Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We awoke on the morning of Christmas Eve to discover a rare Texas sighting, SNOW!!! We got up early to see what Santa had left Caris after celebrating with my family in Albany the evening before. We quickly noticed that the skies were full of snowy flakes. As the early morning progressed, the snow continued to fall. We were all quite giddy with the arrival of such a novelty and promptly took Caris out to experience a full-fledged snow. What a beautiful first Christmas! We think Caris is a snow-bunny as so far in her short life she has experienced two snow rarities: Houston snow-fall and a white Christmas! Lucky lady indeed.








We expected things to slow down, as is typically the case with Texas snow, but it did just the opposite. By the time we were packed and ready to leave at around 9:30, the snow really started coming down. We were headed in the direction of Garrett's family and the snow was relentless.

Sweet girl loved the snow!

By that time, my dad (the good Yankee boy he is), realized that things had taken a turn and set out to find us with my brother-in-law in his truck. Our cell phones had no service and once we were on the small country road, there was no safe place to turn back. When it took us almost 2 hours to drive 30 miles to the next small town, we knew there were problems. After realizing all the business in this small town would soon close and speculating that we would encounter the same in the next 90 miles of small country towns and roads, we reluctantly decided to turn back home.

After strict news watching and route planning, we were back on the road. However, our 4 hour drive turned int 6.5 hours and unfortunately we missed most of the Christmas Eve celebrations. But we did make it, and made it safely! Thankfully, we were able to celebrate with Garrett's family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What an adventure on Caris' first Christmas! Definately felt like we were in a Winter Wonderland!

Jingle Bells

Caris received this little gadget in her stocking and LOVES to play the jingle bells! She is so cute with them and plays them constantly.

They sounded just like Santa's sleigh. The girl loves her some music....

Oh Jingle Bells

Stocking masterpiece

Merry Christmas!

Wow. We have had quite the busy Christmas-week. So much I want to document and share. (and so many pictures to upload...)

It was one of those wonderfully perfect weeks that was so full of joy it seemed to have covered a month's worth of activity.

We packed our car full and travelled the state in Santa's sleigh. Reindeer and jingle bells were indeed present. And at one point in our trek, we were even dashing through the snow. Kind of like living out Christmas songs.

Christmas is such a special season of joy, love, and an almost magical overlay of holiday spirit. What a joyous time to experience with a new child. We were especially blessed this year in so many ways. And to share that blessing with al of our family was even more special.

Such a beautiful holiday to celebrate the most precious gift of all. The birth of our Saviour. A gift we are eternally grateful for and offer our continued thanks for the daily presence in our lives. To celebrate His arrival through the joy of Christmas is truly, awesome.

Party girl

Caris is quite the party girl. Her little school is good about hosting holiday events that we have attended throughout the year; Fall Festival, Thanksgiving celebration, and yesterday a Holiday party. Caris' has a diverse group of classmates and each family brought a dish representing their heritage. Let me tell you, this food was exceptional! Greek grape leaves, Vietnemese egg rolls (a fave!!), British scones, the BEST Baklava, and so many more. Caris was only able to enjoy pita bread as the rest of my chosen items contained sugar and/or dairy.... But she loved it! Although, she may have loved her napkin just a bit more....whatever.

Caris also made her parents a beautiful stocking (I'll have to get a pic..) for a Christmas presents. Quite the little artist these days.

We spent the afternoon socializing with her friends, and Caris was totally in her element. She truly loves other kids so much, especially the big kids. Her teachers say that she will sit at their little table all day as long as their are other kids there for her to talk to, even if that other kid is herself in the mirror :)

Caris and her best friend Claire sitting at the big table! This was the toddler table so it was a tad high for Caris, but the 'action shot' demonstrates how happy she is sitting there. One of my favorite things is seeing Caris sitting like a big girl at her little 'mini table'. Love it.

Caris babbled, laughed, and danced all afternoon, happily entertaining anyone in her radar. She has become the class dancer as she bops and sways to all her favorite tunes all day long :)

Food, friends, dancing, and singing, all of Caris' favorite things. HAPPY GIRL yesterday.

Like I said, she is quite the party girl :)

My Guilty Pressure

So Caris has just reached to 7 month marker and I have already convinced myself that I have made parenting mistakes that will affect her forever.

Logical? No.
But I definately indulge in 'my guilty pressure' all too frequently.

Is she sleeping enough? Will her current habit of brief cat-naps develop into long-term sleep problems that will effect her moods?

Is she getting enough milk? Did she gain too much weight? Too little? Was I supposed to introduce this food at 7 months or wait until 8? Will this effect her nutrition/health long-term?

Am I protecting her enough from diseases? Am I caring for her illnesses appropriately? Do I take her to the doctor for this (insert ailment) or just monitor it? Will this impact her health throughout her life?

Am I holding her too much? Nurturing enough? Responding to her needs too quickly, too slowly? Handling seperation anxiety appropriately? Will this impact her independence?

Am I providing opportunity for her skills to develop independently? How can I encourage her to stay on her tummy? How do I encourage her to develop mobility? Is she doing (insert activity) too early? Too late? Are the old wives tales true about crawling, walking and brain development true??

Does attending day care so young negatively impact her? Does it benefit her? Does she enjoy it or would it be better for her to be home? Have I chosen the right environment for her to spend her days? Will not staying home with her impact her attachment to me?

?
?
?

Oh the Guilt. Oh the Pressure.

PLEASE understand that I share these things not to ask for validation on my parenting skills, but just as a sample of the questions I ask myself daily, if not hourly.

I know every parent goes through this; figuring out the best ways to raise each child according to their needs. Parenting decisions to be made. We hear contradicting theories, all touted with authority. Constantly hearing what you 'should' be doing from well (or not so well) meaning observers. I just tend to over-analyze things to the point of no return and drive myself nuts in doing so.

Point being, we can analyze, research, read, obsess, and parent ourselves into the ground. We can (and will) make good decisions, along with the bad decisions. We will inevitably look back and wish we had done some things differently. We will also be able to look back and feel proud of how we did things in many areas. There will always be something to second guess, or to wish we would have done better, different.

Granted, I'm very new at this. And I have no doubts that I will succumb to this 'guilty pressure' on many more occasions throughout my role as a parent. But I am trying not to indulge. To not put so much pressure on myself, and in turn on Caris.

Because there is no such thing as a perfect parent. And we are not called to be such, or to raise our children to a standard of perfection. In fact, that itself is harmful.

(p.s....I am working on another post describing what I DO want to strive for in my role as a mom...but it's still in progress...I'm sure you are anxiously awaiting another lengthy reflection...)

So what to do with all this guilt and pressure? I think, in the end, it comes back to the basics. Responding to Caris' needs. Creating an environment of trust. Setting the stage to become independent. Instilling character, virtues, and nurturing her faith. All done with the over-arching theme of the LOVE and PROTECTION of my little one. Knowing that no matter how many mistakes I make along the way, I will always be there for my daughter. And of that, we can both be certain.

(picture courtesy of my aunt, Mary Herrmann, - isn't she talented? Love these pics...)

In the colors...

Caris completed her first art project this week. A finger-painted masterpiece, if I do say myself. Resembling an abstract likening of a Monet. No doubt a deeply inspired piece by the new artist. It's currently displayed on our fridge.

(I think that's required in parental law, along with pictures with Santa which we have yet to do :)

And inside our current art gallery resides another colorful display. In the form of Caris' daily intake of foods. The pureed forms of fruit and vegetable concoctions takes on a beautiful demonstration of the rainbow diet that would make any nutritionist (and grandpa JJ) proud. Carrot- tomato combo, a bright shade of red, the squash puree a pure yellow, our blueberry mixtures bring out deep purples, our broccoli-combined with other veggies provide our earth tones, while the avocado displays a bright green. We are having great fun combining and making all sorts of meals for lil' C. Who knew they would take on such beautiful colors?

And we arrived home this afternoon to a display created by a substance defined by the absence of color: SNOW!!! It was really coming down, a beautiful white winter wonderland. (Yes, we still live in Houston, a rarity) We are more than excited to spend a cozy evening introducing Caris to a new form of joy.

A snowy evening set the stage for a perfect evening to adorn our home in the colors of Christmas. Red and green now dominate our decor to joyfully welcome the Christmas season.

Colors, in all their forms.

Giving Thanks

We are still recouperating from an eventful Thanksgiving celebration. This year's festivities were hosted by my parents and attended by 10 out of 12 Herrmann families and their matriarch (my mom's siblings and her mom). I think the count was up to 56. Let's just say there was opera involved and leave it at that.


Caris enjoyed her first taste of turkey and we translated many Thanksgiving goodies into food form suitable for lil' C via our handy food maker. She LOVED it; already getting the hang of this holiday.



To me, the Thanksgiving holiday has always been a beautiful celebration of traditions and family. As I reflected on the meaning of the day, it occurred to me that this is the only holiday in which the title includes a verb. Inherent in its name is a charge to fulfill.


The act of Giving Thanks.

I will say, that I am overtly thankful for numerous blessings on a daily basis. Constantly reminded of truly how much I have to be thankful for and offering up an expression of thanks. But do I engage in the verb? Do I GIVE thanks in tangible ways? The holiday title does not simply enourage feeling Thankful. It charges us to express this through the act of giving.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" Luke 12:48


Our life is abundantly full of gifts; both tangible and intangible in form. Much, indeed, has been given to us. And we are called to give in return. The outpouring of thanks I feel constantly should be translated to action. I feel challenged to engage more fully in this act of giving. To give more freely, with thanks, because of thanks.


The act of doing can be manifested in many forms. In fact, the very nature of the Thanksgiving celebration is a wonderful example of giving. What a huge feat to prepare such a feast. Always done with a joyful heart, so that those we love can celebrate with one another.


There are the 'big ticket' items. Involvement in local charities, food banks, sponsoring families, missions. These are areas in which I hope our family can be more actively involved in over the holiday season.


But along with that, there are so many ways to actively give thanks on a daily, hourly basis. Giving a co-worker a sympathetic ear when you are busy, giving an email or letter of encouragement to a friend, giving a smile to the stranger in the elevator, giving directions to the wayward patient, giving your downtime to bring dinner to a family, giving a call to listen to a friend in need. All small acts, that when conscious of the intention, can be easily assimilated into daily happenings.


And you know what I've noticed? The more I consciously give thanks, the more I am thankful.


Thank you, to all of you, for your involvement in our life. For your continued support, in all forms, along our journey. I hope that this blog can, in some ways, be an act of giving.

Best friend..

"people let me tell you 'bout my best friend"

...and he'll love me 'till the end....

"Cause he's my best friend.

Yes he's my best friend...."

Yes, lil' C sure loves that thumb. A constant source of comfort, always by her side, takes away her tears, and brings instant joy. Fulfills all the requirements in the best friend category.

I would say if Caris were to make her 'what I am Thankful for' list this year, her thumb would be at the top of that list. (second maybe only to milk...)

Although originally I was not sure how I felt about this little habit, I find that I am very thankful for the thumb as well. Caris is a conent little lady, and I believe the presence of the thumb plays a large part in that. She self-soothes quite well, which contributes to sleeping through the night, easier nap times, and speedier resolution of fits. I think I'll add the thumb to my thankful list as well....

I am curious, though, as she pretty much only uses the left thumb. Does this mean that the left hand is the dominant hand? Or does it mean she uses it to keep her dominant hand free? I've had several people tell me the former is the case... Can any thumb suckers or thumb sucker's mom shed light on this subject? ....You can also give some useful tips on breaking the habit later on.....or monetarily contribute to the dental bill :) jk... We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Workin' for the weekend..

Loving that today is Friday!! Meaning, two full days with lil'C and G. Truly working for the weekend these days....

I love spending lazy afternoons talking, swinging, singing, and reading with my little one. And gladly foregoing productivity to just lie on the floor with Caris and her toys.

No need for exciting plans these days to make me giddy at the thought of my two days a week sans work. I will gladly bask in the minutia of life's activities, for which I an increasingly grateful for.

Watch out Saturday, we are coming for you. And will most likely see you in the 6 o'clock hour to greet your welcomed arrival. Caris is not yet aware of the joy of sleeping in on the weekend. And I have accepted the fact that 'sleeping in' as a parent now takes place on the backside of the slumber...meaning allowing a guilt-free early bedtime :)

6.75

As in months...

Yes, Caris reached the 6 month milestone .75 ago and will see the arrival of her 7th at the close of this week.

And wow. Have these last 6(7) months passed by so quickly. And how much Caris has changed over their course.

In some ways, I still feel she is the teeny 6lb infant that once curled so small in the nook of my chest. I know this will always remain a strong part of the image I hold of my first-born daughter. Instant love, beyond what I could have imagined. Such intense emotions to protect, provide, and parent.

Now, our tiny infant is beginning the transition to becoming a little girl.

Weighing in at 18+ lbs and achieving the 95% in both height and weight and the 6 month mark, she is making up ground from the 25th% where she began. Although it took the better part of two months for lil'C to fit into her 3 month clothes, her size now ranges from 9 month to 12 month clothing.

Caris is sitting up wonderfully and loves to stand; she has even managed a quasi-independent stance. However, her interest in crawling is zero to none. She loves to move and her motor skills and strength are definately there, but crawling may not be on her radar. When placed in crawling position, she immediately 'locks' up her legs to a semi-standing position. Funny. She continues to receive un-solicited comments on her strength. Might we have an athlete in the making? :)

Advancement in fine-r motor skills has led to increased enjoyment in all things toy. Term 'toy' used lightly as any object can quickly become the source of enjoyment as they find their way into Caris' grip and straight into her mouth. She appears to have her Dad's strength-y finger grip and utilizes it quite well. Caris also seems to have an eye for detail and zero's in on the teeniest of such. She is also beginning to demonstrate some understanding of object permanence as removal of object-eyed-by-Caris-thus-presumed-to-be-toy-but-really-is-not (aka - mom's phone) creates frustration and leads Caris to look around for the whereabouts of once present object.

Sweet girl continues to be consistent in her favorite things, though enjoyment and participation level have markedly increased. Bath time is a source of pure delight for the little one as s

he splashes and plays happily in her mini-pool. She loves books and papers; in both the physical and read form. She loves to sit for long stretches of time in her Dad's lap while he reads his grown-up books to her as he studies. If sleepy, this activity will soon lull her to slumber. She also loves playing with her own books and they are typically the first to grab her interest in the line-up; just recently she began attempts at page turning. Little one LOVES her music and it remains the go-to for fussy times. Recent demonstrations have revealed a keen love for drums (hence the Tracy Chapman magic).

Lil' C is a social little butterfly and truly loves her friends, both small and big. She lights up upon her arrival to her classroom and recognition of her classmates. She typically greats them with a happy squeal and big smile. If company is present, Caris is at her best. Talking, singing, and most recently happy-screaming in the spirit of entertainment. Really, loves people, such a joy to watch.

I can only imagine what the next 6 months will bring. Hard to believe we will have a big 1-year old in this amount of time. It really does, clichely, go by so quickly.

Loving watching you on this journey of growth, sweet girl. And so very thankful to be your mom.

(family pic at Caris' 6 month mark, on my first b-day as a mom)