Day Three: Victorian Holiday Village

Day 3 of the 12 Days of the Reeders' Christmas...

For years, I've seen this adorable miniature village covered in lights right down the road from us. I knew you could walk around to look at it, but never really checked it out. Upon some investigation this year, I discovered that they have a free little event for children a few select days in December. We took the kids after dinner one night and they had a blast! Brooke and Joe loved peeking in the windows of the cute little houses. They passed out hot chocolate and cookies, had balloon animals, an opportunity to visit Santa (which we skipped because of a killer line), and a little train ride (which we skipped because Joe was throwing an epic tantrum because he didn't like the candy cane balloon animal that he asked for so we had to leave.) Despite a less-than-stellar ending, it was fun!

Day Two: St. Nick's Visit

Day 2 of the 12 Days of the Reeders' Christmas...

St. Nick visited our house last weekend! We watched the Veggie Tales St. Nicholas movie the day before to remind the kids (and Daddy!) of the meaning behind the night. By the time the evening came, they were super eager to put their shoes by the fireplace. Although he's not quite wearing shoes yet, we found a shoe for Jack to use, too. By the time the morning rolled around, Joe & Brooke were beside themselves with anticipation. St. Nick left them the usual: candy filling their shoe, an orange, & a few holiday books/movies/CDs to share. It was a very exciting morning for everybody :)

Jack's hair is just the absolute best. #tallhairdontcare

12 Days of the Reeders' Christmas

This year, I'm going to share some of our favorite holiday happenings/traditions as they happen rather than waiting until after Christmas (and then not actually finding the time to do it before March, let's be honest.) While these aren't necessarily happening same-day, they are some of the fun things we've done with the kids this holiday season!

Day One: Decorating the Tree

Pulling out the Christmas tree is the official start to the season, if you ask me. This was something my family always did a week or 2 before Thanksgiving (when you have 6 trees, you kinda have to get a jump start!) I'm always very eager to get ours up mid-November, but this year it had to wait. We did some painting & redecorating the week of Thanksgiving, taking advantage of the husband's vacation days, so the tree had to wait. It finally went up the weekend after Thanksgiving & the big kids could not have been more excited! Brooke & Joe both have quite a collection of ornaments already that they are so proud of. They excitedly hung each one in a special spot, all of which were on the bottom 1/3 of the tree (and all of Joe's were on the same 2 branches.) Jack has 1 ornament so far and helped Daddy hang it, gazing at all the shining lights, completely clueless as to what was going on. Once they were all done and in bed, Mom & Dad put up our ornaments and rearranged their work a little bit. We all absolutely love how it turned out!

(Jack is getting a bucket to catch all of his drool for Christmas...)

Month seven.

Dear Jack,

So many exciting things have happened this month! You are officially on the move! You crawled for the very first time a couple of days ago. You've been scooting backwards for a while now, but never could go forward to get where you wanted to be. Then you started rocking up on your hands and knees, but any attempt to move forward resulted in a belly flop. Finally this week, you've discovered that picking up those hands and knees helps you actually move. While you haven't really taken off just yet, we imagine you'll be crawling across the room in no time (time to re-baby-proof!) The other exciting and helpful trick you've learned is how to sit yourself up from your back or belly. This discovery forced us to lower your crib mattress - a tell-tale sign that you're not our little baby anymore! You're also drinking from a sippy cup now, which means you're even closer to toddlerhood. And finally, you have teeth! Hooray! Your first 2 little teeth finally popped through this week. Your gums are super swollen & your drooling is incessant, so we're sure a couple more are on the way! Here are a few of the things you're into (and not) these days:

Favorites
Eating - Boy, do you love to eat! You get so excited (borderline impatient) when we put you in your high chair. You get downright giddy if you see the Puffs container! You stare us down and get grumpy if we're eating without you. Much to our delight, you've mastered the pincer grasp and can feed yourself now. This is hugely helpful, as we can give you little bites to snack on while we get your cereal/purees ready. You have never turned down a meal, big man!
Carbs - You've yet to meet a carb you didn't like. Your favorites seem to be plain pancakes and waffles (just wait until you can dip them in syrup!) You love to chew on a pretzel rod. You've also had & enjoyed your first bites of Skyline crackers :)
Standing - You love love love to stand. You'd stand night & day if we'd let you. The problem is you're not quite steady on your feet, so we can't let you do it unless we're right next to you. You'll likely be pulling yourself up to a stand all on your own within the month.
Clapping - You think it's funny when people clap. Though you haven't mastered it yourself just yet, you like to grab Mommy's hands and help me clap.
Playing Peek-a-Book - This is still a favorite of yours, only now you like to join in the fun. If we put a burp cloth or towel over your face, you love to pull it down & reveal yourself. You'll even grab for it and try to do it yourself. It's too cute!

Not-so-favorites
Strangers - This still hasn't changed - you still hate strangers. If someone tries to talk to you or get you to smile, they have about a 25% chance of success, a 25% chance of getting a blank stare, & a 50% chance of tears.
Avocados & Watermelon - You will gladly accept most of the fruit and veggie purees we've given you. And you're even starting to take to the chunks of them you've tried, like peaches, peas, and bananas (though you still haven't decided how you feel about bananas.) But the 2 that have been met with serious gagging and foul faces have been avocados and watermelon. Considering Mommy doesn't like either of these and didn't touch them once when I was pregnant with you, I'm not totally surprised. (They say a baby starts to develop his taste preferences in the womb, which means you're going to love ice cream and cereal!)
Getting out of the Bathtub - You have finally fallen in love with bath time. You have some monster truck bath toys that you like to chew on, but mostly you like to just make waves. You splash like crazy & are always so surprised when water splashes your face. Even though your teeth chatter every single time you bathe (no matter how warm the water is), you still love it. Until it's time to get out, that is. You get so angry when we take you out and wrap you up in your dinosaur towel. We try to get you dry and warm as fast as possible, but you still scream at us for being the Fun Police.

You're growing up so fast, Jack-Jack. We've had to seriously cut back on nursing because Mommy's milk supply is low (plus, you're too distracted!) We're down to nursing only 3 times a day, with a couple of bottles mixed in, too. You eat 3 meals a day on top of that, so that belly of yours is full! It's helping you sleep better. You're up & down a lot at the beginning of the night, but you usually fall into a deep sleep by 12 or 1 a.m. and sleep until 7 or 8 a.m. (or whenever your big siblings wake you up by being too loud.)

You are the absolute sweetest little boy. You smile when you see Mommy or Daddy across the room, which makes our hearts melt. You prefer to fall asleep up on our shoulder now, & you often wrap those chubby little arms around our neck. This is the best feeling in the world! We just love you to pieces, Fuzzy Wuzzy! (You can thank your very tall hair for this new nickname!)

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

What I'm really thankful for...

Family. Friends. Good health. A warm home. Fresh food.

Of course I'm thankful for all of those things. It goes without saying. But what am I really thankful for this year?

I'm thankful for Target. Oh, sweet Target. It's like a casino for me - I lose all track of time & money in there. It's nearly impossible for me to get out of there in less than an hour and spending less than $50. But I don't even care, because they just have ALL THE THINGS. Seriously, everything - things I need, things I didn't know I needed, things I don't need but you just never know when you might need them so you better grab them because they're in the Dollar Spot for crying out loud. All the things, you guys.

I'm thankful that my 4.5 year old loves to be a helper and rarely complains about it, especially when it comes to helping with the baby. It's so helpful to be able to say "Brooke, will you go talk to Jack?" when he gets fussy and buy myself a couple minutes to finish making lunch or folding laundry. She is eager to do jobs, too. Though she'd rather jump on a pile of Legos barefoot than clean up her own toys, she's more than willing to help dust or put away clean dishes or carry up clean laundry. Her 3 year old brother? Completely unwilling to help. So I'm quite grateful that I have at least one capable helper.

I'm thankful for Santa. There is no greater tool we have as parents than "You know who's going to be really disappointed that you're fighting with your sister/didn't clean up the play room/woke up the baby? Santa." The entire month of December. (And November, let's be honest.)

I'm thankful for my dishwasher. Sooo many kids' cups/bowls/plastic spoons. All day, every day.

I'm thankful for Skyline. It's so bloody nice to have a go-to spot where I know no one will complain and everyone will leave happy. And while it's not steamed vegetables and grilled chicken, the plain spaghetti noodles with shredded cheese that they eat aren't exactly killing their diets. Plus they have an amazing fountain Pepsi. And also, CRACKERS. Which reminds me of something else I'm thankful for...

I'm thankful for restaurants that provide free snacks while you wait for your food. If you've ever dined with us before, you know that I come prepared with an arsenal of things to help my children pass the time in a restaurant. The fruit and veggies we bring are gone within 39 seconds of sitting down, leaving only whatever coloring books we brought to entertain them. When your 3-year-old asks "When is our food gonna get here?" before you've even ordered, snacks are mega helpful. And delicious. (Slatt's biscuits, I'm looking at you.)

I'm thankful that 2 of my 3 tiny humans are potty trained. And that I have yet to buy a pack of diapers since Jack has been born because we did such a good job stocking up during sales while I was pregnant. Boom.

I'm thankful for babies that can feed themselves. Because this giant baby of mine loves him some Puffs and he can finally shove them into his own little mouth at the frighteningly quick speed he prefers.

I'm thankful for my mini van. The love runs deep, y'all. Honda Odyssey driver for life.

I'm thankful for Swiffer wet cloths because I haven't had to get down on my hands and knees to mop my floor in years.

I'm thankful that I had 2 very positive parent-teacher conferences this month. We must be doing something right.

I'm thankful that kids' socks are pretty cheap. Joe has an incredible ability to lose socks. Last night's load of laundry had five unmatched boy socks in it. Five.

I'm thankful for my husband. This has been a very tough 7 months with 3 little friends demanding so very much of me, more than I'm capable of giving at times. And I'm often overwhelmed and stressed out and tired (duh). He doesn't always (cough usually cough) come home to a pleasant wife because I am just so over that day. But he sticks by me and lifts me up and sometimes even kicks me out of the house to get a break. (By the way, can I get an amen for Girls' Night? So lovely and necessary.) We just passed 6.5 years of wedded bliss & I appreciate him more every day.

I'm thankful that Jack wraps his little arms around my neck for hugs. And that Joe tells me that I'm his best friend. And that Brooke loves to watch and copy everything I am doing. No matter how crazy things get and how tough our days are, these three really are the best.

Happy half birthday!

Dear Jack,

 

Happy half birthday to our sweet big boy! You are such a joy to be around, Buddy, always so happy and smiley. You have the most easy-going personality, bothered by very little. You sit up so well now, making play time a lot more fun for you. When you do topple over, you immediately flip to your belly and start turning in circles or scooting backwards. You are quite a busy little guy, always moving! In fact, you won't even stop moving for diaper changes; you wiggle all over the place! You've grown so big and strong that you are almost able to wiggle yourself away from us. You are currently 20 lbs 8 oz & 28.75 inches, putting you at the top of all the growth charts (yet surprisingly our smallest 6 month old - your sister was 3 lbs heavier at this age!) Here's what has been making you happy (and ever-so-rarely sad) lately:

 

Favorites

Puffs - You had your first puffs this month and it was love at first bite! You get so, so excited when we bring the puffs container over to you and promptly open your mouth. You quickly learned how to move it around in your mouth with your tongue and mash it up with your gums (you still have no teeth in there!)

Peek-a-boo - We love playing games with you, and peek-a-boo is your favorite. Your brother and sister are really good at this one. They love to see you smile and jump when they say "peek-a-boo!"

Plastic bags - You love the crinkly sound a plastic bag makes when you touch it. When you get your hands on one, you usually shake it around wildly to make lots of noise. You especially like to play with the little bag the wipes come in.

Daddy - You and Daddy are finally becoming buddies! He can feed you (meals & bottles), put you to sleep, and keep you happy for long periods of time. You two make great playmates, too. He can get you to laugh and babble better than anybody!

 

Not-so-favorites

Strangers - You burst into tears whenever anyone even slightly unfamiliar gets close to you. There is a very small group of people that you will go to these days, and everybody else gets big ol' crocodile tears out of you. Poor unsuspecting strangers will try to talk to you while we're out and about, and they always feel so bad when you start screaming. Mommy's new most-used phrase is "Don't take it personally."

Long naps - You have perfected the 30 minute nap, but that's about all we get out of you. You take a morning and afternoon nap, with the occasional evening nap depending on how the day has gone. None are more than 30 minutes though. Your best shot at a longer nap is on preschool mornings when the big kids are gone & it's quiet.

Having your face wiped - Your favorite thing to do while we feed you in stick your hands in your mouth. Then you put those messy hands all over the place, requiring quite a wipe down when the meal is done. This really displeases you!

 

You just seem like such a big boy to us now. On top of nursing 5 times a day, you're eating 2 meals of baby food. We've just been given the green light to add a 3rd meal and some real table foods to your diet, which we think you'll adore. As has been the case since the day you were born, you don't turn down any food we offer you. You've gobbled up every fruit and vegetable we've offered without hesitation. Your digestive system is much better now that you're eating cereal & some real food, which is awesome for all of us! It's helping you sleep much better. You're no longer nursing at night, so we're getting some nice long stretches of sleep in there.

 

You are just the cutest little thing. You have this fuzzy hair that sticks straight up. And your blue eyes, paired with those long Reeder eyelashes, are just killer. You are going to be a heart-breaker, for sure. We love you tons, Jack-Jack!

 

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Five.

Dear Jack,

5 months old already? Good grief! You are like a completely different baby now! You suddenly seem so old to us - a newborn no more! That's probably because you're doing so many Big Boy things now! Most notably, you're eating solid food. We introduced you to baby oatmeal this month, and it was love at first bite. It didn't take more than 2 or 3 attempts for you to completely get the hang of moving the food to the back of your mouth. And you gobble it up fast! While it has significantly helped your digestive system, it hasn't improved your sleep yet. Full belly or not, you're still waking a couple times a night. You're taking fewer naps, down to about 2-3 short naps and 1 longer nap a day. You bring everything you can get your hands on to your mouth. Though none have popped through yet, you are definitely teething - so much drool! Here's what is peaking your interests this month:

Favorites
Mirrors - You just love to look at that beautiful face of yours in a mirror. Though we're pretty certain you have no clue that the boy looking back at you is actually you, you appreciate his smiling face. You also love it when Mommy or Daddy is smiling at you in the mirror, too (and you don't seem to be jealous that we're holding another baby!)
Your Pacifiers - You are still a pappy addict! You are instantly soothed by a pacifier, which is an awesome tool for us to have in our arsenal. Sometimes, all it takes is a pappy and a snuggle with Mommy to get you to sleep within seconds. You've started playing with it now, too, grabbing it with your hands and chewing on the hard plastic. You can fall asleep without it if you're tired enough (unlike your siblings - they never could), but you are certainly comforted by it most of the time!
Splashing - You're just now starting to enjoy bath time. You splash around like crazy with the most serious face, like you're trying to understand what exactly is going on. You splash so much that the entire kitchen is soaked by the time we're done. Because of this, and the fact that you've grown so big, you took your last kitchen sink bath this week! On to the little blue bathtub now!
The Wheels on the Bus - This is definitely your favorite song. Mommy sings it over and over again, all day long. You often fall asleep to "The people on the bus go bumpety-bump..."
Technology - You are already fascinated with technology! If a remote control or cell phone is nearby, your eyes lock onto it and you start reaching for it. You must have it! We know it's only a matter of time before we have to start hiding them from you.

Not-so-favorites
Strangers - Oh boy, stranger danger is in full effect! If you aren't in a really happy mood, you want nothing to do with strangers talking to you! Outside of Mommy, Daddy, and a few token family members, you are already very uncertain of others and make it known when they get near.
Getting into your car seat - You do not like being buckled into your car seat one bit! About 75% of the time, you start to cry when we set you in there. You're so smart that you just know it means you won't be held for a while. That being said, about 90% of the time, you're completely calm by the time we snap your seat into the car and remain that way wherever we're going. You stare at your sister in the back seat, gaze out the window, and play with the toys dangling from your car seat.  

Another huge milestone you've hit this month is sitting up unassisted. You can sit up without toppling over for a minute or two if you have something to play with. This has opened up a whole new world to you. We brought up some of the baby toys from the basement, like the stacking rings, for you to play with now that you're upright. If your toys get out of reach, you stretch so far forward to get them. You're also rolling both ways constantly and even starting to scoot yourself backwards a little bit. You're just such a busy little man now!

Jack-Jack, we just love you to pieces. Your smile is the absolute best; it makes even the hardest days melt into blissful ones. You are such a perfect little boy and we just love to watch you grow!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy