Trip to the Park

Today, since the weather was a little warmer, although overcast, Doug, Weston and I went to a local park, where there is a walking trail, geese, ducks and fish.  There is also a bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence and eternal flame.


We enjoyed our time together.  Doug and I had a nice conversation and we liked watching Weston look at the animals he hadn't seen before. 


Now that we know the park is there, we will definitely go back soon.

Weird Day

Weston must have really needed his sleep last night because he went to bed about 10 and he didn't wake up until about 10:30 this morning.  This would be fine, except his schedule is getting thrown off, so then he is crankier and napping at odd times during the day.

I didn't have really have a good day.  I've been semi-sad all day that Weston is 6 months old.  As much as I am enjoying seeing him grow, learn and discover new things, I miss the days when he was my little newborn guy.  Doug tells me all the time that I should enjoy each stage and I know I should.  He tells me that Weston is smaller today than he will be tomorrow.  I guess I just realize that Weston is closer to a toddler than a newborn and miss that.

I definitely had days when I wondered if I was ever going to sleep for more than an hour at a time again.  I wondered (and still do sometimes) if I/we made a mistake by having a baby so early in our marriage.  Then I see Weston smile and I know that it is all worth it.  I also see that he is getting so big and as much as I enjoy getting several hours of sleep in a row, I miss the newborn Weston.

In 6 months, Weston won't be my baby anymore, but my increasingly independent toddler.  In a short time after that, he'll wave to me as he enters his kindergarten class.  Shortly after that, he'll be driving away to college and then he'll be getting married and having his own children.

Can't we keep them little forever?

Weston's Rough Day

Weston had a rough day today adjusting to his vaccines from yesterday.  He was not in a happy mood at all and didn't smile, which he normally does.  He wasn't running a fever or anything, but he just wasn't himself.  If he wasn't napping, he was screaming.  I'd say the ratio was about 30:70.  By the time we put him to bed tonight, I was exhausted.  I think Doug and I are going to cuddle up and watch a movie before bed.  Hopefully Weston will have a better day tomorrow.

Busy Day

Today was a very busy day for us.  We had to go to the pediatrician, the DMV, the post office and the bank. 


This morning, Weston had his 6 month (!) pediatrician appointment, complete with vaccinations.  Since we moved, this was the first time meeting his new pediatrician.  I guess I like her alright, but she is expecting a baby, so she'll be on maternity leave for a while.  I wish I had known that before we chose her.  Also, our previous pediatrician apparently didn't give Weston one of the vaccines he was supposed to be receiving, so we are having to play catch-up.  I have to go back in 4 weeks and then 4 weeks after that to accomplish this.  Lucky me.  However, the vaccine is by mouth, so no pokes, and he will remain healthy, so it's worth it.


We then went to the DMV.  That was the nightmare DMVs usually are.  When Doug and I got our licenses in Mississippi, we were in and out in about 15 minutes.  Not today.  Because it was getting close to Weston's lunch and nap time, obviously there was no way that they would be quick.  Why would we want to keep our child on his schedule?  It was the DMV's lunch time and only one person was working, but no one told us that until we had been there about an hour.  We ended up feeding Weston in his car seat, so then he was a happy camper.  Bottom line, we were there for 3 hours and at the conclusion of our visit, we are given a PAPER license and told that we will receive the plastic one in the mail in about 30 days.  What kind of ghetto state do we live in that they don't give you your actual license then and there?!


Since we had our late Christmas gifts to send, we had to go to the post office.  When we walked in there was no one in line.  This would have been great except that we had to tape and label the boxes (since you have to use the post office tape and labels for the particular boxes we had) and when we finished doing that, there were 6 or 7 people in line and again, 1 person working.  Also, we used the "flat-rate" boxes, which are supposed to be cheaper.  However, when we got ready to pay for the shipping, the person informed us that we could have saved about $12 had we used different boxes.  Excellent.


Our final stop was the bank.  We had to talk to someone there and we knew it wouldn't be a quick visit.  When we ended up with the officer we did, we knew we should have packed a lunch and dinner for ourselves.  Doug and I have each dealt with this guy before.  He is quite strange and moves veeeerrrrryyyy slow.  Therefore, by the time we got finished, we had been there for more than an hour.
When we got home, I fell asleep on the couch for a bit.  I was exhausted from our day.  I'm hoping tomorrow we can just hang out and not go all over town.


After a yummy dinner, we took our Christmas tree and decorations down.  Doug ended up having to do surgery on our vacuum to get the pine needles out of it, as it kept clogging.  While he was doing that, I entertained a very sleepy Weston.  He threw up his dinner 3 times, but otherwise seemed fine.  No fever, he was acting fine, just sleepy.  This is the first throw up we've had, so I got a little worried, but after a call to Mom, it turns out, he is just fine.

After Doug and I put Weston to sleep, we played a new game we got for Christmas. It was a lot of fun and more challenging that it at first seemed.

All in all, we had a good, but long day.  The evening together at home was the best though.

Tomorrow, I think we are hanging pictures to make our house a home, since we didn't put any house decorations up when we moved in, just Christmas ones.

Giving to the Community, Among Other Humdrum Activities

Today was rather uneventful.  We stayed home for the first half of the day and then we went shopping for groceries and finished our Christmas shopping.  Yes, I know Christmas was 2 days ago, but we didn't know what to buy for a few people and so the brainstorming took until today.  The recipients know that their gifts are arriving late and it's kind of like a second or delayed Christmas for them.

We were also searching for a Bumbo for Weston.  Apparently, they are a hot item, because it took us 6 stores to finally find one that wasn't pink or lilac.  We finally got one and Weston enjoys sitting in it while watching the world go by.  We picked a green one so that we can use the Bumbo for future babies.

While we were shopping, we came across a bloodmobile, so Doug and I gave blood.  Doug had never given blood before.  He was very brave.  Haha.  I have given blood many times before, beginning when I was in high school.  I did it back then to get out of class, specifically French.  Anyway, 2 (or more) people in north Alabama will now benefit from our blood. 

Tomorrow we have a busy day, so hopefully the weather will be warmer, since today was fairly frigid.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Since Doug and I grew up in Florida, neither of us ever had a white Christmas.  I think I am a northern girl at heart, so I have always wanted to live where is snows and have a white Christmas.  One of my complaints about Florida is that it is always warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt on Christmas Day, so it doesn't feel like Christmas. 

Yesterday, we woke up to this:

I told everyone that they could have not gotten me anything for Christmas and I still would have been THRILLED!!  I guess I'm excited by the little things in life.

Weston's first Christmas was also yesterday!  Santa definitely came to our house.

Since he is still small, Weston didn't really play with much of anything, but as he grows, I'm sure he'll become more interested in the things he got.

He did stay awake most of the day and while we opened presents, but by last night, he was overtired and quite crabby.  We put him to bed about 9 and he didn't wake up until 8:40 this morning.  He needed the rest!

My parents, brother and sister-in-law came from Kentucky to spend Christmas with us.  It was very special to me to have them here, because my brother will be deploying soon.  We had a nice time opening presents, seeing what everyone else got and just laughing and having fun.

It snowed all day today too, but we needed baby food, so we braved the snow.  It was fun to see the city all covered in snow.

When we got home, Doug and I had a colossal snowball fight.  Even Hattie and Waveland joined in.  It was a very nice day spending time with my little family.

I'm so glad Doug has the week off so we can just hang out.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I hope you are enjoying Christmas and getting plenty of family time in.  I know I am.

Love each other and remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate CHRISTmas.

Final day of Advent (#25) in special Christmas Eve pajamas:

Weston's First Christmas Eve!

One year ago this evening, Doug and I sat on our couch as just a couple.  We had a baby on the way, but it was just he and I (and maybe the dogs).  We looked forward to our first Christmas as a married couple, but also wondered what a year from then would be like.  We'd have a six month old baby to play Santa for and it wouldn't be about us anymore.  (I also hoped I wouldn't be nauseous like I was then, but due to the dinner mentioned last night, that doesn't seem to be working out for me.) 

It was because of the miracle that was growing in my belly that we started a tradition that hopefully we will continue for many years to come.  As we sat on the couch, we watched Polar Express, sipped hot chocolate and nibbled cookies.  We gazed at the twinkling lights on the tree and talked about how blessed we were to have presents under the tree and a family that loves us. 

Tonight, before we put out the cookies and milk for Santa and  the carrots and apples for his reindeer, we will sit on our couch with Weston and watch the Polar Express and, if we're feeling better, sip hot chocolate and nibble cookies.  We will also tell Weston that he is a very lucky boy to have presents under the tree and a family that loves him.  Just before bed, we will read him 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  In the morning, we will take him to the living room to see what Santa brought, fully realizing he's far too young to understand any of this. 

But in a few years? In a few years, these traditions will mean something to him and he will look forward to our Christmas Eve routine.  Maybe he'll even have siblings to share the joy of Christmas with...

Advent day 24:

Dinner Was a Mistake

Tonight, Doug and I ate at a national chain Italian restaurant that will remain unnamed.  However, both he and I have felt sick after eating there.  I won't be eating there or having Italian anytime soon.

We finished our shopping today and it only took until 30 minutes before Christmas Eve to do so.  We will wrap tomorrow, since neither of us feels like wrapping tonight.

We also bought Weston 'Twas the Night Before Christmas tonight and I can't wait to read it to him tomorrow evening.

Weston didn't choose to eat much before bed, so I suppose either Doug or myself will be beckoned by our little guy in the middle of the night looking for more sustenance.  Such is parenthood.

I'm going to go to bed since I don't feel all that well.

Advent day 23...almost there:

6 Christmases

My family and I are getting ready to spend our 6th Christmas without the matriarch of our family, Amie.  Amie's real name is Nancy, but when grandchildren began being born, she decided she'd be called "Grammy".  I, being the eldest grandchild, couldn't (or didn't choose to) pronounce Grammy, so she became "Ammy" or "Amie".  Everyone- uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family- all called her that.

She was more than just the matriarch to our family.  My grandfather died in 1984, before any grandchildren were born and just after his youngest child's 19th birthday.  This left Amie to be a father and a grandfather, along with being a mother and grandmother.  She went on field trips, climbed in tents and fixed cars and plumbing.  She fixed boo-boos, dried tears and went fishing.  She was the greatest person I've ever known.

Amie has missed so much in the past almost 6 years.  My brother and I have both gotten married, I have had a precious little boy, I graduated from college, my cousins have began driving (watch out!) and my youngest cousin is a beautiful tween.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her and wish she could be here to see how her grandchildren are turning out and to meet her great-grandson.  I do, however, know that she is watching over all of her family and likes what she sees.

On a lighter note, Advent day 22:

Buying for Christmas

Buying for Christmas should be somewhat easy, right?  I mean, usually people tell you what they want and then you go buy it.  All that you have to do is come up with a couple creative gifts that they either didn't ask for, will surprise them, or they mentioned earlier in the year and then they forgot about.  Except, some people in my family, ahem, Doug, my in-laws, my brother don't feel the need to produce a list of what they want.  You ask and the answer you receive is "I don't know what I want" or "I don't want anything in particular".  You and I both know that neither of those statements are true.  Everyone wants something.

Doug gave me a list of a several things he wanted, however, a lot of it is stuff he needs to buy/pick out for himself, my in-laws don't know what they want and my brother, well, he's a procrastinator and it's now December 21st and I still don't know what he wants.  This makes it very hard to buy meaningful Christmas gifts that don't disappoint.  I have looked at my list of items I have purchased for Doug and to be quite honest, it's pretty pitiful!  I have a feeling he's going to be slightly disappointed on the 25th. 

Buying for Weston, my parents, my sister-in-law and my cousin have been a lot easier.  They made lists and/or told me directly what they want, so it was very easy to go purchase those items.  I hope that they are all happy with their gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

My only other gripe is gift cards.  I don't necessarily mind buying or receiving them.  In fact, there are stages in life in which giving or receiving a gift card is a lot less stress and hassle.  When you are buying for a teenager, it is so much easier to let them buy items for themselves.  It is far too hard to buy for most teenagers because their tastes are quite eclectic.  I also feel that gift cards can be helpful to supplement a main gift.  That said, I feel like buying gift cards as the main gift is taking the easy way out, by being impersonal and by not shopping for what you think the person would really enjoy having.

Hopefully I can finish my shopping and wrapping very soon, seeing as Christmas is now in 4 days.  EEK!

Advent ornament addition day 21.

The Evolution of Our Christmas Trees

For our first Christmas together in 2008, Doug and I were living in an apartment and were going home for the holidays.  Therefore, we had a tree that, although live, was maybe 3 feet tall.  It was very cute and we bought two small boxes of ornaments for it.  Although it was small, it meant a lot to Doug and myself, because it was our first tree together.  The tree served its purpose and we celebrated Christmas, just the two of us, before we went back to Florida and had full Christmases with our families.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture readily available of aforementioned tree.


Last year, we had a house and therefore had a full-size tree.  I do not remember decorating this tree, nor do I remember much of Christmas because Weston was causing me to be SO sick.  We had gotten ornaments from our families the previous year and had bought more ornaments, so we had plenty to decorate a large(r) tree.  We enjoyed wrapping presents and filling in area under the tree.  We went 3 hours away on Christmas Day and left the following day to Florida for a week, so our tree didn't get a whole lot of actual Christmas use.  However, we did sit in front of it while we opened presents from each other at 4 am before leaving for north Mississippi.

This year, I had hopes that we would cut a nice, big tree at the tree farm that would fit beautifully in our big, high-ceilinged living room.  However, we all know how that turned out.  Therefore, although I'm happy we have a nice tree, it's not as big as I would have liked.  I loved decorating it while Doug helped me, Weston watched and smiled and we listened to Christmas music.  It was quite a memory-making event. 

The tree also holds a timeline to our relationship which is kind of cool, but also a reminder of how quickly everything in our life has happened. 

We have an ornament celebrating our wedding:

                                               

We have an ornament from St. John in the Virgin Islands, where we had our honeymoon:

We have an ornament of our first married Christmas:

We have an ornament of our baby's first Christmas...the year after our first married Christmas...:

We also have an ornament commemorating our first Christmas as a family.

Advent day 20.  Nearly there and yet a lot to do in 5 days!



Downtime

Today, we had a nice, laid-back day.  We watched some football, snuggled on the couch and watched a movie.  We also took Weston to the park and the trip was fun, but cold.  We went on the teeter-totters, which I haven't been on since elementary school, the swings and down the slide.

Doug and I also got some wrapping done, so that makes me feel a little more prepared for Christmas.

Unfortunately, there was also a dark cloud on the day, but I can't really discuss it right now.

Advent day 19.  6 days to go!

Baking Christmas Cookies

Earlier today, Doug decided he wanted to make cookies from scratch.  I thought it was a good idea because we need to have cookies for Santa and making cookies tonight would give us an opportunity to try our hand at making some edible treats for the jolly old man.  We wouldn't want to be responsible for poisoning him and causing him to cut his trip short!

This evening, we collected the ingredients to make peanut butter chip cookies.  We had a cookie mold with Christmas shapes and just had fun using cookie cutters to create random shapes and letters.  We even spelled out a little message to remember our little cookie-making activity.

 
Tomorrow, I hope to wrap some presents and relax with my family.

Wow, can you believe it's already December 18th?  1 week from today, it will be all over for another year.

Advent day 18: 

FAIL!!

Unfortunately, my whole post just got deleted.  Therefore, I will return to regularly scheduled posting tomorrow.  I'll try to make it interesting.

In the meantime, Weston putting the 17th Advent ornament on the tree:

(Moments later he spit-up all over the counter, floor and my shirt. Fun.)

Why Do I Write a Blog?

People have asked me why I am writing a blog.  I guess I'm doing it for several reasons.

1) It allows me to write down my daily life, which kind of serves as a journal.  If I continue my blog, then in a few years, I'll be able to look back at my life now and compare it to how my life is then.

2) By writing about my family and life, I'm keeping a record for Weston and future babies as to my (and Doug's) love for him/them.  What we are doing with/for them.  I hope that he/they will appreciate reading about their childhood.

3) By writing a blog, it allows family near and far to keep up with our family and know what's going on, even if we don't have the chance to talk or catch-up as often as we'd like.

4) Finally, it gives me an outlet.  When you spend your day with a baby, it can get very monotonous.  When I write, I feel like I'm communicating with other adults.  Hopefully some of the monotony will be solved by church groups, moms groups and mommy and me activities.  However, writing a blog will still be an outlet.

Advent day 16:

Christmas Memories

Although I have seen videos and pictures of my first few Christmases, I don't remember them firsthand.


My first Christmas, my mom and dad took me to the store to try me out in my presents.  There is a picture of me sitting in the rocking chair that I later received in the store.  Since I was the first grandchild and niece (or nephew) on my mom's side of the family, everyone in my family went WAAAAAY overboard on gifts for me.  My only complaint from my first Christmas is that my parents dressed me like a boy.  Haha.


My second Christmas, I received a baby stroller and I was trying to take it somewhere and my grandmother was apparently in my way, so I told her "ottawa" (out of the way).  I was rather bossy.  I guess I still am (at times).


My third Christmas, I walked out into the living room, saw what Santa brought and then turned right back around and went back to bed.  I'm sure that made my parents feel great.


The first Christmas I actually remember is when I was 5.  We lived in an apartment and I remember coming out to see what Santa brought.  He had brought me, among other things, a bike and a stuffed dog, whom I later named Sparky, that was sitting on the seat.  I loved that dog and brought him with me everywhere, even to college.  I still have him, but he is missing the majority of his stuffing and he's in very rough shape.  I also learned to ride my bike behind the apartment complex, with my dad and uncle pushing me and then just letting go.  I don't know if this is the best way to teach a little girl how to ride a bike.


My favorite memory from Christmas is when I was 6.  On Christmas Eve, I went to bed and in the middle of the night, I saw light outside of my window (obviously Rudolph's nose) and heard jingle bells (from the reindeer harnesses).  I then jumped out of bed and looked through the door to our living room.  Santa was in there arranging presents and nibbling on a cookie!!  It's quite amazing what a child's imagination conjures up when they believe so strongly in something.


The following Christmas, my parents had separated, so I lived in Florida with my mom and brother, while my dad lived in Texas.  Right before Christmas, my parents reunited and so we moved to Texas.  My mom ended up putting our Christmas gifts in the dryer on the moving truck so that we would not see them.  She was successful and on Christmas morning, I received those ugly Troll dolls.  I thought they were the greatest things and my mom HATED them, so when I found out that's what Santa brought, I remember telling my mom that Santa loved me, since he knew she loathed Trolls.  This was the same Christmas that our Beagle puppy, Chelsea, somehow pulled the entire tree, ornaments and all, down on top of her while we were out and scratched her cornea pretty badly.


Another memory that I will always cherish is when my brother was around 11 or 12, he decided he wanted to be one of Santa's elves.  In the town we lived in, there were a few people that would answer phone calls near Christmas posing as Santa and Mrs. Claus.  So, being the great big sister I am, I called the phone number to "inquire" about how one becomes an elf.  I felt so incredibly stupid asking about a fake job title, but my brother's face lit up when I told him I'd call and ask for him.  Unfortunately for Will, Santa wasn't hiring anymore elves at that time, so Will would have to wait.


Christmas of 2004, I asked for a pair of UGG boots.  I don't remember now what color I asked for, but on Christmas morning, I awoke to UGG boots...in the wrong color, sort of.  The boots I received were in the color I asked for, but I the color I asked for was not the color I really wanted.  Somehow I had written down the wrong color.  For the record, I kept the color I received and still wear them to this day.


A couple of Christmases later, all I really wanted was an iPod nano.  I went on and on about getting one and I believe they came in pink, green and blue at that point.  However, shortly before Christmas, they came out with a red one.  Red is my favorite color and so of course I HAD to have the red one.  Little did I know that my parents had already been to the nearest Apple store (an hour away) and purchased a pink one.  Well, because I wouldn't shut up about having a red one, they drove back up to the store and exchanged it.  However, they put it in the very bottom of my stocking, so on Christmas morning, I was disappointed that I didn't get my beloved iPod.  You know, until I emptied my stocking.  What a materialistic person I was.  I'd like to think that I am not nearly that materialistic or high maintenance anymore.


I think that this is why Christmas is my favorite holiday and favorite time of the year;  the memories are never-ending and you get to see the joy on others faces.  I hope that Weston will grow up with nothing but happy Christmas memories.  I am SO excited to start new memories and traditions this year for my sweet little boy.  Doug and I have already established the Christmas Eve tradition of watching Polar Express and sipping hot chocolate.


Christmas is an awesome time for family and memories, but we mustn't forget that the real purpose in CHRISTmas is Jesus Christ.


Day 15 ornament addition on the Advent Tree:

To Santa or Not To Santa...

Last December, shortly after I found out I was pregnant, my husband and I discussed whether or not we were going to "do" Santa Claus in our house.  Although we both grew up with Santa visiting our houses, I didn't want to carry on the tradition.

I discovered the truth about Santa when I was in 4th grade from some peers at school.  When I got home from school one day, I snooped in my mom's wallet and found the list of things my brother and I were getting that year.  That confirmed what the children at school were saying.  I actually remember one item that was on that list.  I don't remember being that bummed out when I found out that Santa was really my parents.

My brother, who didn't listen to what the children at school were saying, waited until he was 13 to finally concede that Santa wasn't real.  When he did find out, he was SO upset and broken up about it.  He told my parents that they lied to him and that it made him very sad to find out that my parents were pretending to be someone that he thought was real.

My brother's huge disappointment is why I didn't want to be Santa, or more accurately, Mrs. Claus.  I don't want to set my children up for the same letdown that my brother experienced.  However, between my parents and my husband, I was convinced that one of the best things about childhood is looking forward to Santa Claus visiting your house.  So, after much discussion, our children will have Santa Claus visiting their house each December.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Doug and I took Weston to the mall to sit in Santa's lap for the first time.  The visit when quite well, with no tears or fits.  We'll see how it goes next year when he's a little more cognizant of strangers. 

With less than two weeks left, Doug and I are finishing up shopping for Weston and although he already has so much for under the tree, it never feels like we have enough for our little boy.  He is a very blessed little boy that his daddy and I can afford to provide for him.

I do get to save time on Weston's gifts because we are not wrapping them.  Doug grew up with Santa's presents being wrapped, but I did not.  My point of view is that Santa doesn't have enough time to circumnavigate the globe and wrap presents for all the girls and boys.  Also, by having unwrapped presents under the tree, it helps to differentiate between what Santa brought and what family brought/sent.  Therefore, on Christmas morning, Weston will have unwrapped presents under the tree from Santa. 

I'm very excited to be Mrs. Claus this year, as it is my first one, but since he's so little, he won't even realize what's going on.  I know as he gets older and receives what he asked Santa for, it will be a lot more fulfilling to see his face on Christmas morning.  Which reminds me, maybe I should go write his letter to Santa...

Advent day 14:

Quiet Day

My parents have been here since Friday night.  We have enjoyed having them and it has allowed Doug and I to go out, just the two of us.  We only went to Publix and Wal-Mart to grocery shop, but the point is, we didn't have to drag a car seat in with us or bundle a baby up.


Today, my dad watched Weston while my mom and I ran a couple of errands.  Otherwise, we have a very quiet day, just hung out here at home and watched Special Agent Oso.  He's a unique stuffed bear, you know.


Tomorrow, I hope to do a little shopping and I have a blog post mulling around in my head, so I'll work on that as well. 


Hopefully everyone is staying warm and enjoying their families as much as I'm enjoying mine.


Advent day 13 with a freshly bathed Weston:

Christmas Tree Shopping

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my extended family told me I had to see Christmas Vacation (with Chevy Chase), that it was a sin to have never seen this movie.  In Christmas Vacation, Chevy's character, Clark, drags his family out to find and cut the "perfect" tree.  After seeing the movie, I decided, with this being Weston's first Christmas, Doug, Weston and I should go cut our own tree.

This morning, when we woke up to snow, we decided that today was the day to go search for a tree.  There are 3 tree farms in our area.  We went to the one that was closest to our house first.  I put Weston inside my jacket with me so we would both stay warm while walking through the snow and wind.  There were 4 types of trees, however, we weren't too thrilled with any of them.  Either the needles weren't the kind we liked or the trees were too thin.  The next one we went to had a lot more trees to choose from.  This time, we just put Weston in his stroller and covered him with a comforter.  We almost picked out a tree here, in fact, there were 3 or 4 that we I seriously considered.  Doug found something wrong with all of them and I can't completely disagree with him.  Either the tree was too bare or had twisted branches. 

It turns out that since Doug and I both grew up buying trees at a tree lot, we expected trees to be a certain shape, fullness, color, etc.  The trees at tree farms, at least here, just aren't "Christmas trees" as we know them.  Therefore, we ended up buying our tree at a tree lot.  I will post pictures of our 2010 tree after it has been trimmed.

I was a little disappointed that we didn't complete our find-and-cut-a-tree adventure.  Luckily, we still made memories, which will last a lifetime.  Walking through the snow and looking at trees with saw and measuring stick in hand was so much fun!

Here are a couple random pictures from today:

Baby Christmas Trees that were just planted.
                                                      

A donkey who wanted to chat with me.  You can see the snow on his fur.

The donkey's horse friend who wanted to say 'hi' and try to nibble my hand.

Advent day 12 with a happy Weston:
                                       

Hopefully, we'll get more snow!!

Thankful

I know that Thanksgiving was last month, but I wanted to talk about one thing that I am thankful for.

I am thankful that I have a healthy child.  Sometimes I complain that Weston came out 6 weeks old in size, at almost 9 pounds and 22 inches.  I feel that I missed the "newborn" stage.  Even now, at 5 months old, people usually think that Weston is 7 or 8 months old.  Doug has a former co-worker whose granddaughter, born normal gestation and weight, is 6 weeks old and still weighs less than Weston did at birth.

That said, I read blogs and hear stories about babies that have either come far too early or for whatever reason become very sick in childhood.  My heart aches for these families.  I can't imagine what it must feel like to have a baby growing inside you and then have your pregnancy end abruptly or to watch your child grow for a couple years and then lose them.  You then spend your days and nights hoping and praying for your baby to survive, to get better.  You stare at them through plastic and don't get to hold them for weeks, sometimes months.  On one blog I read, the baby was born at 26 weeks at 1 pound, 6 ounces.  She is now a little over a month and her mom just got to hold her for the first time and that was with blankets, wires, positioners, etc.  Someone I knew in college had a child that was diagnosed with cancer when he was 17 months old and died when he was 23 months old.  In a matter of 6 months, this person's son went from a healthy little guy to a terminally ill fella that lost his battle.

Obviously, something could happen to Weston or to future children, but for now, at this moment, my little boy is very vibrant and healthy.  He is very tall and thin, hitting his milestones on time and is always happy.  As healthy and as good of a baby he is, I can understand how the Duggar family could have 19 children.  This doesn't mean I am having 19 children, nor do I think that every baby will be as good as Weston is.

The bottom line is that I am so, so, so thankful that Weston is so healthy.  I know God doesn't give any parent more than they can handle, but I don't know where parents of NICU babies or terminally ill children get their strength from. 

I am praying for all of the NICU babies, sick children and their families.  Please pray with me.

Day 11 of our Advent tree.

Just Don't Look Them In the Eye

The mall in the area we just moved from in south Mississippi was, in a word, pitiful.  I'm not sure if this was because Hurricane Katrina caused most of the stores to close/move or because there were about 100 people in our town, so there wasn't enough revenue to keep the stores open.  In any case, on a good day, the mall had 12 people shopping amongst the 4 open stores.

The malls where we live now are more like normal malls.  You know, ones with many stores and people, and at this time of year, a Santa.  However, these malls also have a lot of kiosks.  There are a few problems with kiosks.  First, most people don't need stuff at the kiosks, so they are kind of a waste.  Secondly, the ones up here are mostly selling University of Alabama and Auburn University merchandise.  Doug is a University of Florida fan and I am a Louisiana State University fan.  Therefore, we are not interested in such merchandise.  The biggest issue I have with kiosks is that they like to pester you to come try/see their items for sale.  This could be skin cream, neck massagers or those helicopters that threaten to take an eye out while the employee flies it to get your attention.

I have decided that as long as you don't look them in the eye, they don't bother you as much.  It's kind of the game of "if I don't see them, they won't see me, thus they won't bother me".  I tried that theory tonight while at the mall.  It worked for the most part.  Only when I forgot to keep my head down or avert my eyes did I get invited to try skin products and the like. 

Getting slowed down while trying to shop with an infant at Christmas is slightly frustrating.  I know they are just trying to do their job and sell their goods, but if I want something from their kiosks, I'll probably go over and browse.  Which reminds me, don't go to the food court if you don't like Asian food.  Those people also seem to think that everyone wants a sample.  Again, if I want to try your fried Chihuahua, I'll definitely saunter on up and ask for a delicious piece.

Day 10 of Advent with a very hungry and exhausted little fella: 

When I Grow Up...

What happens to a dream deferred?


When I was in preschool, I wanted to be the first female President of the United States.  I thought it would be so cool to live in the White House and run the country.  Of course, I didn't know then what was involved in being the leader of a country.  Actually, come to think of it, I still don't.  I'm not sure why I gave up on that dream.  Perhaps I decided that society wasn't ready for a female president.  However, now that we have a black president, and with Hillary Clinton getting as far in the primaries as she did in 2008 and Sarah Palin mulling over the idea of running in 2012, I feel that the sky is the limit for any child who wants to be president.

When I was in upper elementary school, I wanted to be an astronaut.  This was in part because my grandmother took me to see space shuttle launches in Cape Canaveral.  I thought that going to space and being weightless would be a lot of fun.  I took flying lessons at the local airport so that I could get my pilot's license and I could be the one to fly the space shuttle when I worked at NASA.  I even used to have dreams that after I returned from space, I would go back to my fifth grade classroom in my space suit and talk to the students.  Unfortunately, I became discouraged when I found out that most people who are astronauts never go to space.  It was soon after deciding not to pursue becoming an astronaut that I began loathing math and science.  Now, I'm married to someone who works for NASA, so I guess in a way I'm still associated with NASA, huh?

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a lawyer.  I definitely had arguing down to a fine science.  I wanted to be a criminal prosecutor and help out victims and their families.  When I first went to college, I was in pre-law classes and learned a lot of interesting things and participated in several case studies.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, but for several reasons, I transferred to a college closer to home.

When I transferred, I changed my major to elementary education.  I decided that since I eventually wanted to be a mom, that teaching would be a better "mom" profession.  I would work the same basic hours as my children would be in school, I would have the same days off and vacations as they would and I would get to see them a lot more than if I was in a law office. 

Shortly after I graduated with my education degree, I met Doug, moved to Alabama and began teaching in Mississippi.  After teaching 3rd grade for a short time, the economy dropped out and I couldn't find another job teaching, so I focused on planning our wedding.  Very quickly after we got married, God blessed us with an unexpected miracle in the form of Weston.  Thankfully, Doug has a great job, so I have become a stay-at-home-mommy. 

Of all the things I wanted to be growing up, being a SAHM is by far the hardest, but greatest job I've ever dreamed of.  Maybe after my children are older, I may go back to being a teacher or maybe even go to law school, but for now, all that matters is watching my children grow, educating them and getting to hold their hands and snuggle with them for much too short a time.

So, what happens to a dream deferred?


Well, sometimes, reality turns out so much better!!


Day 9 of Advent:

Two Years Ago

Two years ago today, I was a third grade teacher in south Mississippi.  I thoroughly enjoyed my little people and couldn't wait to see them everyday.  We were beginning to talk about holidays around the world.

Two years ago today, Doug had a stomach bug, but insisted on going to work.  Shortly after I dropped him off and got to my school, Doug called me and told me that he wasn't going to make it through the day.  Since we worked in a different state than we lived in, we rode to work together.  I left work to pick him up and we drove the 45 minutes back home so he could rest.  That was the last day in 2008 I went to work because I got so sick, I thought I was going to die.

Two years ago today, my mom called me and reported that her yellow Labrador, Remy, was in labor.  Doug and I had already decided that we were going to take one of the puppies, so I was very excited that my new puppy was being born.  We wanted either a chocolate or a yellow Lab.  There was a very good possibility of getting one of the two colors, with mom being yellow and dad being chocolate.  Seven black and zero chocolate or yellow puppies later, Remy was done delivering.  For the record, last December 22, Remy delivered 10 more puppies, fathered by the same chap, all black. 

Since my parents were in Florida and I was in Alabama, I was going to have to wait 11 days until Christmas break to meet the new additions.  As soon as I saw all of the puppies, I knew which one would be ours.  However, Doug picked out which puppy we were taking.  I sort of "led" him to a precious little girl that seemed to be the calmest one.  Over the course of our vacation, we fell in love with Waveland Wrigley.  Doug, a life-long Chicago Cubs fan, named her after a street that surrounds Wrigley Field.

 
In mid-January, my mom brought Waveland up to our home and goodness she was adorable!!  Hattie didn't know what to do with such a little ball of fur.  Shortly after Waveland moved in, Hattie set her straight that she was already established and thus the boss and they have gotten along ever since. 

Waveland thought she'd "walk" her sister who was about 10x her weight.

This was the "doggy daycare" we set up in the closet while we were trying to pack to move.

When we brought Weston home, Waveland took to him and has been like a second mother to him. She enjoys jumping in Weston's crib and sitting or laying down.  She also likes to sit with him for story time.
                                      

 
She is such a sweet girl and gives so much love to everyone she meets.  For her birthday, she had some ham and pineapple and then for dessert, she had a FrostyPaw.  All the dogs in our extended family get one for their birthday.  She'll be getting her actual present as soon as Doug and I pick something out for her. 

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Waveland!!  We love you very much and are so glad you are the puppy we picked!

On a side note, Hattie and Waveland have a water bowl outside and the past few days, it has been frozen over.  They are very confused as to how to get water from their bowl and it's kind of funny to watch their faces as they attempt.  Apparently Waveland decided she was tired of having a frozen water bowl and figured out how to get the slab of ice out of the bowl and started carrying and eating the ice around the yard.

Day 8 of Advent:

Stay warm y'all!