Christmas and a Reflection of 2010

For some reason I am not able to fully reflect on the year until after Christmas. The Fall is always so busy with Bailey's birthday, Aggie football, Halloween, camping, Thanksgiving, followed right behind by Christmas. So only when the decorations are coming down and I am winding down is my mind able to wander back through the year and all it held. What I really wish during this season of parenting is a remote control for my life. So often lately I just can't do all that I want or am busier than I want to be and have trouble being present in the moment. If only I could fast forward, pause, rewind, and put things into slow motion. Wouldn't that be something.

Last Christmas I was 7 months pregnant with Blake and that last part of the pregnancy was tough on me. I would have definately fast-forward through the achy body phase and sleepless nights. I would also fast forward all the recent pains of teething and waking up in the middle of the night. Most of all I would love to fast-forward to the chapter of my life titled "Seeing the Fruits of Our Disciple", where we get to see Bailey as a well behaved, obedient person. All I want is a peek! If the twos were about establishing the rules, then the threes have been all about making sure those rules still apply ever day and every time. We are actually at a good place with household discipline, but it's just when I have said this before that Bailey decides to shake things up a bit. Keep me on my toes.

Oh to pause the tender brother/sister moments I have begun to see where they are playing and laughing together. I love watching them interact with each other and let me just tell you folks that Blake isn't going to just let Bailey get her way for much longer. I would also love to go back to the labor and delivery room in that moments when I was about to push for the final time and find out if we were having a boy or girl. And then pause again when I got to hold my little boy for the first time. Oh the sweet snuggles of a newborn.

The slow motion and rewind buttons and I would know each other well. I mean can we rewind the fact that Luke and I are 30?!? When did that happen? And if I am 30, then that means that my littlest sister is a senior in high school and headed off to college soon. When did she stop being about 8 years old? Oh, and can we just put my 4 hours of pre-school on slow motion. That time when I am crazy women trying to squeeze in exercise, my quiet time/reading, a shower, visit with friends, errands, grocery shopping, cleaning, blogging, and uninterrupted phone calls. Maybe then I could get it all done.

But everything happens in seasons and this season of life is just going to be full. I always look forward to the spring and summer which goes along at a little slower pace. We really have had a great year and look forward to another one.

Here's a quick look at Christmas this year.

 We spent Christmas Eve with Franny going to our church's Christmas Eve service. With no childcare, it was a little crazy with Bailey, Blake, Owen and Rebecca all sitting on the same row. Bailey did love the lighting of the candle and sat as still as a statue while holding one. Afterwards we went to Franny's for dinner and that was our attempt at a family photo.

Christmas morning was cold so Luke made us a fire. I love that he loves to tend our fireplace.

Bailey getting her presents from us. Check out the new jammies- a Christmas Eve tradition passed on by my mom.

Blake didn't really care about presents too much this year. We tried to let him open his up though.

Bailey was SO excited when Owen showed up. She dearly loves him, although you wouldn't always know it by her actions. She thought it was so cool that they both had new house shoes and jammies.

Franny getting her new pictures of Rebecca and Blake. Something we also did for Bailey and Owen at about the same age.

Me and my little boy. He had just woken up from a nap and was extra snuggly.

After opening presents the big kids went out to play in Bailey's new house thanks to Franny. Poor Blake just stood at the window.

The first attempt at a cousin picture.

But it was too close to naptime and a Christmas timeout was needed. We would try again later.

Jesus's Birthday cake.

So yummy!

Blowing out the candles. Bailey was so cute as she thought that we were going to an actual birthday party where Jesus, God, Mary and Joseph would be. She even went on to tell me that God would have her red balloon. I wasn't prepared for this and fumbled around trying to explain that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus all lived a long time ago and that God and Jesus were there but invisible, but omnipresent. Umm yeah, I need to work on my explanation for next year.

I just thought these were funny ones. Franny gave each family one of these head massage thingies. It can literally give you goose bumps if you don't over do it. Luke worked to perfect a technique which he loved to go around and surprise the kids with it.

 Round 2 of Cousin Photo Shoot.

One of only 2 other pictures with all 4 cousins. I can't imagine next June when we have to try to fit another one in (Kyle and Ali are pregnant with #3).



The Tradition Continues

If you remember from last year, my sister won a fetus cookie cutter at a white elephant party and wanted to make Christmas cookies with it to be silly. We know we are weird, but we had so much fun last year that I think it's going to be a yearly tradition. Drumroll please...I now present to you the baby Jesus fetus cookies from this year decorated by Tara on the left and Tori on the right. All others got eaten.

But let's start at the beginning. Since we made such a mess last year, I decided aprons were a must. I was going to surprise Tara with a new silly Christmas one, but I left my bag (with all my clothes, toiletries, and other odd stuff like the apron) in Austin so we dug around in my mom's old aprons and found this. Tara REALLY didn't want to wear it, but we convinced her it looked fine- he he.

Tara got silly and decided everyone had to wear reindeer horns.

Yep, in case you are wondering, my mom does have enough reindeer horns for everyone, even Blake.

On a sad note we broke a spatula and my mom's mixer- : (.

I also don't think she believed that my kitchen last year was dirtier than hers this year.

Sampling as we went.

Finally getting to decorate the cookies.

And lastly, Bailey getting to decorate after naptime. Thanks to preschool and all her art projects I think she had the hang of it.

Anyone else out there have a weird family tradition?

Silly Moment of the Day

I could give ALL sorts of reasons, but today as we were getting ready for a walk/bike ride I ended up dressing Bailey and I exactly alike. Take a look. Well not exactly alike, because Bailey's outfit was complete with Tinkebell panties, Buzz Lightyear socks and sparkly shoes. Apparently I think Aggie shirts go really well with grey yoga pants- ha ha.

A Few By The Christmas Tree

We went over to Franny's house last night and I was reassured that I made the right decision about not putting up our big tree this year. Blake wanted to explore it all- crawling under it, pulling up by it, chewing and pulling on cords, pulling off an ornament, lights in the mouth. It wasn't really that bad, but I just didn't feel like I could relax. It was fun to get some pictures of the kids with it though.

Blake and the tree.

A brother, sister shot

Nana giving Blake his first taste of sugar.

Bailey and Nana

Boring Mom Post

Just a quick update on Blake. Our little guy turned 9 months old on Dec 2nd.

At his 9 month appt his
weight: 20lbs 10 ozs/40th percentile (This is exactly what Bailey weighed at her 18 month check up, which would explain how he can wear the same Christmas jammies that Bailey did at 16 months old)
height: 29 1/2 inches/75th percentile

Here's what he is up to:

• will finally eat solids (it took until 8 1/2 months for him to finally swallow, but now we are making progress)
• can clap his hands
• can say bah, bah, bah and gah, gah, gah
• has 6 teeth and a 7th on it's way
• LOVES to jump
• loves his sister and wants to be all in her business
• sleeps through the night but only when he's not teething
• is into everything
• his favorite spot to crawl to is a kitchen drawer full of plastic spoons and forks, which he likes to disperse everywhere

And just tonight he took his first steps. Bailey took her first steps to Uncle Robby and the tradition continues with Blake. Check out the video.

In the Eyes of the Beholder

Today, I walked into the playroom to find this MESS! 5 bins of toys scattered on the floor.

I ask Bailey why she made the mess, and she "Mommy I'm doing Store Story (Toy Story)". I ask her what she meant and she showed me that each toy was in it's bin.

And Buzz was guarding them.

With Big Baby's help.

Just like in Toy Story 3. Silly Mommy just saw a mess.

Tori's Birthday, Thanksgiving Weekend and Christmas Decorating

We had another good Thanksgiving this year full of the 4 f's- food, family, fun, and football. We also celebrated Tori's 18th birthday. Here is a quick recap.

A GIRL ONLY TURNS 18 ONCE

Bailey with the birthday girl.

Gigi and Pa with Blake

Soaking up our time with Tara. We sure are missing her.

What birthday would be complete without a surprise dance party? The picture is of Bailey and Uncle Fun dancing. Between Robby, Tara, Luke, Bailey, and me, I think we taught those high schoolers some new dance moves- ha, ha.

FOOD

Here's Bailey at her preschool feast. Pictures are compliments of Chelsie!

Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without my Nana's pies. They are the perfect finish to a delicious meal and probably the reason that both Luke and I are carrying around a couple more pounds than usual.

Blake and I after lunch.

FAMILY

Here's Blake with Aunt Kathy and Nana.

And the other great-grandparents, Meme and Papa with me and the kids.

The topic of conversation amongst the great-grandparents over the weekend was generational differences in husbands and helping with the kids and in the kitchen. My Nana couldn't get over the fact that the "women" were standing around in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning while the "men" were cooking (frying) the turkey. My Meme told Papa about how she saw Luke changing diapers and feeding bottles. On both occasions all I could do was smile and giggle to myself, but I am VERY thankful that Luke helps both in the kitchen and with the kids.

FUN

For some fun we took Bailey ice skating.

It was hard work!

And we played in the leaves.

And on the hay bails.

FOOTBALL

Uncle Fun was up to no good when he taught Bailey the Longhorn hand sign.

Here she is trying to do it again. The Ags got the last laugh on the football field, which was the perfect ending to the day. Oh, and here is a sneak peek at Christmas card pictures.

 

It's Christmas Time, It's Christmas Time

 Back at home it was time to do some decorating. All of our stockings hung by the chimney with care.

This is our tree for the year. I made the hard decision that our big tree couldn't withstand Blake, nor did I want to have to watch him all the time around the tree, so we simplified and just did this.

I can't believe it's already December, but according to Bailey it has been Christmas time since Black Friday. Let the craziness begin.