January

It has been a COLD, SNOWY, January...in fact the snowiest (not sure if that is a word) January I can remember in many years. Of course for kiddos, this is fun times, for Mommies and Daddies, this means lots of creative planning for indoor activities. We have gotten out and enjoyed the snow a few times thanks to some wonderful sleds, provided by my in-laws, but on other snowy days, we've stayed inside watched movies, built lots and lots of tents, dressed up like firemen and baked way too many cookies. I've tried to do art projects with the boys on really long days, but I've found that at this age, it's way too much to manage because Asher is usually trying to eat the glue or swallow the pom poms and that usually results in some mini-tantrum as I'm trying to wrestle glue sticks out of my 16 month old's hand. Not fun! Plus, if you know Braden, you know he would rather read or use his imagination any day over sitting and coloring. Oh well...here is to being creative one day.

What else...we have tried to be a little more productive this month at breakfast time (one of my new years resolutions) and I have been helping Braden to memorize Scripture. Growing up, I had to memorize Scripture in High School and to this day, those verses still come to my mind in my moments of need. I hope I can help my boys "hide His word in their hearts" as the Psalms call us to. So far, Braden seems very interested in memorizing Scripture and it's quite rewarding when I see him randomly do something nice for Asher...if I ask him why he did that, he will say, "because that's what our Bible says...'be ye kind, one to another.'" Hooray...finally something is sinking in!

What else...we celebrated Austin's 32nd birthday a few weeks ago with a date night to Virago (our favorite sushi place). I love, love, love that after 8 years of marriage and 6 years of dating, that I still find myself giddy to spend time with this man. He truly is such an amazing husband and father and I am so thankful for him. Besides that, we ended the month with a round of runny noses, ear infections, deep coughs and high fevers. Here is to good health, warm weather and good times with family in the coming months. With that, I'm leaving you with some pictures of our January -

Braden, making a snow angel in the freshly fallen snow -
Asher, all cuddled up in his new sled. He seriously fell asleep in here at one point b/c he was so warm and tired from all the playing in the snow -
This was taken at Austin's parents house -
And on those crazy cold days when it was way too cold to be outside and school was cancelled for the nth time this month, we snuggled on the couch in our jammies and watched movies -
Celebrating Austin's birthday at home -
Braden, really, really excited when he found out that his birthday is the next birthday in our home -
Asher, post-ice cream cake. The kid LOVES ice cream!
My little firemen -
Sweet smile from my boy. If you ask Braden what he wants to be when he grows up, he undoubtedly says "a fireman." -
And little Asher dressed in his fire costume, playing with the fire house. Asher would wear this costume all day if I would let him. If he sees it in the closet, he stands at the door pointing and whining until I put it on him. It cracks me up!

Christmas

Okay, better late then never. We spent Christmas Eve morning at our house celebrating Christmas as a family. It was such a wonderful morning! When the boys stepped out of Braden's room and saw the tree, Braden said "Asher look!" They were both so excited to see their new toys and lots of new gifts under the Christmas tree. We spent the entire morning opening gifts. It was so relaxing and so much fun. Braden would open one gift and literally sit for 30 minutes and play with it before moving on. We'd have to beg him to open another gift because he was enjoying his new stuff so much. Little Asher just wandered around all morning playing. He loved digging in his stocking and pulling out various things, but didn't quite get the whole opening presents thing. At one point Braden looked at us as he was playing with his new fireman and firehouse and said "This is the best present I ever had." We paused for a few minutes to eat some homemade cinnamon rolls and egg casserole. On a side note, this recipe is stinkin' delicious...it's lots of work, makes a ridiculous amount of cinnamon rolls, but it is my new Christmas tradition. It was a perfect day with my family. It's amazing how much more you enjoy Christmas as an adult watching your children filled with excitement and awe. Around 1:00pm, we called Austin's parents to check on the weather report since we were supposed to be driving to Lexington the next morning and they told us that snow was in the forecast and that we should come on today. Now at this point it was naptime and it looked like a bomb had gone off in my house...wrapping paper strewn on the floor, toys scattered everywhere, a kitchen covered in flour and sugar and cinnamon, but we frantically cleaned the house, packed everyone's suitcases and three hours and no naps later got in the car and made the three hour drive back to Lexington. All in all a great day! More pictures to come from Christmas with our extended families, for now, here are some pictures of our little family.

The tree all lit up and ready for the little boys -

The boys digging in their stockings -


Asher, trying out his new ride. Now before you judge me on letting my baby have a paci in his mouth during the day, just remember that he had a double ear infection, a super snotty nose and a bad cough so the paci was quite necessary -

Braden playing with his new firehouse. Let's just later that morning, he looked at us and said, "This is the best present I ever had." So sweet -
Sweet smiles from the boys (Braden had some crazy bed head that morning). Never could get a good picture of them together-
Okay, this picture just makes me laugh. Austin had gotten each of the boys a small bag of gummy candy to put in their stockings. So here is Austin opening Asher's little bag and as you can see, Asher was VERY interested in getting in that bag. Ash has MAJOR sweet tooth and Austin seems to love to feed it -

Asher's Big Week

Well, Asher had a big week this past week. On Tuesday, he got tubes put in his ears. After 3 months of ear infections, hour after hour of fussiness, sleepless nights, early wakings and short naps, we finally got tubes put in. The surgery was only 10 minutes long, but did include anesthesia. It was awful handing my baby over to the surgeon, unsure of how his body would react to the anesthesia and it was even more awful holding a crying, disoriented baby as he was waking out of the anesthesia. After a 3 hour nap and lots of snacks, my little boy awoke a new man. He was finally happy, finally napping, finally sleeping at night and finally eating. It was amazing the difference in his personality. Of course three nights ago he started this ridiculous night waking thing where he now wakes for 2-3 hours in the wee hours of the night, wallowing and crying. We are currently praying for wisdom on how to handle it, but his days are enjoyable and for this I am thankful. The night waking thing has been hard, REALLY, REALLY HARD. Austin and I have not slept for more then 4-5 hours in 3 days. In some ways it feels like this is how it is going to be for the rest of my life...dramatic I know, but it really does feel this way, especially at 3am when there seems to be no end in sight. I find myself fearful when I hear him awake at 3am...anxious of when/if/how he will finally go back to sleep. I'm sure (okay, I hope this is just a phase), but I just don't know what to do about it. He is getting his molars in and that could be the culprit, but who knows. His ears were checked yesterday and the doctor assures me they look perfect...no fluid, no infection, nothing! Anyway, if you are reading this, pray for sleep in our home and for wisdom on how to handle a tiny, unhappy baby in the wee hours of the night. In other news, Asher got his first haircut this week. He desperately needed his wings over his ears trimmed and so after some good snacks and some entertainment by Braden, I got him to sit still long enough for a trim. He looks like such a little man these days. Here he is before his big haircut.
And here he is post, haircut eating a Christmas ball and sitting in a plastic bag. We really do practice safe parenting around here, even though it doesn't appear that way :)
Christmas pictures to come soon, for now it's time to wake some little boys from their slumber.

So Proud...

There are moments as a parent when your heart feels so full and you realize that your cup runneth over. Today I got to experience one of those moments and I am blessed as I saw Jesus in my 3 yr old. For several weeks now, we have been talking to Braden about how there are many people less fortunate then us who will not have a Christmas this year. Braden has always had a compassionate, tender heart, I've noticed that about him long before now, in fact it is one of my favorite things about him. It's nothing we've done, it's simply who God made him to be. One of those beautiful qualities that will hopefully stay with him his whole life. Ever since we've talked about the "poor kids" as he calls them, he has wanted to role play that he was giving his toys away. In fact if you came to my house on any given day, you would probably experience his "Good Will" store set up where he wants me to sit on a chair at the store and he drives his riding car over to the store and gives all of his cars and trucks away. This game could go on for hours. Quite frequently when we talk about his Christmas presents, he asks what the "poor kids" are going to get for Christmas. So this week, I told Braden that we were going to go to the homeless shelter to give some of our stuff away. I was amazed when he quickly ran to his toy basket and picked out a few of his best toys like his carwash (which if you know Braden, you know this is one of his favorite things). This morning when he woke up, he told me that we needed to go give the "poor kids" his toys. I was pleasantly surprised at how interested and concerned he was that we go to the shelter. As Austin and I were loading everything into the car, Braden ran back into his room and said, "I need to give them a baby car (his word for matchbox cars)...again, a very generous heart. As we headed to the shelter and as I watched Braden generously hand his toys over to the people at the shelter without batting an eye, I was reminded about how much God loves a cheerful giver. Austin and I were so proud of him, I mean my heart was so full of love for a compassionate little boy who thinks so highly of others and cares for them. I found myself convicted as I thought of how many times I have selfishly held on to things I didn't need or how often I have not given my very best when I had the chance to give. So thankful that a little boy showed me how to be like Jesus today.

My little camel...

Braden had his Christmas program this past Thursday and it was called "Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child." Unfortunately everyone in my family including Austin was busy, so I was the only one who could be there to see him. We spent the week talking about, practicing, singing and dancing along to the words of the songs he would be singing. He was a camel this year...a shepherd last year and I had told him earlier that day that I would be out in the crowd watching him and cheering him on. When he came out on stage, I saw his little eyes hidden under his camel hat...they were watching, searching the crowd, person by person trying desperately to find me. He couldn't. He had this forlorn look on his face...sad, confused. As I stood there waving my hands, hoping so badly that he would find me, I felt my heart sink for him. I wanted him to know that I was there, proud of him, excited for him. And then, just as the first song was starting, he locked eyes with me and his face lit up with the smile I have fallen so deeply in love with, he waves his hand and I hear those sweet words leave his lips, "Mommy...Hi Mommy" and in that moment I find myself tearing up. As I watch him continue to wave and so intently sing the words "Oh what happy news, Jesus is here to stay" I have to fight hard to stop the tears. I love this boy, he is so small, so innocent...I long to protect him, to hold him, to stop time. He smiles again and waves. My heart feels like it is about to pound out of my chest because I am so proud of him. He loves me. He just wants me to be there watching him...nothing else matters in his little world. Austin and I often talk about how these years are so short. A 3 yr old's world revolves around his parents. As the days quickly pass and the months turn into years, there will come a time when Braden doesn't light up when he sees us like he used to, when he won't long to sit in our presence and be with us, when the conversations will be had with other people instead of with us and once again the tears fall. I know these children grow up. I know these years are passing quickly. These moments watching my baby sing his heart out on stage, dancing without any insecurity, waving and smiling without a care in the world are so sweet to a parent. I hope to tuck these memories deep in my heart and remember them when the years have come and gone. Here is my sweet little camel the moment he spotted me -
Singing and smiling -
Cheesing for the camera -
All I can say is thank goodness for Veggie Sticks. With a new double ear infection and a sleepless night the night before, asking Asher to sit quietly in his stroller during the program with no extra hands to help was sure to be a recipe for disaster. Fortunately Veggie Sticks, a paci and my cell phone kept the boy happy -
And Veggie Sticks for all! -
Asher wanted to try on the Camel costume in preparation for his shining moment in a few years -
After the program, Braden had a pajama party, complete with cookie decorating and pin the nose on the reindeer. Asher even got to sit at the table with the big boys and have lunch. He was loving it!

Overall a very good day even though Ash was a bit under the weather. Which on a side note, we found out today, after a week and a half of sleepless nights, 30 minute naps, early mornings (some as early as 4:45am) and unexplained fussiness that Asher has a double ear infection. Awesome huh? Especially since he's only been ear infection free for about 2 weeks now...and in case you didn't know, his previous ear infection took 6 weeks and 4 different antibiotics before it was gone. So after a visit with the pediatrician today, it looks like my sweet baby is going to have to have tubes put in his ears. We go to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor next week to find out more. Poor little guy. So ready for him to be happy and healthy again.

Christmas is Coming...

We are trying to get decorated over here. It's taking longer then I thought with lots of little helpers running around, but here are some sweet pictures of our decorating days...

Making finger painted Christmas trees, complete with handprint ornaments -

Hunting for the perfect Christmas tree -
Sweet brothers -
Braden had Asher cracking up...I mean, he was howling in laughter. A baby's deep, hearty laughter brings such joy to my heart -
And while Braden was doing this -
Asher was doing this -
Asher even did a little decorating himself -
So happy to see this sweet baby smiling again. In some ways I feel like we missed out on so much of him these past two months that he was so sick with ear infections -
Still so much I hope to do before Christmas gets here in a few days. Watching my children enjoy this holiday has been magical again. So thankful for them!

The Plague

The vomit plague that is...it has hit and hit bad!!! It all started Saturday morning when Asher threw up, followed by Braden and I getting sick Sunday night, followed by Austin getting sick yesterday and then...are you ready...after almost 48 hours of feeling better....Braden threw up again last night. So now I've got Austin throwing up in one bathroom, Braden throwing up in another one and Asher who is aimlessly wandering about fussing and crying because he is bored out of his mind and his ears are still hurting from 6, yes 6 weeks worth of ear infections. On a side note, Asher's been on 4 antibiotics now and 6 weeks later, there is still fluid in his ears. We've been to two doctors now and they are telling me that tubes may be in his near future...boo...yet another plague!!!!

Anyway, back to Braden...what the heck, more throw up??????!!!!!!! And let me tell you, it's not like Braden picked up another bug from somewhere else because we have all sat here and stared at these walls since Saturday morning. So after feeling sorry for myself and some tears of frustration on my part, I gathered myself together and called the doctor. And the doctor informed me that some stomach bugs will linger on like this for an entire week. AN ENTIRE WEEK!!!! Huh? But what about my thanksgiving plans and what about my vomit phobia and what about the fact that I am about to be buried alive in laundry and what about the fact that we have been eating chicken noodle soup, popsicles and saltines for 5 days now and I don't think I can eat it one more night of it, and what about the fact that I have Lysoled the entire house 10 times over and I still can't stop the germs and what about the fact that I have prayed and prayed and prayed for it to end and God has chosen to let us walk through this sickness. In the end, I realized that it doesn't really matter what I want. This is life...especially life with kids. In the end, I realized that I am so thankful for a husband who loves me and helps me even in the wee hours of the morning. For a husband who holds my boys tight and loves on them while their little bodies are burning with fever. In the end I realized how much respect I have for single parents who have no other option, no one to ask for help, no one to give them a break. In the end I realized that I am so thankful to have these little boys to care for and love. In the end I realized that I am thankful for little boys who still smile even though their tummies are sick. In the end I realized that I am thankful that God blessed us with an incredible week of unseasonably warm weather which saved our sanity when we just needed to get out of the house for a few minutes. So all that to say, it has not been a fun week or one that I ever hope to repeat, but despite all the chaos I have found myself so grateful to God for all of his many blessings. Here is to healthier days...