Max's 1st Christmas

Christmas kind of crept up on me this year.  I guess that's because last year, I vividly remember waiting and waiting....and waiting for Christmas and for our little one to arrive.   After Christmas, we waited some more!  This year, we had such a busy December and with the warm weather in Hawaii, it was a little confusing as to what time of year it actually was.
After a wonderful week with David's parents in Seattle, we flew to visit my family in Wisconsin.  We knew when we landed in Milwaukee that we'd be in for a beautiful white Christmas!  I love making the drive from the end of our county road into the driveway.  I was telling Max that he will actually be able to sing, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go..." I'm sure we'll get lots of fun out of that one in the years to come!  Anyway, it's absolutely gorgeous every time.  It almost feels like you've entered a magical world when time seems to slow down and snow and ice cover the trees.  

Max enjoyed Christmas more than I expected he would.  I thought at this age, he might still be fairly indifferent, but he loved the tissue paper and tearing the wrapping paper, and putting bows on his cousin's head!  I know he loved the toys too!  Good thing we brought an extra suitcase for the trip to Raleigh.

Our little Christmas elf

Max with Nana, resting after all that work!


Max was really interested in all that white stuff.  We got about 16 inches of snow in just over 24 hours.  It wasn't heavy, but it just kept coming!  Unfortunately, Max didn't get the chance to play in it, due to the cold.  With the snow and low temperatures, we stayed indoors most of the time, but he found lots to do and plenty of entertainment with his cousin, uncles and auntie.  

Packer game half time show

Such a blessing to be able to spend time with friends and family the entire month of December!  It was truly the best gift, sharing time with everyone.   It makes me a little sad that we don't live a short car ride away so we can visit more often.   I think I miss my family more now than I ever have, but it certainly makes our visits that much sweeter.   Love you all!

Seattle and Cannon Beach 2012

We flew from Kauai right to Seattle for a visit with David's parents.  It was Max's first trip to the Northwest and we were excited for him to have a full week with his Grammy and Opa!  While there, we celebrated a belated birthday for Grammy with a lunch out at Shenanigan's.  We visited with some of David's friends, who happened to be home for the holidays.  We also got a little creative with paints!  This was a hands-on, home-made gift for Grammy. 

Opa and Max

Grammy and Max paint a picture

A serious artist

As per tradition, we also traveled to Cannon Beach, Oregon, which is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from David's hometown.  This is a Behr favorite for the holidays and has definitely become one of my favorites as well.  Haystack Rock and the shoreline of the Pacific Northwest are absolutely gorgeous, whether it's mid-December or September.  I've seen it both ways and no matter what the season or the weather, I'm in awe.   

On the beach with Haystack behind us

David with his Dad, Max's Opa

Check out the size of Haystack compared to the lone figure left.

Max in Daddy's boots

Thank you, Grammy and Opa, for sharing such a fun week with us!  It's always busy, no matter how many of us are visiting, so we appreciate your hospitality and your patience.  Max really enjoyed learning from you both and has a few new tricks to remember his visit.  We love you!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Max and I made it back to the U.S. from Canada on November 26th and after driving our belongings to Raleigh first, David flew in on November 30th.  With a very quick turn-around, trading our winter clothes for some lighter threads, we hopped a plane to the islands of Hawaii.  We were fortunate to be able to spend a week with David's sister, Laura, in Kapalua, Maui.  While there, we learned that vacation with baby is a bit different than vacation before baby.  You don't really get a vacation from your every day.  It's the same routine, just different scenery.  A two-naps-per-day schedule cuts the beach time into very small increments.  And beach time with Max involves pulling handfuls of sand out of his mouth and chasing him away from the waves pounding the beach. There was no sunbathing on this beach vacation!  Lest it sound like I'm complaining here, please let me say that this was an absolutely wonderful place to be and I loved sharing it with our little one.  But I would be dishonest if I said I didn't also miss the mindless beach days of ol'.  Relaxing occurred after his 7pm bedtime!

Max had absolutely no fear of the water, whether we were on the beach watching the waves crash or floating in the water.  This was great, but also a little frightening since he crawls at lightening speed and could have easily gotten ahead of me with a quick turn of the head.  I was happy he wasn't on two feet yet.  We found a fantastic beach in Lahaina for babies.  It was completely protected by reef so the water quietly lapped up on the shore and we could let him crawl around in the water without worry.

Besides the beach, Laura and I also found time to do some running.  The golf resort had a trail that wound along the rocky shoreline and through the resort property.  On one of our runs, the landscaping crew was trimming coconuts from the trees.  They popped one open for us to drink.  I've always wanted to try fresh coconut water.  It was TONS better than the stuff you buy in the cartons.  Laura snagged a few more and tossed them under the stroller, and I was pushing about 55 pounds of coconuts (Max included) up the hill to home!  Great workout, refreshing reward!

David got this shot from further up the trail.

4 coconuts in the basket, 1 in the seat. 

The second half of our trip was spent with our friends, the Sarmientos, in Kauai.  We vacationed together a few years ago and enjoyed ourselves so much that this trip had been planned for 2 years.  Since the Sarmientos' little guy is only 10 weeks older than Max, they were pretty much on the same page.  It was funny to watch them interact and good for us to observe what's to come for Max. 

The condo we rented sat atop black lava rocks so that our lanai peered out over the ocean.  The waves crashed up on the rocks all day and night.  At night, everything seemed to get louder.  The owner even supplied ear plugs in the bedrooms to make it easier for light sleepers.  I was able to spot the whales every day right from the lanai.  Unfortunately, my less keen-sighted companions were suspicious of my eagle eyes.  Good thing I have a camera with a pretty good zoom for evidence.

The crashing waves from the lanai

Our view from the lanai

Sunset

David making fun of my whale watching capabilities

Breakfast, lunch and dinner from the lanai

Not a bad spot to have your breakfast

Found a swing on the beach

Max and Valentino take turns

A few days into our trip, we took a helicopter tour of the island.  The tour company was the only one that offered a doors-off experience,  for unobstructed, breathtaking views the entire time!  It was one of the most amazing sensations.  Flying in a helicopter makes you feel like you are floating, soaring, like a bird.  Our pilot compared it to flying on a magic carpet.  We flew into canyons, rolled between cliffs and past waterfalls and we were able to see things that can only be viewed by air, since eighty percent of Kauai is uninhabited and very difficult to reach by foot or by car.  Stunning! 

The Napali Coast

We enjoyed some very laid back days in Kauai.  It was a great island for family time.  We felt so blessed that we could share another vacation with our dear friends.  After a week in frigid Wisconsin, I'm ready to plan our next trip to the islands!

Shaka!

Blog Catch up

Toronto Skyline from East Riverdale Park

Let's play a game of blog catch up!  I took one long month of vacation from Behr Trax.  With all of our moving and travel, I can place the blame on lack of internet in some places and lack of time in others.  But really, I had absolutely no problem turning off the computer and keeping it off while we were roaming around.  However, since we had such a great time visiting with friends and family, I do need to update the blog with our adventures and Max's milestones!

Let's start with Toronto:  November 22-26, 2012

We celebrated American Thanksgiving just a few days before we moved.  David and I wanted to enjoy some of our favorite traditions, even though we couldn't be home.  So, we thought it would be more enjoyable if we invited our friends in Toronto to join us for the feast.  It was a tiny bit chaotic since we were in the middle of a move, but as I told our neighbor, I actually felt no pressure to host for our guests because they had already celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving.  So, this was just a bonus turkey day for them!  We watched American football, stuffed ourselves, and enjoyed some great conversation.  
Invited were our friends, Audrey, Beau, and Chloe, who would watch Max while David and I enjoyed a night out.  Also, our upper flat neighbors, Bridget and Amelia, joined us for the evening.  
Thank you all for taking a regular Thursday evening and making it special for us!  We really loved our stay in Toronto and your hospitality and friendship made it all the more enjoyable. 

Toronto to Raleigh

We're in count-down phase again.  David's seminar, which will take place on the 27th, is almost completely sold out.  In fact, he had to add an additional ballroom last week to accommodate some extra guests.  While David is working on last-minute details for his Toronto production, we're in move mode.  That means securing a U-haul towing trailer for the car.  Working our way through our kitchen pantry staples.  Sorting through clothing to donate what we don't need or what Max has out-grown.  Stopping our mail.  Etcetera, etc. 
You think I'd have created a standard list of "things to do before the move" by now.  I haven't, but I definitely should because inevitably, something gets missed or left for the last possible minute.   Like the time I forgot to forward our mail and we had to have our landlord ship it to us.   Well, I guess it's hard to forward mail when you don't have a new address to forward it to!  That's happened more than once.
I think this time will be different, though.  We've found a potential home in our next city (Raleigh, NC), but we're not totally sure about the area.  With the extra time off around the holidays, though, I'm pretty sure we will sign a lease before we move there.  Fingers crossed please.  Before that can happen though, we've got a Thanksgiving meal to plan, Christmas gifts to make or buy, suitcases to pack, boxes to ship, Christmas cards to mail...
I've started to get overwhelmed again.  Thankfully, Max is taking a full nap right now so I think I may have time to get another thing crossed off the list before he wakes.  So, before I go, here are few pictures.  

Breakfast at Lady Marmalade's

Where does he get this?!

Max Clean

A closer in the making.

My day of recipes

Warning: If you're not really into seeing or reading about other people's food, go no further.   The following is an account of my meals today.  End of warning.

It was another brisk late-Fall day, perfect for cozying up inside.  Poor Max has a terrible cold, so I spent most of the day changing clothes, wrangling flailing arms while spraying saline mist into little nostrils, drawing a few baths, and cuddling after tears.  Not sure how I accomplished the following with a sick baby at home.  But maybe that was exactly the reason why I was encouraged to (wash my hands lots and) roll up my sleeves and make some good ol' home-made comfort food.  As I'm typing this, Max is sleeping (albeit, restlessly) and David and I are thoroughly satisfied with our meal. (Read: semi-reclined, feet propped, and belts loosened.)  So, I'm sharing my recipes in case you find yourself in need of a flavorful, hearty meal on a cold day. 

Breakfast
I've had this infatuation with Alterra's Pumpkin Cranberry muffins ever since I first laid eyes, then taste buds, on them in 2010.  Alterra is my favorite coffee shop in Milwaukee, WI.  Since it's the perfect time of year for sweet pumpkin and tart cranberry, I've been scouting for something similar here in Toronto.  Nothing has even come close to the goodness from the Alterra bakery... until I found this recipe!  Full of fiber, antioxidant-packed cranberries, and potassium-rich pumpkin, these muffins are just what your body needs as the weather cools down and the sunshine starts to fade.  Not to mention, the smells wafting from your kitchen are enough to brighten anyone's day.  Try them and you won't be disappointed.  Yummmm!

Best Ever Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins
Adapted from The American Club, in Kohler, Wisconsin via PreventionRD.com

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
1/3 cup canola
2 large eggs
1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice
1 cup + 1 Tbsp raw turbinado sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp unsalted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Put liners in muffin cups.
Whisk together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in cranberries.
Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about three-fourths full), then sprinkle tops with remaining tablespoon of sugar and pepitas. Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature. Yield: 12 muffins.

Nutrition Information (per muffin): 200 calories; 7.9 g. fat; 36 mg. cholesterol; 206 mg. sodium; 30.7 g. carbohydrate; 2.7 g. fiber; 1.7 g. protein

Result: Sweet, tart, and moist. These are truly *perfect* muffins. Enjoy!

Lunch/Dinner
I never liked beef stew when I was a kid, but something changed in my young adult years, and thank goodness!  Who doesn't enjoy a savory stew with tender beef and vegetables?  Add the Guinness or wine and this stew is super rich and perfectly filling.  Pair it with these cheese biscuits for a fantastic combination.  If I don't feel like making the biscuits from scratch, a package of ready-to-bake scones with a handful of shredded cheese works too!

Guinness Beef Stew and Cheddar Drop Biscuits
Fresh20 Meal Plans (special thanks to my lovely friend, Nikki, for sharing her subscription!)

1 pound chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, cut into small dice
2 medium carrots, peeled and cutinto large dice
2 ribs of celery, cut into 1 inch slices
1 parsnip, peeled and cut into large dice
1- 8 ounce russet potato, peeled and cut into large dice
1 - 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/8 to 1/4 cup tomato paste
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove
1 – 12 ounce Guinness Beer or 1 ½ cups of red wine
1 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup water
2 sprigs of fresh thyme

1. In a large bowl, combine meat, salt & pepper, and whole wheat flour- toss to combine.
2. Heat a large Dutch oven or a heavy bottom soup pot over medium heat; once hot, add in oil. Brown the meat. Watch the heat so that the flour doesn’t burn.
3. Add the cut vegetables, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Dijon and garlic. Stir to combine and cook for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add in beer (or wine), broth, water, and thyme sprigs.
5. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid, and reduce the heat slightly. Keep the liquid to a low boil and cook for 25 minutes. Discard any thyme stems floating at the top.
Serve warm with cheddar biscuits or scones.

Cheddar Drop Biscuits

2 Tablespoons olive oil
½ cup half and half
½ cup water
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cheddar, shredded
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and prepare a baking sheet by lightly brushing with olive oil. Adjust rack to the middle of the oven.
2. In a Pyrex measuring cup, combine the olive oil, half and half, and water.
3. In a small bowl stir to combine the flour, baking soda, cheese and kosher salt. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
4. With a large soup spoon, scoop out small biscuits and gently place them onto the baking sheet. Place into the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Makes 12 biscuits.


I had full intentions of posting a picture of this yummy meal, but we actually finished it before I remembered.   It's okay, you can be glad. 

Happy Birthday, Opa!

Brrrrrr!  It's a whopping 34 degrees this morning.  We did tell Max last night that it was Daylight Savings Time and Fall Back meant he could sleep in a whole extra hour, but apparently he wasn't interested.  So,  we decided to take a brisk stroll to Sobey's grocery for some fresh bagels for breakfast.   We bundled up our bundle for the trip!  Note the Mimi-tins, the sleeve-like mittens on Max.  Perfect for a kiddo who likes to pull everything off.  Now, if we could only find socks of the like. 

Our rental home is up for sale as of last week.  We've had 7 showings in 2 days!  So today, even though it is frigid outside, we decided to get out of the house to avoid the showings and take a trip to the Distillery District for a walk.  The district was founded in the 1830s and was once the largest distillery in the world.  Now, it's an arts and entertainment district with cafes, galleries and restaurants housed in more than 40 heritage buildings on 10 streets!  Huge!  It is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.
We've been told over and over again that we need to see it.  So, once Max gets up from his nap, we'll be on our way.  Hopefully, by the time we get back from our field trip, all of the prospective buyers will be through and we can put our feet up and enjoy some Sunday Night Football!  Go Pack Go!

We'd like to wish Opa Behr a very Happy Birthday today!  

May the sun shine all day long,
Everything go right and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all the wishes you wish come true!
Happy Birthday to you, dear Opa!

A hundred candles to light up your birthday would be less than the amount of light and shine you have given to us.  We love you, Opa, and wish you a very joyful and healthy year ahead.  

Boo!

10 months, and who’s counting?
We checked in with Max's pediatrician this week after supplementing his diet with formula.  He has gained a little over one pound and is just above 10th percentile.   Busy growing and busy exploring.  Lately, he's been pulling himself up to standing and then climbs on just about everything.  I think Max may be ready to help Opa teach his balance workshops during our visit to Seattle in December because he is about ready to start standing on his own.  His once slow and steady crawl is now a blur across the floor.  We recently enrolled him in a Play n’ Learn class at Gymboree, which he loves.  You never would have guessed that he was the new guy in the class the way he tackled each activity and wanted to play with each of his classmates.   He definitely takes after David in that way!

The Canadian business people seem to love David’s training.  Business is going great here and we are anticipating hitting Calgary, Vancouver and a few other cities in different provinces in the coming years. Visitors are encouraged and welcome, as always.   Here is a picture of David at a recent seminar he taught.  The furniture company made the poster he's holding in order to advertise his workshop for their salespeople.  I think this may be his first advertisement!  It's a little big for the fridge so we hung it in Max's room.  ;)

The Fall colors are really popping and the leaves are now starting to fall with all the recent rain. Makes me want to snuggle up with a book and a pumpkin spice latte.  With the landfall of Hurricane Sandy over the weekend, it is starting get a little chilly here...mid 30s to 40's during the day and dipping down into the low 30’s at night. We are thinking about letting Max wear his Halloween costume for pajamas because it will certainly keep him toasty warm at night.  Speaking of Halloween, here are a few pictures from Halloween night:

on the move

Max, the Bear

Handing out candy

Max did really well for his first year of trick or treating.  Here’s the first house:

And the best-dressed house:

As you know, we went to Niagara Falls a few weekends ago and are trying to take in as many other sights as we can. Toronto has a lot of great restaurants so we have been eating well.  That, coupled with all the candy we, (cough), I mean Max scored, I think we’d better get our butts to the gym, especially considering we will be sporting our bathing suits in Hawaii in less than one month!  Now that’s scary!