Mother Nature Throws Curve Balls

 Old Man winter decided that he didn't want my climbing hydrangeas to bud and bloom yet so he dropped 6 inches of snow over the last two days. Foxtrot is not too sure about all the cold weather.

Papa Foxtrot and I have been enjoying the snow days. We have been doing lots of painting, carving, sewing, glass melting, wire bending, stringed instrument playing and of course cha-cha-ing with Foxtrot. A post dedicated to all the arts and crafts we are and have been making is in order.

A note about Foxtrot's "period of rapid transition." It seems as if in the last two weeks Foxtrot has entered a new stage. He is crawling with ease, pulling himself to a stand, moving between furniture on his feet, (and trying some free standing), clapping, waving, playing the guitar and drums, and babbling up a storm. What an exciting time for all of us.

For Brother

I recently added these photos to the computer library. They are from Foxtrot's first Christmas in New York with Lainie, Jagie and the rest of the AlphaShak family. Although Brother AlphaShak cannot check this post because he has been deployed, he is the reason for it. When I see the first picture in this post I think of how he is still just a little baby. And I mean that in a very sincere, kind, loving way. He is just a young gun out serving our country.

Baby is Uncle's boots.

A winter's walk

Getting ready for his debut.

Just being Irish.

Papa and Baby Foxtrot's first time in a clawfoot tub.

Yes, Foxtrot is watching football.

Foxtrot meets the rocks.

Jagie and Lainie love Foxtrot.

Lainie just can't get enough.

Playing with the Queen of Hearts

Our first Valentine's day as a threesome. A lot of love to be shared today. And we even sent some love out with our super sweet homemade valentine's.

Foxtrot CRAWLED around the kitchen chasing Maddie and Maxx. When he got close enough that he might touch one of them he would sit, squeal at the top of his lungs, and stretch his arms out in front of him as if he was casting a spell. The dogs quickly moved to the opposite side of the kitchen and waited for him to get close again. The dogs were not about to leave the kitchen when they new this delicious meal was on the stove.

Yup those are heart shaped cheeseburgers and beats. I have not honed by food photography skills, but all in due time. 

And here are some photos of our Foxtrot boot-scoot-boogieing.

A Finished Wedding Quilt

Sister and Brother Stone finally received their wedding quilt I began last July. Yip Yip! Now I can share the photo!

And here is Foxtrot checking out Boogie Woogie, Margarita, and the rest of the cattle on the farm.

Foxtrot's First Cold

The weather has been pretty beautiful in 2011, so far. Warm, a mix of rain and sun, even nice enough to prune trees and work in the garden. Back on the east coast where Sister Stone lives, it sounds like it has not been as pleasant. With all this fantastic weather in the northwest, why did Foxtrot get a cold? Poor little bugger. After the super bowl party, Foxtrot had fever and started to cough. It was a long restless night sleep. Monday was tough, but today things are looking up. He had a very busy morning of playing and  . . . . get this . . . CRAWLING. Yup. You got it. Foxtrot made his first official crawl today. Yip Yip! But after a busy morning Foxtrot needed a nap.

Papa Foxtrot loves when Foxtrot falls asleep on his chest.

Here are the cute treats I made for the super bowl party. I used Trader Joe's Jo-Jo's instead (no High Fructose Corn Syrup!) I shaped them like footballs for the event and piped on some cream cheese frosting. If I hadn't put the lines on, I was sure they would look like something I pulled out of Foxtrot's diapers.

Navy Blue

Grandma got Foxtrot a new carpet for Christmas to prevent him from breaking his face on our concrete floors as he learns to walk and crawl. Foxtrot is a happy little baby. He has even taken to dancing with joy. To outsiders, he might just look like he is shaking his head "no." But we know he is really following in his daddy's footprints and learning how to break dance. He danced so much this afternoon that he put himself to sleep on the navy blue carpet.

While Foxtrot slept, I crafted up this on-the-go drawing kit for little tykes out of some scrap fabric.

One More for Today

Daddy and Foxtrot went out for an evening stroll. 

Little Drummer Boy

This year for Christmas each grandparent sent us some sort of noise making toy; a few drums, a rattle, shakers, bells, phones that talk, and the list goes on. Do you think this was some form of pay back for all the years of noise we subjected them to in the past? All the grandparents also counteracted the noise making toys by giving books as well. Oh Foxtrot loves good ol' Dr. Seuss! Yesterday, Foxtrot found a new way to use one of his drums. This drum has a clear detachable lid. 

I hope you all had a good laugh.

This One's for the Girls

I found a bunch of blankets in the storage unit yesterday that needed a bath. This morning as Foxtrot was playing and I was folding the clean blankets I thought back to my undergrad days.

We made this in honor of beautiful memories.

Foxtrot loves sitting in it.

Now only if there were a few ladies around with knitting needles and vino, this would have been the perfect morning. (Well maybe it would be a little early for wine.)