Christmas Stocking Tradition

When Danny and I got married, we decided to carry over a couple traditions that his family used to do around Christmas. One of my favorite traditions is writing little notes to put in every family member's stocking each year. One night (usually Christmas Eve) we sit down and each write a little note with nice things about each person in our family and stick it in their stocking for them to read on Christmas morning (after dig get through all the toys, candy and toothbrushes that Santa has brought for them). Then, after all is said and done, they get stuffed back in the stocking along with past years notes to be read again for the years to come. The stockings at Danny's parents house have so many sweet notes in them. It is so great to look back and reread them every year. They spark memories and are such a great way to bring the family together. Thanks Beesley family for passing down such a great tradition (among others) to our little family! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have a feeling ours will be wet, and I will be thinking of things to do with Claire indoors. This week has been slow on posts, but I was a little burned out trying to post at least once a day in attempt to keep my November goal. I needed to catch up on a little sleep too as Clairey has been happy to wake at 5 every morning lately. Speaking of November goals, I have one day to paint our living room. Darn.

To Grandmother's House We Went

eucalyptus trees on the side of 101 (my favorite part of the drive) source

Yesterday we made the trip to San Luis Obispo and back to spend Thanksgiving with my grandparents. It was Claire's first time there and we had such a great time visiting, eating, relaxing, and chasing Claire around. We were worried about the six hours of driving (there and back) but Claire was a champ and a joy to ride in the car with. As long as she was rocking out to Elizabeth Mitchell (or pretending to conk me in the head with her push toy) she was as happy as a clam.

It was actually great to be in the car. I usually get car sick (lame, I know) but everything went smooth and Danny and I were able to have some quality time together. Since Claire was strapped in tight in the backseat listening to her tunes, we were able to have some great conversations. 

We talked about California and how the scenery is breathtaking. About how we are lucky to have grown up and be living here right now. Sometimes San Jose can seem dull, and I often long for something more exciting. But when we are driving through eucalyptus forests and smelling the ocean while driving on highway 101, the monotony of the place seems to fade and I feel a sense of pride in my state. It really is so beautiful, and it was nice to take the time to appreciate that yesterday.

Danny droned on and on about John Steinbeck and how he described the landscapes we were driving through in his novels. I love to hear him talk about literature because he gets so incredibly excited and passionate. Danny dreamed out loud about the novel he is writing in his head. We brainstormed and laughed and interrupted and sat in silence, thinking about the many things we want to accomplish in the future. 

We talked about this blog and what I am doing and why I am doing it. We rattled off ideas for posts and my vulnerabilities. I love Danny because he is such a cheerleader for me. He is so supportive and encourages me to "just have fun" while writing. Thanks Danny :)

Claire snored (we are all sick with a cold) in the back and we giggled and bragged about how sweet she is. We can't be the only parents who do this, right? We love her so much, sometimes we can just sit and have a conversation about how much we love her. 

We are happy to be home now and enjoying this extra long weekend! Hope you guys are enjoying it too :)

Taking Time To Be Thankful

Not to toot my own horn, but I feel like I am always thinking of things I am thankful for. It is just in my nature to feel nostalgic about anything and everything, and overly emotional about certain moments that might end too quickly. Our family tries to take the time to mention something that we are thankful for whenever we sit down to eat a meal together. I love making an effort to remember the good things in our lives. We sometimes mention what we think Claire would be thankful for that day if she could chime in with a little more than animal noises. 

last year right around Thanksgiving

One thing I don't do is write these things down. So they quickly escape my mind and I don't have a nice little list of things I am thankful for. Hence this post.

1. I am so so thankful for a healthy girl. My poor babe has been through the wringer before with allergies and a kidney infection and those months that she was hurting was hell, to put it lightly. I'm sure I will post about our experiences in her early months another time, but for now, let's keep this positive! Claire is healthy, and I actually do think of and am thankful for this every day,
2. I am thankful for Danny who works so hard to allow me to stay home with Claire for these first couple years of Claire's life. He is really sacrificing his comfort to keep our girl as comfortable as possible.
3. This might sound really funny to other people, but I am thankful for this blog. It has acted as a little creative outlet for me and allowed me to feel productive in a totally different way than changing diapers and nursing. 
4. I am so happy and thankful to be living near both sets of our parents. As much as I dream of living in a craftsman in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle (we used to live there), or near my sister-in-law on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, being near our parents has been wonderful. With the first six months of Claire's life being somewhat difficult for all of us, having the support of grandmas and grandpas was nice. Also, the ClaireyBear is a little slow to warm up to people so this more constant interaction with them helps her create even better relationships with them that will last no matter where we end up! :)

I am excited to be officially kicking off the holiday season this week! What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Is anyone making pumpkin pie from scratch? That is on my todo list someday, I've never done it. :)

The Weekend in Photos

It was a great weekend. I was able to go out three times without Danny AND Claire. This is a big accomplishment for me since I have only done that about five times since she has been born. Yay for cocktail parties, coffee dates with Stacy, and solo grocery shopping!

she looks too old here... :(

"smile Claire!"

homework

a new bus to add to a mess of toys

at Camron's birthday party

birthday boy and his cousin

first time in a jump house

the cutest "bug" goodie bags ever!

teeny caramel apples

the weekly Beary, before bedtime tonight

Date Night

Tonight Danny and I went to the movie theater to see Helen Hunt naked for two hours The Sessions. Let's just say it was a good thing I wasn't sitting next to my grandma watching it. Here is the trailer (minus nudity):

It was so different and moving. The main character, Mark O'Brien, is inspirational with his lively personality and wit. 

One thing to note before seeing it is that the Mark is horizontal for the whole film. This left me tilting my head to the side almost the whole movie, and in need of a good massage when I got home. :)

Here are a few trailers I saw tonight that I am really excited about. I'm a sucker for period pieces!

On The Road

Hitchcock

Hyde Park on Hudson

My Heart Beats For Them

Danny and Claire (3 months old)

Since Claire came into the world, my sleep has been disrupted to say the least. She is 17 months old and still wakes up at least three times throughout the night to eat, all while sleeping sideways next to me in the bed. Up until Claire was 15 months old, I was able to count the number of hours Danny and I have slept next to each other since she was born. His bed was our little apartment sized couch because he had to be up at 6:30 in the morning. The norm was saying goodnight with a wave while I slipped into the bedroom to feed a crying, hungry babe.

So, these last two months since Claire has learned to sleep in her crib (which is two feet away from our bed) for naps and the first four hour stretch of the night has been different. I forgot that people sometimes cuddle in bed when they are going to sleep. We still have to whisper (almost silently) if we want to communicate while lying in bed. At least we are getting a little closer to normal.

Last night we were lying in bed trying to fall asleep and for the first time in over a year I could feel Danny's heartbeat. There is something special about feeling or hearing another person's heartbeat. It is so personal. It made me slow down for a second and appreciate him being there, and realize how much I had missed him while he had been snoring on the couch the last year. It also reminded me of the first time I had felt Claire's tiny heart beating after she was born.

You have to be so close to someone in order to feel their heart beating. You have to be quiet and still. It almost feels primal to me. Feeling this organ that is pumping life throughout my husband and daughter. It reminds me that they are individuals with their own thoughts, loves, and hardships just like me. It makes me want to hug hem and give them extra kisses. Most importantly, it makes me thankful that we are all healthy and here together. Love those two!

Our trendy dancing tunes around here lately:

The Beard Papa

this reminds me of Jack Passion

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I don't know about you, but I love me a good beard. I think it has to do with the fact that I can't grow one. Not that I would ever want to grow one. But to me, facial hair is indicative of MAN.

Danny has a beard. The short boxed beard shown below to be exact. And except for a few spur of the moment shaves, he has had a beard since we started dating three years ago. His beard is quite an accomplishment. Anyone who hasn't seen him since high school does a double take when we see them. Most people love it though, but there are a few "homeless" remarks along the way.

source

When he shaves I usually freak out quietly. Luckily by the time I stop freaking out, he has enough scruff to be labeled as a beard anyway. Claire has her preference too. She enjoys rubbing her little hands on her Daddy's beard and on the rare occasion it is missing, she goes running looking for a new daddy. Ha! just kidding.

How do you guys feel? Is facial hair in or out for you?

A moustache is almost as good as a beard! Don't forget to check out Movember. It's for a good cause! :)

Night On The Town

Danny and I try to go on a date once a week. Sometimes we let it go two weeks before we get some adult time, but we give it a good college try to get out each week, just the two of us. This is especially important to me since I am Mama all day, every day. I really do forget that I am more than just Claire's mom. That I am Danny's wife too (sorry Danny!) It is really hard for me to be away from Claire for very long, but sometimes I think it is good for me. Not only for me, but for me and Danny as a couple.

Yesterday I called Danny and asked him what he had planned for our date that night. Every time we go out we just pick something on a whim and get going. Usually to dinner. But yesterday I called Danny and asked him what special things we were doing for our "big date" that night. He was kind of backed into a corner at first (woops!) but quickly got excited and said, "okay, sounds good I will plan everything, gotta go!" I was so excited with anticipation all day! It didn't matter really matter what we were going to do, all that mattered was that it really really felt like a date this time. I hadn't been surprised with a date since we first started dating (the second time around - more on that later).

We even took the light rail downtown. I felt like I was in high school again. Thrilling to say the least!

We made our stop and headed to dinner at Gordon Biersch. We wanted something quick since we had missed our first train and needed to be in our seats in a little over an hour. We ate garlic fries and had bad breathe for the rest of the night. Yuck!

After dinner we went to the San Jose Repertory Theatre to see Freud's Last Session.

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The play wasn't necessarily mind blowing, and we sat in the furthest seats from the stage to save some bucks, but it was such a good time.

The best part of the night was holding hands and watching the play with our heads together. It was sweet and for the first time in a while it felt like we were on a giddy little date. You done good, Danny.