The Whirlwind Continues

Holy smokes this month has been out of control. It feels like..no strike that...it has been crazy. No joke we have been on the run every night. Mom came by the house shortly after she landed from AZ Saturday night, as we were visiting we realized that Saturday the 17th was the first weekend evening we didn't have something on the calendar since the week before Thanksgiving and available until the New Year. NUTS I say, nuts!

A recap of the last few days...A Christmas Carol at the ACT with lil' Laura.

The most hilarious ugly sweater party at the Holt's.

The Seattle Symphony preforming the Messiah at Benaroya,

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Nineteen Months

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And On His Farm

He had some chickens...

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Snowflake Lane

A fun holiday evening with the Gillen's. Dinner at Maggiano's and Bellevue's Snowflake Lane. With a Polar Bear, Nutcracker Mouse, Penguin, Snow Prince and Princess and Toy Soldiers roaming the sidewalk little boy was in high five and huggin' Heaven.

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18 Month Check Up

Sweet little boy is right on track developmentally and growing like a weed. Hooray!

Wt: 30.8 (90%)
Ht: 34 1/2" (90%)
Hc: 19" (65%)

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Just the Ticket!

I think I may have found my golden ticket answer for more and frequent blog postings! Hooray for the iPhone and all it's 438,902,321 apps available. Tonight while standing in the WalMart checkout line I downloaded the PicFrame app to coincide with my existing Instgram app.

Kid you not, in less time that it takes to go to the bathroom, I created this....
Oh I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Look out blog and facebook world, this kid is about to blow things up. :)

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A Fun Birthday Surprise!

Today is my 35th birthday. Crazy! Seriously I don't see how it's possible. Thirty five sounds so grown up and I sure as heck don't feel all grown up yet.

I took the day off to play today and run some fun errands. Baby sale, trip to Nordstrom, and a trip to H&M to find the perfect fall sweater for the baby. I didn't have super great luck at Nordstrom my first round in, but on my second trip back (on the way to the car) I scored and received one of the best birthday surprises yet.

I spied with my little eye a photobooth prop...a very familiar looking prop. In an instant I knew where it had come from before finding the other props used in the photo strip.

Who would've thunk it?! If someone would have told me ten years ago (when I was making the daily trip up those Nordstrom store steps to clock into my Loss Prevention job) that my work would be displayed not only in those same Nordstrom store windows but the Nordstrom stores *nation wide* I would have fallen out of my seat.

After the shock wore of a bit I headed upstairs and met with the Visual/Display manager to ask if I might be able to score those life size photo strips once the display to changed. Sadly, he wasn't too confident that he would get the clearance from the photographer due to copyright and legal but he did say he would give it a shot and ask and If South Center doesn't work... there's still five more local stores to ask. :)

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Silly Little Squirrel

This silly little nut and his sweet personality just keeps cuter by the day.

He's starting to grasp the ABC song and this afternoon he was on a roll. He was all about the 'l-m-n-p's". That sound more like "loo-mu-nop". Lil' dud cracked me up while he was signing in the car ride home, while sitting in his little chair, and while eating dinner. Along with his cute high pitch song there were orchestrated conducting motions to accompany. I tried so hard to grab it on video, but the boy caught me each time and wanted to watch videos not make new ones.The perfect Sunday morning outfit. Mom's swimsuit as a cape, the must have Fireman hat (Hudson LOVES LOVES his fireman hat) and one good ol' Fisher Price popper.

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This Little Boy Melts My Heart

As I'm slowing down, I'm starting to realize how fast our little one is growing and changing by the day. Without a doubt this is my favorite on his seasons yet. We are so very blessed. Some of the things that melt my heart the most now are...

The way he helps when putting on his clothes.
The way he smile, waves and says 'hi' in his sweet happy voice to everything he see when I lift him out of the crib each morning.
The way he signs and says 'more' when Daddy finishes "The Itsy Bittsy Spider".
Last week everything round was a ball, from light bulbs to buttons. This week round shaped items around the house are now 'circles'.
The way goes through each and every one of his books one by one while sitting in his special chair.
How he gets so excited to see a school bus pass by and says "buses go fasssst."
How he sweetly says 'hi' and 'bye' while waving to everyone and anyone he sees.

How precious our little one is.

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Pumpkin Patch x2

Last week the weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. We had hoped to hit the pumpkin patch during the weekend but the rain kept us inside. So when the sun came back out during the week, we hit the Thomasson farm not once, but two days in a row. Little boy couldn't get enough of all the fun activities. Tractor hay rides (his favorite), the petting farm with pigs, goats, puppies, kitties, bunnies, baby calves, a donkey and miniature horse. And the OK kids coral with slides, bubbles, wagons and more.

Hooray for the gorgeous fall we've had so far.

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A New Fall Season

Twenty three drafts Saved. Twenty three posts I started, and then...well....there they sit still as drafts. Ack I say!

I would love to think that one day/week/month I'll still down and fill in the blanks, but chances are it might not happen, and I'm going to beat myself...too much.

My To-Do lists have To-Do lists on them and I've have a heck of time a keeping up and slowing down. But last the few weeks I've ever so slightly been making small changes and trying to be more present in the moment and trying to let go of what I should have done last week and what I need to do next week. I've joked to a few friends that October is my 'New Year' and I'm ready to hit the ground running. Maybe it's the change in the season, my 35th b'day a few weeks away or crazy fact that another year is almost over, but I'm running with it, with hopes of keeping up.

A few of my favorites from the last few months...(in case I don't publish all twenty three of the draft posts). :)

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Saturday Morning Fun Time

Baby's two favorite things this Saturday morning - practicing his new walking skills and playing with his baseball. Love this little guy, love him!

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Eleven Months?! Whaaat?!

Eleven months. Eleven?! How can that be?! Crazy I tell ya, crazy.

Little dude has been on a roll the last few weeks. It feels like we're watching him change before our eyes each and everyday.

Last week he officially started walking. Gone are the long 'free stands' in the middle of the family room, over his Fisher Price barnyard (holding his beloved pig), and beside the kitchen table chairs. Now it's full blown roaming. Jack made the comment a few days ago that it's crazy to see actual walking around the kitchen like it's no big deal. True story.

There have been lots and lots of 'uh ohs'. Lots and lots. It's so gosh darn cute because he's actually using it in context. When he drops is sippy cup from the high chair, when he sees me dropping something while wrangling him up, and when he drops his lamb over the side of the crib. Silly little monkey.

We still are seeing the adorable scrunchy face. I think he know what a rise it gets out of us so he's been hamming it up - and I love it.

I had to make clothes run last week. It seemed like over night he grew out of his 12 mo. gear. His poor pants were too short and his little belly was starting to show in his shirts and tee. I think it's safe to say he has officially moved onto the 18 month wears.

We battled out first ear infection and sinus infection. Boo. Poor little one had to miss three days of school with a fever, running nose and case of the major crankies. First round of antibiotics didn't do the trick so had to bump it up and run with a second higher dose.

His favorite toy the last few weeks has been his barnyard. He loves opening and closing the stalls, putting the animals back in their pins, and dropping the turkey down the silo.

Books have become biggies around the house and at school too. It's so cute to watch him sit down with a pile of specially picked out favs (his picks) and methodically flip through the pages.

Crazy to how fast our little buckaroo is going up.

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Peas and Carrots

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Hooray for Dear Sweet Husband

Have I mentioned recently that I think my hubby is pretty fly? Today, Jack blew me away (again) with his creative mad skill and busted out some amazing goodies to add to my arsenal of Little Retreats' bag o' fun.

The more exposure my shop has been getting from around the World (the World if you can believe it!) the more have been receiving requests from fine blogs, web sites, etc. for web Little Retreat buttons, badges and banners to post and link on their sites. Sadly, I've had turn turn most of them down because I just didn't have the time (or the skills) to whip something suitable together.

But as of today I can reply with a big ol' 'Take your pick, I've got a half dozen to choose from!'

Jack took my existing Etsy banner and a few photos from a happy customer and turned these bad boys out....Thank you honey, they're PERFECT!

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Sweet 'Lil Babes

Hudson and his friend Kate, (aka girlfriend, if the rumors are true).
Taken at school sometime last week by one of his teachers.

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Woohoo - Bust Out the Employee Badge

Little Retreats' has a new part-time worker bee. Complete with a real deal schedule and everything! :)

I'm so very excited and thrilled Laura will be helping me ten hours (2 days/week). After her first two days on the job I'm wishing I could have her each and everyday. Seriously.

This January was the busiest month I've seen yet. At this pace I can only imagine how busy the upcoming wedding season will be. My guess is crazy...? Just might have to add to the party and bring a few more peeps on board to help.

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Today at School...

Hudson was living high on the hog in his highchair.

Breakfast - Egg yolks, hash browns, peaches

AM Snack - Crackers, water

Lunch - Meatloaf, potatoes, green beans

PM Snack - Raisin English muffin with cream cheese, water

I burst out laughing the first time I read his daily report of 'What I ate today'. And now I'm considering framing today's daily report for the desk. Meatloaf AND rasisin English muffin?! Lucky dude.

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Winter Fun

Yesterday, Katya and I spent the day playing in the snow at Crystal Mountain. It had been ages since I was on a pair of skies and it was sooo fun to get back into the groove.

The conditions weren't the greatest, icy in the morning and snow/rain mix in the the afternoon, but no complaints at all, it was absolutely wonderful day.

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