Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Christmas Glee

I must admit, I am a fan of the show Glee.  Not so much because I think it has a great story line (it can get pretty cheesy and ridiculous at times), but because I love music and I love the music on the show.  In fact, I oftentimes like their rendition of a song better than the original.  The show's musical style really fits my fancy.

Hence, I absolutely had to buy this year's Glee Christmas CD the moment I heard about it.  I have listened to it on constant repeat in my car ever since my purchase.  It's a pretty spectacular CD.  There are a few songs I could do without, but those are overshadowed by the wonderfulness the others.  The harmony on the album is amazing, and they added some great little Glee quirks to each track.



Here are my ratings of the track list:

1 star = I'd rather leave it off the album
2 stars = I usually skip it, but listen occasionally
3 stars = pretty good, although I sometimes skip it if I'm not in the mood
4 stars = I really enjoy it and rarely skip it
5 stars = it's amazing and I skip TO it

1. We Need A Little Christmas - 4 stars
2. Deck the Rooftop - 5 stars
3. Merry Christmas Darling - 3 stars
4. Baby It's Cold Outside - 1 star
5. The Most Wonderful Day of the Year - 4 stars
6. Last Christmas - 5 stars
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - 5 stars
8. O Christmas Tree - 1 star
9. Jingle Bells - 4 stars
10. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - 2 stars
11. Angels We Have Heard On High - 4 stars
12. O Holy Night - 4 stars

So, if you're looking for a new Christmas CD for this season,  I have a recommendation.  Glee it up. :)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Free MP3s from Amazon (Yay!)

Want some free music?

Go to the link below, follow the instructions, and Amazon will deposit 3 bucks into your mp3 account. Pretty sweet if you ask me. :)

http://amzn.to/bdHVvZ

{via}

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Christmas cards!!

The Christmas season is quickly approaching!!  And with Christmastime comes Christmas cards.  Although I bowed out and failed to send them last year, I feel somewhat obligated to send out cards this season, given we have a new addition to our family.

So...Christmas cards it will be.  This year I'll be using Shutterfly...not only because they offer great products (I've ordered pictures and created photo books through them in the past), but because they're also offering a great deal for bloggers.  (Feel free to contact me if you're interested in finding out about it!)

I want to send out a card with several different pictures of our little family, so I'm leaning toward one of the following Christmas cards:





I want the card to actually say "Merry Christmas", so I guess that sort of eliminates the first card, although I really like the light blue.  After that I'll choose one based on how well our pictures fit into the picture slots.  Attempting to take family pictures with Krew today was...entertaining...so I am sort of limited in my photo selection. :)  I actually really like this card, also, because it allows you to add extra words and tell a little bit about your family.  Ah, decisions, decisions!

And in case you're curious, Shutterfly also offers lots of other awesome products: greeting cards, photo Christmas cards, personalized mugs, birthday cards, and holiday invitations. Check them out. :)  (Some of the personalized items would make great Christmas gifts for family members!)

What about you?  How are you creating your Christmas cards?  (Or are you creating them at all?)

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Babyhood: Week 37

Week 37!! Holy camoly I'm old!!
Here is your 37th week update by yours truly (Krewson).
(November 12th through November 18th)

*Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Gordie visited this week and it was so much fun!  I got lots of cuddles and lots of attention.  Those are two things I enjoy very much.  (Who doesn't?)  We did lots of shopping and lots of hanging out.  And Grandma taught Mommy how to sew the bottoms of shirts on a sewing machine, so now Mommy can turn my too-short onesies into shirts for me so I can keep wearing them. :)
*I must say that my favorite toy of all, now that I can crawl, is my doggies' water bowl.  It is just so much fun!! As soon as Mommy or Daddy put me down on the floor, that's the first thing I head toward.  Lots of times Daddy and Mommy put the bowl way up high before I can get to it, but sometimes they let me play in it and don't worry about the mess.  Then I splash and splash and sit and dump the bowl on my lap and make a giant puddle in the kitchen.  It's the best time ever.
*Sunday when Daddy and Mommy picked me up from the nursery at church, the lady volunteers told them that it might be time for me to move to the bigger babies' room.  The bigger room's sign says it's for 10-month-olds, and that's not me (I'm just 8 months old), but the ladies said I'm "very mobile" and "very friendly" and that I like to "play" with the other babies and so maybe I should be with some older kids.  (Well, of course I want to play with the other babies! What else would I do?  Stare at them?)  So I guess that's where I'll be going next week.  To the 10-month-old room.  I hope I make some new friends quickly!
*On Sunday night I started saying "muh muh muh muh muh" when I wanted more food.  Mommy's not sure if I'm saying "Mama" or "more" (and I'm not quite sure either, to be honest), but either way she gives me more food when I say it and I like that.  Then, since that worked so well for getting food, I thought I'd see what other kinds of things it would get me.  So now I say it all the time, everywhere I go.  I think Mommy's confused now.  But really Mommy, it's pretty easy to interpret.  It means "Give me what I want!!!  NOW!!!"  Is that so hard??
*I pull up to my knees and almost to my feet quite a lot now, so Mommy decided it was time to raise the side of my crib up high.  Which I thought would be ok, until I realized that she is too short for this change and now has no choice but to practically DROP me into my crib.  Awesome, Mommy.  Just awesome.  So much for smooth, sleepy transitions from Mommy's arms to the crib.  Nope.  Now I have to count sheep TWICE every night.
*One other thing Mommy did this week that I did NOT like was that she decided I needed to remember how to roll over.  So she laid me on my back over and over and over and over and over again.  I'd lay there and whine and yell until she gave my shoulder a little nudge and I'd remember that I could roll over.  Then as soon as I got on my belly and smiled, she'd put me right back on my back again.  And ooooooh I got mad.  But guess what.  After about two days of that, I remembered how to roll over.  And now I do it all the time.  Especially when she's trying to change my diaper (so I can get her back).
*On Wednesday night, Mommy decided to give me a small piece of her baked potato, and I gagged really bad.  Like really really bad.  Like she was pounding my back and my eyes turned all red and watery.  After that she gave me much smaller bites, and I did better, although the first bite to begin with was pretty small.  Then after that she decided to give me some pureed green beans with baby cereal, and I gagged on every bite of that too.  Like serious gagging, people.  Eyes-turning-red, I-think-I-might-puke gagging.  Mommy kept saying to Daddy, "I don't understand what's going on! He eats these all the time! Why is he gagging on them now??"  So I decided to open my mouth a bit wider for one bite, so Mommy could see inside my mouth.  Well, she caught a glimpse of something weird-looking in there, so she stuck her finger in and swiped it around, and LO AND BEHOLD, she pulled out...........a LEAF!!!  Oh yes everyone, I had been storing a leaf from outside in my mouth for only the Lord knows how long.  I hadn't been on the ground in about an hour, if that gives you a general time frame.  Mommy and Daddy had no idea where the leaf came from...they're pretty good about sweeping the floor a lot.  And this leaf was a rough, jagged leaf.  Some leaves are soft and smooth...this one was not.  So you can imagine the struggles I was having, trying to eat a normal meal while storing a leaf in my mouth! It was not an easy feat!! Well, after the leaf removal, I was a happy camper and gobbled my meal right up.  I think Daddy and Mommy were relieved, also, that they found the leaf before anything not-so-good happened.  Thank you for helping me, Mommy!

Me and Grandma Nancy

Me and Grandpa Gordie


Thumbs up, Dude!



Fun times with Mommy

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I Heart Reading

I love to read.  Like really really love to read.  I have piles of magazines all over my house (which I somewhat unsuccessfully try to blend in with the decor) and so many books that I've begun donating some to Goodwill because I'm out of bookshelf space.

So it shouldn't surprise you that every time a "good" book is mentioned to me, I feel obligated to record its title and author so that in the "near" future (when I have oodles of free time and have completed my perusal of all the other books currently stacked in my house), I can read this supposed wonderful book.

Here is my current list of titles to read.
Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild
Who Switched Off My Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Think and Make it Happen by Dr. Augusto Cury
Marriage on the Rock by Jimmy Evans
Covenant Marriage by Gary Chapman
Your New House by Alan Fields
Toddler 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown M.D.
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks by Edward Ugel
My Formerly Hot Life by Stephanie Dolgoff
One Dog at a Time by Pen Farthing
The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
The Carb Lovers Diet by Ellen Kunes and Frances Largeman-Roth
Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
Ends of the Earth by Tim Downs
Mini Shopaholic (and other novels in series) by Sophie Kinsella
Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez
The Wave by Susan Casey
The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart
Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown
You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers
With Friends Like These by Sally Koslow
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley
Dead End Gene Pool: A Memoir by Wendy Burden
Baby Love by Norah O'Donnell
True Spirit by Jessica Watson
Ah-Choo! by Jennifer Ackerman
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Room by Emma Donaghue
Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski
At Home by Bill Bryson
Spoiled by Caitlin Macy
The Kids Are All Right by Diana, Liz, Amanda and Dan Welch
The Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Bound by Antonya Nelson
How to Build a Fire by Erin Bried
Wake Up Laughing by Rachel St. John-Gilbert
Rescue by Anita Shreve

Ah, how I'd love to make the time to read some of these...

What about you? Have you read any on my list?  What books are on YOUR list?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Misc Tidbits

Below are just a few of the tidbits I've collected from the piles of magazines I attempt to read on a regular basis.  I think most of these ideas came from Parenting Magazine or Real Simple.  I thought they were worth writing down, so that makes me think they're worth sharing, also.  Happy end-of-Wednesday! (I will be heading to bed after I hit "Publish Post.")

* Use raw spaghetti strands to light hard-to-reach candles.
* Cover your snow shovel with nonstick cooking spray so the snow slides off easily.
* Hang Christmas lights vertically on the tree instead of wrapping them around and around.  (Supposedly you can't tell the difference.)
* Apply a thin layer of nail polish to the bottom rim of a shaving-cream can to prevent rings from forming on the tub ledge.
* Wipe a damp sponge over upholstery to remove pet hair and lint.
* (This is more for the moms.)  Instead of throwing away broken crayons, place the pieces into fun baking molds and put them in the oven at 300 degrees for about ten minutes (or until they're melted completely).  The result is  a really cool-shaped crayon that's all different colors.

* To loosen your microwave's splatters and stains in a flash, heat a bowl of water and lemon juice on high for 5 minutes.  Then wipe the oven clean with a solution made from 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon baking soda. 
Picture source unknown

Monday, November 15, 2010

Babyhood: Weeks 34 through 36

I (Krewson) have so many exciting things to tell you about the last three weeks!!  This is going to be a super-long post, so feel free to skim if you'd like. :)

Week 34 (October 22nd through October 28th)
*On Saturday of this week we went to Charlotte to be at Grandpa John's surprise birthday party.  He turned 50 whole years old.  (Wow!)  I was really glad I could be there with all the family to tell him happy birthday.  I think he was glad I was there, too. :)
*Instead of just taking one or two crawl steps, I started officially crawling!  Daddy and Mommy were so proud.  Although Mommy was a bit surprised at how overnight I suddenly started getting into everything.  But come on, Mommy, I'd been waiting almost 8 months to explore like this!!
*This week I tried biting Mommy while I was nursing and that didn't go over too well.  My teeth made her bleed and she yelled at me and then I cried and cried.  And then she was crying cuz she felt so sad.  Daddy held me until I stopped crying, then I looked at Mommy and saw her crying and started crying all over again.  Then I was scared to nurse because I didn't want to upset Mommy like that again, so Daddy had to sing to me to calm me down enough for me to finish my bedtime meal.  It was a rather traumatic evening.
*Toward the end of this week we flew to Florida to stay with Great Gran (Great Grandma Millie) so Daddy could play in his ultimate frisbee nationals.  Great Gran was super excited to see me.  Daddy had his first round of games on Thursday and me and Mommy stayed all day so he'd know how much we love him.

 
I got a present in the mail from Great Aunt Sandy and Great Uncle Jeff!!  And then Mommy made me wear it even though it wasn't Halloween yet.

Hanging out with cousin Taylor at Grandpa's birthday party.

Me and 50-year-old Grandpa.

My family on that side.

Sleeping on the airplane on the way to Florida.

Hanging out with my friend Haley on the fields.

I LOVED this puppy!! 
 I got so excited that I scared her away and she hid from me. 
 I tried to chase her down but Mommy held me back.

Hello!

Chillin' with Mommy.

I had some crazy sunscreen hair that day.

Week 35 (October 29th through November 4th)
*We stayed with Great Gran all the way till Monday of this week so that Daddy could play lots of frisbee games.  He played on Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday!!!  Holy cow I would have been so tired if I was him.  I hung out with Mommy under the tent.  She let me crawl around and play with grass and eat puffs.  When I got sleepy she'd hold me or push me in the stroller until I fell asleep and then let me take a nap in there.  It was a pretty great time.
*While we were on the frisbee fields, Mommy held my hands and I walked (supported) for the very first time!  I thought it was such great fun, I giggled the whole time.  So Mommy walked me all kinds of places, and I giggled and giggled.
*On Sunday (my first Halloween!) we watched the final frisbee game and then we went to Siesta Key Beach and it was my first time seeing the ocean!  I loved the sand and crawled around and played and played and played.  Mommy also tried to take me to see the water, but I did not like that.  I was very very scared of the water.  I clung to Mommy and tried to pick my legs up and whimpered really loud.  So she pretty much kept me up away from the waves so I wouldn't have to be so scared anymore.  (In fact, the water traumatized me so much that I was scared of my bath that night.)
*This week I got super good at crawling and at getting to a sitting position from my belly.  It makes adventuring a lot easier.  I especially love crawling to the dogs' beds and trying to climb in.  Crawling is just so awesome.  I never have to whine at Daddy or Mommy because I can't get back to the position I want.  I'm just always how I want to be.
*Unless, that is, they put me on my back.  See, somewhere along the way, I seem to have forgotten how to roll over.  I know that sounds silly, but I'm very serious.  I can't remember how to do it.  So if Mommy or Daddy put me on my back, I'm like a beached whale.  I can't move.  And I get super fussy super quick and start yelling until someone helps me flip over.  Mommy keeps putting me on my back, thinking I'll figure it out again, but I see no sense in this.  I don't need to lay on my back anymore.  I can crawl.  So cut it out, Mommy.

Mommy bathed me in Great Gran's sink. I liked it cuz I could reach lots of things I wasn't supposed to reach.

Oh please oh please just let me sleep.

Showing my Halloween spirit a day early!!


Grass is AWESOME.

Mommy's friend Sarah drove EIGHT HOURS to come see me!! I felt so special. (Ok, ok, she might have sort of come to see Mommy.)

Resting with my Daddy after his games.

Me and Great Gran!

Watching the finals game with Haley on Sunday.

I can't find my puff. Have you seen it?

What IS this stuff??

Mommy trying to show me the water. I didn't like it one bit.

I took a break from playing in the sand to join Mommy in reading her magazine. I helped her turn the pages. Or something like that. (Mostly I just got sand in her magazine, but she didn't mind too much.)

Daddy showing me a seagull.

Family photo!

Week 36 (November 5th through November 11th)
*I turned 8 months old this week!! Check out my monthly pics with Mr. Alligator here.
*This week I started waving at people, and wow did everyone get excited.  At my Mommy's Bible study, all the girls were waving at me at once!!  And they were all so proud.  Especially Mommy.
*This week I also started getting lots of stranger anxiety.  I whimpered when Daddy took me to Eileen on Monday for daycare, I cried at Eileen's when one of my friend's daddy came to visit, and I also cried when Daddy and Mommy tried to let their friends' sons watch me in another room during their church life group.   I just really prefer to be with my Daddy and Mommy right now.  Sorry, everyone else.
*I'm getting super good at eating grown-up food now.  (In little pieces, of course.)  Mommy gives me pasta and chicken and bread and all kinds of yummy stuff.
*This week I also decided to sometimes go to bed when other kids my age go to bed.  Two nights I fell asleep at 7:30 pm.  Mommy and Daddy didn't know what to do with themselves when I fell asleep so early.  In fact, they were so bored without me that they went to bed early, too.  Or maybe they were just tired.  I dunno.

Mommy did horribly at taking pictures of me this week and only took my 8-month pictures.  So here is a picture from that photo shoot to hold you over 'til next time...

8 months old! Yay!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

8 Months Old

Krew turned 8 months old yesterday (Friday)!
Here's his monthly pic with Mr. Alligator:



Months 1 through 8:



And his 8-month photo shoot, for your viewing enjoyment: