2010~ already a year of change

I don't even know where to begin. This past week was filled with so many changes in the Schaff household and I write with many mixed emotions regarding this. I went back to work full time this week. This is the first time since Griffin was born that I went to work a full 5 days in a row. (mind you I am also 6 months pregnant!) I did go away for training for 10 days in December, but for some reason this week was just different. This week I was actually getting into a routine and doing my "everyday" day job. Thanks to MiMi Kat and Big Poppa for helping out on Monday and Tuesday with Griffin. On those days I just had to worry about getting myself together in the morning. Wednesday was the first day that I had to fly solo. Luckily Griffin was very cooperative Wednesday morning and we were out of the house in a jiffy. Thursday and Friday were not so smooth. He just really didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay home to watch the "We-gos." (The Wiggles) Once he arrived at school he was all too happy to be handed over to the teacher. Isn't it funny how they do that to you?!? As far as the routine goes it is coming along. Thanks to Kenton for helping out so much around the house. Because of this I am able to get to bed by 9-10pm. All in all it was a good week. I can honestly say that I truly appreciate the time that I am able to spend with my family. I now try to give Griffin undivided quality time in the evenings. Isn't it funny for the past few years I usually was not aware of the day much less the date and now those little things seem to matter again. I am so incredibly blessed that I was able to work part-time for the first 22 months of Griffin's life. This is time that I will always treasure. So much quality 1-on-1 time that I was able to spend with my first born child. This past week is just a small example of the changes that we are about to experience in the next few months. New job, new routines, new baby~ Happy New Year!

Our Wish for 2010

Kenton ran across this list of simple goals for daily living written by Pope John XXIII this evening. As a family we will adopt these goals for 2010!

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively, without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7.Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

Bl. Pope John XXIII

Ringing in 2010

Opening gifts~ thanks for Buzz Lightyear and the cute jammies!

Followed by a game of bowling.

Boys, boys, boys!

Okay so we live in the suburbs, have a toddler, and I am pregnant. We couldn't think of a better way to ring in the new year than by inviting over our other suburban friends with a set of toddler twins one month older than Griff! Todd, Dana and the boys came over for a yummy dinner, play time for the boys, and a little adult conversation for the rest of us. We are very thankful to have friends in the area that are are able to celebrate with! This is our life, not so wild and crazy anymore, but I wouldn't trade it in for the world! Cheers to a fabulous 2010!!

Daddy's #1 fan!

This morning Griffin was in our closet while I was getting dressed. He saw Kenton's Phillies baseball cap and it brought the sweetest smile to Griffin's face. As soon as he saw the hat he said, "Da-dee." How sweet that Griffin sees little reminders of his Daddy all throughout the house. He put the baseball cap on "Over the top" style and played around with it on all morning. I'm so in love with a boy...

Christmas Day 2009~ from the suburbs to the city...

Thanks Santa for the firetruck!



Griffin cheering for Tio's present.
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Watching the train~ choo-choo!

Escalator ride with Daddy.

Full size gingerbread house at the Ritz Carlton



Schaff's at the Ritz.

Very cool~ gingerbread street car @ Harrah's hotel

Enjoying the snow on Fulton Street!


Merry Christmas to all! Griffin must have been a good boy this past year because Santa was very good to him. Santa left Griffin an old time firetruck riding toy. Griffin was overwhelmed with presents so we spread them out over the day for him to open and enjoy. Once he opened a gift and liked it he was not interested in anything else. His favorite gifts of the year would have to be his shopping cart filled with food and his Elmo airplane. He loves his shopping cart so much he tries to bring it along everywhere we go.

After a morning full of gift giving we enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch with MiMi, Poppa, and Tio Juan. We all had a pretty lazy afternoon filled with TV and napping. Once Griffin woke up from his 4 hour nap we all went downdown to enjoy the lights downtown. We walked through the Rooservelt hotel, the Ritz Carlton, and Fulton Street. Griffin was a wild man running around and pointing to all of the bright and pretty lights. He really enjoyed his escalator ride like a big boy with his Daddy. We finished off the evening with a snowfall on Fulton Street. Griffin thought the snow was very cool. He opened his mouth to try to catch a few flakes.

Thank you Jesus for the many blessings that you bestow upon my family. Thank you for health, family, and happiness. We are all looking forward to next year and all of our new blessings. Imagine..... at this time next year we will be celebrating Christmas with TWO babies. Griffin will be able to show new baby Schaff how to celebrate in style. Life is good...

Nothing like Christmas through a child's eyes...

Merry Christmas y'all!

I love my little boysie...

The family

Let the fun begin!


Griffin and Big Pop

Nona, I just love it!


Everyone, including Griffin, supports Nanny Lissie in her fight against breast cancer.

Nona~ I love you. Thank you for my Elmo airplane!

Can you say ham?



I love my little family.


Love...

Kenton and Al having a moment.

Flying to bed in his new Elmo airplane.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

I have heard it so many times, but was blessed enough to witness it tonight for myself. The heart of a child enjoying the spirit of Christmas. We started off the evening perfectly with a church service that made everyone stop and think. The pastor spoke of simply taking the time to experience life and just live in the moment. Taking a second just to say "WOW!"

After Church we headed down the bayou to enjoy our annual Christmas Eve celebration with Big Poppa's family. The food was delish and it is always fun catching up with everyone after our daily lives take us in so many different directions. Griffin was in HEAVEN! The boy just loves a party and had a ball. He was so friendly and good spirited. He truly loved being around his family. He quickly got into the present opening thing~ he was a pretty fast study. Thanks to Ari-Anna Griff is now the proud owner of his own Elf on a shelf!" Once he opened his present from his Nona it was all over. She gave him an Elmo airplane. You could tell on his face how much he loved the gift. We had to take it out of the box so he could take off on his maiden voyage. He was adorable. After he would open a gift he would walk around and show people his new treasures. He had so much love, hugs, and kisses for everyone tonight. He is now sleeping sounding in his bed dreaming sweet dreams. Santa I promise he has been a good boy treat him right!

In my absence...

Building blocks with Big Poppa.


Wiggly Time!


Griff and MiMi on the Christmas train. Griffin liked the train about as much as he liked Santa~ not so much!




I just started a new job and had to go away for training to Montgomery, Alabama for 10 days. Yes, 10 days without my boys! The longest that I have been away from Griffin has only been 3 so this was quite a big deal for me. It made it a little easier to leave because I knew that he would be in the best care. He was able to stay home with his Daddy and MiMi Kat and Big Poppa came over to man the ship. I was told that daily he would go into our bedroom to look for me. He also walked around the house with the remote control to his ear calling for his "Ma-ma." Reports like this were enough to break my heart. I am so happy that Griffin was able to stay at his house in his comfortable surroundings with some of his favorite people to keep up with his routine. Griffin had a ball while I was gone. He was able to hang out with his MiMi and Poppa and get his fill of The Wiggles. I was updated daily of all of the fun things that they were doing. He learned sign language from his Baby Einstein DVD and added several new words to his vocabulary. Funny story~ he had his Christmas party at school. MiMi and Poppa tried to take him, but due to the massive amount of rain school was closed for the day. The children were instructed to wear their jammies to the party. MiMi followed the directions and dressed him in his Christmas jammies for the shin-dig. Griffin was very unhappy about this. She told me that he kept trying to take them off to put on his clothes. He just didn't think that it was right to wear his jammies out of the house. PJs are to sleep silly goose!?!

Being away for 10 days was ALMOST worth it just for the homecoming. Griffin was so excited to see me. I honestly do not know who was happier. He saw me through the door before I saw him. He had the biggest smile on his face when I opened the door. He hugged my neck so tight and could not get enough! He pulled away about 3 times to look at me to make sure that it was REALLY ME!

A huge thank you to Kenton, MiMi Kat and Big Poppa for taking such great care of Griffin and the house. I am so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I would not ask for more...

PS~ Yes, I have a couple of habits to break this week like the PACI that I noticed in every single picture and the TV. Isn't it funny how grandparents operate. They come over and shower the grand child with love and bad habbits and sneak away for Mommy to handle it. I guess that is their job~ right?!?