It's all in the text...

There is a Biblical proverb that says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6).
In moments of seriousness, I take this to mean that we are to we raise our child to know the difference between right and wrong, to respect and value life, to honor his parents, and to love Jesus.

However, in moments of levity, perhaps a looser translation...?

I'm just sayin' :)

The Mobile

When I was registering for baby items, I decided that I wanted to have a crib mobile. But since I put so much thought and energy into designing the nursery to have a certain look, I didn't want the look ruined by a big old gaudy plastic noisy mobile. I wanted something more "vintage" or "organic" looking. I was registering on Amazon and I was able to find some mobiles that fit the description but I thought they were pretty pricey for what they were. Consequently, the thought eventually occurred to me that I could just make my own. How did it go? Well, let's not say that it was a decision I came to regret, but it was certainly one that made me realize why they were priced that way on Amazon. I took on the project and dragged future Grammy with me for the ride. First we picked out trim and felt at the fabric store.

I found an owl template and inspiration on this sewing blog and then we had to just get to work snipping and cutting and measuring and tracing

Check out that stylish Grammy! And notice how Sam always has to be a part of the action. 

Anyways, after we cut and assembled the owl pieces of felt, they had to be sewn and glued together, and then stuffed with batting. My wonderful sisters (at the time, future aunties who were so excited about the prospect of a nephew they didn't mind being roped into a crafting project for his new room) helped me with that step, but I sadly didn't get any pictures. 

Next, we had to string up each owl from the top of it's head and then put little stars on each string. Turns out the new and splendidly long dining room table comes in handy for crafting!

Here they are all assembled...and Sam is already devising and scheming to get his paws on them

The next step proved to be much harder than anticipated, hence the paucity of photographs - i.e. none. You may notice that the mobile in the blog above was fashioned from dowel rods...well my hubby had the idea of using sticks instead. I found some sticks outside and then we had to drill holes through them without cracking the sticks and then string each owl from a corner and try to get it to balance level. Not an easy feat! But thanks to some ingenuity from Grammy, the feat was accomplished and the project was complete. 

Now it hangs in a place of honor above the crib in little Will's room.

I think the little owls are just the cutest, especially those beady little button eyes

Here is the view that my little guy sees...or as close as I could get to reproducing it without actually climbing into the crib myself

And here he is, at the tender age of only 4 weeks, already enjoying it. 

2 months of fun

Recently, my mother told me she thinks the only reason I wanted to have a baby was so that I would have a fun, new photography prop.

I must admit, sometimes I think she might be right. :)
Happy 2 months son!

Our new family's first Christmas

I know everybody has already moved on to the new year, and many people have blogged about resolutions and contemplations for the new year. However, I am still savoring Christmas, and I am not ready to move on yet. Admittedly, we did take down all the decorations yesterday, but that was only because my OCD husband made us. I think if I had it my way, they'd still be up come Valentines Day.

Our Christmas week was a wonderful one. My husband and I were struck repeatedly throughout the merrymaking and festivities with how blessed we are to have our own wonderful extended families and now our little son. We remember our deep desire and longing to start a family and how discouraged we were feeling at this time last year when that just did not seem to be happening. This time last year, we had no idea that we would be here today, getting our little son dressed and bathed for his first Christmas celebration...

I know, he looks thrilled with his little fancy Christmas day outfit.

Almost as thrilled as he was with his Christmas Eve outfit

And who says they don't make cute baby boy clothes? :)

Christmas Eve was a wonderful first for both Will and his little cousin Penny, who incidentally is not so little anymore. She jabbered all evening long, read books with Grampy and opened her own gifts

(PS I made that hat for her. No, silly, not the Santa hat!)
Isn't she the cutest little thing?

William behaved himself pretty well. He enjoyed hanging out with his dad and uncle and the rest of the family.

Ok, well "hanging out" could be loosely interpreted as snoozing most of the day.

Christmas morning with my family was equally fun - a few of those pictures I already posted here.
In the afternoon we headed out to Wisconsin and got there just in time to see a lovely winter sunset over the lake behind my aunt's beautiful house.

Will got to meet his extended family on my mom's side, and spent a lot of the time looking up at them...with adoring curiosity (at least that is how I choose to interpret this face):

For the Christmas potluck my contribution was a cosmopolitan jello mold, the recipe for which I found here.

It turned out rather yummy. My family loved it. They are a good German family which means they like their booze. I'll let the pictures do the talking:

The next morning we had a relaxing time, and I had some time to capture a few shots incorporating his First Christmas gear since he'll never be wearing it again. (sob!)

Check out those reindeer feet!

I also had to get some shots around the house...taking in the lights, the decorations and the scents...savoring them before packing them up again for another long (well, really short) 11 months.

Yes, that is a Sam-cat in the background, probably contemplating which ornament to pounce on...

Had some fun tummy time by the big picture window out of which he loves to gaze...

I guess some might think we are bad parents because we did not get our son anything for Christmas. He would not remember it anyways. Hopefully he also will not remember how his crazy photographer mother shamelessly squeezed his large tummy into the too-small stocking all for the sake of some cute photos:

Judging from the look on his face, I think he forgave me.

Merry Christmas 2011 to all, and I'll throw in a Happy New Year as well :)