Thankful for Family

On Thanksgiving day, my Uncle Chris and Aunt Suzy (my mom's brother and sister) came from WV to visit us for the week. The last time they were here was last Christmas, when I was eight months pregnant with Macy. Needless to say, things have changed quite a bit since then.

Macy cried, when she first met them in the driveway. She is such a Mama's girl right now, and has more fear of strangers than I ever remember Jadon having. She warmed up to them by the end of the first night though. Jadon was napping, when they arrived, but was quick to show his true colors, after about an hour of keeping quiet at the dinner table.

Before they left yesterday, "Unta Chwis" was Jadon's best buddy. He loved playing toys with him at Gramma's house, spent all day Tuesday with him at the playground, followed by one-on-one time with him at the Aquarium. It was nice for Mama and Daddy to have some time by ourselves (well, with a sleeping Macy in the stroller). We hung out at Starbucks, while they were there. That evening, we ordered Sticky Fingers in and had a nice family dinner (minus Gramma who had to go to a conference in Atlanta, Tues. - Fri.).

Aunt Suzy (who refuses to have her picture taken...like her ENTIRE life!) and Uncle Chris stopped by our house on their way out yesterday morning. Neither of them have ever been married or have any kids, and it was clear they have a strong desire to be near my kids, as they grow. Hopefully one day we can all live here in SC. For now, it is so nice of them to travel all this way, in order to build relationships with my kids. I know how much Auntie Em and I loved having them only a few blocks away, when we were little.

***Oh, yes, and also my mom's other brother, Steve, who lives in CA and couldn't make this trip was able to be with us via Skype. After smoking for something like 25 years, he was finally able to quit nearly 3 months ago and has lost 40lbs!!! He looks AWESOME! So proud of you, Uncle Steve! It was so nice to have all of our family together for Thanksgiving (the best we could, at least). I look forward to a day, when we can all fly to a tropical destination to spend a holiday together. Hint, hint. If not, Myrtle Beach will be just fine. :o)

Going outside to meet Uncle Chris & Aunt Suzy

Standing on her own now!

Pretty baby :)

"The Itsy, Bitsy Spider" She does it on cue everytime :)

Gramma's girl...eating whipped cream :P

Jadon's baby...eating the lens cap to my camera haha

Jadon imitating her. "Waaahwaaahwaah." This is his way of telling her she's a cry baby, though I'm fairly certain he whines equally as much. Just lovely, when they do it in unison. Just lovely!

Always the annoying older brother. Poor Macy.

He really does love her. Really.

Playing with "Unta Chwis"

Outside the Aquarium.

Sweet baby Bleu.

Absolutely rotten! Can you tell?

Inside the Aquarium.

Thanksgiving '09

Thank you God for...

poopy diapers
teething (1st teeth AND second molars)
hair loss, hair loss, hair loss
temper tantrums
a selfish toddler
wider hips
crying babies on long car rides
sore nipples
baby food EVERYWHERE
Matchbox cars in my house plants
sleepless nights (just kidding!)
meltdowns at the mall
memory loss
naptimes that never happen
toys EVERYWHERE
gray hair
whining
minimal time to myself or with my husband
markers on tiny hands and tummies
berry-stained shirts
pregnancy pounds that want to stay
an extra hour of prep time to get out the door to anywhere!
a wardrobe from 2006

Without all of these things, I wouldn't have the two things for which I am most thankful:

My little turkeys!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Week 30: Stuffed

There for a while, I felt like Macy was not near as active as Jadon was, and her movements just didn't seem as intense. This is no longer the case! Though I do think Jadon moved more frequently and with more intensity at an earlier stage of pregnancy, Macy is quickly coming into her own ;)

I kid you not, my belly is growing rapidly! Though I am not gaining a lot of weight, I am growing in inches for sure! Lately the meals I eat are smaller, and I stay full longer...there just doesn't seem to be much room left in there for anything but baby. And when I do eat, the heartburn can be unbearable at times, much like it was with Jadon. This week I have even gotten heartburn from my toothpaste, from the smell of that God-aweful over-powering smell that leaks out of Abercrombie and Hollister stores at the mall, and from the aromatic scent of those cinnamon pine cones at Target and Michael's. Yes, the heartburn has finally gotten to the point that is was, when I was pregnant with Jadon...two Extra-strenght Tums are not doing the trick :/ Now I have to take at least four at a time :/ I don't think I am supposed to take so many, but it is near-impossible not to. Sometimes I swear my esophageal lining will burn away :/

Aside from what I already know about the "bad" things that come along with pregnancy for me (i.e. heartburn), Jamie and I are getting SOOOO excited to meet our little girl :) Everyday we talk about the wonder of it all...what will she look like? will she be rambunctious like Jadon? will she think her brother is the coolest kid ever or will he annoy her with all of his "vroom vrooms" and "choo choos"? will she sleep through the night sooner than Jadon? (Dear Lord, we hope so!) and will she like to ride in the car, unlike Jadon? (Dear Lord, we pray!)

All in all, we are truly enjoying life right now :) We are all healthy, have amazing family on both sides of the country, get to watch our baby boy blossom and explore the world more and more each day, have a beautiful home, two cars that run, food to eat, an awesome church that feeds us spiritually, great friends who love and care about us...all of this and another miracle on the way! We cannot wait to meet you, Macy Bleu!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." ---1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Eighteen Months

Ah I can hardly believe my itty bitty baby boy is 18 months old already! He had his 18 month well baby visit yesterday and got the last of his shots until he is FOUR years old...well other than one more Hep A (because he is slightly behind on that) he will get in January. Things have gotten much easier on Mommy, as far as shots go. I remember not being able to be in the room, holding my ears in the hallway, when he was just a few weeks old and had to get blood drawn from his tiny little foot :( Eighteen months later, I'm a pro at this Mommy thing ;) HARDLY! But honestly, I already know that I can handle all of those routine things that Macy will have to endure, even though she will be so teeny tiny too. Thanks for being Mommy's guinea pig, Jadon :)

Baby man boobs? ;)

Here are our big boy's stats:

Weight: 26 lbs!!! (50th percentile)
Height: 34 inches!!! (75th percentile)
Head circumference: 19 3/4"! (VERY large brain!)

Playing Zorro with Daddy :)

In honor of Thanksgiving and you being 18 months old, your Daddy and I have compiled a list (in no particular order, and certainly with MANY things left out) of 18 things we LOVE about you. We had to limit ourselves, otherwise, I would be blogging all day and miss going to Gramma's for turkey and pumpkin pie ;)

1. Carrying you from the bathtub to your room every night, and smacking your chubby little butt...LOVE it! Your skin is so soft and squishy!
2. Hearing the way you say new words each day. Yesterday it was "shirt" and today it was "gross" when I changed your stinky, poopy diaper ;) Daddy especially likes it when you say "shoos" and "choo choo."
3. When you bounce up and down with excitement, when you're sitting down.
4. When you randomly play peek-a-boo. You wait for us to ask, "Where's Jadon? Jadon, where are you?" Then you pull your hands down from your face and say, "Hey!" You especially love to do this, when you are getting into and out of your car seat.
5. Anytime I say "who's here," you run to the window beside our front door and watch intently with excitement. Today when your Gramma and Grandpa pulled into the driveway, you said, "Gee!" Then when they walked in you had Grandpa pick you up and said, "Bye bye! See you later," to me and Daddy :)
6. You LOVE your videos! Every night, when we put one in, you sit on your blankie on the floor, and then wrap the edges of it around your legs like you're a burrito :)
7. Watching you crack up at certain puppets and characters on your videos. Honestly it's just not funny to anyone but you, but your giggle cracks us up!
8. When you lift up Mommy's shirt and jibber jabber like you are talking to Macy, then you end the conversation with a kiss. There have been many times lately that you have stood below me and tried to lift up my shirt, then I have to squat down to your level, so you can kiss my belly :)
9. Mostly you are a happy camper in the mornings, and you smile and say "Daddah," and hit Daddy on the back to wake him up.
10. Your bear hugs...saying "grrr" when you squeeze our necks now :)
11. Your kisses! It is really funny to watch how many you will give Auntie Em, when she demands them...like 20 over and over, as if you have no choice.
12. You want to share everything you eat with us, and you'll even pull chewed up food out of your mouth and give it to Ziggy.
13. The way you sniff things with a wrinkled up nose (candles, soap, etc.).
14. The way you pretend to put lotion on everytime you get ahold of a bottle. You do it EXACTLY the way Daddy does it :)
15. When you talk in your sleep. One night you laugh, the other night you "meouw" like a cat :) How funny is that???
16. Daddy loves that you keep your fists closed when you sleep still...like a baby :)
17. Sleeping next to you. You're good at snuggling :)
18. Watching you play outside with your bubble mower, build things with your blocks, and throw your football around the house (as if you are on a real field playing).
19. (I know, I know, can't resist...) The way you clap for Daddy, when he does tricks with your basketball, as if he is a Harlem Globe Trotter. Daddy's hoping you never find out he really isn't that good ;)

We are so very thankful for you Jadon! You make living a life of gratitude so very easy! Love, Mommy and Daddy :)