Happy Birthday To Me!

In years past I think I'd be quite repulsed with birthday wishes from a younger man baring it all on a bearskin rug.  Bennett put his own twist on this image.  He's not allowed to go anywhere but the tub or the scale at the doctor's office naked thus he sports his Luvs.  He also only has fuzzy blanket composed of synthetic materials; no animals hopefully were harmed in the manufacturing of his furry prop.  I'm a sucker for this little man and feel like I've received a wonderful present not just for my birthday.  Behold little B in all his glory...

A House Elf

Though he is a muggle raised by muggles, Bennett has been a very helpful house elf today.  Once we put on his cozy elf outfit, he was ready to tackle a little of holiday to-dos.  I'll let him show you how he got jolly...

Though it may look like I'm sleeping on the job, my mom loves when I'm snoozing through check-out at the grocery store.  We picked up lots of dairy products and 10 pounds of flour for my dad's baking projects.  We got the good stuff~ King Arthur APF.

I helped seal and stamp dozens of envelops so that the Ham fam could spread some holiday cheer snail-mail style.  I picked up an admirer at the post office who nearly followed us to the car~ quite alarming for my mother, but I just smiled.

Playtime!

I held glitter sticks and helped my mom with some top secret craft projects.  My hat is the coolest.

So much wrapping paper~ I thought I'd end up in a box under the tree (and I'm sure I have some grandmothers who would love to have me as a Christmas gift). 

I'm allowed to hold this present because it is a gift box with no wrapping paper.  My gift holding privileges were revoked the moment I started to gnaw on the corners (sorry Aunt Foo~ hopefully it won't be soggy when I give it to you).

I played with a felt snowflake.  It'll have to do until real snow comes, and I can play in it.

We enjoyed some pictures from a classic festive book.  I'm not literate nor do I speak English so I'm still a little fuzzy about this story's plot...

Since I haven't mastered any spoken language, I may as well learn how to wish you merry Christmas en français!

Alright, a year ago if you had told me I'd be transcribing blog posts for my 16 week old tot, I think I would have gagged a little.  Maybe when he stops being so cute, I'll get back to not doing so many cutesie entries.  It's bad enough that I derive so much pleasure from dressing him up, but one day he may grow up and learn that I propped and photographed him doing silly things.  He may not appreciate it as much as others... Until I grow in the self-control department, forgive my goofy Christmas baby entries.

Feeling Festive

Bennett dressed up today after helping me shop for presents and wrap them.  You might say he's getting into the Christmoose spirit....

No shame in making up silly holiday-inspired vocab.  Hope you are having a lovely time preparing for Christmas, too!

The Music Man

Back in the summer of 2004 I studied abroad in Lyon, France.  I opted to do a homestay with a lovely lady named Marie-France.  On the evening of my arrival, she treated me to a very wonderful night out.  We took the metro to another part of town where we attended a performance of Verdi's Requiem at La Halle Tony Garnier (formerly an abattoir~ woah!).  Jetlagged as I was, I still had a remarkable time.  It was my first outing in a foreign country, and it was a magical night.  Verdi's Requiem is wonderful, and many of you would probably recognize the Dies irae. 

Faure's Requiem is also quite brilliant.  I love the Pie Jesu because my little sister performed it.  I always hear her voice singing it.  Holst's Planets is quite special to me.  We performed a medley of these songs in my handbell choir in high school (yes, giggle if you must.  I was in a handbell choir~ but Zooey Deschannel seems to be making it cool on New Girl...).  Jupiter in particular conjures up an image of my big sister walking down the aisle on her wedding day. 

Of course no music library is complete without Gershwin.  If you were amused by my handbell background, you'll be tickled to know that some of my first exposure to Gershwin was in high school marching band (yikes!).  We performed four movements of songs from Porgy & Bess.  I hope I will earn some of your esteem back by sharing that most of my Gershwin experiences are linked to my love of Fred Astaire movies.  Ole Fred & George were great friends (perhaps there friendship inspired J.K. Rowling when naming the Weasley twins... probably not...). 

All this is to say that music is a very unique thing.  That certain sounds can define past experiences and memories is really wonderful.  Thanks to the invention of iPods, I can only imagine the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain when I hear the Strokes album First Impressions of Earth (more like Primeras Impresiones del Mundo).  I always envision myself strolling on my way home from the elementary school in Metz when I hear Fleet Foxes.  It occurred to me that I should start imparting this love of music to little B.  Not only do I want him to grow up with good music, rumor has it classical music can make a kid smarter.  It can only enhance his Kyle-given genes.

So Bennett's music education has begun.  Are there any composers or works you suggest?  So far we have Handel, Mozart, Tchaikovsky (for the holidays), Faure, Verdi, and Beethoven in the mix.  Any additions would be good.

B's growing so quickly.  He's starting to look like a little boy:

Dreaming happy dreams in his birthday suit & bib.

December!

I am no good at multitasking.  I (gladly) lost the last two weeks to reading the Hunger Games in every free moment.  Praise the Lord for many a Bennett nap time.  I really enjoyed those books; they are like Harry Potter meets 1984 meets Lord of the Flies meets The Biggest Loser... Sounds like insanity and I could explain why it's like all those other things, but I'll just change the subject with these...

I'm ready for winter!

I've started to laugh and it sounds like I'm clearing my throat.

I make my parents happy!

Time to decorate for B's first Christmas.  Hope you are having a happy Christmas season!