Caton Christmas Uno

This year may have been the most magical Christmas since the wise-guys found Mary and the crew in that stable long long ago!

Obviously it was Aspens first Christmas, and to date it was the best holiday we have ever had! To recap the events: Christmas eve my Mom always hosts a fantastic feast for EVERYONE!!! Family, friends, neighbors, people you meet the day of and want to share the special moments with.... it is incredible that she can take the time out of her crazy life to orchestrate something that means SO much to everyone. I hope in years to come I can help Aspen have memories just as special! On Christmas morning We woke up very early and did our stockings from Santa, then we surprised Grandma (she didn't think we would see her until the afternoon) for stockings and presents at her house, then we went to Great Grandma's house for an amazing breakfast/ festivities, then we came home for a mid-morning nap *much needed*, THEN we went to Great Grandma Lynda's house for Christmas day dinner.

Very busy day, and very amazing day. Aspen recieved so many great and special things... among the favorites are a HANDMADE and INCREDIBLE stocking from Grandma, a toy that hangs in her crib for her to play with during "quiet time" (which she is getting very good at staying entertained for an hour every day so MaMa can nap)... some adorable finger puppets, a walker ETC! We are so fantastically blessed.

I think my most favorite gift was (besides sharing the day with my beautiful daughter and charming husband) was the diamond necklace symbolizing the incredible journey we are on, awww....

Chris say's his favorite memory of Christmas this year was carrying Aspen down the stairs to open her very first stocking.

As the years go on we are looking SO forward to little feet running down the hall to wake us up on Christmas morning. LOL, Chris still has more excitement and childlike wonder around the holidays than anyone I have ever met- one of the very many reasons I love him with my whole heart.

Here are some highlights of the day, enjoy!

Aspen and Daddy Christmas morning

Our favorite gift

Aspen's stocking

Love this one... note the necklace :)

Memory Blanket

I love that we still have this blanket. How cool would it be if in 20 years or so we can get a picture of Aspen's daughter on it too? I think afghans and quilts are like little histories that get passed down through the generations.

Aspens Cup of T

what did I ever do for fun before she came along?!

12 days of Christmas

Our rendition of the classic song:

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

12 dirty diapers

11 pacifiers

10 toes for trimming

9 loads of laundry

8 little rattles

7 second showers

6 missing socks

5 TEETHING RINGS

4 burp cloths

3 hours sleep

2 sticky hands

&

1 little bundle of joy!

Life Lessons

Every moment of motherhood for me has been a learning experiance... My Mom often reminds me of how our children come into our lives to teach us as much as it's our jobs to teach them. This week I have been learning from Aspen:

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

• Mon/Wed/Fri, wake up 6am- awake all day, work from 8pm-7am

• Tue/Sat, get home from work around 7:30- awake all day, sleep around 10pm

That said, I am trying to start a nap routine with Aspen so I have definant times I CAN lay down to sleep :) I LOVE my job, and knew it was going to be rough and wouldn't change anything because I get to have an income and be a day-mom to my beautiful baby.

Today I had reached the end of my rope... I feel a little guilty for getting frustrated due to sleep deprivation, but luckily I was calm enough to put Aspen down and call for reinforcements! Chris got ahold of my Mom, who came down to take Aspen home so I could get some much needed rest. It was the most incredible nap. LOL I think it's a true sign that someone is a mother if you ask "what would you do with a completely free day" and the answer is "nap, shower and eat a hot meal".

When my mom showed up I told her (teary eyed) that I felt bad because I should be able to do it ALL... to which she brilliantly responded with "good luck with that, if you figure it out let me know how too". I love my mom. She has a way of putting it all in perspective. It was great for her and Chris to both point out that every mom needs a break here and there- and also that it is not weakness, more a sign of strength to know when you need to ask for help.

I am so SO thankful for how much love and support I have in my life. I truly don't know how young and/or single moms do it!!! Now the key is to take advantage of all the helping hands in my life, realize I CAN'T dp it all, and start asking for help before I feel like I'm losing my patience and mind.

Jedi Master

I am convinced Aspen is a Jedi Master. After being awake all day and working all night, Mommy was spent! So I lay her down for her afternoon nap... it NEVER fails- as soon as I have decided she is officially asleep I crawl under my covers... snuggle up to my pillow... breathe in a sigh of relief.... and-

WAHHHHAAAAHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Either I indeed gave birth to a little Yoda, or the child is trying to kill me.

Joey Claus

So I call my Mom to let her know we got our very first Santa photo at citadel mall...

She says, "OH, that Santa is Joey, I know him"

It made me laugh, so maybe in years to come we will have to leave out cookies for Joey.

Mall Munchkin

HO HO HOLY smokes the mall is busy this time of year!

We decided to have a family-outting at the Citadel mall this afternoon, making it the second time Aspen has ever been shopping in her almost 5 months of life... Turns out we ended up just shopping for the baby :)

Guess in years to come we wont be able to bring her on those shopping trips, AND we will also have to get much better about not putting all the gifts under the tree early... and SANTA fills the stockings! Haha there is always new parent stuff to learn-

THEN there was the Christmas dress... let me break it down for you:

1. I suggest we get one for her first Christmas, Chris looks skeptical
2. We start shopping through all the frills and bows, I look overwhelmed.
3. We try on a few cute ones (as many as she will tolerate), Aspen looks adorable.
4. I decide it's not really necessary, she owns enough clothes, Chris looks disapointed.
5. Chris says "she NEEDS a cute dress for Christmas!", I look amused.
6. I learned in that moment how cute the daddy-daughter bond really is... then I hope she doesn't decide she NEEDS a porche for her first car

First Solids

And then, ladies and gentlemen, she was ready for solids...

Tonight we tried Aspen out on some rice cereal. It was so funny to watch her face twist with confusion about what it is we were trying to make her eat!

*side note* I tried some (with water not my milk) and it is NOT good

So Aspen ended up getting more ON her than IN her, but it was so cute to watch her stick her tongue out and fumble with the end of the spoon...

P.S. look at that meaty little arm, I ADORE her hand-dimples :)

Epic Nap Battle

I WIN.

Thanksgiving 09

Amazing how fast the holidays come and go right?!

Before we left on our trip, my Mom and my Dan had the family over to do our Thanksgiving dinner and celebrate Chris's birthday. Mom always has been amazing at celebrations.

One of my favorite holiday memories is when we were doing an early Thanksgiving dinner and it was our family, friends, neighbors... and the door-to-door salesman all joining hands and hearts to give thanks. Mom's home will always be one with an open door, a good meal and a warm fire for anything that needs it.

So just a few days later we all flew to New England for Thanksgiving to be with Chris's side of the family. Aspen did SO well with flying on the way there that people around us didn't even know we had a baby on the plane (score)!

We stayed with Chad, which was so much fun... getting to hang out with him and Calli and seeing a little bit of Portsmouth NH. Also, we managed to squeeze in some time with his Dad's family- Aunt Marie, Uncle Jim, Laurie and family were all so welcoming! We ate some lasagna and visited as if we have always been close, it was really nice to finally meet the people we talk to all the time on the computer! Aspen had fun playing with her cousins Tommy and Julie and we look forward to visits in the future.

Thanksgiving dinner was at his Aunt Christines house, and man was it packed! There were tons of bodies and I won't even try to name them all. Uncle Gary had flown in from Montanna and he was a real hit with Aspen- I think his beard reminded her of Grandpa. Aspen and I got to meet her cousin (and our nephew) Austin for the first time and it was cute to see them being cobabies. The next time they are in a room together they will probably be walking and talking... cliche as it sounds they really do grow fast. Grandma and Grandpa Simi were also able to spend some time with the sprout.

On a sad note- the trip took it's toll on Aspen's little ears. The day we got home she got a pretty bad ear infection and we ended up going to the hospital :( I was very skeptical about flying her across the country so young, and luckily we have all agreed that she wont travel again until July... and after that probably not until she's into her middle school years.

All in all we had fun and it was great, as always, to get back home-

BRING ON CHRISTMAS