How to {Eat} a Cake.

How to eat a cake:  a pictorial chronology by Kendall Stavenger.

Carefully inspect the subject of destruction.

Note that Mommy's finger tastes markedly different this time...

After taste buds are pleased, look for more.

After finding the source of yumminess, proceed with eating.

Sometimes the finger method takes too long.  Really commit to the cake with both hands.

Make sure no frosting goes to waste!

Share with your loyal subjects.  "God loves a cheerful giver!"

Stop to pose for pictures on occasion.

Make sure more cake is on your face than on the plate.

Drop all remaining crumbs on the floor.

Finish it off with a good smear all over your face, and you've achieved first birthday cake success!

Breaking News!

Nope, I haven't forgotten about birthday and Christmas festivities, but I had to interrupt the stream of family photos to bring you this important news!  (And, by important, I mean total silliness.)   Our Pottery Barn Kids catalog arrived in the mail today, featuring Kendall on page A-1!  In case you aren't on the mailing list, here's a couple snapshots of the new addition to her baby book...

Yep, at age one, Kendall is a centerfold.

Popular Worship Songs 2010

Here's to a new year...which will hopefully bring some fresh, new, anointed worship songs for us to enjoy!  There are a few on this list that I totally love.  There are a few on this list that have "lost their luster," though I don't doubt the message and meaning is still worshipful.  What do you think?  Are there any of your favorites on the list?  Any that you feel should get the boot?

1	Mighty To Save	Fielding, Ben\Morgan, Reuben
2	How Great Is Our God	Tomlin, Chris\Reeves, Jesse\Cash, Ed
3	Blessed Be Your Name	Redman, Beth\Redman, Matt
4	Here I Am To Worship	Hughes, Tim
5	Everlasting God	Brown, Brenton\Riley, Ken
6	Revelation Song	Riddle, Jennie Lee
7	Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)	Tomlin, Chris\Giglio, Louie\Newton, John
8	Holy Is The Lord	Tomlin, Chris\Giglio, Louie
9	Forever	Tomlin, Chris
10	Jesus Messiah	Tomlin, Chris\Carson, Daniel\Reeves, Jesse\Cash, Ed
11	Your Grace Is Enough	Maher, Matt
12	Open The Eyes Of My Heart	Baloche, Paul
13	You Are My King (Amazing Love)	Foote, Billy
14	Shout To The Lord	Zschech, Darlene
15	Come Now Is The Time To Worship	Doerksen, Brian
16	Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)	Baloche, Paul\Brown, Brenton
17	In Christ Alone	Townend, Stuart\Getty, Keith
18	From The Inside Out	Houston, Joel
19	Hosanna	Fraser, Brooke
20	Lord I Lift Your Name On High	Founds, Rick
21	We Fall Down	Tomlin, Chris
22	God Of Wonders	Byrd, Marc\Hindalong, Steve
23	The Heart Of Worship	Redman, Matt
24	Beautiful One	Hughes, Tim
25	Your Name	Baloche, Paul\Packiam, Glenn

Welcoming in the New Year

Today, a friend of mine and mom of two wrote "I used to pick out cute dresses to wear on New Year's Eve.  Now, I pick out pajamas."

Looks like we'll be kicking it at home, too- heck, maybe even asleep early for a change.  Chris is the on-call P.A. this weekend (which means we won't be ringing in the new year with bubbly!) and will likely be working tomorrow morning.  And even if he wasn't, we still wouldn't be able to hit up any of the parties we've been invited to because, really, WHO is going to babysit on New Year's Eve!?  (Sure would be nice to have a Grandma or Grandpa nearby for nights like this!)

So, here's what New Year's is going to look like at the Stav house:  I'm slow cooking some BBQ Ribs, cooking up some mashed potatoes, and popping some Strawberry-Champagne Cupcakes in the oven for a sweet treat (because we can't do New Year's Eve without Champagne!).  We are planning on popping in the DVD we just got of Kendall's first birthday party and Christmas Eve festivities, and will likely tune in to see the ball drop in Times Square- if we make it that late.

Here's to kicking up your slippers and cuddling up with a blanket!
We wish you a comfy, cozy New Year!

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

What A Difference a Post Makes

I took a little holiday blog hiatus, and didn't post until Wednesday of this week.  Taking a look at my blog stats, I'm reminded how my readership is affected by my inactivity...it's a good kick in the pants for me.  Here's to a fruitful new blog year!  Giddyup, y'all!

Christmas Eve at First Baptist

For those who missed our song at the 3:30 and 11:00 p.m. services, here it is!  I asked the wonderfully talented Amanda Baker to sing some harmony with me, and Stephen Olson accompanied us on violin (Stephen also blessed us with music at our wedding).  I sang the Sara Groves rendition of "Cradle in Bethlehem".  Note to self for the future:  two hours is not enough time to shake off the carbonation of root beer. 

Upwardly Mobile

The media drawer knobs are at mouth level...mmm.

On the go at Grandma & Grandpa Petersen's house!

Checking out what's going on in the kitchen...

Playing with a new magnet set from Santa!

Just a Reminder...

...this is what it's all about.


By the way...I think Kendall has been taking copious notes from Linus!

Party like it's Christmas, 2010.

'Tis the season for Christmas parties galore, and I'm okay with that.  That means less meals for me to plan and cook at home, and more opportunities to put pretty dresses on my daughter!  We attended gatherings for the Lakewalk Surgery Center (at Spirit Mountain Lodge) and for Orthopedic Associates (at Minnesuing Acres Resort in WI).  After also attending our church leadership celebration, we've exhausted our Minnesota parties.  So I suppose we'll have to head out to California to catch some more before Christmas!  

Working on her big-girl steps! 

 If Kendall looks a little startled in this picture, it may be because half an hour earlier, we were stuck sideways in a ditch on the side of the road.  Kendall (and I) experienced our first real snow emergency when the Aviator veered into a ditch, which had been disguised by level snow.  The maintenance team at the resort came to our rescue, pulling us out inch by inch.  Kendall was oblivious to it all, keeping entertained by Dora the Explorer compliments of our car DVD system. 

Ellie and Kendall kept us entertained at the head of the table, and enjoyed stealing each other's food.  All the baby girls seemed to congregate on our side of the room!

Remembering By Candlelight

Tomorrow (Sunday) is a day set aside to remember children who have passed away at any age, from any cause, hosted by The Compassionate Friends.  Some cities are hosting vigils where family and friends can congregate.  We will be lighting a candle in our home to remember Derek.  If you would like to join us in lighting a candle for Derek, or for another loved one, you can do so from 7-8 p.m. (in your time zone) and join thousands of others lighting up homes around the world with memories and prayers.  You can also sign the Remembrance Book online if you wish.

The holidays are especially difficult for those who have lost family and friends.  How have you chosen to honor and remember those you love during the holiday season?  I'd love to hear your traditions, as this is new territory for us.

Symmetry is my Middle Name.

It's actually not, but it probably should be, as this is my modus operandi in most cases.  I like borders.  I like clean lines.  Generally, furniture not placed on right angles makes me uncomfortable.  So when I got our prints back from our photographer, I realized I was going to have to push my boundaries a little bit.  The goal was to create a photo gallery, similar to the crafty, abstract types you see in the Pottery Barn magazine.  I literally broke a sweat rearranging and rearranging the frames on my floor (and trying to keep Kendall away while doing so).  I finally found one arrangement to which I could commit, and as soon as it went up on the wall, I HATED IT.  But, I've let it live with us for a while, and I now think it actually turned out nicely.

By the way, it's true what "they" say about babies...when you have them, your wedding pictures start slowly disappearing...

The Sickness.

 
    We made it 11 months...11 months without a sick baby.  And then, BAM.  Kendall's nights of sleep got shorter...and shorter...and shorter, and we knew something was not well with our baby (see the pathetic, tear-stained little one in the picture).  Sure enough, she picked up a little head cold.  Then, I picked up a head cold "somewhere" and it was all-around misery.  We thought we had it beat by Thanksgiving week, packed up and left sans medication, only to be met with a bonus round smack dab in the middle of our vacation.  After 3 weeks of not being quite up to par, it seems we're all back to good health- something we won't take for granted this holiday season.  We hope all is well at your house!

It's a Christmas Miracle!

Before heading out to the post office earlier today, I was addressing a couple of packages (because I hear that helps the people delivering them).  I was already late to a playdate with Kendall, so rather than digging through my address book for the necessary information, I thought I'd look in the recycling bin right below me, as I had just discarded recently an envelope with the address I needed.  (This is the part of the story where I sound like a disgusting garbage rummager, but I promise I don't do this on a regular basis.  And it's only paper.)  I moved a couple pieces of junk mail, retrieved the envelope I needed, and saw something peculiar (and a little alarming) peeking out from behind yet another trashed credit card offer...

Now, I'm all for recycling, but I think this is a little excessive. Needless to say, I will be recycling this find elsewhere (probably at Starbucks).








Yep, this is a Christmas miracle...if the definition of "miracle" is someone here did something very stupid, and we got lucky this time.  :)

Because I Like Myself A Lot.

Treating myself to something special today :)

Baby of the Month!

Remember a while ago when I said I was considering entering Kendall in a photo contest? I kicked around the idea for a while, then finally decided to do it. We entered her picture in the Pottery Barn Kids "Baby of the Month" contest in November, and solicited votes like ca-RAZY (believe me, my friends are sick of hearing about this). I didn't feel TOO badly about it, though, because I really believed she had a shot of winning.

I was notified a couple weeks later that she had been selected as one of four finalists competing for the prestigious title! Now fully committed to the contest, we hoped that the public would agree that she was, indeed, the sweetest face on the ballot.

And agree they did! She is a WINNER! I received the following e-mail from Pottery Barn Kids on Wednesday:

Dear Jamie, This note is to inform you that your child, Kendall, has been selected to be the Pottery Barn Kids Baby of the Month for December! The photo you submitted of your baby will appear in our catalog (in homes on 1/4/11) and on our website starting on 12/1/10. You may view the web page featuring the Baby of the Month winners here: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/stylehouse/nurseries/baby-photo-contest.html Congratulations, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions! Pottery Barn Kids



So there you have it- our own little beauty queen, coming soon to a catalog near you! (If you'd like to sign up to receive the catalog, click here)

P.S. Pride is the only reward here- no discount, no merchandise. Come to think of it, I should have considered a more lucrative contest! ;)

Christmas Letter 2010

Dear friends and family,

Welcome to our blog! We invite you to poke around in our blog archives for more detailed accounts of the events mentioned in this letter, or click on the links provided. It's been a pretty wild year...and that's an understatement!

Last December we forewent our annual Christmas Letter because we were in the midst of adding a new person to our family! We brought Kendall Rae home with us on Christmas Day- certainly the best Christmas gift we've ever received! Now, one year later, our hearts are beaming with joy and wonder as we watch this baby grow into a little girl. She is fully mobile on all fours and spends most of her day scavenging the house and making new discoveries. She prefers, however, standing on two feet, and we expect she'll be taking those first steps soon. Too soon.

Chris has been a faithful fixture at Orthopedic Associates of Duluth, where he is in his fifth year of working as a Physician Assistant. The doctors have been quick to compliment his skills in the operating room, and the patients always enjoy his personable rapport in the office. Orthopedics continues to be his passion, and he is always looking for new opportunities to learn and utilize his expertise.

Jamie has now fully transitioned from the teaching realm to the world of full-time Mommyhood. I now spend my time changing diapers, crawling on the ground, picking up toys, and occasionally popping a meal in the oven. It was a bit of an adjustment, having contributed over ten years of full-time work in various venues. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything...it is the most fulfilling, entertaining, wonderful job I've ever had (and I've had some pretty wonderful jobs). I continue to serve in the Worship Arts ministry at our church as one of four worship leaders for our weekend services.

Kendall is a seasoned traveler at the young age of 12 months, having been on both coasts and been on over a dozen airplane flights.
* February was our "West Coast Tour", visiting Chris' extended family in Vancouver, WA, then heading down to Stockton to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen.
* We spent Easter weekend in Moorhead, MN, at Grandma and Grandpa Stavenger's house.
* In May, we joined the Stavenger siblings and Petersen grandparents for a weekend in Las Vegas, and Kendall experienced a warm climate for the first time!
* June travel to Monterey, CA, for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was a highlight this year. With the Petersens, we cheered on our golf favorites and soaked in the coastal beauty.
* We enjoyed our 4th of July vacation at the Lake with the Stavenger grandparents.
* In August, we returned to California to celebrate the life of Jamie's brother, Derek, on what would have been his 32nd birthday. It was a wonderful event that raised over $1000 for the Children's Tumor Foundation in his name.
* In September, our family visited Washington, DC!
* The Stavengers hosted Thanksgiving dinner at the Lake House.
* It's Christmas in California this year...and Chris' first without snow!

Other newsworthy news this year includes a newly dogless home as we decided to give our dog, Luna, to another loving family. Chris and I enjoy attending the Duluth Vineyard Church, where Kendall has taken quickly to nursery fun and we enjoy the grown-up fellowship and teaching it offers. We had the privilege of dedicating Kendall to the Lord at both the Vineyard and First Baptist, Stockton, in the spring. In more recent news, we entered Kendall in a baby photo contest for Pottery Barn Kids and...she WON, receiving the title of "Baby of the Month" for November, and a spot in the January edition of their catalog. Needless to say, we're the proudest of parents.

We are anxious to see what God has in store for us in 2011. Knowing firsthand that He is faithful at the pinnacle of joy and in the depths of sorrow, we will obediently follow Him. And, as always, we use this season as a reminder of the great hope we have because of God's great gift to us, Jesus Christ. May your Christmas season be blessed as you, too, celebrate the birth of the Savior.

In Him,
Chris, Jamie and Kendall

Adapting to the Animal

It's been a while since Luna went to live with her new family (who now can't keep her in a bizarre turn of events, but that's another story). I thought we had gotten rid of the animal living in our house, but it turns out we've got an 11-month-old animal in angel clothing under our roof! I've been enjoying (for lack of a better word... Sympathetizing?) reading about the destructive challenges my friend Ashley is having with their daughter, Audrey, who is having trouble adapting to the new sibling in the house. Little did I know my own little destructive force is surfacing...a teething baby who is desperate to chew on ANNNNYTHING. I lost one pair of slippers already, and have multiple teeth-marks in my shoulder (no permanent damage done, but MAN it hurts!). (Stephanie- I've adapted the Yo Gabba Gabba song and now sing "Don't Bite Your Mom".)

The last few days, I've gone to retrieve her from her nap, and found all sorts of brown debris around her mouth. Perplexed, I hunted down the culprit: the finish on her crib. She's chewing it to pieces.


So, we've done some "Imagination Movers"-style brainstorming and hopefully have curbed the problem for the time being...unless any of you have a different suggestion?

Trick or Treat

Before the snow, there was Halloween! We used every opportunity to put Kendall in her teddy bear costume. With cheeks that overflowed, she was the most huggable little bear I've ever seen! As a special treat, we had a photo session while Grandma Donna was here (whoops...have I not posted pictures from that visit!? YIKES!). This little Teddy melted the photographer's heart for sure!

On Saturday, we took Kendall to our church carnival. Too young for the bouncy houses or carnival games, it was more of a social outing for Chris and me. Kendall didn't appreciate it so much. In fact, she was pretty mortified by the abundance of hats, hoods and other headgear- items that mysteriously terrify her. She spent most of the time with her little bear face buried in my shoulder.

(This is her "I am not a happy bear" face)

On Halloween night, we met some friends with small children for some neighborhood trick-or-treating (or, in our case, walking). One thing to keep in mind for future Duluth halloweens...it's COLD. The toasty warm bear costume was a good- and practical- choice.

The first trick or treat house!


Kendall and Daddy were excited to get back home and have some "treats".

Welcome, Winter! I'll Enjoy You...For Now.

We had quite a snowstorm yesterday that left it's wintery fingerprint on Minnesota. Half of our apple tree is now lying on the ground...it's branches surrendered to the weight of the snow last night. I suppose it's time to take down the autumn decorations, because they just look wrong against the snowy backdrop. Now it's even MORE tempting to put up the Christmas tree and officially ring in the Christmas season! (The only thing stopping me is the idea of having to keep Kendall away from it for a month and a half.) I brought my camera with me as I ventured to the grocery store this afternoon. Not sure these pictures convey just how WHITE and beautiful it is outside...

(above and below: our backyard)

Our street...

A more artistic interpretation of a street in our neighborhood...

A random set of stairs off the main road...

The pond at the cemetery next door to us...


It's days like this that I wish my California friends could see how beautiful Duluth can be! Pictures just don't do it justice.

Work it, Girl!

I purchased a few adorable hats from a friend of mine who has her own shop (aroundthehook) on Etsy, and thought I'd send her a picture of Kendall in her new hat. Lo and behold, our own little miss chubbycheeks now has her first gig as a hat model! Check out Kendall's mug sellin' hats left and right!

By the way, I waste way too much time perusing all the cuteness on Etsy these days. I may need an intervention soon. But in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite shops:

Around the Hook

Briar.Claire

Booger Bear and Punkin Pooh

Sew Cute Creations

Ivory and Moss

Are you an Etsy seller yourself? Now's the time to pimp your shop! :)