.....IT happens....

Ole Griffy and I have had our moments these past few weeks...the kind that only a mother and child can have together. That shared embarrassment/awkwardness that you put each other in out in public. There's the classic "mom forgot my jacket" and we're out in the freezing cold, or "I just knocked mom's really hot coffee drink all over her in a long line at the grocery store while buying unmentionables", or the everyday "mom didn't pack any extra diapers and I am smelly in the nursery" type incidents...then there are the ones I would give him the responsibility for like "I just got on the airplane and puked all over my mom right before take off" or "I pooped in my diaper and then when my mom was changing me to get in the tub my diaper strap came off and all the contents landed on her bare foot".... Yes, these are all actual events in the day to day life of Griffin and as he calls me "AB", and I have put myself up for some kind of mothering award with this evidence I am sure. Today my friends, we have topped them all. I am sure I will always remember Griffin's sweet face, the way it looked today in Macy's....

Pants have never really been Griffin's thing. In fact when he was littler he would throw a tantrum when the pants were about to be put back on after a diaper change so we made up this little "pants dance" number that we would sing and shimmy them back on without him knowing. Our main problem with pants is that Griffy's legs are long and his waist is tiny, so finding ones that fit are difficult, which was the root of our problem today. After bible study I was determined to get to the make up counter at Macy's before Griffin fell asleep for a nap. We pulled up to the mall, and success! He was awake and happy, so we both gingerly bounced into the store holding hands in the parking lot. I was actually thinking about how good he was being, keeping a hold of my hand and stopping sweetly to peer into windows at the jewelry counters. I spotted the counter I need to get to and guided Griffin in the direction, focused on the destination. We had to cross an isle that opened up into the rest of the mall and just as we were about to make a move for it a woman from another counter approached little Griffin and started to talk with him. I, still "eyes on the prize" was expecting her to say how cute he was, hi little buddy....you know the usual when I hear really loudly, "what happened to your pants little boy??" I quickly surveyed the area for little boys with pants issues and decided against looking down until I could confirm she was talking to us. Dread filled me....no little boys in sight...Oh my gosh....what could be the issue with his pants, just 5 steps back they were fine???!!!??? I looked down and to my horror my little boy is standing in the middle of Macy's, straight up pants around his ankles, little white chicken legs and diaper hanging out for all to see. (Ironically I was getting new blush and let me assure you that I didn't need any after this) I scooped him up, giggled awkwardly and head held high made it to the Clinique counter. My poor baby, at least he will never remember this. He smiled so innocently at me as I pulled up his pants and tried to pretend I did not just pull my child in front of a department store full of people with no pants. Seriously...how did that happen? It couldn't have been for more than 30 seconds but it still happened...I still looked like a totally untogether mother...

As I was driving home I called my mom to tell her and she said, well look at it this way you probably made someone elses day. And if I had seen it, it would have been my smile for the day too, so chalk it up to that. I will never be the perfect have it all together mother, I will always forget something obvious, or do something to hastily but that's just me...and just real life I think, and hey at least God allows for some comedy right in the middle of everyday.

ehhhh....it's January......

Well, well, well here we are smack dab in the middle of January, which always seems to be a month for me that not only brings a lot of snow, but also literally feels like trudging through a blizzard in my swim suit. After almost a month and a half of life on a sugar high I always feel like it's hard to get dropped off in the frigid month of January...but every year we end up in the same place, fighting through the blowing winds and freeeeezing temps dreaming of short sleeves, days at the park, and flip flops. Every January I seem to be fighting the same set of winter blues that I can't seem to shake until I can see that the snow is starting to melt, the suns out a little longer and that Spring is on it's way. Especially now with Griffin it's hard to be cooped up all day and even if we can go out, we have to bundle him up so much he can barely walk. So I decided to fill you in on what's been going on and help bring up my moral I would make a list of positives that January brings...

1. snowy day activities and hot chocolate

2. birthdays of my sister Ali and our friend Erin that we got to celebrate...

3. this year, a trip to Florida with the Richards

Grandpa and Griffin making juice with Florida oranges

One day we rented a boat and the whole family cruised around...

I love to drive!!

and

4. it's a new year FULL of new adventures to come and if we wait long enough...warmer weather:)

HAPPY JANUARY!!!

Holiday Fun and 2009 to boot!

Just as fast as the snow has came and went from our yard, the Holidays are here and gone! Went by in a blur, and we jammed a lot in! On Christmas Eve day we trekked across Illinois and Iowa at 5:30 am! My sweet neighbors who had to dig me out of our driveway the night before thought we were a little crazy but it wouldn't be Christmas without a treacherous drive to Nebraska for us....been doing it all my life! Christmas eve we got ready at Ryan's parents house and then we to his Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner and wrapped up the night at my G & G's. The next day we celebrated at the Eccleston's and then drove to Lincoln for the Richard family celebration. I was once again bad about getting enough pics but I have a few...

gg & grandpa

toting around his new "travel luggage"

The Eccleston Clan

My beautiful Sister in laws!

Auntie Kelly

We had a great few days in Nebraska visiting with friends and hanging with family. We even squeezed in a wedding of our dear friend Michaela from college and had so much fun reuniting with the college crew...

The boys reliving the "glory days"

Mckay, the GORGEOUS bride and friends

Another night of Super Couple BLISS

Acting strange...things fall back into place so easily!

And we wrapped up our holiday binge with our friends the Mick's for the New Year...

Erin, in the middle is my friend from church and Griffin's favorite playmate too:)! Her son Charlie is now 1 and we spend a lot of time strolling around together!