how to entertain mom

we're trying to catch up on a few things around the house today, but that doesn't mean there isn't fun to be had. and sam knows how to keep mom giggling -- with a rousing game of peek!

many thanks

there are so many things i am thankful for: my fabulous family (including all the ones that i acquired when i married mike), a house that i'm so happy to come home to, a job where i work with some of the nicest people i know, and the chance to spend a holiday eating delicious food with some of that wonderful family, are just a few of the leaves on my "thankfulness tree."
thanks to missy for the gift of the tree. i hope to make it a tradition to fill it up with leaves each year. what a great reminder to think about all the blessings i/we have received.
tomorrow we're off to columbus to visit mike's family, and extending this first thanksgiving for the boy (the biggest blessing of all).
incidentally, i was hoping to get everyone on my christmas list this boy-in-a-box. it's the coolest thing ever. but unfortunately, i haven't found another one quite like this one, and i'm just not ready to part with mine.

ps - sammy is thankful for puffs and pie and a box to play in.

sorting and stacks

i'm trying to do a bit of clearing the decks around here. sorting through old papers, clothes, and whatnot, i stumbled on my stack of anthropologie catalogs. i always find them so inspiring, it's hard to let go of them, even though i know i should. maybe i could just cut out the parts that i like most and put them in a binder or something. now if only i could get sam to do this more often...

...i might actually complete some of these grand plans.

i've got that joy, joy, joy, joy...

i know it's a bit early (yes, i'm aware that we are still days away from thanksgiving), but production has chosen our christmas card design and i was just too excited to keep it to myself.

it's a bit simpler than last year, the wreath is made from boughs that are photographed books (good for a publishing house). now if only we could get the word people kick-started, i could start the assembly line...

O-H-oh no!

they let michigan score a touchdown??!!

baby -> big kid

i know you've all been waiting on the edge of your seats for those 9 month stats. well, wait no longer. here they are, the all-important numbers:

weight: 19.2lbs -- 26th percentile

height: 29 inches -- 71st percentile (it should be said that this is essentially half my height. scary.)

this boy is already long and lean, which means it's hard to find pants that cover those long legs and still fit his little middle.
i know they don't measure cuteness or awesomeness, but i bet he'd be in the 100th percentile for both. (yeah. i know. i'm biased.)

dear santa,

i know you're busy working on getting that rose bowl win for mike (go buckeyes!), but i'd super enjoy getting one of these in my stocking. and some film. please.

in reality, i most likely couldn't afford to keep restocking the film (because we all know i'd go broke snapping shots of sammy like he was about to disappear tomorrow). but it's fun to think about.

9 months old

sam has officially made it to the 9-month mark with only minor bumps and bruises. this is a very good thing, because i believe his warranty has already expired. 

things i love about this 9 month old:

• he likes to dance, and i like watching him shake his boo-tay
  
• given the opportunity, he will sit and look through books, and is generally pretty careful with them (i only let him handle his own books though)
  
• when he needs something (food, picking up), he says "muh muh muh" - i like to pretend he's saying mama
  
• he looks angelic when he's sleeping, even though i know he probably had a hissy getting to sleep
  
• he lets me shower kisses down on him (especially his fuzzy, little head) and is usually content to give me a hug or two (if he's not too busy)
  
• raspberries on his neck crack him up
  
• so does my singing
  
• he just gets more fun and awesome every day

new things he can do:

• signal for more finger foods by gesturing
  
• cruise around the furniture
  
• climb stairs (not encouraged)
  
• understand "no" (but sometimes laughs and does it anyway)
  
• drop things and look to see where they fall (and get confused when i catch whatever it is before it hits the floor)
  
• and probably a ton of other stuff i'm forgetting
  

his well visit is on the 20th, so stay tuned for the stats!

i'm not a spinner, but...

...when i saw this book at the local library, i just had to pick it up. there's something so very intriguing about the yarn in these photos. i'm not sure that all the outcomes are quite my style, or something that i'd wear, but looking at the photos and reading the various ideas was rather inspiring. i also kind of keen on this post, and am wondering if i could make something like that.

feeding the chewing impaired

armed with this recipe, this book, and a fridge full of leftover veggies, i set out tonight to make my own butternut soup experiment (fun!) i think it turned out pretty well. about as good as the vegetarian version of the soup we had at missy's while we were in mississippi (maybe). i'm not sure i'm quite as good a chef as my sister, but one can always hope.

here's what i did, if you're feeling so inclined:

• in a pan lined with foil and squirted with a bit of with cooking spray (i love olive oil pam), roast one butternut squash (cubed), one small zucchini (cubed), about 6-8 oz mushrooms (cut in chunks), one small green pepper (cut in small pieces), at 475 degrees until soft
  
• while that's roasting, heat your soup pot of choice, spray with pam, and cook up your onion (one medium) and garlic (about one clove)
  
• add your roasted squash (be sure to test a few yummy pieces, but not too many)
  
• add one can of vegetable stock (or homemade if you have it - i do not)
  
• use your blender to give it whirl so it's thick and delicious looking
  
• add a little water if you want it thinner (i added about a cup or so)
  
• toss in the rest of your roasted veggies
  
• add salt and pepper to taste
  
• enjoy!

this soup might have benefitted from some herbs or whatnot, but it was really just what i was hungry for as it was. plus, it was the perfect fall dinner for my currently less-than-stellar dental situation.

feel free to experiment and let me know how it turns out.

ps - sammy had some of the butternut part with his dinner and thought it was quite yummy. he did, however, request that he get some saltines to eat with it.

taking it slow

i had some dental surgery done yesterday, so haven't quite been feeling 100% (even when i pop one of those "happy pills"). as a result, we're taking it a bit slow around here today. which means the boy and i are still running around in pjs -- even post-lunchtime.

q:

q: how cool is this? a: very much so

maybe in my next life i'll be witty and think up great halloween costumes. and have time to execute them. and go to parties where people can admire my cleverness.

found via.