Jeremiah's numbers

Jeremiah has a cute little Christmas countdown calendar that Grandma Todd gave him. Unfortunately, he has managed to put 15 numbers on the calendar since I updated his blog with real updates. That means there are a few things that have happened. I'll do my best to give you the abridged version.

The second weekend in December, Grandma and Grandpa Todd came to visit and help with Jeremiah. It was a HUGE help for me to have someone to watch him while I was in class and checked off some Christmas shopping. Of course, we topped off their visit with some German food! Jeremiah loves his sausage, but I think he liked the chocolate cake that Grandpa fed him even more!

We survived one more week at home without Daddy but were really happy to welcome him home on Saturday night. Jeremiah didn't see him until Sunday morning but was quick to snuggle up with him in our bed.

He's been busy playing with many of the new toys he received for his birthday, learning nursery rhymes and songs, including Baa Baa Black Sheep and The Wheels on the Bus, and starting to understand this whole Christmas thing. He knows that Christmas is Jesus' birthday (after we convinced him that it isn't his birthday) and recognizes pictures of Santa.

Not us

Just to ensure there is no confusion, Jeremiah wants to clarify that he is not becoming a big brother. The playmate he is looking forward to meeting next summer is Baby Kuipers.

I'm sure when/if he is becoming a big bro' he'll have a great way of telling you all!

Catching up

Since we've been a little slow on getting Jer's blog updated, this may be a long one but here goes.


He had a great Thanksgivings with both sides of the family. He played with his cousins from the Schnitzler side and managed to pass gas during dinner with the Todd side of the family. It was a light moment but he got a little scared when everyone started laughing. He also spent time playing with his aunts, uncles and cousins during the weekend. Aunt Carrie gave him a Chipmunks CD and quickly learned how addicted he can get to a CD. Each time they played it, he would yell, "Alvin!"


On Friday night we had a birthday party for him. He had a Mickey Mouse cake made by the same lady who made our wedding cake. He received some great gifts and has been busy playing with toys, doing puzzles, reading new books, and more.


Now on to this week. Daddy left for a trip on Thursday morning and Grandma S. arrived later that night. She stayed until around Saturday at noon. It was such a big help for this mom, who is still trying to wrap up studies for the semester. She took Jeremiah to see Santa Claus at the fire station but he decided he would just observe the old jolly guy from across the room and then announced that he was ready to go home. They played alot while she was here and he has been asking about her since she left. This mom is going to go crazy answering questions about where Daddy and Grandma went.


Jeremiah had a great time at some parties this week. We went to my office's holiday party and he played with some of my co-workers kids and came home with a new Illini hat, which he has been wearing often (backwards). Then, on Friday we celebrated Amy's birthday and there were some other kids there to interact with and run circles with too. He even split his dinner with Alyson Brucker! Perhaps we can call it their first date, but I don't know if her Daddy would allow that.


We bundled up and went to a Christmas parade last evening. It was a short parade but put us in the mood for decorating our tree. Jeremiah helped unpack the ornaments. He tried to hang a few but couldn't quite figure out the hooks. It was so meaningful for him to be interested in the tree this year. He also helped me unpack some other decorations and handed them to me while I stood on a stool.


Finally, Jeremiah is SO EXCITED to have learned that he'll be getting a new playmate next summer! He may even have to come up with a name for this little one. We look forward to watching a family grow!

Pictures to come soon.