2008?

Where did 2008 go? It is such a blur.

How did we go from this:


to this:

and now this:


So much has happened that it is difficult to put into words. I have to say though that 2008 has been up, down and up again. As my mom says, if you are ever feeling down, just take a look at Patrick and you can't help but smile.


I'll steal a little format from my friend Shawna...


January:
Accepted a new job
Babymoon to Arizona for Ryan's friend Ben
Continued to prepare for Little Baby Bliss


February:
Started new job, I can finally relax!
Decided on 4 names for a girl (Erin, Samantha,
and 4 for a boy(Elliot, Aaron, Patrick,)
Enjoyed two baby showers


March
Finished the nursery
Welcomed baby friends, Miles, Shay and Nina all in one week!
Final names picked Sonja Purtell and Patrick William (didn't share with anyone though!)
Hosted Easter for the whole family


April
mmm..anything? Oh yeah! Patrick is born!
What else? not sure... still a blur.


May
First Baby Party!
First Mothers day
First trip to SD to visit family (both sides!)
First Smiles
First Roll over from tummy to back!


June
First Fathers day
First Twins game
Lots of visits from baby friends (Shay, Miles and Elizabeth) Yay for maternity leaves!


July
First swim in the lake
Back to work (boohoo)
Home with daddy!
Baptised July 27!
Slept 8 hours! (ok, only 1 of 3 times this year!)


August
Learns how to stick out his tongue
Getting really good at grabbing for things and playing with toys
Great full face giggles and smiles
Loves to stand often


September
Baby Party 2
Rolling over again, but for good this time
Not sleeping more than 2-3 hours! yikes!
First Vikings Game


October
Daddy back to work
First Foods
First Tooth
First Halloween
First army crawl


November
Loving cheerios
First women's weekend
First election
Second Tooth
First Thanksgiving
Getting fast at crawling


December
First real crawl
First snow
Dada, Mama, Baba are favorite "words"
First KTTC holiday greeting
First Christmas tree
and First Christmas!

And to wrap up 2008...

Enjoy our Christmas card

Some grandkids

Here is a Christmas picture of just a handful of the 9 kids from my side of the family.

Ezra and Patrick, Peder, Marcello, Caden, Luke and Madison

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Patrick had a super first Christmas. Yesterday he enjoyed watching me roll out my traditional 4 dozen rolls. Uncle Scott was supposed to arrive at noon with cousin Marcello, but his flight was delayed until midnight. Instead of the big Turkey dinner we were supposed to eat, it turned into a more subtle spaghetti. This was a blessing in disguise though, becuase 14 mini pies, 4 doz rolls and a big Turkey sounded like too much in one day anyhow.

We enjoyed church with Patrick dressed in his new sweater (thanks Jeff and Petra!) and then a great dinner afterward. The kids opened some presents. Patrick loved his new push toy from Aunt Allison and clan. Then off to bed before Santa visited.


Christmas morning we arose with a clatter. Ok, not that dramatic. Actually Patrick let us sleep in a little. We then enjoyed fresh rolls and opened our stockings.
Patrick got a new push cart from Nana and GB and had a great time learning how to pull himself up on it.


We enjoyed a large turkey feast that evening with only a few mishaps (soggy corn). The turkey was so done that it flew accross the kitchen when we tried to lift it out of the pan!

Just recovering now from too much food and lots of fun.

Nana's knits

You may remember this picture from my shower. Nana finally finished the sweater she was knitting for me, here is Patrick sporting it for the camera.

Grandma and Grandpa Bliss come for a visit

Getting into trouble

Showing off his mad walking skills with Grandpa

All smiles with Grandpa

Walkin' with Grandma

Stealing cheerios from the high chair

Silent Night

Sick baby

Sick babies are just no fun. Last night I was thinking that I couldn't wait until today to post about Patricks great evening of sleep. Yesterday afternoon, he slept 3.5 hours! I was suprised and so was Tiffany (care provider). Then last night, he nursed a bit and then just fell asleep in my arms in the rocking chair, no fussing at all. He did wake when I laid him in the crib, but put himself right back to sleep. All good right? We are making huge progress right? well, nope.

I went to check on him before I went to bed and he was burning up. 103 temp. ugg. He just laid in bed next to me all peaceful and burning. Poor baby. He finally fell back asleep with little fight (which freaked me out more!) Then continued to wake every couple hours. I spend most of the evening propped up in bed with him on my chest to help drain his little nose.

Unfortunately, I think he got the same thing I had last week. Ryan is home with him today and we are just pushing the fluids.

Say a little prayer that Mr. P gets better soon!

Happy Holidays!

Want to look like a goon?? put yourself on tv! Ah yes, one of the joys of Ryan working at a TV station is that we get to be on tv now and again. Here is our greeting for this year.

Just because

Here are some fun random moments from our lives.

Look mom, I can drink from a cup all by myself!


Having fun with my friend Cleo!

Playing with Daddy!

8 months

Wow! 8 months! This month is especially great because I remember thinking of Patrick last year at this time. My how things have changed.

Here are some highlights this month:

Patrick is crawling now. I would say he uses a real crawl (hands and knees) over his army crawl about 25% of the time. Typically his clothes are what is stopping him. When he is in just a onesie he is off and crawling away. Given that it is cold and winter (-31 wind chill today!) he isn't in a onesie very often.

Patrick now has 2 teeth. He sprouted the first on Halloween, and the second on Thanksgiving day. Will there be a Christmas tooth or a New Years one? perhaps.

Patrick has a new smile. It is wider and more cheeky and with the 2 bottom teeth, it is the cutest! I'll have to get him in the studio on a happy day to capture it on film. I would even say he has the slightest of dimples on either side of his wide smile.

Patrick has a great laugh. He is not only smiling more (is that possible?) but now has the funniest gut laugh. The other day we were in the mall shopping and Patrick was in his stroller. I would turn around and just give him the slightest of looks an he just busted out in a huge laugh. It was so fun and stopped a few other shoppers as well.

Patrick sleeps. Well, he does, just not many hours at a time. His naps are good at 2 hours each (1 am and 1pm) Night is interesting. I would say he is making some diffinate progress. He doesn't typically fall asleep eating anymore. This is a big one for us. He'll nurse and then pop off, roll over and then fall asleep. Sometimes he'll talk himself to sleep (dada, baba etc.) It is really sweet. He goes down for the night around 8-9 and sleeps until 7:30-8. Waking anywhere from 2-5 times each night.

Patrick eats. He is still eating baby food (some homemade, some bought) carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, peas, pears, applesauce, peaches, berries, bananas,cereal. He has also started on some finger foods: Cheerios, green beans, peas, apricots. He seems to really enjoy feeding himself. His pincer grasp is getting better and he is more accurate at getting things in his mouth. He is also drinking from a sippy cup pretty well. We usually have to hold it for him, but he has also done it on his own a couple times.

Patrick poops. He he... I just had to add that one! But really, he does and it is gross and stinky now with the food. yuck! oh and he screams most of the time we try to change him along with crawling away. not fun.

Patrick is reading novels. ok, just kidding on that one too. He just eats books.

Patrick's favorites:
Standing- he does this as often as there is a hand to hold him or a stool to lean on Vents- he loves vents. He'll see on accross the room and crawl like a mad man to get to it.
Cords-yep, chewing, waving etc. needless to say, studio time is interesting.
Remotes-Still a favorite after many months
Cupboards/Handles-this is new. He sees handles now and tries to open everything. Tv cabinet, dressors etc.
Cleo-this cat just needs to meow and he is all smiles. He loves that cat, she is still undecided about him but really tolerates his tugs and pulls pretty well.

whew.. that is quite a list for a little boy!

Visit to the office

Patrick and Daddy stopped by for a visit today.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

Yep, 5 inches so far and still falling. We decided to bundle Patrick up for his first big snowfall last night. He wasn't sure what to make of it.



Mom and dad had fun trying to teach him how to catch snowflakes on his tongue. I think he thought that eating them off of his glove was much easier.



I thought I would also include a very typical photo of some of the family enjoying a snooze.

December in full swing

Well lots going on lately, so instead of very many words, I'll just post a ton of pictures.

I love the many faces that Patrick makes. Here are just a few.



We have started decorating for Christmas. Doesn't this scene just make you want to join us by the fire?


Daddy and Grant were trying to fix the dishwasher before we host Christmas this year. This picture is just screaming for a caption.

Patrick was enjoying some cheerios this am, sometimes they don't all make it in.

Thanksgiving part 2

On Friday we headed to SD to enjoy Ryan's family and share in another feast for the Holiday. There were many hightlights of our trip (excluding the hour of screaming to get there!)

Grandpa Bliss fixed up Ryan's old wagon for Patrick. Grandma painted it with his initials. Grandpa gave Patrick a bunch of rides around the house and you can see from the pictures what a good time Patrick had. You can also see evidence of Patrick's Thanksgiving tooth!



Grandma Bliss pulled out Ryan's old Casio keyboard. Patrick figured he had died and gone to heaven with this toy. Only thoughts of food could tear him away from it. At one point he saw it on the other side of the room and crawled all the way to it.


Patrick has been working on crawling lately. He has taken a few "steps" with his hands or knees but not consistantly. He does like to get up on his toes though.


Great Grandma enjoyed a visit with Patrick. She hadn't seen him since his Baptism, so this was extra special.


and lastly... Ryan updated this morning that Patrick pulled himself up on a box of diapers to a standing position. Maybe he'll just go straight to walking!