Book 44 - Where did you go Bernadette

Book 44 finished - Where did You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.  This was a relatively quick book for me.  The introduction was interesting being that it's emails, letters, faxes etc.  I liked that however I don't think anyone writes emails quite so detailed.  The storyline of this one was kind of ridiculous but there was some humor and believability to it.  Overall I enjoyed it although I sort of want to smack the kid Bea she has bratty moments.  I hear there will be a movie of this one and I think it could be interesting sort of like running with scissors.  I hope they cast Bill Murray.  Anyhow still have two other half started books to finish.

34 Completed - 2014 List

I actually completed 34 items and have another 4 half finished.  I think that's respectable.  Last year was a pretty amazing year for all sorts of reasons.  It was full of all sorts of adventures likehaving a baby, doing what seems like 1,000 remodeling projects, Kathleen moving away, we traveled to Florida, Portland, Seattle, boston, Milwaukee, and New York, Dustin changed jobs twice, and I transitioned into working from home full time.  We crammed a lot in. It was good times mostly with a touch of sad times.

1. Become a Mom - complete 
2. Bake 25 Breads - In Progress, #2, #3, #4, #5, 
3. Attend Jono and Lo's Wedding - Attended
4. Babymoon trip - Oregon, Portland, Seattle, Gorge, Ocean
5. Improv Quilt with Thea - Sent to Thea, In Progress
6. Add Lo to the photo wall - Done.
7. Start a down payment savings account for a second house - started it only has the initial deposit though.
8. Create a family tradition - we started a few we'll see what takes
9. Service project - my volunteering sucked this year but I did do vacation bible school so considering this done
10. Paint the babies room - Done. 
11. Remove carpet in back bedrooms - Babies Room Done, 
12. Set goals for our marriage - Done
13. Buy 30 $1 things - I actually did this but never blogged about it
14. Dress-up for a date at McDonald’s
15. Build a new kitchen table - Done. 
16. Eat a pomegranate - done
17. Make the baby a quilt - Finished, Quilt 2
18. Paint the Master bedroom
19. Give Kathleen a 25 Party - WWELive and Comedy Club Done. 
20. Take Dustin to Fogo de Chao
21. Make a Scrap Vomit Quilt - Finished and Finished
22. Watch 20 Classic Movies
23. Anne Geddes photo my baby (yes at least once) 
24. Take monthly family photos with the baby and Dustin - done
25. Break from phone 5-10pm for one week
26. 4 Crafty Projects - Sparkle Tights, Lo's Shower Decor, BabyBurf Mobile, 
27. Clean out the Coffee Table - Done
28. Make Pop Tarts
29. Host a trivia night
30. Balloon surprise someone for their birthday
31. Be less critical at work - maybe it's a day to day thing
32. Kathleen's cross-stitch gift 
33. Go to an art museum with Momo - Art Museum Visited
34. Go baby clothes shopping with Momo - we went thrifting twice Done!
35. Play date with baby and JJ - done
36. _______________ with Lita - done Lita babysat
37. _______________ with Jono and Lolo - Picnic Done
38. Finish the sushi quilt - almost!
39. A double date - we did this at least Twice
40. Learn something - only 100 things about being a mother
41. Refinish the babies desk
42. Create a new work from home space for me - done although I want to reorganize it
43. Roadtrip with Kemi
44. Use my SLR camera at least twice monthly - January twice exactly, February also exactly twice, March Done thanks to babymoon, April - done
45. Finish the 52 books - sadly not done.
46. Surprise Dustin - New Bench Press check
47. Summer party - done
48. ____________________ Spring Activity 
49.  Summer Activity - done
50. Cremona Fall Activity - done
51. Christmas tree Winter Activity - done
52. Make a new list - done

December Family Photos

I was much better about getting family photos in December.  I made a special point to request them.  We also had a session with My friend Miranda who's taking our family photos.  She shot a few before it got too dark but we are going to capture more as well.  Anyhow I am glad this month I got more.  I especially love this one of us and our Christmas Tree.  

And for Christmas I got a selfie stick and a remote so I look forward to more of these lovelies (Ps this is all the Jones and Co clan + Jason, Kenny and Jayda who might as well be family).

2015 List

Here's my list for this year.  I just finished it.  One can't even tell that I started making it back in October.  I still need to recap what I did finish but I am pretty sure I actually finished more than last year I need to double check but I think I did 40 maybe more, having the list in my phone proved helpful.  Anyhow super excited for my new list already working towards some of these.

1. Weekly Devotions

2. 1st birthday party - Done

3. New van/suv - Bought

4. Finish new capsule wardrobe 

5. Monthly Family photos take 2 - In Progress

6. Visit Kathleen in BG - Visited

7. Finish my 52 books

8. Brunch at Milktooth

9. Make a log cabin quilt - Done.

10. Finish Sushi Quilt - Finished

11. Photobomb

12. Update the photo wall

13. Buy/make new wallet

14. Take a jones and mommy class - Done Swimming Lessons

15. See the fireworks - Done

16. Jones and Co Family Vacation

17. Play date x 4 jones - 1 Done, 2 Done, 

18. Paint my bedroom

19. Try 12 new recipes

20. Celebrate Lita's Wedding - DONE

21. Finish main bath remodel - DONE

22. Make jones a national park book - Done

23. Visit a national park

24. Burford and Co Trip - Part 1, Part 2

25. Start a family map

26. Complete 5 craft projects

27. Finish year one baby book

28. Return unused work equipment

29. Download some new music

30. 1,000 fit bit miles (providing it works again) - In Progress

31. Use the garage gym

32. 12 FaceTime Dates with Jono and LoLo

33. Finish my improv quilt 

34. New project with Thea (block of the month?)

35. Colorado with Lita

36. Antiquing and Thrifting with Alicia and Schreve 

37. _______ with JJ

38. _______ with Momo

39. Take Jones to the Children's Museum - Done

40. Make Pop Tarts

41. Take Dustin to Fogo

42. Create a traveled map for Jones

43. Find a bedside table for Dustin - Done

44. Bubble family date 

45. Write 200 gifts in my gift journal 

46. Activity with Jayda - Complete

47. Buy a new staple dress

48. Send Some Random Packages

49. IMQG Quilt Retreat - Feb 2015 Done.

50. Make an advent calendar

51. Go swimming

52. Make a new list

Happy new year!

Welcome 2015!  I love the new year.  I love making my list and thinking of things to do.  I also love reflecting on the last year and then closing the door or on it.   I also love thinking about my favorite song of the year, my favorite trip, my favorite shirt, favorite activity as well as some "worsts". It's like my own people magazine for the year.

I will be back in the next few days with a yearly recap and my new list.

Babyburf 6 Months

Dear Babyburf -

You hit half a year about two weeks ago. This is my favorite age yet - everyday is an exploration it's so fun to watch.  You are so cheerful and you light up at just about everything.  A few things to note -

- You are now 19 lbs and 8 oz and 25.5 inches tall.

- We were separated for a few days while I traveled for work it was so hard.

- You looked for me in the phone and tried to get me in FaceTime.

- You got sick for the first time also while I was gone.

- Being sick made you so pitiful.  

- But you handled it like a champ always smiling and cuddling.

- You didn't want your nose wiped though which was annoying.

- You continue to explore new foods like pears, apples, zucchini, blueberries, honeydew and French fries

- Your favorite is still green beans and really just green veggies.

- You also love the wash cloth after your meal we call it dessert.

- You sit up solidly and reach for things with both hands.

- You start to move toward crawling position but can't move yet.

- You can however scoot backwards when on our hardwoods.

- You especially like to grab straws, hair, and glasses.

- Whenever guys hold you - you look for their beards to pull just like daddy's.

- You like toys that make noise.

- Favorite toy is the hungry caterpillar.

- you became and expert at sticking out your tongue.

- you also love to shake your head as if to say no.

- Mommy checks your hair growth daily. 

- I love mimicking your squeals and noises.

- I still detests your car seat and cannot wait to graduate to the bigger one.

- I love watching you play by yourself.

- and you constantly want to do whatever I am doing, which is too cute.

- I so enjoy when you reach for me to take you or pick you up.

- I enjoy playing the "are you ready game" and making you cackle at the end.

- Daddy gets you dressed many a morning and you often pee on him or on the changing table.

- Daddy loves when you fall asleep on his chest.

- He loves cuddling you after work.

- He also loves posting pictures mommy sends him throughout the day onto social media.

- He was very excited for Christmas and your 1/2 birthday and bought you a play table and a handful of Christmas presents.

That's all for now.  Love you very much.

Mommy

Merry Christmas!

The baby slept thru about 90% of the presents opening.  But he was completely enthralled by wrapping paper, boxes, ribbon and bows.  And I told him the story of baby Jesus several times although he's not likely to remember.  It was a good Christmas.  

Book 43 - Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street - was my book 43 (I still have three others I haven't finished but started though).   the story of Jordan Belfort was humorous but some was over the top.  It was as if some of it was hard t believe.  I think it was pretty well written although I didn't Iike the ending it just seemed to end.  there was a detailed story then Boom it just ended with a quick wrap up.

Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Well I had all these big plans for the baby's first Christmas!  I was going to make him an advent calendar, I was going to make a December daily book, I was going to get him about 100 pairs of red and white striped outfits (this is my number 1 favorite combo for babies), i was going to make a stocking and buy a first Christmas ornament, i was going to...

Well here it is the 16th of December and I didn't do all of that.  Somehow between our trips to Missouri, chicago and boston I did manage to get to the tree farm, visit Santa, address Christmas cards, and get one striped outfit.  The baby was thrilled to see Santa he even gave Santa a nice belly laugh.  He also loves Christmas lights and has a desire to eat all the Christmas ornaments.  I think we are going to buy him said 100 x striped clothes and maybe a walker because he's not likely to care what he gets for Christmas. 

Christmas season with a baby is just that much more magical and wonderful.  

14 on 14 December

This month we were in Boston on the fourteenth which made the photos a little more fun.  Although we often take weekend trips so this is real life for us I was just thinking jones has been to like 10 states already.  Here's my 14 photos -

1 - baby + citigo sign in kenmore square he refused to look at me!

2 - friends on the T.  The baby slept thru his first subway ride!

3 - marzipan is so pretty.  We bought butter cookies instead they taste better

4 - the "legend" sharing a coke

5 - boxing

6 - the ferry boat (baby was asleep inside in the warm ferry)

7 - meeting house has a unicorn on top

8 - love this view of the harbor ps you can see my old corporate office on the right

9 - Charlestown naval yard.  SJ also gave the baby buddy the bison which he's supposed to take to all his national parks and photograph we started with this heritage one.  Jones is holding it.

10 - you used to be able to see the old north church but that new white monument is blocking it.

11- what's with the dot matrix and airlines?

12 - nice sleeping position 

13- boston common tree

14- home again gathering luggage