Four Months

There are so many things that I have to be thankful for. These 3 people are some of those things. Today Carson is four months old! Another thing to be thankful for. He's growing so fast. Yesterday when I picked him up after I got off work, I thought to myself "this lil' guy isn't sooo little any more!" He makes the most adorable faces, the sweetest sounds, and has the greatest personality ever. We are SO LUCKY.

Today, when Grandma Gwen came over to babysit while Brian had a final to take, she brought this beautiful lighted ornament for us. I guess her and her neighbor both have one, and they've been the hit of the neighborhood. I can't wait to get ours hung.

This weekend is jam packed. There are so many things that I want to get done. Tomorrow, I'm working in Tayler class. Saturday night, Tayler, Ashlee and I are going to the Mid Columbia Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker. I'm also flirting with the idea of taking the kids to the mall to have their pictures take with Santa....though, the thought of the mall this time of year is really exausting...we'll have to see. There's also LIVE reindeer at a local nursery that Tayler would be estatic to go see. I have a package to send, presents to buy, laundry to do, and if I'm lucky, Christmas goodies to make. Here's hoping that this weekend is packed full of productivity!

The 12 Days of Christmas

Okay everyone....I've gotta pass this along. Not only becuase it's so totally awesome, but also becuase I could win something by sharing this with my friends! =) Over at Design Mom there is a 12 days of Christmas giveaway going on. Now, if you've never visted Design Mom, get ready. This blog is awesome! I check it every day. Not only does the author (Gabrielle Blair) live in NYC (my dream!), she writes an interesting, inspiring, and unique blog, she is the mother of FIVE children (and check out her children's names...they're so beautiful..I just love them!) she also frequently has awesome giveaways. You'll be so impressed. She has great taste! So, head on over, and sign up for the 12 Days of Christmas giveaway...and while you're over there, look through some of her previous blogs. You will not be disappointed! She's great.

Room Decor

Brian and I have been trying to decide on artwork for Carson's room for qutie some time now. We've only got his name on his wall spelled in wooded letters from Pottery Barn. Recently, Brian happened upon these peices by Morgan Carver.

Stratocruiser

The Aristocrat
Speedster

Shooting Star

Closed Sundays

Rocket Ride

(all pictures courtesy of art.com)

I really like these. They remind me of photos I've seen of the 1950's. There's something interesting about them. We're still thinking though......hmmmmmmm.

Christmas is in the air!

Today was a big, exciting day in the Schienbein house. Not only did we get our Christmas tree, and purchased our 2008 ornaments, and decorated our tree, and made reindeer cookies, but to top it all of, Carson also had his first experience with rice cereal! What a day!

We bought our Christmas tree at a local nursery that we really like. The owners are very friendly, and knowledgeable. (and who wouldn't like a guy named Brownie!?!) We've purchased a tree and several plants from them in the past with great results, and decided that we'd get our Christmas tree there too this year.

I'm consitantly blown away by the price of Christmas trees! I happen to be a noble fir enthusiast, and of course, they're usually the most expensive trees on the lot. But they are so, so beautiful. I just can't resist. Although I look at the other trees, I always end up falling in love with a noble fir. And this year was no different. So, $60 later, we were on our way home. (which I must say, is less expensive then the last two years, so we're doing better.)

After Brian wrangled the tree off of the top of the car, got it into the stand, and suffiently covered himself in sap, we turned on the Christmas music and got to decorating. There are few things I enjoy more than pulling out the Christmas decorations, especially the ornaments, and getting to work! Each year, I buy an ornament that somehow reminds us of a good time during the year. And this year, I began a new tradition. Each year I'm going to buy Tayler and Carson (and any future Scheinbein children) an ornament. Then, when they grow up and move out of the house, they'll have a small collection of ornaments to take with them. Here our a few of my favorites from our small collection.

This ornament I bought in 2006 while we were in Banff, Alberta. When I was showing it to Tayler tonight, asking her if she remembered when we bought it and showing her our names on it, she asked "Um, where's Carson's name?" She's such a sweetheart.

This ornament was actually a gift to Brian and I for our first Christmas spent together after we got married.

This is the ornament Tayler chose this year. It is a Lily Fairy. Very Tayler.

Carson can be a little indecisive, so Brian and I chose this "Baby's First Christmas" ornament for him. He loves it.

Carson wasn't too sure how he felt about rice cereal. I mixed it with just a little bit of formula, and got it to a runny consistency. He would take it in his mouth, move it around with his tongue, look at me, then either swallow, or push it out with his tongue. It was adorable to watch, and thanks to our little photographer Tayler, we got some pretty good shots of it.

The only thing that could make me any happier right now would be for my incredibly handsome husband to take me on a date to see this:

As you can see, we're having a great time so far this season. Hopefully, the rest of the month is as exciting! Happy Holidays!

It's almost turkey day!

This is the new hat Carson's grandma (my mom) bought him. She told him that she'd get it, as long as he promised to never wear it hunting with his Papa!!!
The shirt Carson is wearing as a picture of two dogs just like Macie & Uma. He just had to have it!

Blogging as been scarce, I know....so I'm going to do some updates! Things around here have been going really well. Tayler's school conference was last week, and the report from her teacher was great! She's doing wonderful, and is excelling in all areas. We are so very proud of her!

Carson is also excelling at amazings speeds as well! He's been reaching for things and exploring everything around him! And, he's getting bigger every single day. I was looking through some pictures of him when he was teeny-tiny the other day, and I can't believe how small he once was! I'm cherishing every moment becuase I know THIS stage will pass so quickly!

Brian and I are excited to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. For the first time, we're staying home for the holiday. I have to work the whole day, so Brian is in charge of making our dinner.....he's got everything he needs thanks to our last minute shopping trip yesterday, so I think he'll do great. I'm so excited to celebrate this holiday with my family!!

This weekend, my cousin Courtney (you may remember her shower picutres from a little while ago) is getting married in Seattle, so we're going up for that. It should be a really fun time. Tayler will get to see a bunch of cousins that she loves to get together with, and Carson will get to see a bunch of cousin's he's never even gotten to meet!!! It should be a really fun time.

Here is Tayler with two of her cousin's. (Jerome & Lo lo)

Lastly, the little artist in our house wanted to do a project yesterday. So, we decided on a chain calender to count the days of December until Christmas! Tayler created a gorgeous picture for the top of the chain, and then connected all of the paper loops to count the days! She's so talented!

Three months and counting

As you may have noticed, my blogs have sloooowed a bit. My job is to blame. =)But, I had to take some time to post at Carson's three month mark! I'm sure I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but I cannot believe he is already three months old! Time has flown by! When he was a brand new baby it used to make me sad to think about him getting bigger and growing older, but now I can say he only gets cuter and more fun each month. He giggles, and plays, and really shows his personality. I think it probably only gets better from here!

Living the dream....

I went back to work yesterday. I've got to say, it went better than I thought it would. It was kind of nice to see some of the people I haven't seen in awhile and it was kind of fun to do my job again, which actually, I'd forgotten that I like. Being 9 months pregnant the last time I'd been at work made my job pretty miserable. But sitting at work with no baby in my tummy is actually not bad! That's not to say that I didn't LOVE being pregnant....but it sure made those 12 hours creep by slowly.

I may be singing a very different tune in a month or so, but right now, I'm doing pretty well. Yesterday when I got home from work after 12 hours, and finally had my baby boy in my arms, I'll admit that a couple of tears were shed. But they were mostly happy tears....happy that my baby was okay, even if I wasn't with him the whole day...happy that all of the people who take care of him while I'm away love him VERY much....and sooo happy that I could finally bury my nose in my little guy's soft little neck and smell the wonderful scent that is my son. Ahhhh. I LOVE coming home to him.

I'm hoping that I continue feeling this way, and continue to enjoy my job. I know it's good for Carson to hang out with his grandma's, his aunt, and daddy. But, I've gotta say....I'm so glad I have a couple of days off now to be with my family!!!