Good Tidings to All!

We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Bitty awoke at 4:15 this morning... she is never up that early and she had a severe case of ants in the pants.  I, on the other hand, was terribly tired and mildly grumpy (it was the first night in about 4-5 that I had slept well and would really have enjoyed doing so a touch longer).  Daddy, of course, lays there like a dead fish and sleepily says "It's Santa Claus," before promptly rolling over and falling back to sleep.  What does that mean anyways?  Later he tells me that she knew that Saint Nicolaus had come and she was terribly excited and just couldn't sleep a wink longer. Ok, honey.  

She went back down for a nap @ 6:15.  It was like a blizzard when I looked outside, Eric is now outside plowing with the four wheeler (read - doing brodies in the snow).  

Oh, no! That jerk, reving the engine just outside our window has awoken sleeping beauty, arrrrgggghhh!!!  .... more later...

The loot...

Here is Bitty riding in the Radio Flyer that Bob & Trudi got her! It is a ginormous, huge, huge wagon.  Quote from grandparents, "this wagon is meant for three kids and all your stuff..." Is that a hint?

Adelaide has become so tactile as of late, hands on everything.  She discovered the fruit bowl and had to touch everything.  The avocado with it's slighty bumpy exterior was her favorite.  We didn't get a picture of the words on that onesie - "What Santa doesn't bring me, Gramma will!" 

Photo Melange

I have been neglectful in posting photos... only because they take far too long to load and I have been too busy to wait.  Below is most likely too many pictures for one post, however they are good shots from the last week or so.  Stagg Clan at home...

Daddy and Addy... Eric often wears his beanie like this (he has bad hearing, construction dude) and decided Bitty should too. 

Holiday Treats, Glittering Lemon Creme Sandwiches.

 I made these and Chocolate Crinkles and we delivered a bag of cookies and our Christmas card to all our favorite neighbors!

Goodmamas are the best cloth diaper... so adorable and unbelievably soft.  Quoting Eric, "I wish I had undies that soft." :)

Adelaide tastes her first lemon...

What was that guys?  Not funny!

Booze hound already?  Bitty keep your paws off Daddy's martini!

Holiday Cheer!

I finally mailed my Christmas cards today!  Bitty has been something of a challenge the last few days - in addition to the ink running out of the printer in the middle of printing the letter that accompanies the card... and as we live in a small town with virtually no supplies -  I had to either drive to Tri-cities or order online and wait for delivery.  One of the few pitfalls of rural life. However, the vital combination of the internet and UPS or FedEx I can get anything in record time.  In fact, I ordered the ink and was able to get free overnight delivery.  Sweet!  I also was distracted by a number of homemade Christmas gift projects, which I will not divulge at this point as my family reads this blog (or I hope they do).  

At any rate, I am more excited about Christmas this year than I have been in years.  It may have something to do with the Bitty, I don't know really.  We will be spending Christmas with my parents in Ephrata, my father is flying in my Grandmother, and the always entertaining Uncle Russ will be in attendance as well.  Hunter family gatherings never lack in food, drink, and bloviating. :) 

Merry Christmas to you!

computer hog

Eric was a computer hog for the weekend and so I did not have an opportunity to post.  My loving hubby is one of the most passionate people about music that I have ever come across... he was tinkering with iTunes all weekend long.  Anywho, I have some photos and such that I will post when I am done mailing my Christmas cards.  Priorities, priorities.  

Weekend at Nana & Grandpappi's

I love this photo of Eric and Bitty.  She had become UNBELIEVABLY cranky and so I decided she could use some fresh air... we bundled her up and went out to feed the steers.  Bitty's eyes are as big as saucers and Eric has that "I just did something naughty" smirk on his face.  

We spent the weekend at my parents in Ephrata and had a really great time.  Friday evening, Staci, mom, and I attended the women's Christmas party at the Baptist Church. Mom and I purchased fabric to make curtains for the nursery, Dad and Eric went coyote hunting, we cooked a great meal on Saturday night, and just enjoyed one another's company.  I also got to visit with Kathleen and Rick Allstot on Saturday and show off Miss Adelaide to them. 

Happy Heiny

Every now and then I put Bitty, bare buns, on a blanket to play.  It's good to give their tushes some air every now and then and I just couldn't resist this shot... her heiny forms a little heart. She has become great at 'independent' play and has begun rolling over - front to back and back to front.  This is supposedly the first step toward baby mobility.  Oh no, uh oh - here we go. 

 I love baby bums!

Here she is enjoying stroller time!  I have been trying to get exercise in every day, that most often involves a walk, and Adelaide seems to enjoy it thoroughly.

Mittens

I LOVE TO KNIT!

Here are a pair of mittens that I knitted for Bitty.  It is cold and she didn't have anything; I couldn't see buying a pair when I could make them with yarn I had on hand.  

Remember when you were a kid and your mittens were attached to a string and subsequently strung through your jacket so you wouldn't lose them?  I put buttons on the mittens and knit a 'mitten lanyard' that is removable.  These are too cute.  I am now knitting a pair in beige and green for my neighbor Baby Jacob.  Two hoorahs for "Suzie Homemaker's" everywhere!

To all the naysayers that stated there wouldn't be time for this once the baby came along... I'll show you!  I don't anticipate that happening until Adelaide starts walking or we add another one.  :)

Thanks to Gammy Stagg for the adorable jacket to go with the mittens!

Gluttony (aka Thanksgiving)

Happy Thanksgiving!  We had an excellent day spent with Eric's parents, Bob & Trudi, and his aunt & uncle, Randy & Mameka.  Dinner was fabulous, Eric makes the best turkey and stuffing ever and Trudi's potato souffle is out of this world.  We are thankful for all life's little blessings.  I hope that everyone enjoyed the day as much as we did.

Aunt Mamie & Bitty

NAPS, better stated as a lack thereof

My child out and out refuses napping.  She acts like she may miss out on something - really, Bitty cleaning the house and washing your nasty nappies is not that great, certainly I would rather be napping!  When she does nap the average "nap" length is 30 minutes.  Any mamas with helpful suggestions out there?  I could use a few.

weekends

I love the weekend.  It is so grand to have two entire days with my husband and

Bitty.  It has been a rather spectacular weekend for Adelaide and I... Friday we went with Trudi (Ernie's Mom) to a Christmas Fair and out to lunch.  Saturday we hung out with Daddy while he did home improvements ( for those of you who don't know I married the ultimate handyman who is a very talented carpenter among other skills!), we indulged in a Hunter family tradition of delicious sourdough pancakes, and we spent the evening at Kestrel Vintners (my employer before Adelaide) for the 2008 Harvest Party. 

 Sunday was a day of doin' nuthin.'

Eric organized his arsenal/ammo and I knitted, cleaned, did 

laundry, cooked and a host of other "suzie homemaker" activities.  I just want to publicly say how great my husband is - Ernie I love you, immensely.  My life would be crap without you dude!  XOXO

Love that baby...

Holy Cow!!!  They change so quickly.  She has more or less grown out of the 'bath in the sink' routine.  My parents came for a visit this weekend and Ma and I bathed her in the tub in her baby tub. Bitty LOVES bathtime.  

Within one week, Bitty went from flailing arms and legs to manipulating her arms, hands, feet, and legs with surprising aptitude.

Baking...

Today was dedicated to kitchenly pursuits.  I think that I may have just made up a word, 'kitchenly.'  The appropriate adjective would be culinary, but I am sticking with kitchenly.

As I have alluded in other posts, I make all of our bread and today I baked.  I had some bananas and pumpkin that need to be used, so I made a quick bread that I think I will call Autumn Day Delight Bread (for those of you who have seen the film Waitress, naming of the bread in this fashion will make sense).  I also had a loaf of Robin's Bread beginning to get stale, so I made a batch of bread crumbs and Eric's favorite garlic croutons out of that.  Thirdly, I wanted a hearty bread to accompany the Delicato Bisque that we are having for supper this evening so I made Pain de Campagne.  An excellent 'country style' loaf of french origins made with rye flour and perfumed by the addition of oregano and black pepper.  Needless to say, we are eating well at the Stagg household - as if my waistline were not evidence enough. :)

La Ponchita tan Bonita

Everybody is makin' babies and I want to share a new addition.  

Yesterday, I dropped in on my friend Dana who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on 10.27.08, Salome Ruby Evangeline Botello.  She looks just like her Daddy and is sooooo cute.  Bienvenidos Ponchita!

USA

Well folks, it's no secret that I am the conservative sort, so you can imagine my disappointment at the election results (not that Mr John McCain would have been much better, quite honestly). However, I must say that I am proud of the fact that America elected a black man, although I would have preferred Alan Keyes or Bill Cosby.

The point of my post is that we shouldn't give up hope.  All of those who believe in self-reliance, integrity, a day's hard work, God, the coupling of responsibility and rights, small government, charity (given out of the kindness of one's heart - not 'nanny state' mandated), and our right to bear arms, achievement through merit... to name a few, we must now, more than ever, strengthen our families and communities.  I think the most appropriate action for us is as Ghandi stated, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  Continue to lead by example and let it be known what your values and beliefs are, do not let political correctness and other pressures silence you.  

I have a baby and today's America is not the legacy I would like to leave to her.

Food for thought: 2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

random thoughts

Does this picture remind anyone else of those old "bitter beer face" commercials?  In the not so distant future, Adelaide may be angry with me for posting this hysterical photo.  

Just a few thoughts...  

• Don't forget to exercise your grand privilege of the vote (and please use it wisely, there is a lot at stake)!
  
• Do you know that most people are kinder to strangers than they are to their spouses?  Do something nice for your husband/wife today. 
• You should try to bake your own bread - I have been doing it for almost three years now and it taste better, is better for you, is cheaper, and is not very difficult.  However, I will warn you that if your husband likes it as much as mine does, he may refuse to eat store purchased bread and you'll have to do it FOREVER.  
• To the mamas - has anyone else considered going to cloth diapers?  I bought my first setup for them yesterday to try it out, have I lost my mind?  I don't think so, my mother-in-law would beg to differ (maybe she thought I was a nut to begin with!  :) Love ya, Trudi). It is much cheaper (particularly when Adelaide averages 12 diapers/day) and it cuts down on the hideous amount of garbage we create.  
• Tell your Dad you love him today - you never know when he'll be gone and Dad's are taken for granted a lot.
• Does anybody out there watch The Office?  Eric and I don't watch television, but we are addicted to Netflix and we got that show.  Eric hates it, doesn't think it is funny at all.  I, on the other hand, laugh out loud and love it.  Does he not like it because he has never worked in a office and just doesn't get it? 

I hope that everyone has a lovely day.  Enjoy the vivid color and crisp air of fall.  

Eric & Adelaide

Have I mentioned yet that Bitty has a hot temper?  Where on earth did she get that? 

I took this picture last night.  Eric is such a good daddy & this is too cute!  We are so lucky to have him. 

Halloween

The evening was a success!  Prosser's children turned out in droves for candy.  Our neighbors's scary tunnel was a smashing success - people were at their house nonstop from 4:30 - 10:00.  The Bitty fell asleep at 4:45 and stayed that way until about 8:00, so she missed out on most of the fun. 

As you can see (above) we had a baby meltdown and that long nap was very much required!

Atila was, of course, beyond excited and could hardly contain himself.  In fact, he landed himself in doggy jail because he barked at a little, little girl when she was picking out her candy - the poor thing could not have been more than  years old and was frightened of the dog to begin with and then he went and barked right in her face, she lost her grip and Atila was quickly escorted to the fenced in backyard.  He was not happy with us.  

I want candy!

We carved our jack-o-lantern at 3:30 pm yesterday... not bad work for procrastinators doing a quicky job, huh?

I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did!  

Goblins, Ghouls, & Ghosts

Today is halloween and I am busily trying to get ready in order to keep up with the neighborhood... for those of you who don't know where we live - we are in one of Prosser's favorite neighborhoods; lots of old growth trees, you know all your neighbors, everyone leaves their porch light on every night, and apparently every kid in town hits our block to trick-or-treat! You should see the monstrous scary tunnel that Steve & Cheryl (across the street) have spent 2 weeks constructing, goodness!

Hence - I am carving a pumpkin, dressing up Bitty, and 'halloweening' the front porch. I promise to take pictures and post them this weekend.

Good luck to everyone trick-or-treating and be safe.

Life with the Bitty

Let the blogging begin!

Bienvenidos!  After discovering that blogging is not just for political pundits and their idiotic, deprecating commentary, my sister has inspired me to begin the Stagg Clan blogspot (Thanks, Staci Jean!).  It would seem that this is a perfectly legitimate forum with which one can communicate the latest & greatest from his/her life. In fact, I find myself checking Staci's blog daily - she has such phenomenal photos.  

Check in every now and then for updates on the latest & greatest in our lives...