Friday Things
1. Joseph has been very busy the last few weeks! Since he got over his cold, he’s been on the move pretty much non-stop. He cut another tooth this week, he’s giving high-fives, will shake hands, waves hello, dances when music comes on, and last weekend started pushing boxes around and walking behind them. We got him this sit-to-stand walker, which he LOVES… until he pushes it into a wall or furniture and gets stuck… it’s not pretty ;-)
2. Have you seen the poem “The Last Time” making the rounds on Facebook? It made me weepy, but also made me fully appreciate a 5am fussy wakeup call when Joseph was sick a couple of weeks ago. I rocked him until he relaxed and he fell back to sleep on my chest for over an hour and a half. I just sat there, rocking, watching the sky turn from dark night into bright morning, listening to Joseph’s sweet rhythmic breaths until he stirred, sat up, looked at me a bit confused, and then broke into a huge smile. I hadn’t been able to remember the last time he had slept on me… it had been months. From the time he was two to three months old, he was going to sleep on his own – no nursing to sleep, no rocking, no pacifier… he fell asleep on his own really wonderfully, but it also meant it had been a long time since he fell asleep on me, and I enjoyed every single minute of it.
3. A 10-Month-Old’s Letter to Santa… This is absolutely, positively, 100% accurate.
4. Have you made your holiday baking list yet? Tell me what you have on it! I am so far behind on everything – baking, shopping… but at least our house is decorated!
5. My husband was hanging out with Joseph on the couch one morning this week and put on Curious George. The episode was about how important it is to follow a recipe when baking, ha! So funny, but also… important life lesson! :)
6. Master the Art of Napping – full of great napping tips, love it.
7. It took me quite a long time to come around on Nutella, but my favorite afternoon snack is currently pretzels dipped into Nutella. SO GOOD.
8. I want to try to buy as many Christmas presents as possible from small businesses… share with me your favorite Etsy shops!
9. We’re still working our way through Blacklist (about halfway through the second season now), but let’s talk Homeland. I feel like this season is the best since the first one, and last week’s episode was outstanding. I usually multitask while we watch TV, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the television while it was on!
10. TGIF! I hope you have a sun-drenched weekend!
Aww! Little Joseph is so cute :)
I read the poem you posted and also got a bit weepy. I have had 4 babies (and one little one in heaven), but I still miss those days of caring for a tiny baby. Perhaps it’s a case of rose-colored-glasses, but I do think it is a real yearning.
Hi Michelle,
Always love your Friday Things, especially the pictures of Joseph who (as you know) is a cutie! I have a 6 week old great nephew named George who is benefiting from your list of “must-haves” for babies so if you’ve got any other essentials to share, I’m sure he (and first time mom and dad) would love more ideas!
I’m the baker in our family so when we do the big Italian feast of the fishes on Christmas Eve, my brother & sister-in-law do mountains of cooking and I bring mountains of cookies! I plan to make anisette biscotti, pistachio and cranberry biscotti, rainbow cookies, pignoli cookies, chocolate espresso crinkles, nutella-hazelnut cookies, spritz cookies, rugeluch and an Italian cookie my aunt used to make called an Angenette – a light snail shaped cookie with a mild anise and lemon flavor. I checked out your list earlier this week and more may be added! I don’t think a 1:1 ratio of cookies to guests is out of line…right?
Enjoy watching Christmas through Joseph’s eyes!!
Emilia
Hi Emiilia, Aww I would be happy to offer baby suggestions! Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to know about!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks! I see lots of toys advertised that are supposed to be great for “growing” with babies from before they crawl through when the babies start to walk. Does Joseph have anything he likes in that category?
Hi Emilia, I’m not sure that we’re still using anything from before Joseph started crawling, except for some teethers and music toys – the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes and Fisher Price Remote Control.
My husband LOVES the wool socks from North Star Alpacas on Etsy. They are very soft and warm, but more durable than cashmere. The farm owner, Maple, is great. She always includes a hand-written thank you, and this year she sent him a free sachet too!
I’m a new subscriber,but been looking at your recipes since last summer. I thought I’ll subscribe. For holiday baking, Christmas cookies, TX 5 layer dessert, and your anise almond biscotti. Cute baby Pic!
Love your Friday Things, including the links i.e. napping, etc. no issues with napping, love them. I am an Olympic sleeper! I don’t know how you can multi-task while watching shows…for Homeland and The Fall I have to be watching them and doing nothing else. Don’t want to miss even a little bit. No mass baking here, one or 2 special things will be made to take to work and I will do my mom’s white fruitcake and some caramel sauce and fudge for gifts. If I bake it, I eat it which is not good for me.
The photo of your little guy is perfect. If that smile is a reflection of his personality, he must be one very happy boy. I laughed when I read about his love for his sit to stand walker. I have twin nephews…now in college…but when they were little, they had a combination ride on/push toy. They would take turns pushing each other around a circut that went from the kitchen to the dining room then into the living room to the hallway that lead back to the kitchen. Luckily, they never would get stuck…just an occasional wall bump… but they both liked to do the pushing so there always seemed be a dispute about switching places and taking turns. Busy little boys are too adorable for words.
Okay, I haven’t even read anything yet because I cannot get past Joseph’s picture! He is absolutely precious and I so want to eat up those baby feet!!! They’re the best!
Hi,
Joseph is so cute.
Great to read you are supporting small shops.
Have you seen the cereal, spice and salt tins available at
etsy.com/UK/shop/millettandmore ?
Best wishes to you and your family.
Hello! I always love reading your Friday Things post! I JUST finished baking a double batch of your chocolate crinkle cookies! They’re cooling right now, but my kids and I couldn’t wait to try one fresh out of the oven! :) Yum!
I have an Etsy shop to share with you : https://www.etsy.com/shop/littlesaplingtoys
They use all solid natural wood and natural finishes, so their toys are free from toxins, and I LOVE to have some really nice wooden toys. I have four kids (ages 7, 5, 3, and 9 months.) I just discovered Little Sapling Toys recently, but wish I had found them sooner! I purchased a baby’s first Christmas ornament for each of my kids, a set of personalized wooden blocks for my youngest’s room, and a US state teether too. I have my eye on the wooden rainbow stacker (and many more things!) You can get your toys personalized, and they are happy to do special requests. I got our home state’s motto along with my son’s name on his state teether, and it turned out really cute. Merry Christmas to you! And Merry FIRST Christmas to Joseph! Their first Christmas’s are always so magical and special. :)
Check out my personalized family cross stitch portraits for a unique thoughtful gift!
Instagram: @handmadebymorganmcdowell
I just ordered a really cool bracelet on Esty last night from a vendor called BeadazzledBySharon. A Pennsylvania vendor (east side of the state) that makes neat jewelry from vintage/repurposed items. A couple of really neat bracelets with repurposed dog tags/dog themes listed.
Still working on my cookie list. Will make some standbys but hoping to
add some new one to this year’s list. Luckily I have lots of people who will not refuse them as gifts.
Have a great weekend Michelle!
I like this Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/fieldtrip
Ok. I may not be a mom , but that poem THE LAST TIME brought tears to my eyes.
Love love love the pics of Joseph ..such a happy little guy and oh let’s not forget your doggy. ?
I love reading your Friday favorites! You always have such great links. Your son and mine are a few weeks apart, so whatever he’s doing mine is also. :)
Etsy shop i LOVE: George hats (amazing hats that stay on the noggin)
I’ve also come to love howjoyful.com
And Greyson and cole shoes (greysonandcole.bigcartel.com)- although they are closed until the first of the year.
Hope these help! Enjoy!
I really want to host Christmas Brunch this year, I need a break from dinner and getting stuck doing all the dishes til wee hours of the night. Your list of Christmas recipes timed perfectly with my idea. The only problem is there are soooooooo many wonderful looking receipes under your breakfast/brunch that I can’t chose between all of them…..French Toast with Praline Topping, Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls, Buttermilk Waffles, Croissants I happened upon when I went to another recipe!! Its a work in progress for sure! I’m super excited to try them all! They all look and sound AMAZING!
I tried to buy from small businesses and Etsy shops this year too! Etsy is easier because I do so much online shopping. Going out to local stores is tough. Trying to shop local AND buy things my family can actually use is hard too!
My favorite Etsy shops are:
Book Scents Candles: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookScentsCandles
vdazzled (jewelry): https://www.etsy.com/shop/vdazzled
LePiqueNiqueHandmade (makeup bags): https://www.etsy.com/shop/LePiqueNiqueHandmade
Jessica Marshall (mother/daughter necklace): https://www.etsy.com/shop/jessicamarshall
I am so far behind on The Blacklist and some of my other shows.
Joseph is such a cutie in this weeks picture! But then he’s such a cute and inquisitive baby/toddler.
I haven’t planned the baking yet but will probably start on it this weekend – probably start with the oatmeal cranberry cookies and move onto something else. Just not sure what. Definitely doing some chocolate covered pretzels though.
Stick with Blacklist (although it’s easy to with Spader – he’s so awesome in this show). Season 3 (the current season) is really good. Much better than the first two seasons.
re: 10 month’s letter to Santa
Also: a tall rotating CD rack. I can pull myself up holding on to it. I can then pull out all the CD’s. Repeatedly. It’s a lot of fun!
Three words: Book Inspired Candles
They are awesome, they smell awesome and they arrive quickly! I have purchased from this seller several times and her customer service is excellent! Great for book lovers like me!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FromthePage?ref=l2-shopheader-name
Hurray for buying gifts from small businesses! I am doing the same this year and going to Handmade Arcade (in Pittsburgh) tomorrow to finish up my shopping. You should also check out:
261 Boutique – She has a lot of cute clothes and accessories. She also sells handmade, plaid flannel scarves and handmade crystal jewelry (though she doesn’t have that posted, but you can message her if interested).
My Christmas baking is going to be nonexistent this year. We’re going to be out of town most of Christmas week. If any baking is done, it will be at our destination and it will be a soft sugar cookie, frosted and decorated with sprinkles. That’s the one that says “Christmas” to our family.
I am a napper. When I was working it was my thing to do on Sunday. Now it’s a daily thing and I hate it when I miss it.
I will pass up anything with Nutella — not a fan of it at all.
Awwee he is the cutest kid I’ve ever seen!!
http://xoxobella.com
LOVE the Blacklist.
A friend of mine is selling these adorable handpainted wood ornaments! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopJoyPop?utm_source=shareyourshop&utm_campaign=Holiday2015&utm_medium=Facebook
My must-bake cookies are Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies with a pepermint icing drizzle and crushed candy canes on top. Doesn’t feel like Christmas until I have made those! I also make baklava for gifts and almond rocha bar cookies that is a recipe from my ex-boyfriend’s mom that I haven’t seen on Pinterest or anywhere else. To. DIE. For.