The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

I am learning that as parents, there are things that we do for our kids that even though we know is torturous for them, we do it anyway because it is necessary or, as I once promised myself I'd never tell my children, "for their own good".

Case in point: The snowsuit.

Marin hates this get up. And every time she is in it I am reminded of Ralphie from the famed A Christmas Story when he is dressed similarly and cries, "I can't put my arms down!!" I'm certain that if Marin could say the words, she'd agree, Ralphie.

The Best...

One of my greatest challenges in motherhood is figuring out how to be as great at this job as my mom is.

We love you, Mom. You're the best.

Ten Months Old!

Marin turned 10 months old in the heat of the Caribbean! And, although I brought along all the props, I still didn't get it together enough to take her 10 month picture that day. We took it shortly after we got home... and back in our own chair!

Here are a few things that Marin is up to lately:

* SHE'S WALKING!!! This is, of course, very exciting; but it is also very exhausting. She is on the move constantly. Marin still really prefers to hold onto something while she walks if its available, and she hasn't stopped crawling completely, but she is walking a lot!

* She is still very, very happy and is not shy or discriminatory with her smiles.

* Marin is turning into a little goof at times. She has this new smile that is literally from ear to ear and she gives it when she is being silly.

* She has learned to play with Norah. Marin will grab Norah's toy and hold it out to her. Norah then comes up and takes it. The only thing Marin hasn't learned to do is to let go after Norah has the toy. She's almost been dragged away a few times. We'll work on this one. :)

* Marin absolutely loves to dance. Every time she hears music of any kind, she bops up and down. I know this isn't new for her, but I have to say, it's adorable.

* She is getting a lot more vocal. She says "Ma-ma ba-ba" when she wakes up, letting me know that she wants a bottle. We're working a lot on communication and trying to make sure that she knows that we understand. She still says "da-da" a lot too, and a bunch of other sounds. She's getting pretty chatty. I know you are shocked, right? ;)

* She is going through a little bit of a mommy phase. It's not to the point of all out tantrums, but if I'm around she reaches for me and says ma-ma and wants to come to me. I have to admit, I do love that she wants me. But it has been kinda hard for Jas, so I promise not to encourage it. :)

* She still loves her musical toys and her board books that are easy for her to turn the pages. She likes to feel the pages of the books, so those with textural pages are her favorites at the moment. She also likes to snuggle with her soft stuffed animals.

* She is really interested in other children. Her friends at daycare were excited when baby Marin came back from vacation, and Marin was equally glad to be back in their company. The first day back, she walked right over to them with huge smiles after I took off her coat. You can scratch "socialization" off my list of possible things to worry about.

* Marin continues to be a champion sleeper. She sleeps long and hard. You can't believe some of the noises she sleeps through- steel drum bands, sirens, plane landings, the vacuum cleaner on hard wood... The one thing she can't sleep through: the horn of a cruise ship as it pulls away from the port.

* She waves hello and goodbye all the time. It's a new trick, and again, it's adorable.

* Marin claps her hands, and loves to do so. Especially if other people around her are clapping their hands. She claps her own little hands in applause as well!

* Another favorite game of hers (or maybe one of our favorite of her tricks) is when she imitates what you are doing. If you turn your head from side to side, she does it back. It's a sure way to get a laugh.

* She has almost mastered her pincer grip and wants to feed herself all the time.

* Since Marin has been walking, she's gotten herself into a few situations that we want her to know are dangerous or wrong, so we've had to start telling her no. So far, she's pretty good at listening. Most of the time when we say, "No-no, Marin" she looks at us to see if we are serious, and then she smiles and moves on.

We're having a ball with Marin this Christmas season. She is fascinated by the Christmas tree and the lights. But not so much by the snow suit and the hats. And, it's time to start thinking about her First Birthday Party! More fun ahead!

Three Tickets to Paradise!

We have just returned from 7 warm, glorious days in the Caribbean. For Christmas this year, Jason's parents took us on a family cruise. It was so much fun to be together! And it was the perfect week to get out of dodge; right after the first snow fall of the season- and right before the temperatures plummeted to single digits.

We had a great time swimming and exploring our three ports of call: Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Marin LOVES the water. She swam and splashed in the water from sunrise to sunset just about. I kept waiting for her to get cold or bored and want to get out, but she just continued to kick her little legs and splash away to her hearts content. Another discovery- she loves to eat sand. This one- not so good.

Marin was the hit of the cruise ship. Everyone commented on her sweet little smiles and her adventurous spirit as she danced, swam, waved and clapped her way around every corner of the ship. She made it on the big screen twice, and was even "interviewed" for the morning show one day. I'm her mother, so of course I think she's the cutest thing ever, but really everything is cute when it is small. Put a pint sized swimsuit and a sun hat on it, and you have a traffic stopper.

We had a great time together at dinner every night, and loved the shows as well! One night, Marin went onto the stage with the other children in the audience. She was younger than all of them by far, but she just sat there like she was born to be on stage. And, I'm sure the comfort of her pacifier (not otherwise allowed for anything but sleep) acted as a security blanket for her, and doubled as a mute button during the performer's song.

Jason and I were able to get out without Marin a few times due to everyone's help babysitting and an on board babysitter one night. We snorkeled, went on a rafting trip, and indulged in some pool side cocktails.
We laughed a lot. What better way to relieve stress than to sit in the sun with a cocktail laughing as the band plays "One Love". Or, as the case was on this trip- while Derek changes the words to songs about people sitting around the pool. I know it isn't nice to laugh at others, but it was their own choice to wear that speedo.

Thank you Bill and Debbie, for a very fun and generous gift. There is truly, no better gift than togetherness and laughter.

First Steps!!!

Sunday, November 22nd, Marin took her first two steps!! Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Jake and Aunt Katy were all witnesses. She isn't exactly off and running quite yet, but she is getting bolder, and has since taken 3 more consecutive steps.

She took her steps in our new house, amidst a thousand boxes. I literally, have maybe never been so proud!

Baby proofing every corner: check

Watching her like a hawk: check

Bribing her with food: check

Surviving little falls: check

"I Like Your Baby, Honey!"

The Friday before Thanksgiving, (November 20th), my Grandma Meyer passed away. At 96, she lived a very good and very full life.

On the coattails of Thanksgiving, I was able to reflect perhaps more than I would have under normal circumstances, about how thankful I was for her life, and my own. I am so thankful for every day we had with my Grandma. For the sweet way she would ask me, "What do you know, Johanna?" for the way she pointed out the birds from her chair, or commented on my outfit; especially when it was pink, her favorite color by far. But maybe what I am most thankful for, is that she was able to meet Marin.

My Grandma had Alzheimer's, and although it wasn't the worst case known to man, it was pretty advanced in the last few years. She didn't always remember that she had met Marin before, or what her name was, or even necessarily always connect that Marin was her great granddaughter; but I know she loved her all the same. I was asked to give my Grandma a eulogy at her funeral last week. And in the eulogy I said how much my Grandma lit up around Marin. She loved to hold her and watch her play. And every time she saw her, she would lean in close to me, touch my arm sweetly and say, "I like your baby, honey." I hope that I never forget the way she said that.

Marin's first Thanksgiving was a happy one. We went to my Grandma and Grandpa Martin's home for Thanksgiving. My Grandma and Grandpa Martin are 89 and 91 and continue to insist on preparing Thanksgiving dinner for 12 people. And it is all fresh, beautiful food prepared from scratch and served at the loveliest of tables. I am very thankful to be able to return to that table year after year. Everyone should be so lucky to have grandparents like my Grandma and Grandpa Martin. They are the absolute best!

And I am thankful for the people who shared our tables this weekend. My parents, who are always wonderful to Jason and I, have been so especially this year, as we have been renovating our house. My brother and his wife, my in-laws, and sister in law, Lindsay, have all helped us at every turn that was humanly possible. My Aunt and cousins were all in for my Grandma Meyer's funeral, and although that wasn't under the best of circumstances to see one another; it was so fun to be together- along with my Uncle, my parents and Jake and Katy- celebrating Grandma's life and recounting all the times she made us laugh.

I am thankful for my friends. You are one in a million. I am thankful for the many, many laughs we share.

I am thankful for our home, and for as perfect a move as possible. I am thankful for every bit of sweat that has been poured into our home. For every worker (friend or hired) who has passed through the door and has taken pride in the work that they have completed. I am especially thankful to Jason for literally bleeding love into our home. For working every single free second he has on building a beautiful home for our family.

And of course, I am thankful for my little angel love, Marin. Who has brought so much joy to everyone in the past few weeks. Babies should be a requirement at every funeral. It should be part of the package sold to you by the funeral directors. Because there is just no match for their innocent smiles, and their unwavering comfort, and their boundless love.

I feel very blessed. For the life I live and the people I share it with past and present. And I am thankful for the phrases like, "I like your baby, honey!" that make me smile again and again.

Nine Months Old!

9 Month Stats:
18 lbs.9 oz.
27 inches long

Marin was nine months old on Sunday. She's changing every day. We had a doctor's appointment today and are proud to report that Marin is growing perfectly. Best news a mom can ever receive. Here are a few of this months developments:

- Marin's favorite toys of late are her wooden blocks. They were Uncle Jake's, actually, and Grandma saved them for her someday grandchildren. We're so glad that she did; Marin loves them. They are brightly colored and are all different shapes. Marin especially loves the short round pieces, because they fit perfectly in her hands and the tops of them fit into her mouth. She likes to play with the blocks for a while, and then she carries the round ones with her around the room.

- Marin still does not have a single tooth. She gums on just about everything for relief.

- She is beginning to eat a few bigger pieces of food. Even though she is all gums, she can still chew food with her gums if it is soft enough. We all eat dinner together, and when Marin sees our food, she makes a chewing motion with her mouth like she wants a bite. We have given her pieces and she does a pretty good job. I'm totally petrified that she's going to choke though.

- Marin is "cruising" all over the place. She walks very well while holding onto the furniture, nearby hands or legs, Norah's back- anything she thinks will steady her enough to get her where she wants to go. She looks a little like a monkey sometimes. One hand on the chair while she walks along looking for the next spot where she can grab. I predict that she'll be walking on her own by next month.

- Marin stands on her own for short periods of time. The longest I have seen her stand is about 30 seconds.

- Marin continues to LOVE music. As soon as it plays she starts moving and dancing. She loves to dance.

- She loves jewelry. 'Atta girl, Marin. She loves anything that sparkles and she pulls on earrings and necklaces. We are constantly saying, "Marin, gentle." She loves playing with the heart charm at the end of my bracelet, and tries to put it in her mouth.

- Marin does not want to stop moving. Ever. Gee, I can't imagine where she gets that from. :)

- She's in a bit of a carseat boycott stage. Once she is in she doesn't make a peep, but she pitches a bloody fit going in. I usually try to distract her by singing a song or making some crazy noises accompanied by ridiculous facial expressions. That usually does the trick.

- Marin is a good little sleeper. Jason jokes that she gets this from her Aunt Lindsay. She goes right to sleep at night when we lay her down, and I usually have to wake her up the next morning to go to daycare. The two times we have let her sleep in, she has slept until almost 9am! She did go through a little phase where she would wake up at night and want her pacifier again, but the whole ordeal took about 30 seconds. Sometimes her eyes weren't even open. She does sometimes fight her naps a little bit. This she definitely gets from me. I hate naps. Always have; always will.

- Marin says "dada" a lot. I think she has even said it with recognition a few times. She definitely knows who "dada" is when we say it to her. She gets very excited. Of course I'm the one who bathes her, feeds her, clothes her, birthed her, and keeps a journal of it all... and she says "dada" like its going out of style. :) She has also said what sounded like "hi" twice, and she did actually say mama once a long time ago, but she was just mostly making noises.

- She also waves goodbye. She does this to me most mornings when I drop her off at daycare. It breaks my heart.

- Marin has little interest in the sippy cup. She wants to drink out of a "real" cup. It is a bit messy, but we still let her on occasion. I think mostly the cold water pooling on her gums feels good when she drinks out of a cup. We'll keep trying.

- Marin's easy going, happy personality is in tact. She really lets anyone hold her at any time. She does sometimes reach for me when someone else is holding her and I am close by, but she really doesn't fuss about it. In fact, we can go whole days without hearing any tears or fussing.

We have a big month ahead; including Marin's First Thanksgiving, moving into our new house and Marin's new room, and picking out her first Christmas Tree!