Happy New Year Peeps!

Our wild and crazy New Years Eve will likely include movies, and dinner at home.
We're still a little sicky over here, so relaxing at home is top priority. 

My only New Years goals are to try and appreciate what i have, to be a good person (because really, i think if you really strive to be a good person, everything will come together in the end), to be more creative (take more pictures, craft, make, build, do) and to be the best mama i can be.

Happy New Year everyone, weather you are celebrating in a big way, or staying at home with your family. I hope this new year brings you everything you NEED.

Our Gingerbread House

For once our gingerbread house turned out really nice. We followed the directions. Who knew!

Apparently waiting for the house to set helps it to stand up better (Although, this meant leaving it overnight) Also, very stiff royal icing is key!

 I can't wait for next year, when little man can help us decorate it, 

even if it means it'll be a lot more messy and less purdy.

Our Christmas Looked Like This

Our Christmas was a whirlwind, and after five days of various gatherings, we're finally relaxing. Jackson really enjoyed opening presents, but was happiest to have people to play with and snuggle. He was definitely spoiled, but all of his gifts were very thoughtful, and i know they'll get lots of use. He and his daddy even got matching Habs jerseys with their names on them (too bad hockey games start when he's already in bed) My poor little man has a nasty cold now (his first time being "sick"), so we're just spending time as a family for the next few days, no New Years partying for us. Just lots of baby vicks, and cuddles from mommy and daddy.

Happy New Year! (almost)

Warning: Cuteness Overload

I'm a little disturbed that these parents think it's CUTE that their child is angry over receiving books for Christmas. They're really teaching him to be greatfull to receive ANY gifts for Christmas. Sad sad sad.
 

Kid hates books for Christmas @ Yahoo! Video

My Cute Man

It's almost Christmas time, and we can't wait. Everything is so much more fun with Jackson. like 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times more fun. This past weekend he opened a few gifts, i was pleased to see he was actually very excited to tear the paper off and play with his new treasures. I was unsure  before now, as he's never opened presents before. Everyone says "kids are more interested in playing with the box the toy came in", apparently not my little man.

Jackson will also be 11 months old on January 2nd. He's getting closer and closer to being 1 year old, and i absolutely cannot believe it. It's incredible, and a little sad. I feel like it was just yesterday that i found out i was pregnant, and now he's a full on little person. Really, every day is like Christmas morning, i'm just so excited to wake up and spend the day with him. Everyday he does something new and different, and i just marvel at him. Being a momma is the best job ever. On his 11 month "birthday" i'll update with all the new things he's doing. For now, this is just a random post with pictures of my little man.

With Christmas just a few days away, my blogging may be sporadic at best, but i'm sure everyone will be too busy to read anyways. I have a few more pictures to post before then.

Happy Christmas Week!

A Good Read

I wanted to share this post from Becoming Sarah.  
Although we did buy Jackson a couple gifts for the holidays, i am really beginning to think that less is more. I'm glad that we were able to be practical, buying him only one "toy" that we know he will use for years. 
Right now he loves to do anything with mommy and daddy, reading books with us, playing with tupperware and wooden spoons, splashing in the sink, chasing the kitty and the vacuum, climbing and cuddling.
I know the time will come when he'll show more interest in toys, but i think it's our job to show him that there are other things to do. Play outside, hike, ride bikes, make crafts etc. These are the things i remember most from my childhood. Don't get me wrong, i think toys do have a place in children's lives, we just need to strive for a balance.
Hope this isn't a Christmas downer. Happy Christmas week everyone : )

Our Weekend Looked Like This

Sunday we had "Grinch Night". An annual tradition for siblings and friends, to get together, eat lots of yummy food, and watch the original "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas". 

It was even more fun this year, because we had 2 sweet boys to share it with. This is Jacksons first Christmas. He loved opening presents on Grinch night, now i really can't wait for Christmas! 

It was such a great day, we ate far too much, drank yummy chai lattes with bailey's, and the little men finished the night off with a bath. (We finally got a pic of the bff's in the bath, seriously, the cutest baby's ever!)

Happy Christmas Week!

Cute Boys Rooms

What little boy wouldn't like a bedroom that feels like a treehouse?

Love the bunk beds, and the rag rugs. Jackson is so going to have a bunk bed.

I love the maps, stripes and the tucked away crib. 

A cute/different bunk bed idea, and an awesome place for a little boy that loves sports.

(although it's a bit to matchy-matchy for me)

OMG

Prenatal Pole Dancing DVD from Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate is so gd funny.

Guitar Lessons With Daddy

Jackson loves the guitar. LOVES. He loves to watch daddy play, and he really loves to get in there and try it out himself. I think we have a budding musician on our hands. In a family where almost ever member plays an instrument, it's kind of built into his dna. It's amazing that such a rambunctious little man, will sit still and watch for a whole half hour while his daddy plays the guitar. His favorite song is Brush Your Teeth by:Raffi.
(Now that Jackson has 8 little chompers, we also sing this song to him while we brush his teeth, or teefers as we call them)

My Son is a Genius.

At least i like to think so. Not only did he figure out how to flush the toilet (i love paying for water), but he also figured out how to unravel a whole roll of toilet paper in 1 minute flat. I guess i can't turn my back to throw a load of laundry in the dryer anymore. (I hope it's still earth friendly to buy the "green" toilet paper, when most of it is wasted anyways) The best part, he's learned to scream like a banshee when you take ANYTHING away from him. I guess i'll have to let him eat the toilet paper. (ahem...sarcasm)

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Around the Henderson home.

Our pretty yet semi-tiny and lame Christmas light set up is done.
(you did a good job dear, we just need more lights is all)



The tree is set up and decorated, the stockings are hung in the picture frame with care, and my diy bunting and snowflakes are all done. This is really the most decorating I've ever done. I usually don't see the point in anything besides the tree, putting decorations up for just a month is strange to me. Now we have our wee Jackson Graeme, and it all seems worth it. Every little thing i put up, he notices, and stares in awe. he especially likes the snowflakes.
Surprisingly, he doesn't bother with the ornaments on the tree. Our colors this year are green, white and silver. I'm also really into making decorations now. I can't wait till Jackson is interested in crafts. Maybe next year our house will be filled with his creations. For now I'm just waiting for Christmas morning in anticipation of his first Christmas. The joy of the season is really increased ten fold when you are seeing it through a child's eyes.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Diy: Pinecone Wreath

The cost of theis project was $5.00 for the grapevine wreath, and $2.00 for the white pinecones (i think it looks better when you use a variety). I found the rest of the pinecones, in my back yard. I saved, about $25.00.
Now i just need to paint that icky mailbox, but it's too darn cold and rainy here.

Winter Car Seat Safety

I wanted to share this article on winter car seat safety, from Canadian Parents, and Transport Canada. I found recently that a lot of people aren't aware of this car seat safety fact.

How to keep your little one safe and snug in his car seat this season

By Cara Miller

It's the time of year when Canadians are donning down-filled jackets and snowsuits to keep warm in the bitter cold. But did you know that the some winter outerwear can be dangerous if worn in a car seat? Read on for tips to keep your little one safe and snug this chilly season. 

The compression factor

When a child is placed in a car seat with a bulky jacket the harness straps are loosened to accommodate the thick material.  Even though the straps appear to be tight, in the event of a collision, the bulky jacket or snowsuit can become compressed, causing the child to be ejected from the car seat or incur injuries from the slack in the harness straps.

Transport Canada issues this warning: Bulky snowsuits can affect the harness with respect to additional compressibility. When using winter clothing, ensure the harness system is tight, compressing the material to ensure a snug fit. 

How safe are the insertable winter car seat bags that thread through the car seat's harnesses and are these safety-tested for use?

Transport Canada warns against using car seat bags: Any additional padding behind the child can induce both slack in the harness and additional compressibility. The Standard, which regulates children's restraint systems, only allows for a certain amount of compressibility in the foam and material used. By increasing this amount, during a collision the additional foam/material can compress to the point that the harness system becomes very loose and therefore no longer is capable of restraining the child. 

Child seat manufacturers state in their instructions not to use bulky clothing and never add anything between the shell of the restraint and the child. The padded car seat bag can re-route the harness system and add slack and increase compressibility. Check with the car seat manufacturer before using and ensure that the product does not compromise the harness routing path.

Also remember with all aftermarket products, there are no safety requirements applicable to these products in the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations. All manufacturers of child restraint systems and/or infant restraint systems state not to use any product that did not come with the restraint system unless manufactured specifically for that seat by the manufacturer themselves. This would also include head huggers and strap covers.

What about toddlers and preschoolers?

Samantha Johnson, mother of three and a child restraint systems technician in Edmonton, says, “My four-year old son wears a sweater in his car seat, and we bring his coat along. Even though it seems like a pain, it’s best for your child to take his coat off once he’s in the car.

How do I know if my child's outerwear is too bulky?

Put your child in his car seat with his winter jacket on and fasten and tighten the harnesses. If you can fit more than one finger between the strap and your child’s collarbone once the jacket is removed, the straps are too loose and the coat is too bulky. Finding a thinner jacket specifically for use while in the car is the safest option and you can take along a heavier coat for when you need it out of the vehicle

The Cutest Boy Ever

I know everyone says it. But seriously, i have the cutest boy ever.
Although the past few days he's the sad, snotty teething baby. I hope he gets a break after these two teeth. Poor guy. He just looks like someone stole his favorite toy and the world is ending. Nothing really makes him happy. Except eating. Man, kid likes his food! Not as much as he used to, but his face still lights up when he gets into his highchair.
We decided to only let him have his sookie (soother) when he's going to sleep. I kinda feel mean doing that while he's teething, but really,  he'll be "tething" for quite some time, and i don't want to prolong the sookie weaning. So far he doesn't seem to really care about having access to it during his wake hours. Although, we do let baby sitters give it to him in case of extreme upset, but so far no one's really had to. Fingers crossed that sometime in the next few months we can take it away at bedtime too. We've already stopped putting several sookie's in his bed at night, he only gets one.

Once it gets dark i'm going to take some pics of my Christmas lights, and show you our holiday decor.

Happy Monday y'all!