Present

It's 2014!  Christmas just happened.  And now we are left in a whirlwind of new toys, boxes, pine needles everywhere and an itching anxiety to single handedly rip down every Christmas decoration as claustrophobia sets in.  It was a jam packed couple weeks from Christmas to New Year.  And although there were plenty of "presents", I would like to focus on being more "present" in 2014.  It's so easy to get caught up in what's next.  Hurry and eat breakfast to get ready to play hard to be down for nap by noon.  Then who can I call for a play date in the afternoon? BRAXTON!!  OK, dinner prep, bath time, bed.  And we're done.  I feel like I'm always planning for what's coming next and not living in what's happening now.  That's my m.o. in life in general I think.  College: focus on how to get a job immediately post graduation.  Get engaged: plan wedding immediately - followed by make baby immediately.  Baby is newborn: when will you sit? roll over? crawl?  How about, "How nice you are sweet and cuddly and small and smell like heaven?"  Here are some Christmas moments where I was trying to be present and not worry about Palmer's next meal, nap or bed time.

Pat, Beth, Claire & James came to visit while in Chicago.  Sweet boys.

Just a couple months apart!  Palmer's resolution is to work on that muffin top;)

All bundled up to go out in the snow.  While it's a hassle, babies sure do look cute suited up.

Christmas Eve with his cousins Lila & May.  The girls look adorable...Palmer looks hot & bothered.

The best Christmas photo we got!  Palmer photogenic-ness faded in Chicago

Uncle time.  Doing what they do best.

Presents, presents and more presents!

Her sweetness is only amplified by her love of hippos.

Christmas morning!

Say Cheeeeeeeese!

All the stockings laid with care.  Pete's at the top and Palmer's at the bottom.

Juuuuust a few gifts at Grammy & Chief's house.

There was a pizza cook off with the Doyle boys.  They picked out each other's costumes.
Matt's was too provocative to make it on the family blog;)

And Tom's pizza hit a rough patch and morphed into more of calzone.  If you can call it that.

Back at the ranch, Palmer's playroom went from baby mode to toddler kingdom.  Organization brings sanity to my life and Palmer get's a refreshing look at all his new toys.

Lambie and the tent were staples and stuck around of course.

Target really came through.

The toy bins themselves are toys . Palmer loves to rip everything out of them.  Takes at least 60 seconds.

His Christmas gift was this table and a train set.  The trains are more projectile items than trains at this point.

How cute are these wall hooks?

Oh by the way, the bathroom is done.  I need to get in there and shoot some formal after's.

One Christmas Down!

Even though it started to feel like Christmas a week or so ago and we got to wear cozy outfits like this...

I'd put him in a beanie everyday if he'd let me

Florida reminded us that Christmas in the South is meant to be celebrated in tank tops.

Bossy pants requesting his presents

The "camper" leggings are a Christmas homage to National Lampoon's in my mind

Grampa Wayne went ahead and brought out the big wheels.

The jeep wasn't even assembled yet before Palmer was in it.  Spoiled is an understatement. This was his first Christmas of the year with my family: his 4 grandparents, aunt, uncle and nephew.  Tomorrow morning we leave for Round 2 in Chicago where there'll be...oh...about 40 something of Pete's family.  And then sometime before the new year the three of us will celebrate our very own family Christmas.  As soon as I figure out what to fill Pete's stocking with...

That Dream Where You Go To London and Get Spoiled Rotten

I'm counting my lucky stars it was not a dream!  London happened, flights weren't cancelled, Palmer didn't have an E.R. trip, we didn't forget to book a ticket.  We were there.  And we had fun.  I took 126 pictures.  Some have said that is far to few.  I feel having to interrupt my experience any more than 126 times would have been far to many.  London was an experience and I was trying my damndest to be present for it.  No small task when your sweet little baby boy is thousands of miles away from you every morning and night.  It was over the top.  We were spoiled far beyond what we deserved.  Honestly, I could've called it a vacation once we were on board the plane.  Flying overseas with a bed, alone with your husband, with service out the wahoo was one of the best gifts I could've received.  Then pile on the driver waiting for us off the plane, the sight seeing, the room service, the in room massage, the high tea, and the British shopping (can anyone say Harrod's?!) and you've got yourself a full blown spoiling.  Barring listing all 126 pictures, here are my highlights.

Our hotel.  Over. The. Top. 

Where we woke up.  Without having to immediately serve your child.

Breakfast in bed.

The Tate Museum.  Tons of Picasso.  Big ones.

Ceiling in St. Paul's Cathedral.  Took the picture before realizing that's a no-no.
Don't worry they reminded pretty darn fast.

Eating at a Michelin rated restaurant with hand written menus signed by the chef

Princess Margaret's caftan.  I am on a mission to have one made for myself.
Just need to pencil in a caribbean vacation to don it.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert's love story.  Stole my heart.

Passing this flower stand every day leaving the hotel.

Time with my husband.

Time with my husband.

Time with my husband.

Happiness.

And one of THE best parts of the journey, was returning home to Palmer.  As every mom would say, he really did grow so much in 5 days!  

He's a mover and a shaker.

He is growing at warp speed.

And loves him some bubbles.  Even trying to lick them off the floor.