Four Christmases No More

I've had trouble trying to come with a theme or inspiration for my Christmas post. In looking back, I've thought there was nothing really special or significant that happened over our holiday-- except that EVERYTHING was special and significant.

1. It was Drew's last first Christmas. That's definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

2. Grant was at the perfect age to experience the magic of the holiday. His only request for Santa this year was some measly dinosaurs. But Santa delivered that and more. And seeing Grant's expression when he realized he got a air hockey table was priceless.

3. We stayed home on Christmas day for the first time EVER. Up until recently, Danny and I were like Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon making our Four Christmases rounds. And one year we even added a sub-freezing Titan's game in there. This year we stayed in our pajamas all morning, enjoyed opening presents at our leisure, made ham and cheese omelets with toast, and hosted no less than 38 family members at our house for lunch. Yes, THIRTY-EIGHT. It was totally worth it.

4. I got a Flip Video camera. Danny surprised me with this incredible piece of technology that may change this ordinary scrapblog into a state of the art videoblog. Well, I wish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7afTiZJWwA

The weekend before Christmas we were all laid up in bed with a stomach bug and Drew with serum sickness to boot. It was not a pretty sight. It's hard enough to be sick, but to be sick and to take care of two sick children at the same time is just downright awful.

Just a few days after we recovered, I learned that my dear friend's 2 & 1/2 year old niece was diagnosed with cancer. Hearing the news made our sick weekend look like a tiny blip on the radar as compared to their journey. They were and are constantly on my mind.

And that brings me to #5.

5. I am utterly thankful this Christmas for many, many things. We have our health. We have a warm house, jobs, and food in the pantry. We have our parents and siblings. We have many grandparents and as #3 can attest, we have many (MANY) aunts, uncles and cousins.

All making this a very special and significant Christmas.

Christmas Craft

I wonder how much Wilton makes on these gingerbread house kits each year. Totally worth it though.

Thanksgiving Memory

With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, I've figured I better get around to my Thanksgiving post.

Favorite memories include:

Lots of casseroles covered in cheese,


Our first time hosting in our new house,


And for a brief moment as guests were arriving, we lost Drew.

I was in the kitchen admiring the cheese covered casseroles when my parents came in asking where he was. I had left him in the living room playing on his belly, and I just assumed someone had picked him up. When we realized nobody had him, we searched around and found him on the other side of the fireplace. He had quietly scooted backwards and around the corner of the room.

We caught him with the cutest little look on his face.

8 Months (almost)

Those first few weeks after having a baby can be rough. Well, that's how it is for me anyway. It' not all sunshine and rainbows. No new baby high. And no "Oh, my life is complete now" euphoria.



Don't get me wrong. There's this new, precious baby who you have waited 9 months (or in my case 9 & 1/2) to meet. And you already love him more than you ever thought you could. But there also lots of... exhaustion. Your body is trying to recuperate from having just given birth. You are tired and weak. After waking up every 2 to 3 hours, around the clock, you begin to think I-- just-- can't-- do it-- another-- night.



But somehow, you do. The days and nights turn into weeks and the weeks into months. And you begin to see some sunshine through the haze. And what's that you see? It's a tee tiny rainbow.



I remember during the first couple of weeks with Drew. Grant was having a hard time listening to Drew cry. Doing everything in my power to get Drew to stop crying, I told Grant, "It's okay Buddy. He's just learning how to be a baby. He'll be a happier guy in a few more weeks."



It's hard to believe that after 8 short months, this is what you get.



I love it that he thinks Danny and I are the coolest people on the planet and Grant is even cooler. I love it how he likes to play with my hair while he drinks his bottle. I love it how he loves to snuggle and give hugs and kisses (i.e. tasting your face with his tongue). I love it that he's an excellent car rider and an awesome shopper. And I love it that I can lay him in his bed, wide awake, and he will go to sleep with little or no protesting (well, 2 out of 3 times a day anyways).




It's kind of hard to see around here lately with all of the sunshine and rainbows.