The Year of the Cheeri-O!

No hair, no hair, nowhere no hair, no fair, no hair nowhere back there, no hair........ For my hairbrush!

2012-01-24T21:15:00.002-06:00

I was in denial for a while, but Owen stood up after finishing his bottle the other night and I knew it was time....

...time for Owen's first haircut!

He wasn't sure about it at first.

And then he was sure. He was sure he did NOT like it. : )

I wasn't sure I liked it either. But I also don't like the idea of his hair starting to look girly. And good ol' Tammy at Cool Cuts 4 Kids was kind enough to bag up a lock of Owen's hair for us to keep forever and ever. I do believe that this whole concept is extremely bizarre. But I'm a mom and apparently moms do weird things like hoard their baby's hair and display it in a book. Unless of course you haven't made your son's baby book yet... :/

It's ok though. Owen doesn't care. All he cared about was that his haircut was finished which then freed him up to throw his shoes and socks off and stuff his face with sweet potato puffs.

Video # 3

If you're handsome and you know it clap your hands!

10 things to do on the weekend that don't include running a marathon.

2012-01-22T20:23:00.004-06:00

It is one week past the marathon, and I have officially regained normal feeling in my legs. And as a bonus, I have also regained normal weekends in my life! No more crazy 3 hour training runs for a while. So what does one do with this newly acquired surplus of time? (Aside from blog about my weekend as if it was a musical...)

1) Pretend you are in Austin on a date and stuff your face with Chuy's Mexican food and Amy's Ice Cream.

"I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream!"

2) Try to not scream too loudly and wake up a sleeping baby when you get a call from a beautiful friend as she proclaims the happy words, "I'm engaged!!!" Hooray for Liz and Seth!

"Dun dun da dun, dun dun da dun...."

3) Celebrate another beautiful friend as she gets her bridal portraits taken. Kendra = stunning!

"Celebrate good times...come on! There's a party goin' on right here..."

4) Go to an incredible Price Is Right themed birthday party and watch the most adorable girl celebrate her first birthday (Yay, Charlotte!!!). I had the added bonus of winning the showcase showdown. You've just won...

A NEW CAR!!!! "bum ba dummm, bum bum ba dummmm..."
Oh wait, that was Owen. And he got it from Gigi and Boompa for Christmas.

5) Cruise to the park in style with your precious son and his favorite puppy dog.

"I know a dog
His name is Rags
He eats so much that his belly sags
His hair flip-flops
His tail wig-wags
And when he walks, he walks zigzag.
Flip-flop,wig-wag, zigzag."

6) Welcome Grammy and Grampy back from their cruise as they stop by to pick up Fanny and sing Owen some of Grammy's special tunes about floppy dogs and cutey babies...

"'A'- you're adorable. 'B'-you're so beautiful. 'C' you're a cutie full of charms...."

7) Charm your cutie with some of his favorite homemade treats.

"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?!?"

8) Try to figure out who stole the key card to CTU in season 5 of 24 as you watch in suspense with some of your very favorite friends. We love sweet time with Amy & Joe Cavanaugh!

{Insert 24 theme song music}

9) Watch Moneyball with your husband while you blog and try really hard to pay attention and like it because you like baseball and you like your husband but for some reason you just keep. on. yawning.

"For it's one, two, three strikes you're out..."

10) Smile at the thought of completing your weekend by allowing those incoming yawns to carry you to bed by 10pm on a Sunday night.

"The Sun has gone to bed and so must I...goodbye!"

"Mama Coose, Little O says, 'Go, Go, Go!'"

2012-01-16T09:54:00.011-06:00

You know you are a runner when you wake up the morning after a race anxious to feel what is sore. Let's just say that my legs don't feel as fresh as daisies today, but thankfully they held up pretty well for 3 hours and 42 minutes yesterday.

First of all, it was an INCREDIBLE experience. I think I smiled the whole way because I just felt so privileged to get to run it. So what got me through the big race?

Danny. We pushed each other along in different ways the whole race and it was unforgettable to finish side by side my amazing brother!

Cheers! I think it is safe to say that the year of the Cheeri-O has been kicked off with one of the most encouraging experiences I have ever had. It was so fun to see friends out there...signs, balloons, hugs and shout outs made a HUGE difference.

The best sign of the day...(Thanks, Hritz & Deegan!)

John and Owen were instant energy each time I saw them (4 times!!)

Affirmations. The counselor in me made myself think of five encouraging things to tell myself throughout the race. (I made Danny do it, too). Here is what I told myself during the more intense moments of the run:

1)Running the marathon is a chance to remember the mighty work of our great God. I didn't have to endure the suffering that Jesus did on the cross and I am given life and strength from our Father rather than what I deserve. Out of his love, he created me and has given me a love for running. That is why today as I run I can feel his pleasure and enjoy his creation.

2) The year is young. It is only day 15 of the year and I get to achieve a major, major goal of mine. In just a little while, I can focus on other things and have a whole year ahead of me!

3) Pray through the pain. I am ready for this, God is giving me what I need as I need it, I have been blanketed with prayers from my sweet family and friends, and now I get to thank God for sustaining me and ask that he would continue to pour out His strength on Danny and me.

4) This run signifies God's grace in my life. It feels SO good to know that I have trained for the marathon in a healthy way--I feel His freedom in every step I take. {side note story: --- I am usually not super specific about this on my blog, but there is no way to articulate how victorious the marathon felt without sharing this part of my story: Many of you know that I struggled with an eating disorder through parts of high school and college. A lot of it had to do with me becoming a slave to what my brain told my body to do, and for a long time it stripped me of my love for running. I wasn't sure if I could ever train for a marathon in a healthy way and therefore thought that I had killed my dream. I remember longing for the day where I could look back on those years of my journey and say, "Look what God has done in my life! He has conquered this and because of His grace I can experience life to the fullest". Well, yesterday I woke up before the race to find a sweet note from my husband. In the note he described a conversation we had many years ago and through my tears, he recalls me saying that I just wanted to experience God's freedom and be able to run a marathon but I felt like I had ruined that for myself. But that was not true!! John reminded me of God's faithfulness in my life-His strength that has shined and shined through my weakness-- and that is a huge reason why I could not stop smiling yesterday.}

Think about one year ago. Another reason for the smiles? A year ago on the 15th of January, I was told that my sweet baby boy could finally come home from the hospital the next morning. Although I wasn't training for a marathon at that point, God had certainly been working on my endurance through that experience. And now here I am a year later, running down the very roads that we drove our baby home from the hospital on.

Today it is January 16th. It marks one day after my marathon finally came: the most memorable run of my life. But nothing compares to the joys I have knowing that today marks one year after my baby finally came home: the most memorable year of my life.

Remember this picture of Owen's 1st night on Glourie Drive?

He was nearly 2 months old and only 6 1/2 lbs.

Little O. Mama Coose says, "Grow, Grow Grow!"

It feels like we closed our eyes that first night and now here we are a year later. So much can happen: new mommas can train for marathons and teeny tiny babies can become such big boys...

Sweet dreams! Tonight I certainly feel like some of mine have come true.

Marathon Checklist

2012-01-15T04:30:00.000-06:00

MARATHON CHECKLIST:

Brother?

Check! (Doesn't he just look fast?)

Amazing encouragement from friends and family?

Check! (Thank you for all of the cards, messages, gifts and prayers!)

Mental Preparation?

http://www.goodhealth.com/articles/2011/02/04/psychology_of_running_a_marathon

Check! (Thanks, Dad!)

Pre-marathon meltdown disguised by being a pouty-pants over losing perpetual board games to my brother and husband?

Check! (Takeaway? More mental preparation and the reality that my husband and brother are major game geeks. I on the other hand, can run like the wind! ;) )

Garbage bags and Carolina?

Check! (She is my biggest fan)

Extra fast outfit and race day necessities?

Check (A special thanks to my marathon hero, Liz Hubbard, for the running gear care package!)

Foot?

Eeek. : /
(hopeful...)

Ready or not? 2012 Chevr on Houston Marathon...here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012: The Year of the....

2012-01-09T10:54:00.014-06:00

Cheeri-O!!!

Aside from the reality that I spend most my days stepping on Cheerios dropped by a certain little boy, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate 2012 than by highlighting our cheery Owen. It is my hunch that we won't have too many more years with just the three of us, and I want to make sure I capture our family and memories every step of the way.

I shouldn't be surprised that Owen has a cheerful disposition since he is the son of John Trapp, but I just love it so much. Don't get me wrong, Owen can be a cranky pants with the best of them, but I can think of nothing sweeter to inspire my blog year than those Owen smiles that seem to trump everything.

This year I will continue to take to heart what we tell Owen every night before bed:

and I will bask in the truth of the song I sing him every morning:
"This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! "

I think about what it means to cheer someone on, and I know that it can spring from the gladness in our hearts. We are delighted in by our mighty Father. We then have what we need to delight in Him and to encourage others with the deepest of joys-- I really do hope that this year, for the Trapps, can be about that.

In 2012, we will be Cheering Owen on as he continues to explore the world. I hope to gain more wisdom and warmth as God works on my heart through our precious Cheeri-O. So far this year Owen has reminded me to:

Enjoy what is simple and good...

Leaf Video

Bubble video

& embrace all of those growing pains with a smile... (mom click on that..it is a video!)

(& maybe a little crying, too...) (mom, click on that, too! It is also a video)

I'm so excited for 2012...I have joyful boys by my side and a major excuse to eat more cereal this year. I'm sure you will hear more form me soon, but for now, CHEERIO!

Is it really 2012???

2012-01-07T14:05:00.019-06:00

Hey there faithful blog followers! I appreciate your nudges for me to introduce the new blog year. Bear with me tonight because I'm going to cling to The Year of the Nest for just long enough to recap the last couple weeks of our year.

Ironically, we ended The Year of the Nest away from our nest. Owen, no longer stuck in the hospital for Christmas, was quite the travel buddy! We traveled to Austin where chasing around Fanny sufficiently wore him out....
...and then we flew to Alabama where Owen had some quality time (and matching pajamas) with his cousins:
After that we bee-bopped our way to Breckenridge where we brought in the New Year and Owen got his first taste of snow!

We LOVE getting such great time with family and our vacations were a blast! Minus the fact that somewhere along the way, I managed to collect a sinus infection, stomach bug and foot injury. But have no fear, I am on the up & up & by this time next week, I will have completed a whole entire marathon!
Aside from running a marathon (and just to make sure that Owen looks back at my blog and has ample make-fun-of-mom-material), I figure what better way to ring in the new year than with a cheesy poem?!! Haha what if I made it the year that everything has to rhyme? That would be a train wreck. Don't worry, I am not scheming anymore rhymes after this one:

Now we are home in our cozy nest.

2011 certainly was truly the best.

God sustained in every way,

From NICU life to O's first birthday.

One thing I learned from our sweet baby boy.

Is what it means to always have joy.

Each day I am greeted by dimples and cheer,

and each day I'm reminded that God is near.

I'm thankful for our healthy boy who is one,

and for what we learn as we raise our son.

The Year of the Nest gave us all time to grow,

so bring on the year of the...

Day 12

2011-12-25T16:18:00.006-06:00

Day 12: Birthday Cake for Jesus!
Each year I am with the Trapp family for Christmas, a delicious cake is made to celebrate Jesus' birthday. This year was extra delicious with a Julie Trapp chocolate peppermint cake specialty.

I want more of it every time I pass the cake dome in the kitchen. Perhaps that is a little insight into our hearts....we desire Jesus' yummy birthday cake, but really we don't need the cake.
All we need is Jesus. So to conclude my 12 days of Christmas essentials, I will say that if you made a birthday cake for Jesus, that is really fun and we share in that tradition, too. But even better than the best of cakes is the sweetest joy of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ. I hope that today you experienced a taste of the glory of God through the gift of his precious son.

And to go full circle with my 12 days , how about another Andrew Peterson song to remind us of our true need today and every other day?! Merry Christmas, Hallelujah, Christ is born!!

Day 11

2011-12-24T16:04:00.007-06:00

Day 11: A December dose of Santa!

On the 11th day of Christmas my parents gave to me...

...a picture of my 14-year-old-dear-deaf-grumpy-childhood-dog-Omar with Santa. (p.s. Did Santa get a manicure?!)

A lot of people keep mistaking this year as Owen's first Christmas. But I have proof that this little man squeaked in an extra Christmas last year....

I referenced his hands in my advent devotional, but do you see that red paperclip? It is a size small paperclip, and that. my friends, is how big Owen's hands were last Christmas.

Last year that sweet baby slept through his Santa visit.

This year he could not have been more thrilled to see that big, bearded fellow! We took him on a special outing to the Galleria just so that we could get the cutest cheese-ball Santa pic on the block.

And then we happened to run into Santa the next week while we were running errands.

And THEN we bumped into him AGAIN this week at the airport!

I think his first Christmas was the last time he will ever sleep through a Santa visit. I know one thing for sure: this kid made a jolly new friend this year. Let's hope the excitement doesn't keep in awake tonight! Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas everyone!

Day 10

2011-12-23T10:25:00.004-06:00

Brought to you from Tuscumbia, Alabama...

Day 10!! Traditions, Traditions, Traditions...

As I sit here in the kitchen while my mother-in-law works on baking her famous gingerbread boys, I am reminded of how much we anticipate family traditions this time of year. John and I both grew up with many of the same Christmastime traditions: Christmas eve service, Christmas morning in pajamas, baking and consuming a lot of cookies, and even crazy scavenger hunts to find the specialist of gifts.

With this being our 4th Christmas married, John and I have developed a few traditions of our own....

We always stuff stockings for each other and exchange our gifts the night before we leave to visit family.

In those stockings, there are many treasures...even some for Carolina:

(Her favorite movie, Marmaduke, and a marshmallow Hello-Kitty Pop)

In MY stocking, I get a different cookie-cutter each year:

Bear, Bell, Baby, Heart : )

In case you didn't already know this, John and I love games. In fact, when we were engaged, our Vandy friends threw us a board game shower. So, it didn't surprise me that he made up another riddle as part of our Christmas gift traditions this year: I was given a tile from the game, Bananagrams. I had one guess to try and guess the word or phrase, and when I guess it correctly, I will get the gift. With the single letter choice of this year, I quickly and enthusiastically guessed, "Turks and Caicos!". The answer was no : (. I already have my guess for next year, and I hope that I forget about it in the meantime or else I will go crazzzyyyyyy.

Games we have been into this Christmas: Stratego! Aside from the fact that it makes me anxious and frustrated and full of rage and I only beat John the first time we played and I haven't beaten him since, I do enjoy it a lot. : ) We just opened gifts from my cousin and were thrilled to add Blokus to our collection (Thanks, Lindsey & Drew!!!). I also gave John a new game this year but I cannot reveal it because another family member--who shall remain nameless---may be getting it, too. Speaking of new, I am slightly obsessed with my new IPhone from John and may or may not have started 7 words with friends games on it yesterday during our long travel day yesterday. Also, if you have a little one around you this Christmas, download the pat the bunny app!

I love our family traditions, and from here on out we have the wonderful privilege of bringing Owen in on those traditions and starting new ones in our Trapp family. Speaking of Trapp family, Owen's cousins are on their way over. First Christmas with the cousins!! Hope you are headed to family today to enjoy some of your favorite traditions together.

Day 9

2011-12-21T15:40:00.006-06:00

Day 9: Nativity Neccessity

I love the seeing my Willow Tree Nativity Scene as a visual and tangible reminder of the birth of Jesus.

Owen has his very own nativity set, too...

...He definitely gets the tangible aspect of it, but I'm not quite sure he see it as a reminder of the birth of Jesus just yet:
Owen's Nativity Set

His new favorite thing is dropping anything and everything (including shepherds and wise men) down the step.
Perhaps next year he will appreciate what the nativity set represents ; )

Day 8

2011-12-20T19:59:00.003-06:00

Day 8: Candle Delight

Let's be honest: Owen can produce some not-so-great smells. So, there is nothing better than the scents of Christmas to diffuse some of the daily diaper stink. I love walking in the front door and smelling the fresh pine on Christmas tree, and baking cookies this time of year is the sweetest of aromas. But t0 me, nothing quite tops lighting some yummy holiday candles.
My favorites?
Of course I am partial to the Trapp candle Holiday scent:I'm also obsessed with my ever-so-appropriate Nest candle (Moroccan Amber is the flavor of choice):

The latest scent lighting up our house is from my new Illume Anthropologie candle in a delicious Mulled Wine aroma:

What is your favorite holiday scent??

Day 7

2011-12-19T22:15:00.007-06:00

Day 7: Christmas pjs!
Yes, Christmas pajamas are a must...and since we had our pajama playgroup party today, you'd best get ready for some major baby pj cuteness:

Oh, and mommies got to wear their pjs, too! Which meant that my friend Sarah wore the most incredible striped onesie pjs. Although not nearly as cute as Sarah's (or Owen's), I wore pjs, too. I also wore what I wear every time I am at the house: My UGG knit slippers. Trust me, I never intended to own UGG anything, but last year for Christmas my mom got them for me. Let's just say if I was Oprah and still had a TV show and gave a bunch of expensive stuff away every year, they would be on my list of favorite things for every audience. In fact, I wore mine so much this past year that mom got me a new pair and they feel like fluffy clouds every time I step. I seriously feel like my nasty runner's feet don't deserve such plush slipper-wear, but I will gladly make shameless plugs for new pairs of UGG slippers each Christmas from here on out. I suppose that my slippers are not only a Christmas necessity, but an every day essential in my world...as are Owen's old-man, plaid pajamas : ).

Day 6

2011-12-18T14:49:00.007-06:00

Day 6: Christmas with my girlz

Although my days of mommy-daughter cookie exchanges and secret Santa exchanges with my high school and college friends may be over, Christmas can be a special time to catch up with friends. That was actually a huge blessing in the midst of last year's Christmastime because so many people passed through Nashville during their travels and would take time to visit with us.

So far I haven't been doing the greatest of jobs with that considering I had to miss Amanda's cookie exchange, Kelley's wedding, and Kendra's birthday party this month. Good thing I have these lucky ladies to keep me company in the ol' Trapp nest:

Sassy Snow-woman

She seriously makes my day.

Ageless Angel

This angel has been in the family for years, and now it is at the tippy-top of our Trapp tree each December!

Baking Beauty
My newest kitchen companion!

This post is as much about fun with friends when you are home for the holidays as it is my favorite Christmas decorations. So since those 3 tacky treasures don't always keep my social life thriving, tonight I attended the tacky Christmas student ministry party ; ). Tomorrow I am piling it on with 1) hosting playgroup 2) attending a jewelry party and 3) attending book club. Tis' the season to be girly?

Day 5

2011-12-17T18:27:00.002-06:00

Day 5: Paninis!

I know not everyone associates Italian hot-pressed sandwiches with Christmas, but I do! Around Christmastime, our family always has an annual panini making contest. Weird? Yes. Awesome? YES! I can't even remember how it got started, but lets just say I'm glad it did!

Gretchen & Danny couldn't make it this year and we weren't nice enough to wait until we get to Colorado in a couple weeks, but we had our dear family friends, Mama K & G-man, over for the night of fun.

Last night their were 3 entries (1 per couple), and for some reason we decided not to vote on a winner to which the competitive spaz I am was silently fuming, but I realized somewhere in the midst of it that it was actually fun(ish) to enjoy every one's and not pick a winner!

Guess what ingredient made all 3 paninis by coincidence?

BACON! (Also some form of cheese)

My parents made a glorified BLT.

John and I made a puff-pastry layered rotisserie turkey-bacon panini with homemade spinach-artichoke dip. (I will blog the recipe sometime)

And Karen and George hilariously typed out a description of their panini and brought it...

All of the paninis were great...as you can see, I was so excited to start eating them that I forgot to take a picture until midway through:

Nothing says the holidays like a nice meal around the table with family. You may not be up for starting a panini making contest in your family, but if you need a last minute Christmas gift, might I suggest a panini-press?!?

Day 4

2011-12-16T20:22:00.003-06:00

Day 4: Chrissy's Christmas Countdown Calendar

Who doesn't love the countdown to Christmas? The anticipation is one of the best parts, and since I was a little girl I have loved my advent calendar. It would hang on the back of our basement door in our kitchen and I used to sit and play with it for hours. Now it is fun to picture Owen playing with it, too. (He is not interested yet...trust me, I tried).

Here it is:

I took this picture on Wednesday and I am in Austin now, so looks like I get to add a few 80's style ornaments to the schnazzy felt tree when I get home. AND, for the past 2 years, my sweet mom has given me the online Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar. It is so much fun--Owen even likes this one, and I get two calendars to mark each day.

Less than 10 days! : )

Day 3

2011-12-15T10:10:00.007-06:00

Day 3: A little heart-to-heart
Especially during this time of year, I think we all so desperately crave something tangible to bring us all that feeling of warmth and security...and all of these things:

I know that in the next week I will continue to blog about the oodles of stuff that will make me smile a little bigger this Christmas, but I just have to talk about the truth of the matter today: ALL gifts during this time of year come from the giver of all things, our gracious God. I really believe that when we crave something to hold or see that gives us that Christmas-y feeling, what we really are craving is a heart-to-heart with the one who provides it all. We want to experience love deeply and peace strongly and we often get confused at who or what can satisfy those desires. He is who has the power to fill my life all of that, and he promises to draw near to me as I draw near to him.

So, as I shared my life story with my community group last night (yes, we joined a wonderful community group!!!), the Lord was kind to remind me of the incredible hope he has poured out to my life. I struggle on my own. I am so often a consumer of more things and good feelings when I truly need to be consumed with Jesus.

As a part of sharing my story last night, we were asked to share a verse or passage that has had meaning in our life. This is what I chose.

Lamentations 3:22-24
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

I know it feels like we just gave thanks at Thanksgiving, but it should never cease...as the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. It is, my friends, a Christmas necessity to ask for the gifts we truly need to sustain us. He can help us put our hope in him. He can bring us joy when we can't muster it up on our own. His message is one of grace and peace and he is waiting for a heart-to-heart with us today.

Day 2

2011-12-14T08:59:00.007-06:00

Day 2: "Be bundled" necessities

Believe it or not, we have had a handful of chilly days this December down here in H-town. This past week it was time to bust out or favorite cold weather clothes to ensure we we could be bundled properly. {Side note: I feel like I am judged every time I am out with Owen and he yanks his socks and shoes off and people start talking to him in a baby voice telling him he must have cold toes. I find it necessary to tell them the truth that after the 12th time of him pulling off his socks, one got lost in Target and one is in my purse. What I really want to do is yell and proclaim that I am a good mommy and I DO properly bundle my baby.} Owen really does like to pull things off and throw them these days. It is a good thing he likes his new Mini Boden monkey hat and mittens:
In addition to cute hats and mittens, I do think that everyone should get the chance to go swing in their pajamas : )

And even if my hair is i knots and I have Owen boogers on my shoulder, I always feel better when I make it out of the house in my favorite boots:

Too bad it is 75 degrees in Houston today....but I hope you have dug out your cute warm winter happies wherever you are!

Chrissy's 12 Days of Christmas Essentials: Day 1

2011-12-11T15:37:00.007-06:00

I met someone at Starbucks over the weekend and I realized (as I watched dozens of students buried in their books) that a smidgen of my Christmas cheer may, in fact, be stemming from the reality that I am not taking final exams this year! I do believe that last years classy studying experience was certainly the grand finale of finals.

Anyway, I am thankful to finished with that chapter of my life and aside from my latte-a-day + no studying regime that I have been on, I have been especially enjoying some Christmasy things this year. So join me for the next 12 days (oh my gosh I am going to blog for 12 days in a row!) for my rendition of the 12 days of Christmas (essentials).

Day 1

Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb Album. This is not at all new, but it is SO good. We listened to it so much when we were in Nashville last year and we even got to go to the concert. I especially love this song. The words get me every time. I can relate to Mary with some of the emotion she was going through during a scary labor..until you get to the part where she birthed the maker of the moon who can make the mountains move. And then I am left in complete awe and a puddle of tears at how beautiful the birth of Jesus really was and is. I hope you have this album and that you get it for all of the special people in your life!

12 months old!

2011-12-08T19:45:00.004-06:00

I am emerging from my cave! But let me just tell you that this "cave" has been the holly-est and jolliest of caves. It has consisted of Christmas dinners, decorating trees, buying presents, taking a certain someone to go visit Santa, stuffing Christmas cards, playing board games with friends, hosting get-togethers, baking gingerbread cake and chasing around my nearly walking one-year-old. What do all of those things have in common?!?!

They are ALL things that I did not get to enjoy last year!!!!! Oh my gosh I can't even tell you how elated I was to be at the Women's Christmas Dinner at church last night. You would have thought that they spiked my tea because I just kept walking around at the end saying, "That was too short! Let's stay longer!". It has been such a blessing to be able to enjoy this season.

And guess who else has been enjoying this season?? That is right... the "O" man himself.

Owen is loving life (and I am loving Owen!!!). He is pulling up on anything and everything and cruising right along. He would rather be clapping than napping (seriously, he spent 25 minutes sitting up in his crib clapping today when he was supposed to be napping). He is very verbal....his babbles are loud and proud even in the most public of places. Owen knows how to draw a crowd, and he loves going places. He almost always saves his fussies for me when we get home. He is still super squirmy, yet still full of cuddles in the quieter moments. Owen's doctor says he is in the 40th percentile for weight and 40th percentile for height and is predicted to be 6 feet tall once he is finished growing. He has developed quite the appetite these days, too. Looks like his itty bitty days are long gone. 'Tis the season to be jolly!

Catching Up

2011-12-04T14:11:00.002-06:00

Whew! Can I blame my lack of blogging lately on having a one-year-old? I think that is what I will do...

I have pictures to upload and share, but today I just want to catch you up to speed on some of my Autumn Nest List items:

1) We had our November playgroup at the Houston Zoo. It was super fun...but I must report that Owen's top 3 things he spotted while he was there were as follows:

1. The posts that fenced in the animals
2. The puffs I brought him for a snack
3. His own reflection in the sea otter aquarium

So maybe we will try the zoo again in the Spring.....

2) I bought a shoe rack. AND yesterday my husband assembled it for me. I am happy to report that there is already one pair of shoes currenly housed in it (although neither the shoes nor the shoe rack have made their way into the closet yet, but let's not get too ambitious).

3) Remember that advent devotional I said I was going to write? Well here it is...

2011 WESTLAKE HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
advent devotional
Saturday, December 3

He answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Luke 10:27

Last year, our son, Owen, spent his first Christmas in the NICU. Believe it or not,
he also completed his first art project while he was there! A couple of days before
Christmas, some of the nurses at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital made a reindeer
using Owen’s hands as the antlers and it hung proudly on his hospital door for days.
He had the tiniest hands I had ever seen. As I admired his artwork, I couldn’t help
but think about how God has the whole world - including the little bitty babies - in
His hands. Baby Owen was born two months early while we were on vacation and
God took every opportunity during Owen’s stay in the hospital to remind me of how
much He loves His children.

We did not anticipate last year being Owen’s first Christmas, but there he was in his little hospital crib: tiny hands and all. I am struck with emotion as I think about this coming
Christmas when sweet Owen will use his hands (now much bigger and busier) to tear apart wrapped presents for the first time on Christmas morning and discover the many treasures brought his way. I have been entrusted, as his mommy, to help him discover the greatest treasure of all: the gift of Jesus and His indescribable love for His children.

When I think about Jesus being a gift to us, I often think about Jesus’ loving hands.
I read stories to Owen about Jesus using His hands to heal. I picture Him calling out
to the Father with His hands as He prayed, and I think of His hands being pierced
with nails on the cross when He died to save us. Yet, I rarely picture that the life of
Jesus began with tiny precious hands, made by our Great Creator. Jesus had the most
remarkable birth story of them all. God’s hands took on flesh. They were made with
a love big enough to hold us all. So let us not forget this Advent season that He has
you and me, brothers and sisters, in His hands, too. Not only does He have us in His
hands, but He will not let us go. Together we are loved, forgiven, and secure in His
hands. And together we are called to love.

God, thank You for the love You have shown us through the gift of Your Son. As we
reflect on Your Son’s birth, help us to love and serve You and to love and serve one
another during this Christmas season. Amen.
Chrissy Trapp
Former WHPC Member

If you would like to download the rest of the devotionals, follow this link.

It was fun to celebrate that Owen was born, but November is certainly over! Now we are getting into the Christmas spirit as we rejoice over the birth of Jesus...hope you are, too!

Owen's Musical First Birthday Party (Part 1)

2011-11-27T16:08:00.015-06:00

So who else can't believe I wrote this post a year ago?!?! And now look at our big boy...melt my heart!

Happy First Birthday, Sweet Pea!! We love you to pieces : )

Music, toys, & musical toys!

2011-11-20T15:48:00.004-06:00

As promised, here is your fill of our Owen buddy in the form of video...

Video #1 (Music): O loves when daddy plays music!

Video #2(Toys): Toy sharing & Charlotte

Video #3(Musical Toys): Discovering his new piano **

Video #4 (Musical Toys): Best musical present yet!

**I'm happy to report that Owen really DOES like his new toy piano and plays with it all the time.

Next on my list of blogable moments is Owen's musical 1st birthday party that we had yesterday--SO fun! Also speaking of music...I had originally planned to publish this post yesterday and at the end make a plug for my friend, Amanda's cd mix giveaway... but then I of course didn't finish getting my videos uploaded so it never happened. In the meantime her giveaway ended and guess who won?!?!?!? Thank you, Amanda! I am so excited and can't wait to rock out to Christmas music with Owen this year. It will be a major step up from me singing him my dulled down & depressing NICU appropriate renditions of Christmas lullabies that he got last year. Winning the cd was a perfect finish to our music filled weekend!

Sunday Starbucks Siesta

2011-11-13T16:04:00.004-06:00

"A siesta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsjesta]) is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those where the weather is warm." (Thank you, wikipedia)

While I don't do "siesta" like my boys do, I definitely am down with some Sunday Starbucks. In fact, it has been a Sunday tradition since my senior year in college. I wish I could say today was a typical Sunday in all regards, but not really. Sadly, my Sundays have not consisted of Christ the King worship and fellowship as of late, but I am rolling with it. This morning was supposed to be my first Sunday back at church since the birthday adventure/high school retreat/half marathon trifecta, but we had another Saturday night ER party with the O-ster. (before your anxiety spikes too high, please know he is doing much better today).

Today I have done some reflecting about yesterday...which spurred me on to do some reflecting about this past year. (Two weeks until Owen's 1st birthday may have something to do with my deep thoughts)....
Here is what I know to be true:
God gave me strength to handle preterm labor, NICU nights and a teeny tiny baby boy. He helped me persevere through hydrocephalus scares and breathing apneas. He held my hand when I could not hold John's during a scary ambulance ride...and he held it again when I could not hold Owen's during his medical transfer flight halfway across the country. He gave me purpose to pump and pump some more for 6 whole months when the nursing was a major struggle. He gave me time and energy to be with Owen for all of the extra doctor visits, bottles and snuggles. And above and beyond my hopes and prayers, he has blown my socks off with joy in the midst of it all. In new ways I have seen my weakness and real moments where all I could do was cling to God. I have learned a lot.

But yesterday afternoon a weak link in my strong mommy chain was discovered. Want to guess what I did when my son began projectile vomiting?

I hope you are thinking of an answer highlighting a cool, calm and collected Chrissy...I wish. Try again. Try I ran into the other room and cried (while my hero of a husband stayed steady and strong.) My baby boy is absolutely puking my guts out and MY gut reaction was to flee the scene. Perfect.

So in the process of realizing that I cannot handle scary baby gagging situations with much poise, my though was,"Ummmmm hello strong mommy gene, aren't you supposed to just kick in?? Where the bleep are you!?!?!?" {That would be me trying to muster up courage on my own.}

How quickly I forget that the Lord is with me...that in my mommy moments of weakness, God is mighty and brave and strong. And he provides what we need as we need it EVERY single time.

I did realize through talking to John that my tears were an outward expression of my inward fear that something was very wrong. We have been told to be on the lookout for Owen vomiting because it is a sign of hydrocephalus. (Hence why we had to head to the ER). The logical side of me knew that most likely he got choked up due to his congestion, but then it happened over and over and over and over...and my irrational fear side took over. Sweet baby Owen looked so scared and in pain and it was so tempting for me to just react to his emotion with my own.

Thankfully, God provided patience for all of us during our 4 hours in the emergency room.
Thankfully, Owen loves blue Gatorade (and we loved his blue tongue and lips).
Thankfully, Owen is going to be just fine.
Thankfully, he slept a solid 8 hours last night + 2 more and then had 5 hours worth of naps today.
Thankfully Daddy and O took the siesta, and mommy took the Starbucks this Sunday. And THAT, my friends, is why I got to blog today. Tis' always the season to give thanks and I do believe that the Trapps may have a thing or two to be thankful for this year. ; )

I'll make you banana pancakes...

2011-11-08T19:58:00.008-06:00

...pretend like it's the weekend now! (Whatever happened to Jack Johnson by the way? I asked John that recently and he said that he thinks he just surfing in California. That sounded about right to me.)

Guess who had their first pancake this morning?
{Warning: this is kind of long and not the most exciting video I have ever uploaded and only made the blog for the sake of Owen's grandparents and the fact that eating pancakes is a crucial part of life that must. be. documented.} I promise to upload a couple cuter videos later this week.

+ =
Buckwheat + Banana = Owen's first pancake!

I have the sweetest breakfast memories from childhood of waking up to the smell of Popawalt's pancakes and enjoying them together. In fact, pancakes were my favorite food forever and ever until cereal and sweet potatoes took over my life. Anyway, I hope that Owen still enjoys my healthy pants pancakes after he tries Grampy's buttermilk beer batter. Yes...it's true.
Buttermilk + Beer = Mommy's first pancake!
The breakfast fuel of champions, perhaps?

I was not fortunate enough to have Popawalt's pancakes fuel me up for the half marathon on Sunday, but I was blessed to have him in the fan club cheering me on as I ran! Owen and I had a great weekend in Dallas and I loved getting to run the DRC half.

Sweet Paige and Lauren were wonderful Aunties to Owen the whole race and it was such a treat to see them THREE times throughout the race.

I would get so excited each time I saw them...it was surreal having my baby cheer me on in a race.

I may never beat my old college race times, but I had a solid run and as silly as this may sound, it felt SO good to know that I can be a strong and healthy mommy runner. John reminded before the race that I had the opportunity to experience God's pleasure as I ran and I was so thankful for those thoughts being on my mind.

Up next? Full marathon in January...ahhh!!!

*Thank you to Popawalt for the great photos!

Pumpkin Palooza

2011-11-04T16:12:00.006-05:00

We have had a wonderful week with our hipp-O, and in light of it being his first Halloween, John and I had a good discussion about what Halloween means to our family. We don't want to blindly let our kids participate in all that is Halloween, yet we want them to enjoy special days with friends and family. So I think we can focus on the positives: costumes, candy and time together and leave the darker themes behind. I always want to come back to the question of how can we serve others and glorify God as we enjoy the gifts of candy and fun. One solution? Pumpkins! I realized this week that for me, this time of year has been a pumpkin palooza. For Owen's first trick-or-treating time we decided to make some pumpkin butter to take to our neighbors. So one thing I have learned this week: making pumpkin goodies for people is a great way to spread the autumn cheer and focus on some of the sweeter spots of the holiday.

QUICK RECIPE: Bust out your crock pot and all you need is a couple cups of fresh or canned pumpin, a freshly squeezed lemon, a cup of brown sugar, some nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ground cloves. Instead of lemon you can try apple cider or juice. Just let it cook on low for a few hours. I like eating it cold with some Kashi honey sesame crackers.

Because I am a pumpkin freak, I also roasted pumpkin seeds in a little salt and butter. They go great on a salad.

QUICK RECIPE: Try my spinach salad with avacado, pumpkin seeds, different color mini cherry tomatoes, rotisserie chicken & feta cheese. I like it with green goddess or a light ginger dressing. So good.

And my best pumpkin trick (and treat) of the week?!?! HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE FRAPPUCCINOS!!! I am such a nerd because I even poured it into a saved Starbucks cup.

Guess which one is my homemade one and which one is a purchased Starbucks drink?

(Yes, I realize that the Boogie Wipes in one picture and Starbucks napkins in the other are pretty much a dead giveaway, but look how close mine looks to the real deal!!). I am still perfecting the taste but they really taste almost exactly the same. They are a lot cheaper, too. I will tell you how I make them after I finish tweaking the recipe.

Even Owen has been indulging in some pumpkin yum. He has been rocking my baby puree pumpkin-chicken-butternut squash combo almost every day this week.

We love pumpkins!

Have no fear, the punkin' lovin' will not stop anytime soon, but because it is November in The Year of the Nest we are venturing into different flavors and spices for the holiday season. To kick off November, I made some sugar ginger cookies last night.