Don't Turn Around

Everyone said, "Enjoy this 'Immobile' time because once he starts moving everything is over." Well my friends, not only is he moving everywhere, he is pulling himself up onto any and everything! When I say everything I mean EVERYTHING! When things are quiet it is no longer a good thing because that means he's concentrating on something and 9.5 out of 10 times he is getting into the things he shouldn't be.  

He started with the drawers in the kitchen. 

Yes, Elisha those belong all over mommy's floor.

Then he moved to the pots and pans. 

Thankfully they all stayed stacked up!

Then the pantry.  

All kinds of yummy stuff!

And finally drawers all over the house.

Today I would like to wear these pants.

So now he plays inside a box while I try to get something accomplished .    

It worked for like 5 minutes!

Elisha's first Antibiotic :-(

Well it was perfect timing to have off school today for ice ... because my little man woke up with a fever :-( Besides a small cough here or there Elisha thankfully has not been sick, until this morning.  He had gotten up twice last night which is no normal! And he was super fussy this morning and lethargic.  I though maybe it was his teeth bothering him because he had a very low fever so I gave him 1/2 a dose of Tylenol.  He took a great nap and when he got up he was still really lethargic and his fever was climbing.  

At the height of his fever :-(

After some Tylenol

So we called the doctor and long behold my little man has an ear infection:-( 

After his second dose of Tylenol and two doses of antibiotics he is back to his normal self! He is crawling all over and as curious as ever.  Thankfully ear infections are not contagious, because Andrew and I get enough germs at school!

After one dose of antibiotics he was more lively!

Then by bedtime my little man was back!

Elisha's First Snow Day!

When the buzz around school yesterday was snow, I refused to believe it or get my hopes up until it actually happened.  I really don't like snow because I don't like cold weather.  But as a teacher it can have its perks.  So I love snow, sometimes.  Snow in Maryland is so unpredictable though...one day they could say we are suppose to get a dusting and we'll get 7-8 inches and another day the radar could be showing the worst storm in a decade and well get a few flakes.  Can you tell I don't have much faith in the weather forecast.

So this morning when I heard Andrew's phone vibrating before the alarms had gone off I was like yes!  I shook him quickly to answer the phone and see it we were delayed or closed.  The call said we were delayed 2 hours and that they would continue to monitor the weather.  I happily reset my alarm and went back to sleep!  Then about two hours later we got another call stating we were closed!  This time I turned off the alarms and went back to sleep!!  Andrew took care of Elisha when he woke up just before 8 am (he slept in too!).  It was an amazing morning of sleep and relaxation.  When I got up Elisha and I took a look outside to see what had happened. 

Elisha was not sure what to think about this white stuff. 

Later after Elisha's morning nap we decided to adventure outside for a few minutes.  I had bought snow bibs for Elisha on Black Friday but Andrew then asked this morning, "What are we going to put on his feet?"  I replied, "Uh, I had not thought about that."  So we improvised and put socks on his feet, then footie PJ's, baggies, and then regular cloth boots.  Andrew and I also realized that we did not have snow clothes for ourselves.  I guess at the end of this season that is something I will need to get for us. 

We are ready to play!

He is still trying to figure out what this white stuff is.

He tried touching it but he did not like it very much.
When it stuck to his fingers he would start fussing.

My Snow Baby!

He had so many layers on he just kinda fell over :-) 

He would try to get up but that did not work very well.  

Playing with Daddy!

Snow Angles!  Although he really did not like it. :-(

After playing outside we came back in and ate lunch.  My little man feel asleep in my arms rewarding me with quality snuggle time!  This was by far the best part of the snow day!  I'm also looking forward to a few more this year!

My snuggle bug!

Elisha's First Hair Cut

The first major event of 2015 took place on January 3.  It was getting Elisha's hair cut!! I have been saying for months that I want to get his hair trimmed.  He was born with a head full of it, he lost a bunch, and then it grew back very quickly and very fine.  Andrew has been saying we can't cut it until his first birthday.  I was like "no way".  We decided since Elisha is getting pictures taken next week that we would get it trimmed because it was hanging down in front of his eyes and over his ears.  We decided to go down to WhiteMarsh to Cartoon Cuts because we figured they would be the most patient with an 8 month old.  Elisha did pretty good.  I did not know what to expect but he did well until the buzzers got turned on.  He did not like that sound or the vibrations of the clippers.  

Before Pictures:

During Pictures:

After Pictures:

Happy New Year

When Andrew was a kid his family tradition of celebrating at home began.  His parents would put him and his brothers to sleep at normal bed times and then would prepare an amazing spread of special foods.  He would wake up Andrew and his brothers around 11:30 so they could snack and watch the ball drop in NYC.  We talked about this several times through the week.  Elisha must have heard and didn’t want to miss out.  He woke up a few times and I went up to rock him back to sleep.  Andrew came up to find Elisha wide awake in my arms at 11:50 and convinced me to bring him down for the celebration.  We gave him a bottle of water so he was not left out of the New Year’s toast.  

We are waiting for the ball to drop.

Toasting in the New Year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Kassouf Family Christmas

As long as I have known Andrew we have been dreaming of sandy Christmas celebrations with his family in Myrtle Beach.  This year Grandma and Grandpa chose to drive north for a change.  They wanted to save us from making the long trip with Elisha.  We appreciate their gift of time.

Uncle Tim and Aunt Erin joined us for dessert and the Kassouf family gift exchange.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Ashley joined us online through Google Hangouts.  One of the things that makes Christmas with the Kassouf’s special is the fact that everyone is more concerned with giving the perfect gift rather than receiving it.  The only difference this year was that everyone wanted most to see Elisha open their gift for him.  Grandma and Grandpa got him a new car seat and a few other toys.  His favorite seems to be stackable buckets.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Ashley had sent an Elf on the Shelf alternative called an Angel on the shelf which will be fun to use next year.  Uncle Tim and Aunt Erin gave Elisha his first Superman book. 

See him holding the buckets while checking out the new toy?

Again we still have the buckets! Those were a great choice Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa Mugs!

Grandma got a Jim Shore Santa! Grandpa wanted to hang the mistletoe over her head!

Yay! for a new car seat!

Fun with Uncle Tim

Sure Grandma, I'd love to play with your phone. 

Dessert included Grandma’s famous apple pie but something was missing and no one realized it until she was leaving.  Grandma pointed out the night before she left that she didn’t make the Christmas apple bread that has become a Kassouf family tradition.  Andrew thinks that we all forgot about it because our celebration was moved to Maryland and he and I were cooking for three days straight while Grandma and Grandpa played with Elisha.  There was no time to make it.  Next year we won’t forget.  Elisha must have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful tradition.

Christmas with the Dearstine's in Delaware!

We got up the day after Christmas and went to Delaware for the day.  That is where my grandparents live and my dad, step mom, and brother were all coming over as well so we could celebrate Christmas.  When we arrived at my grandparents they were not home.  I’m not going to lie, I did freak out a little because both of their cars where there but they were nowhere to be found.  After we nocked for a while and walked the perimeter of their home their neighbor came out and said that he had saw them walk down the street a little bit ago to visit a friend.  Soon after my dad arrived and I walked down to the friend’s house they were visiting and as Elisha and I walked up the driveway they came walking out.  I was then very relieved.  This round of Christmas left Elisha with even more toys.  Poppy and Nonni got him a train that you can push or sit on, it also has all of the letters and sings different “little kid” songs to help teach basic letters, counting, and colors.  He also got a homemade chicken hat!  And a few new books.  Great Mommom and Poppy got him a precious moments figure as well as cash to help start his savings account.  We then all went to lunch at Outback and did a little post-Christmas shopping.  

Elisha climbed up on top of the entire box!

Opening Presents! 

YAY!!

Lots to see, hurry up Mommy!

  

He loves books!

This was a standard gift for family this year, Elisha's foot/hand print!

Christmas with Nana

Nana, Uncle Kyle, and Uncle Ryan all joined us Christmas day for dinner and gift exchange among my immediate family.  We were very glad that my family made the trip up to Bel Air because we wanted to have Christmas at our home.  Nana brought all kinds of goodies for Elisha.  I think his favorite was Scout, a Leapfrog toy dog that is programmable to say Elisha’s name and talks about some of his favorite things.  Although I don’t yet know his favorite animal or color we choose a dog because he has followed them all around whenever we are at someone’s house that has a dog.  We choose green for his favorite color because that’s the color of his room.  That’s logical right?  Anyway, she also got him a jeep truck that he can sit on and push himself or walk behind it.  Of course it makes multiple car noises, and it came with mega blocks that store in the seat.  Elisha loves to open up the seat and pull out each block individually and chew on it for a minute and then throws it on the floor and moves on to the next.  

I got the bows!

Scout! I love this toy!

Elisha, Nana, Uncle Ryan, and Uncle Kyle

This is fun!

After we opened our presents we had dinner.  Andrew made a pesto panko lamb roast, stuffed acorn squash, and I did a potato casserole that is a mix of white and sweet potatoes with parmesan cheese, roasted garlic, and rosemary.  All in all it was a great evening that we rounded out with apple and pumpkin pie.  

Christmas Morning at the Kassouf house

Elisha came knocking on our door to wake us up so we could go open the presents that Santa had brought.  He was so excited and it warmed our hearts.  Ok, maybe next year.  This year our day started like any other.  Once we were all awake we opened our stockings and other presents from Santa and our presents from each other.  

Elisha still loved the bows the most but he was very excited when Andrew put together the new toys for him to play with.  One toy was a sit to stand toy with a dancing bear on top which he was very intrigued with.  Every time it turns on he grabs it. 

Andrew’s “large” gift was money to see a Broadway show.  I was going to pick out the show and buy him tickets but I was afraid I would pick the wrong show.  Although, Andrew would enjoy any Broadway show; because we don’t get to go as frequently now he is more particular so I did not want to pick the wrong thing.  It’s also good I did not pick them because Andrew told me after opening the gift that sometime in January they have Broadway week where you can get 2 tickets for the price of 1!  So hopefully we will be able to take advantage of that deal!    

My large gift was hidden on the Christmas tree; continuing in the Kassouf tradition.  Andrew’s Grandfather was a goldsmith and he would make a new piece every year for Christmas and then hang it on the tree for Andrew’s Grandmother.  She would have to search the tree to find the new item.  Andrew’s Dad continued this tradition with his Mom and now Andrew does it for me!  I was very excited to search the tree this year because I knew Andrew had been working with our jeweler to make a custom piece.  He had me unwrap the box but when I opened it up the box was empty which means I had to look on the tree.  This year it was a ring box!!  I was super excited.  Elisha and I searched the tree and I found a ring that has 2 interlocking hearts which represent Andrew and me and then on the inside of the ring Andrew had a heart engraved to represent Elisha.  Then when we have any future children we will add engraved hearts to the inside. (We have a video of this experience and it is very comical.  But it is to large of a file to upload :-( ) 

Then while Elisha took his morning nap Andrew and I made a special Christmas breakfast.  Andrew made bacon and eggs which were different but delicious.  He seasoned them with old bay which was new for me and I really liked the choice.  We usually do eggs and a breakfast meat on any given Saturday and I wanted to make something else that made this meal special.  I chose to make lemon, poppy seed pancakes.  They were good but I don’t think I will make them again because they were not outstanding.   

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!