Happy New Year!

After weeks of cold weather, Texas blue skies and temps in the 70's made it a great day for the park!  Sammy and I are both fully recovered from our colds and loved the sunshine.  We're ready to ring in the new year, welcome 2012! 

Together This Christmas

On my way home from the office yesterday, I stopped by our favorite bakery to get Tim some coffee cake and cheese pockets because my energy to cook this Christmas is zero to none.  While I was in there, I heard a woman yelling at the clerk behind the counter.  She had driven almost an hour's distance only to be disappointed because they didn't have a cinnamon swirl to her liking.  With a sleepy kid in her one arm, she continued to share her frustration about what seemed like a special tradition for her family, but nothing at this point was going to make her happy.  I reminded myself why I was there, to get something for a very exhausted hubby who's been trying to take care of his sick infant and wife.  We'd had a tense moment in the middle of the evening and I was purchasing a peace offering.  I wanted to offer another bakery that might meet the woman's needs that was a little closer to her, but she was out the door before I could say something.  I looked at another woman in line and said, "It's just not worth it."  And the woman responded to me saying, "I wish I could have that perspective."  She then shared with me how her niece had yelled at her numerous times that morning because she hadn't done something right.  It sounds like another family tradition that went wrong.  I empathized with her and then shared a few encouraging words as I made my selections.  Christmas isn't the easiest time of year for some families. 

Today I picked up the phone and began cancelling the holiday plans I had so joyously made earlier this week.  I was well and now I'm sick with a cold, Sammy too.  We just can't get passed it and I don't want him out in the cold, it's just not worth it.  But then, Tim reminded me that Sammy has both his Mommy and his Daddy around and that's what many kids wish they had and don't get.  And I look at my son and he's the best Christmas gift a Mom could ask for.  Together this Christmas, I look forward to watching movies together, finding contentment in singing a few quiet Christmas carols as a family and celebrating the birth of a Savior that died for me and all the shameful things I do.  It will be a memorable time because it's not about the things we acquire, but our lives continuing to transform as our faith's and relationships grow. 

I hope each of you find the deeper meaning in this Christmas holiday as we reflect on Christ's birth.

My Men on the Mend

June

December

8 Months

Thursday my little man will be eight months old.  As I write this I hold in my arms a congested, sleepy baby who can't get comfortable because he has a runny nose and prefers being held upright vs. sleeping on his tummy.  Sammy the red-nosed Buddy, isn't feeling very well.  Being a first-time parent there's so many experiences you never anticipate.  Today's highlight was split pea projectile vomit!  Sure, I knew and have seen Sammy get sick, but that's a disturbing image for a mother to experience.  My poor baby!  Thankfully this Christmas will be a quiet one, just the three of us.  

Sammy plays as intensely as his mother works.  It's funny because folks at work have often commented to me how serious I can get at times when I'm focused on an assignment.  It's not that I'm upset, I just get really passionate about accomplishing whatever it might be.  Sammy's the same way with his toys.  He gets really verbal too, another way of expressing his feelings.  We think he's around 25 pounds and we've had to retire his swing, his bouncer, most of his wardrobe and later this week, his infant car seat.  When my mother and I went out shopping the other week, it was difficult to find any onesies or PJ's that said "Baby's 1st Christmas" in the 18 to 24 month items.  They assume this is round two for little folk in these sizes.  When I have more time I will have to learn how to applique.

Sammy continues to explore in the realm of food!  He loved pumpkin pancakes (made with goat's milk) and a bite of Mommy's french fry when we went out for hamburgers last Friday night.  Pureed split peas were a hit until the above mentioned incident happened.  At breakfast, Sammy can put away a whole banana! 

Sammy loves dumping the shapes from his sorting bucket.  He will sometimes even bang them together like cymbals!  He also has enjoyed exploring the living room in his walker.  My VeggieTales nativity set has made it's way in to Sammy's mouth, he loves to chew on King Larry.  During festive occasions, Sammy Claus has been known to make an appearance.  It's always fun to take Sammy out so others can enjoy his happy disposition.  He gets more hellos from strangers than I ever would and finds it very easy to make new friends.

Little Heartbreaker's First Thanksgiving

Muppet fun with Aunt Kara & Uncle Kenny

The Thanksgiving Pot Luck Spread

Daddy trims the Turkey

Unc Arlin holding Buddy Boy

Fossil Rim Adventures

Delivering A Little Joy

Dear Grandpa, Thanks for teaching me how to growl!  I've been practicing ever since you left.

Thanks Aunt Christy for my Santa hat.  It fits!

Grandma, I love our tickle fights.

Thanks for delivering a little joy to our house this year.

P.S.  Mommy & Daddy enjoyed their date night, thanks for taking care of me while they were out.

Love, Sammy Claus

Seven in a Half Months

As of late, my favorite thing to do in the evening is hold my sleeping son in my arms.  Many of my memories revolve around me holding my baby.  I remember embracing him immediately after I gave birth to him.  To this day, I'm really the only one that can get away with holding him inward (vs. his preferred view toward the world).  Even though Sammy is a big boy for his age, when I hold him and he's snuggling with me, it's that o so familiar feeling that he's my little newborn all over again.

Being a working mom who nurses is lonely.  I was encouraged when there were several of us, but as of late, I'm the only one using the Mommy room on a regular basis.  I press on, but it's not easy.  I have to be intentional in making the time or I would get caught up in my work.  I pump to maintain what I have with Sammy, a bond that I wouldn't trade for the world.  But let's face it, a pump will never do as good of a job as a baby. 

Last Thursday evening I attended a ladies Christmas dinner held at my church.  The speaker shared how God blessed her with an unlikely gift, a difficult disease.  Her story really spoke to me because I could relate due to my infertility.  What a wonderful way to start this holiday season, reflecting on the unlikely gifts of my life and how God has used them.  I went home and stared at my baby boy, consumed once again by tears of joy.  Thankful to return home and find my little sleeping someone in his crib.  Any day we anticipate Sammy may start to crawl, leading us into the next phase of parenting with a little boy on the move.

Update

The past month has been a busy one for us, thus the lack of blogging.  We had Sammy's child dedication, Tim's little brother and wife visited during the Thanksgiving holiday and my parents arrive this Thursday for an extended weekend.  This weekend we went and purchased our first live tree as a family and decorated it last night.  The best way to show what we've been up to is with photographs, so I've uploaded some from the past month.  Our little Buddy boy is growing so fast, he's really close to crawling, maybe by Christmas!

Here's the link http://picasaweb.google.com/dolchbug.