Happy New Year!

2010 from hollandnm on Vimeo.

December Daily: December 7-15

Oh, by the way...

I'm totally pregnant again!

I recently realized I hadn't made an "official" blog announcement. So, in case you live under a rock and/or aren't on Facebook, we are expecting our second child in early June. We are both very excited. The idea of another baby is daunting but exhilarating and we can't wait to add to our already pretty wonderful family.

Now, the "we" up until this point has not included Griffin. If you ask Griffin if he wants a sibling (or baby sister or baby brother or plain old baby) the answer is a resounding NO! I have a sneaking suspicion this has more to do with his love of the word no then any fears about becoming a big brother. We finally wised up and started asking him if he wanted to stay an only child forever to which he answers (of course) "No!"

I think part of the reason I haven't posted about this pregnancy is I've had a lot of anxiety this time. You'd think since I've done this whole thing once successfully I wouldn't have any doubts or fears the second time. You'd be wrong. I had several friends who had miscarriages before I got pregnant and I think there was a big part of me who was terrified the same could happen to me. However, I've been trying to focus on the positives of pregnancy since this could be my last trip to the rodeo and I don't want the experience to be of full of worry and anxiety. Little Bit obliged my new outlook by doing a serious tap dance routine this morning. :)

Wait, you say! "Last trip to the rodeo!" Yeah, you read that right because the other reason I haven't been posting is I was flat on my back with TERRIBLE nausea for six weeks. I think I volunteered so readily for this adventure again because I had convinced myself that I wouldn't get sick again. Ha! The baby laughs at my foolish assumptions! It was awful and I'm not sure I can do it again - much less with two kids. Poor Griffin had to raise himself during the month of October. It was pitiful.

Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind if this child happens to be male. :)

Anyway, once the nausea passed, everything else has been great. I got my energy back, which was just in time for the holidays. We are looking to a great Christmas with Nicholas's family in Atlanta. I'll try to post pictures of my baby bump soon!

December Daily: December 2-6

So, I fell a wee bit behind because of our fabulous trip to New York but here are all the pages. I'm having such a good time putting this album together!

December Daily: December 1st

Remember A Week in the Life? Ali Edwards, the genius behind that idea, also does a wonderful project called December Daily. Before the holidays begin, you design and create a scrapbook layout for the first 25 days of December then as the month goes along you fill in every day with pictures and stories.

I have been excited about this project for so long. Some of my fellow crafters came over the Sunday after Thanksgiving and we spent several hours putting together our albums. Then, I counted down the days until December 1.

We had plenty of stories to tell that day as Griffin started his first advent calendar and decorated his first tree! The pages are below and all the pictures are on flickr. Enjoy!

Music Class

Music Class 2010 from hollandnm on Vimeo.

Sarah watches Glenn Beck and it goes fine.

Several students in my class watch Glenn Beck and bring it up on occasion. While I know his general philosophy, I've only really watched his show via clips on The Daily Show. I decided to be fair I should probably watch an entire episode. I roped by grandmother in for what I described as an "adventure."

And away we go...

* A few minutes in, I think I've gotten emotional Glenn Beck, not political Glenn Beck...No, wait. We only get uplifted if we do the hard work. I'm supposed to downsize and purge. Where are my political ideas? I didn't watch this for organizational tips.

* Whoa! I didn't know Glen Beck was an alcoholic!

* Oh somehow we've moved into appreciating freedom. Guess that's not on the purge list. Neither is Glenn's Woodrow Wilson doll.

* Ronald Reagan Reference #1! Too bad I can't drink.

* We're hitting the hardest time in America's history. "Maybe with the exception of the Civil War." Maybe. MAYBE. In between telling us we should know about America's history, I wonder if Glenn had time to remind himself that 618,000 Americans died.

* We need to be our highest self. This is like half Rush Limbaugh - half Oprah.

* I'm learning about his 40 Day/40 Night Challenge. I wish I would have filmed Nicholas's reactions as I read this aloud. Excerpt: "Do the hard things." Nicholas response, "That's what she said."

* He's emphasizing Thanksgiving and going back to spirit of the first Thanksgiving. Sorry, I'm not trying to idealize Puritans. Those guys were jerks. Jerks who believed children who cursed their parents should be executed, fornication deserved a whipping, and that the Pope was the anti-Christ.

* Whoa. "Spacetime." You lost me Glen. I rewound. Still don't understand.

* New project but we don't get to know until next year.

* He's spending a lot of time on Wilmington, OH. A small town that's economy is tanking. There's a LOT of glamorizing the town and the people there, who are all noble apparently.

* I'm becoming concerned that Glenn doesn't have a point.

* OHHHHHHHHH he's going to cry!!!!!! Wait, he held it together. Damn.

(Commercial break)

* Ok, we're back to Wilmington, OH. I think that's our focus today.

* America is about to get punched in the face. I wasn't aware. Maybe we don't get to find out who is punching us until next year either.

* Where did Glenn Beck get a rabbi? That's what I want to know. Wait, I got my answer. Please not the Board of Directors.

* Half way there. This went faster than I expected.

(Commercial break)

* Fox News update.

* "Things are going to get worse in America." Damn. I guess I should keep that from my 18-month-old and fetus.

* My grandmother is out. She's had all she can take.

* We have to be on God's side. He jacked that quote from Honest Abe.

* He's pushing the secret project again.

* "If you've ever given me an ounce of credibility..." and the jokes just write themselves!!!

* "I've never asked for your trust." Somehow I don't believe that.

* To prepare for the secret project, we're downsizing and humbling ourselves... More talk of the secret project. I'm getting annoyed.

* We're supposed to be grateful. No beef there. Although we're supposed to "invoke loss" in order to really feel the gratitude. Not sure about that.

* "The problem with charity." Can't wait for this one.

(Commercial break)

* Receiving something for nothing corrodes our souls. We're supposed to help someone earn their own way. I was just thinking that Mother Theresa was out there CORRODING souls.

* Oh, he's using Oprah to prove his point OUT OF CONTEXT.

* FYI, if you don't give your kids chores, they will love you less.

(Commercial break)

Side note: There have been gold commercials at EVERY break.

* "Magic is going to happen...again." You gotta admire his confidence.

* Now, he's asking the soup kitchen guy about entitlement. The nice soup kitchen owner says he sees more grateful people who come back to help the soup kitchen. Glenn isn't happy with that answer so pushes for the negative experiences.

* I agree that some people aren't appropriately grateful for the things they receive (including rick people) but the difference between me and Glenn is I'm not sure you can do anything about that. People will always exploit the system. You just hope they're the minority.

(Commercial break)

* Bye bye Glenn! It's been swell.

So, that was...fun. I didn't realize that Glenn's message was so emotional and tied up in religion. I thought he was more overtly political. I've got to say I almost prefer that approach. If you want to argue policy, that's fine. Why does it have to be so linked to being a good person? Or being on "God's side"? Atheists can be patriotic freedom-loving Americans and there are liberal progressives who get down on their knees every day and pray...wait, this is starting to sound familiar. ;)

I'm sorry. WHAT!?!

Who taught my child this? I need to speak with you.

Happy Halloween!

We had a big Halloween celebration yesterday. Many happy little ones (and a few adults) came in costume. The weather was gorgeous and everyone had a wonderful time.

Not surprisingly, the cupcakes were a hit!

As was the bouncy house!

The big kids got to decorate their own trick or treat bags.

We pulled out the photo booth and repurposed it for Halloween!

Our attempt at a group shot! :)

Wurth Farms 2010

It was a beautiful day today so we decided to go out to Wurth Farms to pick out our pumpkin.

Griffin was extraordinarily picky. Touching each pumpkin before pronouncing, "No."

I can't believe it's already been a year since we took a little baby to the same pumpkin patch and had to prop him up against pumpkins to take pictures!

Sunny Days

We've been spending a lot of time at our local parks enjoying the glorious weather. Griffin has made several friends along the way.

The Celebrated Life

For several weeks now, my dear friend Millie Hahn and I have been discussing starting a business together. We have similar aesthetics and drive and complementary skills and talents. Most importantly, we both have a passion for parties.

This weekend was our first joint venture. We threw a baby shower for our friend Elizabeth and I have to say I think it was a beautiful success.

Our Inspiration:

The invitation:

The gorgeous cake with custom cake bunting.

The set up:

After we enjoyed cake and presents, we all make custom onesies for the new addition using heat transfer paper and fun fabrics.

The finished products:

Cookie favors which hung by the door for guests to pick up on their way out.

I think we make a great (AND CUTE!) team.