Christmas Status

The only sign of Christmas in the House on Happy Street is this hastily made banner that Freddy put up in the kitchen.

 My personal red ribbon cutting ceremony for the holiday season is putting on Frank Sinatra's version of Jingle Bells. It's divinely festive. I can't find the CD, so thank goodness for YouTube. 

As much as I love the kitchen banner, I'm dying to make a Christmas photo garland going up our stairs like this one I saw on Pinterest. I already have the pine garland, I just need to make the photo part. Easy with a new baby and 3 other kids with packed schedules, right?

,

This might be just the sort of project that could occupy a whole day for Zita.

Zita has also been asking when we're going to start our marathon bark making sessions, but I like the idea of making cookie trees

She said she wanted to start a new tradition this year, and these cookie trees could be just the ticket.

Our weekend Christmas to do list includes:

Decorate

Find and purchase tree

Set up Train

Bake (cookie trees?)

Hang, and possibly embellish stair garland

Get out Christmas books

Come up with teacher/coach gifts

Buy gifts and groceries for the various charities that the kids' schools have partnered with 

Funny how our "free" weekends are never all that free.

Happy weekend to all.

Assembly Line of Before School Cuddles

The big kids file into our room one by one to get a quick baby fix before they go down for breakfast. I know these are dark and blurry, but we'll forget these little routines one day without properly documenting them. What a lucky baby our Sebby is to have these guys as siblings.

Sebby at 1 Month Old

 I snapped this shot of Sebby in his fancy bouncy seat this morning after I got out of the shower. He almost always fusses when I put him down to shower, but today was a new day. He was happy to listen to the water and catch some UV rays near the window.

I think he's going to follow Freddy down the no eyebrows path.

Sebby has mixed feelings about his Baby Bjorn seat. He knows it's better than being flat on his back, but someone's warm arms are always where he wants to be.

Here are his stats at one month:

Weight: 4590 grams (10.1 lbs)

Length: 56 cm ( 22 inches)

and from the web:

"At 1 month:

your child is 10.1 pounds, and that is 

at the 33th percentile for weight.

your child is 22 inches, and that is 

at the 38th percentile for height"

On Portuguese charts, he's in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height. I really couldn't believe it since my boys have never been anywhere near a chart, never mind in the lower half of it.  I shouldn't have been surprised considering Freddy weighed a full kilo (2.2 lbs) more at his one month check up. I might need to re think the 6 month size Christmas clothes I have for him.

The novelty of having a baby in the house has not worn off one little bit. His sibling fan club remains loyal and strong despite a much heavier load of domestic tasks placed on them. I have to continually remind myself to not take for granted the fact that Moojie is so competent in the kitchen and can cook pretty much anything that I ask him to. Zita leans more toward experimental baking, and Freddy is my small task guy. He could quite possibly be the only person I know who delights in emptying the dishwasher, and can narrate the process to make it sound interesting.

We're still fighting this cold and sore throat, which is a pain, but the doctor confirmed yesterday that Sebby is just fine otherwise.

I'm  making a conscious effort not to lament Sebby getting older and just enjoy and appreciate him while he's a baby, so I won't whine that my last baby is already 1 month old.  I will say, however, that that was the fastest month ever in the history of time. Truly.

School Picture Miracle

The first week after Sebby was born, Zita and Freddy had school picture day. I was certain they would be horrible after our experience last year with pictures at this school. Zita looked like a contestant in a messy hair contest, and the photos haven't left her drawer since then.

The school tried a new photographer this year and the new company did a fantastic job.

Freddy had me study the names of his classmates with him, and then he quizzed me afterwards. It wasn't too hard given there are four girls named "Leonor."

Here's Zita's. She regrets not leaving her hair down, but this is by far her best school picture.

They each got the traditional head shot as well.

I can't wait to see Moojie's now.

Radom Updates:

Mooj has a test every day this week, and then he gets to cruise into Christmas break starting on the 14th. Zita and Freddy have finished the last of their tests.

Zita and Freddy both gave up a toy bring to catechism today, which is such a win win. I love reducing clutter! They are going to put on a nativity play this morning at school and Zita was not pleased to be cast as a poor villager who she insists is not even officially part of the nativity scene.

Sebby turns 1 month old today and had a check-up that I will post about tomorrow. Happy 1 month Sebby!

4 Weeks

We have a smiley baby on our hands! He was so awake and engaging for this morning's photo shoot.  A high sing song voice and direct eye contact always gets a reaction from Sebby.

I have been battling a cold and sore throat for over a week now, and poor Sebby has finally succumbed. Moojie went his whole first year of life without so much as the sniffles, and Sebby didn't even last until the 1 month mark. Last night was particularly long. Since he can't breathe out of his nose very well, I had to use the snot sucker (aka Narinel)  and keep him upright throughout the night. Those things really work and he's too young to notice or mind what's going on.

Check out the thigh chub acquired since just last week. Those are some squeezy thighs for sure! Oh, and I think his hands and feet grew at least an inch too.

A Katie Holmes Smile

Sebby does these cute little eye flutters and half smiles while he sleeps.

He's so peaceful in Zita's arms.

Back To Baking, Back To Normal

Being able to bake something is one of my main gauges for how normal things are in the house on Happy Street. I had a 3 week hiatus from most cooking (from scratch) and baking, but two batches of cookies and a few dinners later, I finally feel like we have new routines established.

Freddy has started doing his homework down in the kitchen about half of the time. It's a good way for me to squeeze in extra time with him and I get all sorts of tid bits about his day.

 He comes to show me when he's finished and I do a quick check to make sure it's all done. The exception is clarinet Thursdays when Freddy stays home with Moojie who checks his homework and helps him when needed. Having a 14 year old is such a convenience when it comes to homework help.

Tennis was cancelled last night due to rain so we were blessed with three extra hours. Rain plus free time equals cookies, a good fire, and movies in our house. I'm loving this bubble of cozy house bound days so much; having a new baby erases all guilt for not getting things done.

Chief tester Freddy samples the oatmeal raisin batch

We also made normal chocolate chip

I'm just starting to get Sebby more used to the Bjorn so I can get the house in order and walk around without feeling like my arms are going to fall off. After the big kids leave for school, and Sebby has been changed and fed, I get him bundled in the Bjorn and go about my day. I just hope he doesn't out grow it too quickly.

 Of course I always have willing holders near by in case that happens

Who can believe it's December already? Happy Christmas month!