeks at work don't leave much ability to knit without causing some inflammation in my elbows, wrists and hands.

Bah Humbug

I saw a video like this last year as well and it really convicted me.  In the last few years I have really felt in need of nothing for Christmas.  I can usually come up with a couple of ideas for those who ask, but there is nothing I need.  There is even very little I want.  We are blessed with an incredibly luxurious life if you look at a lot of people on this planet. 

I do look forward at Christmas to spending time with family and friends, to good food and to a lesser and lesser degree, gifts.  I have chalked it up to the fact that Christmas is more for kids.  I think that when adults have children, it reignites an excitement for Christmas that may have dwindled as an adult.  I don't think it's bad to give gifts, but I have felt in the last two or three years that it might be better to make a donation to a charity of some sort, than to try to think up some gift for a family member, and usually complain about trying to figure out what to buy.  Then get it for them, and possibly have it returned.  What's the point?  It seems in the last few years that all anyone has wanted are gift cards.  And if you have six people drawing names to buy one gift, for one family member, and all anyone wants is a gift card....why not keep your money and buy yourself something?  Not to sound like a grump.  I don't feel grumpy about it, just more practical.

After having a discussion like this with my mom, we decided that instead of buying a gift that we would make a family donation to a worthy cause.  I am not saying this to brag, but I really do think that giving in this way is a great way to bless someone who doesn't have the means to buy gifts or even food for their family.  After throwing around a few ideas of charities to give to (there are so many good and worthy ones!) we have decided to give to the Food Bank.  We settled on it because we heard that Potash Corp is matching donations until December 31st, so we figure if we give, our gift will be doubled, which seemed like a great idea.

I challenge you, the few that read this, to buy one less gift and donate that money to a worthy cause.  It might not seem like much, but you might make a huge difference in someone's life.

Snow Blower

I got an early Christmas present this weekend.  That's right, we are the proud owners of a new snow blower!  I am a little bit intimidated by it, however, I am sure when I don't have to spend four hours out shoveling the next time we have a blizzard, I will be especially thankful for it.  I feel like I might be a little bit embarrassed being out there snow blowing while the neighbours are struggling to shovel.  But I think it will be a good thing in the years to come.  

Super Mario Hat

I just finished the knitted gift for my younger nephew, Will.  I had decided to make him a hat for Christmas.  At first I had thought of doing Pokemon, but the patterns aren't quite as plentiful as the Mario ones.  So I decided to go this route.  I am still a little undecided about the pompom, so I have decided to let Will choose. I attached it loosely, and if he doesn't want it I can take it off.  If he does I will attach it more securely.  It was fun to do, and I hope he enjoys it :)

Gryffindor Scarf

I finished the scarf that will be a Christmas present for my nephew James.  I am pleased with the way it turned out and I think the colours are quite nice.  According to what I have read, the official colours of Gryffindor are scarlet and gold, so I tried to find yarn in those colours.  I ended up using Vanna's Choice yarn in Cranberry and Mustard (sounds delicious, I know! haha).  I used this pattern as a general guide for the number of rows between stripes and sort of did my own thing beyond that.  This was my first time making fringe, and it was quite simple.  I am also planning to give James a Harry Potter DS game, and maybe write him a note saying that wearing the scarf will help him to defeat Voldemort....we'll see though, haha.

Our very first gingerbread house

Here is a mish-mash of photos of the gingerbread house we made this year. It was our first time doing it, and other than a couple of mishaps while baking the pieces it was a lot of fun. I don't really consider myself to be very creative, so I was impressed with my demonstration of creativity in the creation of the campfire I made out of pretzel sticks and red and orange jujubes.

I was also impressed with my snowman made out of mini marshmallows. I had watched a tutorial online of how to make snowmen out of the big marshmallows but figured that would be WAY too disproportionate for the house. So I stuck together some marshmallows with icing, then remembered I have gel icing dyes in the cupboard so I used the brown dye, with a toothpick to draw on his eyes, mouth and buttons. I then skewered his middle section with another toothpick to make him some arms. I then thought of the idea to use the orange dye to dye the tip of another toothpick orange to use as a nose for him. When he was done I thought he was awfully cute, but still needed a hat. I looked through our inventory of jujubes, pretzels and other candy to see if I could make him a suitable top hat. There really wasn't anything suitable, so I grabbed a green gumdrop and started squeezing and twisting it until the top popped off and I said, "hey, a green beret for the snowman!" So I glued it on his head, and then had the great idea to use one of the candy balls to make a green pompom for his beret. I love that little guy :)

Jay let his creativity shine through with the idea to build a bench out of pretzel sticks. It was a little bit trying at times for him, and his paralyzed fingers, but with the goopy royal icing glue it came together eventually. I think the teddy grahams were a fun idea for inhabitants of our gingerbread house, and I love the two little ones sitting on the pretzel bench.

I posted up some pictures on Facebook and my cousin suggested that there should have been a patio swing in the patio. We are already starting to think of what we could do next year!

Festive house

Thankfully the dog hasn't eaten the tree yet, but she does like to lay under the tree and chew on her toys. We finally found an adequate artificial tree this year.

Last year we picked up a few strings of LEDs on clearance on Boxing Day and were trying to figure out where to hang them. I thought it might be nice to put some in the kitchen to make it more festive. I think it turned out well. :)

The Decapitation of Lisa Simpson

Last year we got a set of Christmas ornaments of the Simpsons. Each of them is either skating or riding on a sled. I dropped Lisa when I was hanging her on the tree and her head snapped off. I asked Jay if I could just hang her head and he figured that might be a little bit creepy. We will try to glue her back together...

We decorated for Christmas today. Another step in the direction toward feeling ready for the big day. It is less than a month away now. I bought a couple more Christmas presents today which leaves only two more gifts to buy. One for my mom (Jay drew her name in the family draw, and she hasn't given us any ideas yet) and a $10 for our extended family gift exchange on Christmas day. A week ago I would say I was only about half done shopping, so it has been a productive shopping week.

I think our tree looks beautiful. It glows so beautifully with 300 non-LED mini lights. I am all for saving power using LEDs, but I like our mini lights. I always enjoy decorating the tree. Our ornaments are a collection of new and old. I would say that some of my favorites include a pasta angel I made in elementary school, dough ornaments that Jay's mom has gotten us each year since we got engaged, a little sparkly bird that sits on the branch, and new this year, a pickle. Some other Christmas decorations of ours that I really like are my awesome tree skirt that Karen made for us, our nativity scene (last year thoughout the weeks leading up to Christmas the three wisemen travelled around our living room making their way to meet baby Jesus, this year Kiwi would probably eat them so they will just stay with the set), my Mrs. Clause clothes line, and our snow globe we got last year as a house warming gift. Anyone have any special, unique Christmas decorations that they love? This year I also hung up lights along the top of our kitchen cabinets. Our house definitely feels very festive.

This is our first Christmas with Kiwi. She has done surprisingly well with the tree and everything, but I have a feeling it will be a frustrating month and we will be glad to undecorate when the new year rolls around. She ate some blue tinsel stuff that came off of our garland that we wrap around our railing so I imagine she'll be pooping that out by tomorrow :P

Oh and I have to tell you about my great big disappointment. We were planning to bbq home made burgers tonight since it was so nice out today. I usually take out a package of ground beef the night before and we leave it out overnight to thaw then put it in the fridge in the morning. I forgot to take it out until just before bed last night. This morning I put it in the fridge and thought nothing of it until Jay started mincing onion to put in the burgers and I got the package out and saw that it didn't say 'grd beef' on it, it said 'stew beef'. I was SO looking forward to not only Jay's awesome home made burgers, but bbqed....*sigh* We ended up taking out premade frozen hamburger patties and had those instead. They were okay, but not as good as Jay's home made. I guess we are going to have crock pot stew on Monday. And like I just said to Jay, since we don't have leftover burgers from supper I guess we will have to go out for lunch tomorrow after Church....ha.