Merry Christmas

This year we very nearly canceled Christmas in the Dahl House. Our house was (and is) still in shambles. I had declared that we would not put up a Christmas tree until I had finished painting the living room. It is much harder to texture and paint a room than it used to be. Something about a small child being in the house. Well, we decided that Cormac simply couldn't live his first Christmas without a tree and decorations, so we finally gave in and ventured out into our backyard to find a tree.

The only tree small enough to cut down was quickly found and we did a quick photo op, and then Cormac and I retreated back into the house while Ammon cut down the tree and placed it in the stand.
Sandy and Charlie were perched outside on their wall watching us decorate through the dining room window. They too were looking forward to Santa coming. Unfortunately, they found themselves on the naughty list and so their pickings were a bit slim on the blessed day.

The day after we put up our tree (which happened to be only 5 days before Christmas) our tree decided that it had had enough. We came home to discover that perhaps it would have been better to cancel Christmas after all. So we took a trip to Home Depot to get a stud finder. Ammon then skillfully hung the tree from the ceiling. He said that if it fell down again he would have to retire as a man. We are not exactly sure what he would be at that point. So far it is still standing as is Ammon's manhood.
We were able to celebrate Christmas Eve at my Aunt Julie's house. Cormac and I were jolly as we ate fabulous home made pizza and sipped frappe.
Each Christmas Eve it is the tradition of my mom's family (those whom we were celebrating with) to do a white elephant gift exchange. Having moved into a house where a lot of treasures had been left behind, Ammon and I were really looking forward to this event. Ammon had to fashion a box to contain one of the gifts. We ran out of packing tape so he used duct tape. He also did the wrapping.
Here is the first treasure that we bestowed upon our family. Uncle Jesse was lucky enough to open up this beauty. He didn't end up with it. But we know that Stacy will treasure it always. I believe she has plans to hang it in her bathroom.
Our other gift was a box full of those lovely springs that you find on screen doors. Not sure why we had a box of them, but they made a wonderful gift. After the gift exchange Cormac had his first starting roll in a play as Baby Jesus.
That night Santa found our house. He also found our tree still standing. As you can see, despite Charlie and Sandy not making the nice list, Cormac did very well.
Cormac was happy to start out with his stocking where he got shoes. He also opened Sandy and Charlie's stockings. They weren't too naughty I guess, they did get treats and balls for chasing.
Cormac loves his new play yard. He is fascinated by it. And today we learned that he can roll from his back to his side and back again all by himself. He had to check himself out in the mirror after all. Then it was back to staring at the giraffe. We got a range stove from Santa as a family gift. I have enjoyed it thoroughly so far. Making cinnamon rolls has never been so wonderful. I also received the most glorious pair of snow boots which have been particularly handy with the recent storm. They are also fashionable. Ammon got some walkie talkies that we have been having fun with. He also got a chain saw, but I think we are needing to exchange it for a different version, so it is still in the box.
After the presents we joined my Aunt Harriet and her family for the most fabulous prime rib dinner. Harriet is too good to us. One of the benefits of being back in Utah Valley is Harriet's divine cuisine. We also played a game that Ammon and I were horrible at. Apparently we don't watch enough T.V.
And at the end of the day I found my boys asleep on the couch amidst all the wrapping and boxes. I guess it is good we didn't cancel Christmas. It was a wonderful day. Now we are gearing up to have all of our family here for Cormac's blessing this coming Sunday. It will be an event to remember. I would imagine that after we get through this week of getting our house prepped and then through the actual event you can bet you will find all three of us passed out on the couch, sort of like the above picture. I hope you all had a merry Christmas. We sure did.

My Future

It is sort of hard to tell from this picture, but Ammon is sporting a shorter haircut than usual. Let me start off by saying that it has now been decided that I should not plan my future around becoming a hairdresser or barber. Let me paint a picture for you:

It had been a hard day. It was a Saturday and both Ammon and I had spent the whole day working hard. We were both exhausted, but Ammon needed a haircut. He had needed one for a long time, but the largest attachment we have for his clippers is a 1 inch; which Ammon feels is too short. So we had put it off. We had even looked on another occasion for more attachments, but had failed (where does one find those anyway?). However, it was time. The back of his hair was getting curly (his son's is starting to do this now too). and it was time. So, we got out all the equipment. Ammon put the first attachment on, handed me the machine, and sat down. I placed the machine in the middle of his forhead and started the first pass down the middle of his head. As I was cutting I was thinking, "holy cow, this is A LOT of hair; how could we let it get this long." I got a little over halfway done with that row when Ammon calmly asked, "what size do you have on there?" You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach, the I-just-did-something-really-bad-and-am-going-to-get-it-when-Dad-gets-home feeling? That is the feeling I got. I burst into tears (I'm still nursing, chalk that one up to hormones). Now, don't get me wrong, I had no dilusions that I would "get in trouble" by Ammon, but I did think he would be upset and I felt really bad. The whole reason we had put off this haircut was because Ammon didn't want his hair that short.

You see. Normally when I cut Ammon's hair I start at the base of the neck and do the shortest layer first. Ammon had put the attachment on that would have been the back of his hair. I had blown it. I ran and got a mirror. Then Ammon did something that amazed me. He started laughing. He thought it was funny! I finished the haircut with the much shorter attachments and he still looks extremely handsome, as usual. But we have decided that hair cutting is probably not in my future. It may not even be in my future as far as my two boys are concerned. Ammon may never trust me again.

But, to be honest, I think he will. Ammon still thinks it's funny. He could have been mad. He could have been really upset. Heaven knows I would have been. But he chose to react calmly. Just proof that I have the best husband in the world. He is so good to me. And he is always cool and collected in bad situations. He is so innovative and he gets us through rough times by the way he reacts, and by always being a thinker. I'm so thankful to have him. And just look at how cute he is snuggled up with his son, sleeping on the couch.

Dear Daddy,

Three days was way too long for you to be gone. Look at what Mommy did to me trying to get hand and foot prints:

And we both missed you so much. Please don't go away anymore. We need you at home.

Love,

Cormac

P.S. When you get home we are going to have to put you right to work fixing the water line that broke and is spraying water all over the outside of the house. Never a dull moment in this house. Yet another example of why you shouldn't leave us.

A Real Person

It's now official. Cormac got his first bit of mail confirming that he is in fact a real person!

This is why

Why is my life so good you ask. Well, let me show you:

HauteLook

I am not normally one to put in random plugs for things. But this particular plug could be beneficial to me as well. So, I recently signed up with HauteLook. I am not really that in to getting designer products, but I am very in to getting major discounts. Behold my savings:

This sling carrier generally retails for around $160. I got it for $42!

Both of these products for Cormac's Christmas were over 50% off.

Now, if you are into designer things, they have great deals. If you are just into getting a deal, then this is also good. I get points if you sign up and buy things as well, and those points double during the month of December. So, if you are interested check it out here, and save big while helping a girl out.

Happy Birthday

Maybe it's been a year since I wrote a blog, but it's Melanee's birthday, so Happy Birthday Melanee!

This morning I got up and was getting ready for work. Cormac was waking up like he often does when I get up. He thinks he needs to take my spot in our bed. I picked him up but it wasn't me he wanted. I held him there at the side of the bed until he squeaked loud enough to wake up Melanee. I told her that the two of us wanted to wish her a happy birthday. She said Cormac had been wishing her a happy birthday all night. I typically sleep while she is up with him all night and don't even know about it. She is good to me. She is a wonderful wife and an amazing mother. Thank you Melanee. I love you.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone. I started the holiday off by spending a day sewing with my aunt. She graciously agreed to teach me how. I'm a slow learner, but she is patient. Thanks Teresa.

Ammon came and picked Cormac and I up after sewing lessons and we headed out to Nevada. We spent the rest of the weekend showing off our baby to Ammon's family, playing with nieces and nephews, and eating lots of turkey.

And today Cormac got a new cousin. Welcome to the world Ruby Jean! We are excited to meet you.

One Month Old

I am stealing an idea from my dear friend Heidi. Each month she takes a picture of her little boy with the same toy and a little sign saying how old he is. I loved this idea the first time I saw it and so I am plagiarizing it (sorry Heidi). Our little Cormac is growing at an incredible rate. In true Dahl fashion he is getting long legs. He is now 22.5 inches long. He's grown a whole inch and a half in just one month. I don't have a baby scale, but based on measuring him here at home I know that he is now over 10 lbs. He was 8 lbs 8.5 ounces when he was born. Here are some other fun things about our little month old (can it really have been that long ago).

~He loves to snuggle and be held.

~He does not like tummy time, even though he is so strong and can already lift his head and shoulders pretty well.

~He loves to swing in his swing and bounce in his bouncer.

~He is comforted by his hands, he loves to have them on his face or close to his chest.

~His favorite sleeping position is flat on his back with his arms high above his head followed closely by sleeping on his side.

~He hates to have his diaper changed or to have clothes put on or off.

~He still isn't sure about bath time.

~He is vocal! But he rarely cries (unless you put him in his bed at night). He loves to make sound effects. We call him squeakier, can you guess why?

~He's a mover. When he's on his tummy he scoots himself up and tries to roll over. If he is awake he is moving. If he is sleeping half the time he is moving.

~He is the cutest little thing.

We just love and adore this little guy. Our family was really needing this addition. I asked Ammon what he wanted to say about Cormac on our blog. He just said, "He's a good boy." Yup, that pretty much says it.

For Uncle Nick

It should be orange. But we got close.

Unpacking Treasures

I love unpacking. Especially when you unpack boxes that have been in storage for a long time. I always run across some treasure. This glass is from the prom that Ammon and I attended back in the day: Still of the Night. Ah, the memories.

Pictures for Grandparents-part 2

Just a few more.

Pictures for Grandparents-part 1

Don't mind me. I just wanted to post a few pictures of Cormac taken on his 3 week birthday.

We Do Bathrooms

I don't know why we feel the need to buy fixer uppers. I don't know why we like to remodel. And for some reason we always need to fix the bathroom. This one was in desperate need from before we bought it. We knew that this would be our first challenge with our new house.

My Aunt Harriet mercifully cleaned the bathroom for us. We will forever be in her debt. We were able to shower in relative comfort for the last week that we lived in our home. Yesterday morning our bathroom looked like this:

By bedtime last night we were down to this:

And now tonight, as we approach bed time, our bathroom looks like this:

It's a good thing we like fixer uppers. At least with this bathroom remodel we have another working toilet in the house. Last time we had to run to the gas station when nature called. Don't worry, Ammon works fast. By the end of tomorrow we will have a tub in place again. And this one will have jets!