Baby's First Christmas (Pics)

Merry Christmas!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

This lady visits our front yard throughout the day. I now hear her coming before I see her. She's fond of the Oak and the sweet gum trees.

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker

This boy is ready with his Power Ranger camera.

Scooby-Man on a bird-watching expedition

A Little Obsession

I debated posting pictures of birds again, but if you read my blog regularly, you know I get obsessive about new hobbies and that part of the deal with opening up my page is getting the crazy with the good. Sometimes crazy is good.

Yesterday I asked Joe if we could go on a date during the boys' nap time, so we jumped in his truck, turned it around and sat in the driveway to watch birds. You didn't think I'd leave my babies home alone, did you? Well Daniel came running out the garage freaking out in tears because he'd seen us from his bedroom window and thought we were leaving. So our date became more of a partial family outing, Puckett-style (remember our Country Club?).

It's gotten to where any time I try to sneak off to quietly observe, after about five minutes, Daniel comes bolting to join me yelling, "Bird watch with you, Mommy!". I love his enthusiasm. God bless him.

Junco

Nuthatch

Birdwatching from the cab of the truck

Blue Jay (don't stare too long or your eyes will cross)

Chickadee

Crazy Bird Lady in a Truck

Downy Woodpecker

Female Cardinal

Male House Finch

Optimism

I'm sure you have seen this commercial at some point, but this morning was the first time I actually looked up to watch it, and it totally cracked me up.



When it comes to optimism, I've always had it for others but never for myself. I wouldn't say I had pessimism concerning myself but rather realism – nah. I’m kidding myself here. It was arrogant pessimism. I knew I wasn't that pretty. I knew I'd never be a famous artist. I knew not everyone was going to like me. This never prevented me from working hard to be, do, and create my best, but it did prevent me from hanging out with certain people because I knew I wasn’t cool enough and thus decided to reject them before they rejected me.

As I've hit 30, optimism and pessimism have become obsolete. In the words of Stuart Smalley, “I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!“ I've become a smidgen more conformable in my own skin and am learning that while I will always be a little socially awkward, I have a knack for making people laugh and be comfortable in their skin as well. While I still have hopes and aspirations, I'm learning that through Jesus, I can be okay with who I am now trusting that if there are places to go and things to do, He is not going to leave me hanging.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret now. Recently I had this terrifying thought that I might let life pass me by and never amount to anything more than what I am now. What if God entrusted me with all this potential to do something much larger that I have dared aspire to? For instance, I felt like a real let-down and sell-out when I realized my plans of being an overseas missionary were crushed.

Here I am on the other side of 30 and my list of accomplishments might look impressive to some and still pale in comparison to others, yet I reflect on the words of Paul, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

It is easy for me to get caught up in who I am rather than in Christ. It’s far too easy to focus on what I will be and what I will accomplish – even if these are veiled in the guise of being for Jesus. The fact of the matter is that all that is yet to be accomplished was accomplished when Jesus was born as a baby to live life as one of us and before us and later defeat death on the cross. What comes next is icing on the cake, watching God play out his redemption amidst the sorrows of this world and being blessed enough to his servant and tool in His hand.

When I said optimism and pessimism are now obsolete, that was a lie. I’d hoped they would be. Sure, I’m laying aside some of my insecurities, I’m settling into this time of life accepting that amidst the diapers, laundry, and part time job there is no time to pursue excellence at the pottery wheel or write a masterpiece novel or do international work, but it is still a daily struggle to quit being so darn self-obsessed and self-depreciating at the same time.

In reality, optimism and pessimism are one in the same. Both are inward rather than upward looking. Both are the assigning of an identity to ourselves rather than accepting the one given by Jesus. Jesus came on a pretty long and difficult journey just to give us these new identities – children of the most high God. Need there be more?

My New Shopping Friend

All of the sudden, I have a sitter on the verge of crawling. The world is opening up for my little Matthew, and it is exciting to watch. He entertains himself for long amounts of time now that he can do 360s on the floor and wiggle after his toys. Yesterday was his half birthday and I remember how the sixth month mark was a time of welcome change with Daniel as well. Babies that aren't stuck where you set them down are so much happier than those that are!

We made an unprecedented three stops for gifts for Joe, groceries and a 21.38lb turkey for Christmas Day. That's a big bird, isn't it? Because three years makes a tradition, our "tradition" is to have friends over for a potluck dunch or lupper on Christmas Day with the foul on me. Last year the house was so packed that we ate in shifts at our little dining table, and I suspect this year will be the same. If you came last year and didn't get a formal invitation for this year, assume that you are permanently on the welcome list.

Quick question - is Santa still making appearances in Raleigh next week? Joe is off and Daniel has been asking to see Santa. I suppose the guy at the farmer's market didn't cut it for him. I know in the movies people are always desperate kids seeing the creepy guy on Christmas Eve as he and a elf munching on a cig are taking down the props, but in real life, does Santa hang around that close to the big day? Where? Thanks!

Friday Faces: Furry or Feathered Friends

This week I've been obsessively photographing the birds stopping by my dining room window. While the photographs aren't the best I am more interested in documenting on Flickr the visitors and trying to identify what type of bird each one is. Several of you have assisted me in this endeavor over on my Facebook page, and for that, I say "Thanks!" Already, my almost-three-year-old is learning the names of different birds, and while he's not the most patient at the window (he bangs on it and growls at the birds), we are sharing some great learning moments.

Last week I put out a call for you to send me pictures of wildlife. I have to admit that I was absolutely clueless about marmots, only that I have a Marmot jacket shell and it keeps me warm and dry. Who knew the jacket was named after a squirrel? Thanks to Amy Hathaway for the education and thanks to all the generous photographers this week.

Wild horses at Corolla's beach in the Outer Banks
by Amy Hathaway from Hathaway Photography 

A marmot begging for food along a hiking trail in Glacier National Park in Montana
by Amy Hathaway from Hathaway Photography

Chimpanzee at the NC Zoo
by Paige Puckett

Bella, staring out Autumn's window at our apartment here in Texas. She's become Autumn's favorite playmate these days.  She's half weimaraner, which is where she gets her deep amber eyes.
by Danielle Hanna at The Conservatory

Ty
by Samantha Heeley

This picture is from the NC Zoo and this Polar Bear exemplifies exactly how I feel these days. Minus actually sleeping.
by Andrea Updyke at Lil-Kid-Things

Andrea, I am with you on this one!

Monday Madness Cactus

All evidence points to a very naughty cat. I was upstairs making the most of a cozy bed and a naked baby who was refusing to nurse and a toddler who was ready to wrestle said baby, when we heard a loud crash and a patter patter. Daniel was convinced Joe was home but there was no answer - just more patter patter and general clatter.

We went downstairs and I laid my naked baby on his play mat to inspect what the cat had gotten into. In her excitement over a small brood of doves outside the window, she had managed to knock over a pot containing a Jade and two mostly dead cling-on cacti from the beach that hitched a ride on my father-in-laws shoes and I thought I might be able to revitalize.

I grabbed a broom and pan from the hall closet and began shoveling sand and dirt back into the pot while Daniel fished out the Swiffer and started spreading dirt all over the dining room floor. Meanwhile, naked (but diapered) Matthew was fussing impatiently. In the rubble, I was only able to find one of the cacti, meaning the other has hitched a ride on the cat, thus explaining the excessive scrambling we heard while upstairs. I checked under the tree where she was licking her poked paws, but couldn't find the hitch-hiker.

Then I hear the baby fussing louder , sounding a little more frustrated than usual. In his wet fist was the missing cactus, which he was clinching by the roots. As I am attempting to carefully get him loose making sure not to cause anymore pain, Daniel is attempting to Swiffer Matthew's back. Helpful? No. Finally, the cactus is extracted and Matthew amazingly is scratch and poke free.

aforementioned cactus

Happy Birthday Little Sis!

It is my wonderful little sister's 25th birthday. Alyson, I know the following is spoken in your true love language. Have a great one!

Friday Faces Next Challenge: Feathered or Furry Friends

A couple months back, my husband dug up the massive hedges in front of our dining room window, and we moved the smaller bushes back to make room for bulbs and planted an evergreen. This opened up a whole new viewing area, so I moved our backyard feeder in front of the window. We've enjoyed watching the birds with Daniel (and the cat). Some days we push back the table and line up our folding chairs and sit and watch... at least until Daniel starts banging on the window. I've been snapping shots of our feathered friends.

Downy Woodpecker

Finch

Tufted Titmouse

Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker

The next challenge is to snap a picture of some wildlife. Entries are due by next Wednesday, December 15. Send any information you'd like to include with the picture such as information about the subject, setting, or photograph and be sure to include a link to your own blog if you have one!

I Elfed My Kid

I just "elfed" Daniel, and while we were cackling with laughter, Matthew started wailing. I'm not sure what scared him more - the video or our hysterics. Enjoy!

*I added one for Matthew because I thought maybe he just felt left out.

*And then I got jealous :)

A Birthday He Said, She Said

How each said happy birthday this morning

Joe: Happy Birthday, weefay!

Daniel: Where's my birthday?

Matthew: Aaaaaahhhh PHHTTTT!



And one of those conversations that just makes you giggle... 

Daniel: WHOAH!

Me: What, do you see Daddy's nipples?

Daniel: A lot of nipples!

Me: How many are there?

Daniel: *holds up his hand* FIVE!

Me: Five?! Count them!

Daniel: One...

Joe: That's not a nipple! That's a mole.

He Said, She Said

Me: Who are you going to marry?

Daniel: Mary Poppins!

Me: Mary Poppins?! Are you wearing a Mary Poppins hat?

Daniel: Yeah ::giggle::

Me: You want to marry Mary Poppins?

Daniel: No... YOU! I'm going to marry you, Mommy!

Me: Awww. I love you! So who are you going to marry?

Daniel: Mary Poppins...

Me: She is pretty, isn't she?

Daniel: Yeah, and Burp.

Me: You think Marry Poppins should marry Bert?

Daniel: Yeah.

Me: They would make a nice couple...