Sleep Update

So napping continues to be a disaster....Little Guy's sleep habits perplex even the professionals.  In an effort to find something that works, we're switching to a longer awake time before his nap.  We initially thought the long wake time was the problem, but it may have just needed to be slightly tweaked.  I'll put our nap plan into action starting tomorrow-we're planning on doing whatever it takes today to get a good nap in to prepare for our NYE celebration.  Here's to 2013 and learning how to nap!

Marine World Africa USA...or Six Flags

We decided to get our season pass photos for Six Flags on our way home from the Bay Area.  It ended up being a great decision since there was next to no one at the park and the we were second in line for photos.  It also ended up being FREEZING and I am sure people were loving my capri leggings with Uggs and winter jacket outfit I was sporting...fashion disaster aside, we took a quick run through the park searching for churros (never found one!) and hitting up the snow hill.  We can't wait until the park is open and in full swing this spring.  Marine World Africa USA, here we come!

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful two day Christmas celebration.  We started with a Christmas Eve brunch at our house with Grandma and Grandpa DeTar and Uncle Sam.  We followed it up with some stockings and gifts that afternoon in Dixon and then concluded our Christmas Eve with an Emigh Christmas celebration.  We only see Daddy's extended extended family once a year, so it's always nice to check in with everyone and for them to see how much Little Guy has grown.  After that we hurried home to get ready for Santa...Santa delivered a giant bean bag for Little Guy and a new bike for Daddy.  It was so much fun watching Little Guy open his gifts.  Daddy surprised him with some truck and trailer toys that even came with their own cattle!  After a nice relaxing morning, we headed to GG's and Papa's for more stockings, presents, prime rib, and fun!  We were all spoiled again and went to bed with full tummies and happy hearts.  The final celebration was a yummy breakfast the next morning with Great Grandma and Grandpa Fitz!  Phew, this was one Christmas to remember...we can't believe next year there will be another stocking hung in our house!!!

Candy Cane Lane

We finally hit up Candy Cane Lane tonight!  We decided to make the most of the night since Little Guy didn't need to be in bed until 7:00 and hit up Hisui for a little hibachi before hand.  Little Guy couldn't get enough of the tofu soup, ginger toppings, SUSHI, and fried rice!  He wasn't as enthusiastic about the hot flames right in front of him, but he was entertained with all the people and therefore a great dinner partner.  After dinner we hit up the lights.  I am not sure what was more exciting, the lights or the fact he got to ride in the front seat with me...standing up...on the seat...with no seat belt!  We parked at the last house and enjoyed the bell band ( I am pretty sure I need to be in one of these, they're awesome!) and strolled through the lit up yard.  I love the holidays with my boys!

Day One...Oh Help Us.

Today we officially started "sleep training"- I hate referring to it as training, but we are working on reprogramming Little Guy's schedule so he'll get a nap and sleep through the night...both mommy and baby need all the sleep they can get.  I have a feeling it's going to be a long road, but hopefully one that will end in the Land of Peaceful Sleeps and Happy Babies! 

Ice Cream Date

I had a little ice cream date with this cute fella today!  He loves to share Mommy's Rocky Road, but he won't eat the nuts.  He keeps the nuts in his cheek and then spits them out all at once- it's actually pretty impressive!  I thought we'd get away with just an ice cream treat, but he spotted the ride on toys, so we spent a little time running around there.  It felt like it was five degrees below freezing, but Little Guy had a great time climbing and running around.  I wonder how long it will be before he isn't satisfied with just sitting in the cars...I better start saving my quarters.

Milk...

it does a body good!  We have finally found a way to get Little Guy on board with milk...a little chocolate syrup and a quick pop in the microwave!  We discovered he actually liked chocolate milk on day at lunch, but in an effort to keep the sugar count down, our doctor suggested a small squirt of chocolate just to taste, and sure enough, he can't get enough!  He loves his "hot chocolate" first thing in the morning and then he's content with straight milk the rest of the day!  It's such a relief to have him drinking this yummy goodness and it is pretty gosh darn precious when he helps me whip up his drink each morning!

First Annual Fitzsimmons Family Soiree

We decided that with the family growing through marriages and births, we needed an alternative to the tradition of Christmas Eve.  There were too many of us who weren't able to make it and therefore missing out on seeing everyone.  I decided to host the first annual Fitzsimmons Family Soiree, and with around 40 guests, it was a crowd-pleasing good time!  We had meat, LOTS of meat, a potluck of sides, gifts to share, and a special visit from Santa complete with family caroling and keyboarding by Evan and Riley.  Here are some photos from the night:

The four pregnant ladies with Santa...babies coming in March, May, and two in July!

Little Guy was all about Santa as long as Daddy was holding him.

I am not sure who has the bigger belly....

The two who started it all :)

ALL DAY LONG

Daddy was home ALL DAY LONG, minus the Christmas shopping break he took where he came back with all his gifts beautifully gift wrapped ( I am stumped as to where he did his shopping, I need to hit that store up next year!), and it was WONDERFUL!  Little Guy loved all the play time and I loved all the help I got preparing for our party.  I think Daddy should stay home EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY, FUN!

Something New Every Day

It seems like everyday Little Guy is learning something new or doing something crazy that I never thought he'd be big enough for (like getting on top of the back of the couch...)!  I am trying to remember all these milestones, but it gets tough to keep everything straight :)  Here's a little recap of what he's up to now:

Little Guy LOVES trucks, 'ucks as he calls them, and will point, shout, scream every time he sees one.

Little Guy also loves his shoes, 'noos as he calls them, and can be convinced to do almost anything with the promise of putting on his shoes.  He also prefers if everyone around him is wearing their shoes, and if you aren't, he'll be sure to bring them to you over and over again until you do wear them.

He's counting one, two...we can't get him to say three, but he loves when you say three and then he "jumps" off things.

He can climb up onto the couch, unaided, and then face plants into the pillows while trying to catch his breath from laughing so hard...I am waiting for this to result in a split lip.

His two best pals are Olive and Winston and he makes sure they stay close by by always giving them treats, dog treats or his treats, all.day.long.

Under the Weather

Well, we were up and at 'em today but Daddy was under the weather.  He laid around the house all day, trying to fight off whatever it is that's plaguing him...at one point he thought it was strep throat, but once I read him the symptoms, he realized it's probably just a cold.  Anyways, after a fun music group and a quick stop at CVS, we were home and ready to care for Daddy.  Let's hope he's better for the big family party this weekend- and all the prep work that goes in before hand!

Already...or Still

Today was a rough day...I've come to realize that as a mommy (and a pregnant one at that), you just have to be okay with the fact that not every day is going to be amazing and wonderful...That's not to say that I don't feel blessed everyday that I get to hang out with the most amazing little fella ever, but sometimes it's just hard to find motivation to do much more than play around the house.  So today when Daddy came home at 5 o'clock and remarked, "In our pjs already?", I replied, "You could say already, or still...".  Yeah, we never got dressed, but I think it was what we needed...Tomorrow we'll be up and at 'em at music group!

Clean and Wet

Today our carpets got all cleaned and fresh for the family party we're hosting on Sunday.  I LOVE how GREAT the carpet looks right after it's cleaned, like it has never before been walked on...and then you set foot on it and it's right back to the trampled/loved look you had hours earlier.  Anyways, since we had to let the carpets dry, we hit up the park before playgroup...problem was that while I was so excited it wasn't raining, I failed to think about the fact it was foggy and overcast and therefore, ALL the play structures were soaking wet.  Little Guy still had a blast and Alyssa came to our rescue with a fresh pair of pants at playgroup.

ultrasound

I had a doctor's appointment for an issue unrelated to pregnancy today, but the doctor subbing in was SO AWESOME and did an ultrasound just so we could check in on our little babe.  Daddy wasn't with me, so I taped a bit of the heartbeat.  It's a profile shot (no, there's no gender to be seen), the head is on the left of the screen.  The flickering light in the middle is the heartbeat! Everything is looking perfect, I am still in awe when I compare the 6 week ultrasound to the 10 week ultrasound and can see a spine, face, and body now when there was just a white dot there only 4 weeks earlier...baby growing is CRAZY!!

Finished!

Daddy spent the day cheering on his Miami Dolphins (when will he ever learn?!?), so Little Guy and I hit the stores EARLY to get all our Christmas shopping D.O.N.E!!!!  It was so nice to be almost the only person in a store- we were done with six stores, a Starbucks run, and a play break by 10:45, one point for us! 

My Little Lion

We hit up the Nut Tree today for an early morning play date with Noah and his mommy.  I love that Little Guy is big enough to get excited for things like rocking horses, birds, and giant giraffes.  It was also the first time he figured out the animal cut-outs.  He loves anything he can walk behind and say "bye-bye" before reappearing on the other side...this was a definite highlight to his day.

Sleeping Prince

Well I am happy to report that our bedtime sleep 101 has worked!  Little Guy is doing such an awesome job with his bedtime- we read a few stories, share some snuggles, give kisses, and then he's done.  He lets us know he misses us with about three minutes of whimpers and then it's hello dreamland and we don't hear from him again until morning...and yes, it is an early morning wake up call (5:30), but there's no calls in between.  We're so proud of him and he loves the praises and high fives he gets each morning!  Now if only this sleep success could transfer to nap time...One thing at a time momma, I need to take each victory for all it's worth!

Conservationalist of the Year

We are so proud of our Daddy!  Tonight he got honored, along with his dad and brother, as Conservationalist of the Year.  Their company was recognized at a local dinner and although we didn't get to see it in person, Daddy looked quite stylish in all his fancy cowboy gear.  Way to go Daddy, we love you!

Garage door woes

A quick sleep update-  Little Guy did great through the night, never needing either of us to soothe him when he woke up AND he slept until 6:50, a far cry from the 5 AM wake up call we had gotten so used to!  That was a wonderful way to kick off a Tuesday...nap time was a repeat of yesterday, but with no shoulder nap, just snuggle time after an unsuccessful attempt at napping in the crib.  The real highlight of the day came when we left to meet Grandma Patty for dinner and I forgot to move the fan off the top shelf...this is the result:

I parked my car horizontally to try to block off the view since it wasn't getting fixed today.  When I called Gabe to tell him about it, he assured me it would fine, nothing to worry about...well, once he got home, he realized that maybe it was a little out of our scope of fixing abilities...looks like I'll be spending tomorrow with the garage door repair man.

Sleep 101

We started it today...back to basics with sleep.  Little Guy went back into his crib and we decided there was no time like the present for him to start learning how to self soothe.  It was a rough go at nap time, in fact he napped zero minutes in his crib and promptly feel sleep on my shoulder when nap time was over, but he did fall asleep for bed time.  It may have taken a little longer than I was hoping for, but I think we're both ready (me and Little Guy that is, Daddy's been ready for ages) for Little to learn these sleeping skills and be able to practice them.  With this new baby on the way, we want to make sure Little Guy is settled into his routine long before we throw a screaming baby into the mix.  Here's to sleep 101, hopefully it's not as rough as I envision.

He's Still Got It

Daddy just can't get enough of the domestic life.  After spending most of the yesterday just Daddy and Little Guy while I was at the craft fair, Daddy was feeling pretty deserving of his Mr. Martha Stewart title.  Since it was scheduled to storm ALL day, Daddy decided to hit the store early and cook us both lunch and dinner...they turned out great, but after three rounds of dishes and cleaning the kitchen, he says he's over cooking for awhile.  Looks like someone is happy to be returning to work tomorrow morning.

Santa

Today Heather and I had our second craft fair and there was an extra special visitor, SANTA!  Daddy brought Little Guy out to meet him, and I have to be honest, I was hoping for a full melt down photo...Well, I got my meltdown photo, not so much because of Santa, but because Little Guy only wanted his Daddy and if Daddy couldn't hold him, then he wasn't happy.  Either way, the photo will be a classic for years to come!