Baby's 1st Christmas!

A couple weeks ago, after seeing the commercial, I went into a nearby Hallmark store to grab a pair of these precious booties for Nikolina for her first Christmas, and the salesperson sadly informed me that they were all out, and she was, if I do say so, very un-accomidating in helping me to locate a pair at another store. She stated that she would check with the another store in a different town, but that was all she could do, everyone was very busy she stated. Well, needless to say, that store was out too. I thought maybe, it was not meant to be, so, I kind of lost track of my mission. And after receiving a check from both Nikolina's great grandmothers, I decided that I could splurge and purchase the precious booties for our pumpkin, as this is her first and only Christmas. So, I looked online, and they didn't offer them for purchase online, only in the stores. So, I called Customer Service and asked her if there was any way I could get a hold of a pair of these booties (there must be a box of them in a warehouse somewhere, I was determined, to be the best Baby's 1st Christmas Mom ever and get a pair of these infamous booties!) She ended up being very little help as well. So, I just started calling stores. And then, while speaking with a salesperson, I could hear the flex in her voice when I described them, and I dared to hope that she held a pair of these precious infamous booties in her bare hands, and she stated that, "Yes, she had but one pair left"(we make our own destiny, Ha!) She stated that they had sold out, but a woman who had received two pairs, returned a pair. I begged her to ship them to me, as she stated that they don't normally do that, she spoke with her manager and agreed to ship them to me. I vowed to pay any shipping to get them here. I asked her to wrap them in about a roll of bubble wrap, as my heart would stop, if upon receiving them, I were to open the box, only to discover that they had been broken in transit. She promised. So, very shortly, Nikolina will receive her Baby's 1st Christmas Ceramic Booties Ornament for her to have when she is older and adorns her very ow tree. Thank goodness for Christmas miracles! Thank you to that gernerous, kind mommy who retuned her extra pair so that another mommy/baby may share in this very special Christmas tradition. Now, I want to dip them in bronze, just so they dont; break, but aren't they bootiful!!

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&partNumber=QXG6072_DK&rank=P1R1S&searchValue=2009+baby+ornament&fromSearch=true

November-7 Months 4 Photo Shoot 240

November-7 Months 4 Photo Shoot 240
Originally uploaded by lindsaygarrett

New Post.

See below, "Christmas in Chicago..."

Post coming soon...

I promise I have a post coming soon. I have been searching to find some time for myself to get a post complete. I promise there will be one there for tomorrow's Saturday Sharefest, if not tonight. It has been a crazy week. I am exhausted from work, and Nik has been fighting me going down asleep in her crib alone and the Cry It Out Method just seems like Cruel and Unusual Punishment. I hate to see her carry on that way, crying for nearly 2 hours till she's so physically and emotionally exhausted that she just finally succumbs to slumber as it overcomes poor little distressed body. There has got to be a better way... Sleepless nights at the Garrett Household. But, every other moment besides bedtime, she is literally the happiest baby ever and such an angel. She simply does not want to go to bed alone. Personally, I don't blame her

Christmas in Chicago

December 8, 2009

Josh went to a BBall game Tuesday night in Chicago, and Nik and I got to tag along for the day. The weather held out long enough for us to make a quick trip to the Old Marshall Fields Building, now Macy's.

Nik in her snowsuit. "Baby, it's Cold Outside!"
The old Marshall Fields Building sign
The Traditional Trumpets welcoming...

The cheer of the traditional window themes.
This year was "How Children's Letters get to Santa at the North Pole..."

The lure and beauty of a store floor at Christmas...

You can enjoy it, even if you're not shopping

Aunt Becca, met us as we waited in line to see Santa

At first, we were ok with Santa, even though we had a long train ride, and were tired and hungry after waiting in line for over an hour to see said Santa

Then, we were not so happy...

I told Santa I couldn't speak for Nikolina, but she would probably just wish for health and happiness. Santa said he'd see about bringing her a toy, and some boxes and wrapping paper, to play with. We said, we would like that. We had to wait a long time to see Santa, but it was worth the wait.

A Princess Fairy in the Walnut Room , sprinkled fairy dust on Nikolina, Josh, and I as we made a wish...I wished for health and happiness. She made the trip worth it for me. She and Nikolina became good friends.

The Tree in the Walnut Room.

Nik crawling at the Union League. We had lots of great crawling space on the floor of the hotel

And, we liked our crib a little too much. We sat and crawled, and stood up in our crib which made bedtime difficult

Children should not be this happy and energetic way past their bedtime...

On the way home, we loved the train (we caught an early train, bc a snowstorm was headed in). Nikolina looked out the window the whole way, banged on the glass, and waved at the workers on the railroad. She and a conductor became really good friends, and she kept trying to climb the seat to get a peek at her.

Daddy, being silly.

I just loved the way the train car looked on the Black/White setting. I particularly loved this photo (of this little girl that Nik met on the train). She and her mother were visiting her daddy/husband who was doing some business in Chicago. The're originally from Maine. Her sister and extended family lived in Bloomington. It's amazing the different people you come in contact with on trains.

Train cars are so antique, I just love them!

Love this!

Snow White.

I woke up this morning, and hurrying out the door to get to work by 7AM this morning, I threw open the door, and what before my wondering eyes should appear but a glistening winter wonderland blanketed in snow!! With Nik on my arm, tottering out the door, in hat and coat and boots and bags, I didn't have time to stop and admire and show her the snow but for just a moment to savor...I hope to show her proper after work today. But, in that moment, when you see snow for the first time in winter, and you feel that softness, that temporary cool warmth that snow brings that calms the harsh winter winds, with Nik in tow, it was wonderful! And, I am so excited for this season! I found this photo on Google/Flkr, here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/.

I am really eager to make some more Christmas cookies and goodies, and am thinking of making this White Chocolate Mousse Cake (found the recipe while looking through a Christmas catalog) that I am really excited for.


I had hoped to take Nik to Chicago to show her the Windows and the Tree at Macy's (they are continuing the Marshall Fields tradition) and a quick visit with Nik's Aunt Becca that lives down town, with my husband as he is heading to Chicago for Business and a BBall game Tuesday, but with the snow storm approaching, not sure that that dream will become a reality. I just love Chicago in the Winter/Christmas Season; all blustery and cold. The lights and garland strung from the lamp posts down Michigan Ave. The hustle and the bustle of shoppers and business goers. The warmth and invitedness of the shop windows and stores, alight with Christmas cheer and symbols of the Season. And, the stores smell of Hot Cocoa, gingerbread, Pine and Holly, and Christmas Carols echo admiss the shopers and the merchandise. Even now, the smell of perfume takes me back to memories of shopping with my mom (we did more window shopping than actual shopping shopping ) during the holidays in Chicago. I am hoping to at least be able to go Tuesday during the day, before the Season turns too harsh, I'd like to get a picture of Nik with Santa, but we'll see!
Did anyone wake up to somehing similiar?

Mobile.

We are mobile. It's official-We have a crawler on our hands! It's been close, but we are officially crawling. I think it was the 8 month mark that did it (or perhaps that Mom and Dad finally figured out the need to throw this child down on some carpet every once in a while that did it), but either way--watch out! Time to baby proof the house. We were getting in position, lifting up on our hands/arms, getting on our tippy toes, shooting off our tippy toes, scooting backwards where we wanted to go, turning in circles, getting on our knees, then we were getting on our tippity toes and shooting off forward, and last night, we finally made the progress to definite crawling. On knees, hands/arms/legs/feet moving back and forth, and moving all around! We are so excited for this little pumpkin, and can't wait for what lies ahead! We are especially thankful that we put up an artificial tree instead of a real tree this year. Break out the safety locks and outlet covers, WE'RE MOBILE!!