Christmas at the Battermann's

It has always worked out so nice that we spend Christmas Eve with John's side of the family and Christmas Day with my side of the family.  So, we drove up to the Battermann's on Dec. 23rd.  For those of you not in the Chicago area - the weather and roads were just awful here in Chicago and we had debated not risking it (since we have Logan, a precious gem with us), but decided late (around 10pm) to head up there.  We got on the road at 10:30 and made it safe and sound at John's parents house around 2:45am...whew!  It normally takes about 3 hours - give 15 minutes depending....but this time was 4 hours, 15 minutes...ack!  And through the dark of the night nonetheless.  But we got there and Dorene and Bill were up waiting for us and they greeted us, took Logan and made googly eyes at him - and he made them right back at them with a few smiles too!  They were very excited.  :)  (Logan is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents on both sides...despite the fact that he's the 5th grandchild on the Battermann side and 6th on the Madorma side!)

Our Christmas Eve day was a bit different this year...Brittany Battermann (sis-in-law) is a teacher at a school in Milwaukee and her school kids were singing at their Christmas service - so they had to leave early.  And John and I wanted to start our own traditions with Logan on Christmas Eve at our house, so we left early as well.  Therefore, Dorene was kind enough to make 2 big meals for whichever family members were able to make it at that time.  We had brunch with most of the family..then when everybody was there we did our Adult Christmas Exchange.  We each took some of the money that we usually spent on the gift and gave it to their Church's food pantry - Meghan's idea and a great one at that!  We also decided no 'gag' gifts this year (which can be hard as somebody's gift may be gold to one person and a 'gag' to somebody else, however it is still better than receiving a screeching cat in a bag - yes that was the gift I received my first Christmas at the Battermann's - hilarious at the time, but then what?).  For the most part I think everybody did okay.  I got food...which I ended up giving to the Church Food pantry and John got a tan chenille throw - which I have used every single day since then.  :)  

After the 'exchange', Brittany and Andy left...and the rest of us played a game or just hung out until church.  Alex and Ashley are still in the Christmas Children's service, however it was Ashley's last year since she goes to high school next year.  They both did great! 

We all raced home and ate dinner (another great meal by Dorene) then exchanged the rest of the gifts.  Logan really made out...and from the pictures below you can see how much he thoroughly enjoyed his first Christmas gift opening (he slept).  But we really appreciated all the gifts he got and he will use them all within the next year...and will be excited about them!

Gift opening came and went in a flash...and we were able to pack up and go by 7:45p.

I drove on the way home (since John drove through the night the night before and did a great job of staying awake even though he was exhausted!).  Although about 2/3 of the way home I decided I was too tired and we switched drivers.  I pulled off at what I thought was a decent location.  However, we pulled into a poorly lit parking lot by a closed 'little store'.  As I put the car into park, I looked up and saw a car parked about 20 feet away...behind that car was a 'man' in a Santa hat.  I told John and we both thought it was extremely creepy...and kind of horror-movie-ish...so we 'peeled' out of there & went to the next well-lit exit to switch drivers.  On the way, we noticed that the creepy 'man' was in fact a statue.  hahaha!  But still creepy!

We arrived safe at home around 11:30ish.

That, in a nutshell was Christmas at the Battermann's.  Below are some pics:

Logan on Bill's lap with his hand on Santa (his tie)

Sleeping...(go figure)

Logan in his Christmas outfit with cousin Brittany & Auntie Sandy...

Logan with his cousin Alex (only boy cousin - so far - on the Battermann side)

All the Battermann dogs dressed in their Christmas best!

Buddy in his Pajama Gram!

Logan chillin' with his Uncle Troy

A cute pic of Paula & Dave

Buddy & his loot....

Logan & his loot.....(gee Buddy - not fair is it??  hahaha)

Logan with Grandpa Santa :)  (it was sweet...Bill really wanted this pic...)

Logan with his cousins Brittany & Ashley - who are never tired of posing for a pic!

Giving their new cuz a kiss...

Brittany and I...

All the Battermann cousins in their new 'fleece' jackets Grandma got them (Logan's was not only too big to wear his just yet, but it was already packed in the car when we took this picture)

Logan staring up at his cousin Meghan with a smile... :)

Haha...my friend Abbey got Logan this cool hat...however, his head is already too big for it...so I smooshed it down as far as I could get it just for this cute pic...however it looks kinda funny!

A very nice picture of the Battermann cousins

(Ashley-14, Logan-7wks, Meghan-16, Alex-8, Brittany-17)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody!  I will post all about Logan's 1st Christmas soon....until then, enjoy this adorable picture of Logan on Christmas morning!

Pajama Gram

So I've always heard radio commercials for Pajama Gram...and have always wanted one.  Well yesterday one arrived at my door...for Logan and Buddy.  :) 

I opened it up and there were 2 little boxes inside:

In the 'PJ Puppy' box, there was a stuffed puppy dog and pajamas for Logan....red-footed pj's that says 'Baby's 1st Christmas' on the front and on the back in the 'fake door' is Logan's named monogrammed.....SO cute!!!!  They are size 6 months, so there's room to grow...but you better believe he'll be wearing these on Christmas Eve!

The 'Woof Woof' box had a doggy treat and a big red doggy-shirt that buttons in the front and has the same 'fake door' in the back with 'Buddy' mongrammed....so cute!  He will also wear this Christmas Eve.

Together...

The adorable gifts were from Joy (my Mom's cousin) & Reb - thank you, thank you!!!!

Visit with Cassie & Erin

Today Logan and I drove to our new 'neighbor' and long time friend's Cassie's house.  We hadn't seen her and her daughter Erin in a while...so it was so fun to see how much Erin has grown and all the different words she says.  Erin was very cute with Logan...she'd say 'Logan Sleeping' and would help put his pacifier back in his mouth when it fell out and he'd start crying...so cute.  :)  Here are some pictures:

Cassie & Logan

Erin looking at Logan

Erin giving Logan a kiss...aw!

In other news....please pray for Cassie's husband Jon - he was shipped over to Afghanistan recently.  We pray that he has a safe return within the year.

Logan looks like.....

His cousin TJ. Here is TJ's one-month picture

And here is Logan's. While they are not in the same outfit or setting, you can see some similarities. We'll see if this continues....

MY 6-week Checkup

So today I had my 6-week checkup.  Everything I had to report was nothing but good news - no post-partum depression, no problems with my c-section scar, no problems with breastfeeding....and the doctor even commented more than once that I had a 'cute' scar. Haha!!!  She said that to pull a baby that big out of an incision that size was great...usually with bigger babies apparently they have to expand it.  But she said it is a perfect pencil-thin line and healed beautifully...and was cute!

The doctor was obviously super cheerful despite having to come to work on a snowy day - through the night we had a rain/sleet/snow storm.  We have about 5-6 inches of really heavy snow.  Most schools were called off including my niece (the school and surrounding area lost power due to the ice storm)....which I bet my nephews are jealous cuz their school only the next town over had school.  Oh well...it is the last day before the holiday break - an easy day nonetheless.

Okay, time to wrap more Christmas gifts.  I love everything about this season!

A Cutie in a Bumbo

Playdate with Nolan

Today my friend Carrie and her little boy, Nolan (1 yr. old) came over for lunch.  Logan slept pretty much the entire time...so not so much fun to play with (but that'll change before I know it), but still it was a very nice visit.   While I talk to Carrie through email all the time, the last time I saw Nolan I was holding him in my arms...now he's walking all over the place...ah, they grow up so fast.  :)

A Grandchild-Christmas Tradition

My parents started a Christmas tradition with each of their grandkids.  They buy them a 4-ft. Christmas tree to go in their room and then each year they come and decorate it with them with different fun things.

My parents came up this weekend to put up Logan's tree and help him decorate it.  It is decorated with jingle-bell garland (which I must say the person that put the jingle bell garland in its box must not have liked his job...it took us about 10 minutes to untangle it), red/white wide ribbon, colored lights and a silver star on top!

Here are some pictures:

Assembling the tree...

Fluffing and decorating the tree...

...and voila!

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!!!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

This weekend John finally took our Christmas tree down from the attic along with the other half of my Christmas decorations.  

Logan hung his 1st ornament.  :)

What a great smile!

We love him...

Oh...he's just so darn cute!  I find myself just looking at him and thinking 'wow, that's my baby'.  

John or I will be holding him and we'll say 'ya know what?  I love him...or he's the best baby.'  We just love to smile at him.  He's just so amazing and everytime we look at him we feel so blessed that he's in our life....we have just reached a whole new level of utter happiness.  

Just thought I'd share...

Visiting Daddy's Work...

Yesterday, Logan and I visited John at work (sorry Lisa - we heard you were sick....don't worry we'll be back sometime soon).  His floor was having their Christmas luncheon so we decided to crash their party.  Logan met many nice people that 'hear' about him all the time.  He slept the entire time (go figure...my Logan???) despite all the people talking around him or tapping his little feet to wake him. 

It was funny because some people were very surprised at how big he was (again go figure...).  One guy tried to guess and said 'what, is he like 3 or 4 months?'....Oh, hahahaha....um no...5 weeks.  'OH'.  It was funny.  While some people say he has long fingers for playing the piano, John says they are great fingers for 'programming' (which is what he does...in a nutshell)....they all agreed.  :)  We'll see....

All in all, it was a nice time.  :)

One Month Checkup

Today Logan had his one month checkup (wow - I can't believe he's a month old already!!!).

10 pounds 12 ounces (76% percentile)

23.5 inches (97% percentile)

head: 15 inches (47% percentile)

He had a great checkup!  He Dr. L - he was absolutely wonderful with him.  He thinks it's wonderful that he sleeps so well and said there wasn't any need for me to wake him up to feed as he is gaining at a perfect rate.  :)  (good news!)

I had him check the little lump at the bottom of his sternum even though I've read it is normal - part of his xyphoid process.  He agreed that it is normal and nothing to worry about.

Logan was wide awake for the nurse but sleepy for the doctor.  But after getting poked around and lifted in the air he was wide awake again - just content.  :)

He did have to get a shot today.  We both did really well.  It was very quick.  I didn't cry - not even a tear.  He did cry, but just for a little bit.  Then we were on our way.

Here are some pictures from his visit:

Making eyes at the nurse while she measured him...

Chillin while waiting for Dr. L

Dr. L checking Logan's breathing...

Logan is Superman...eh, not yet...Dr. L was impressed with how well he held his head up.  :)

Sunday

On Sunday we went to Church with the fam.  We sat in the section reserved for small children.  It was possible that he'd wake up to eat & we weren't sure how quick we'd get a bottle going so we didn't want to create a scene.....anywho it was nice to 'be eligibe' in that section. :)  Naturally he slept the entire time

Logan wore his Italian cashmere sweater.....my Godparents went to Italy shortly before he was born and got him this beautiful sweater.  It was going to be his Christmas sweater, however it is 0-3 months....and he is starting to wear 3-6 month clothes now...so I needed him to wear it somewhere nice and fast!  :)

After church we dressed in our Bears gear and drove home....in a snowstorm.  Luckily only about half the drive was bad.

Logan is sad that the Bears played so poorly and lost...

Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa Battermann's

On Friday late afternoon we left to travel up to Wisconsin to the Battermann's.  This was Logan's first 3 hour car ride....and his first car ride with Buddy (who up until this point has 'owned' the back seat of the Jeep).  We are thankful that Logan doesn't eat every 2-3 hours or else we would have had to stop...but we didn't.  He slept the entire drive.  When we arrived Grandma and Grandpa had Logan all to themselves...

Then Logan slept in a cradle that Dan (John's oldest brother) made for Meghan (Dan's daughter who is now 16 years old).

Logan met his cousin Meghan (she bottle fed him and because we weren't able to get a good burp out of him, he spit up on her...sorry Meghan!)

And he met his cousin, Alex:

And Auntie Sandy:

And cousin Brittany:

And cousin Ashley (John's Goddaughter):

Then he met Uncle Dave...who at first held him at arms length...

But quickly after warmed up to him....

And he met Aunt Paula and stared into her eyes...so cute!

Then Logan met Bruno (Dave & Paula's German Shepard)

The girls took a picture (it's becoming a tradition) laying on the floor in somewhat of a circle (although we are running out of floor space big enough!) & looking up...

We ate a delicious dinner then played Bunco (another tradition in the making....and a fun one at that!).  Logan was just getting off to sleep so I held him the whole game...and he slept the entire time (despite the loudness that ensued as the game got more & more exciting!!!).