Christmas Cards

I love getting Christmas cards each year. I love to see how people's kiddos are growing and what they are up to. So I HATE throwing them away at the end of the season but I am also not a pack rat…I don't keep stuff, ever. So this year I tried something different. I cut up the cards and put the pictures of my friends and family on my fridge. I love it. It's so nice to see all those sweet smiling faces every time I open the fridge :)

FitBit…to…Kindle Fire?!

Brad got me a FitBit this year as one of my gift, against my wishes might I add. I had to put new tires on my car and new breaks just before Christmas this year that was about $1000. We generally use cash for everything rather than cards so that ate a HUGE chunk out of our Christmas fund this year, therefore I insisted that Brad not get me anything for Christmas. I am actually not big on presents, I know that's weird but I never need or want anything. And, if something comes up that I do want or need, I just buy it for myself. Gifts is definitely not one of my love languages (I am acts of service and quality time) whereas gifts ARE definitely one of Brad's. Anyway, Brad surprised me with the FitBit which I thought that I would be super excited about. It's right up my alley, after all. It records your steps, activity level, calories burned, sleep and REM sleep. I was excited to get it and set it up. However, I wasn't able to get it to synch to my computer so I took it to Best Buy to see if they could help. And, after much debating, I walked out of there with a new Kindle Fire. I have no idea how that happened. I haven't really been thinking about an E-Reader although Brad has, and loves, a nook. I liked how the Kindle Fire is an e-reader but also has the ability to link to the internet and synch with my Facebook and email, not to mention all the apps you get get on it. It's very similar to an iPad mini. So, now I am excited about setting that up and downloading some books. It will be great for traveling and great for Cy too.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year was a frenzy of wrapping and organizing the house and running to the grocery store for last minute items for Christmas day. We spent the majority of the day at home making cookies and pumpkin bread for Christmas morning and just enjoying each other's company. We started this tradition of doing take out Chinese for dinner on Christmas Eve just as our little family of 3 since we spend the entire day on Christmas with our parents and extended family. It's a nice tradition and a nice time for us to enjoy our time together before the craziness of Christmas begins. This year, our church service wasn't until 7pm, which was a little late. It was a beautiful service and ended with a candle light Silent Night which is my favorite part. Cyrus had his own candle this year and took it very seriously. I had to light my candle off of his and he was very concerned about doing it right, it was adorable. We picked up our Take Out on the way home from church and arrived home around 9:00. We made Cy eat quickly so he could get to sleep before Santa arrived, and, so we could actually begin getting the house ready:) We needed to keep Cy out of his room to get his bed put together so we set up the tent downstairs in the guest room. We decided to sleep down there as a family to see if we could catch Santa coming down the Chimney. Brad was in the tent with Cy and I was in the guest bed, way too pregnant to be sleeping on a ground pad on the floor. I was originally thinking what a nice tradition it would be to sleep in our tent by the fireplace on Christmas Eve but it ended up being really loud and uncomfortable for us all. Brad and Cy made a LOT of noise every time they moved on the ground pads and kept waking each other and me up.

Once Cy was asleep in the tent though, it was go time! Brad went to Cy's room to put together his new Maxtrix King's Castle Low Loft Bed (w/slide). This was his big present this year, and it was an expensive one. I just felt like it was worth it though because it's not something he will lose interest in or out grow because you can keep changing it to reflect whatever stage he is in in life. We will be able to make it a high loft as he gets older and can put his desk and such underneath the loft or put another bed under there for sleepovers. Other than the bed, we decided to do a better job with presents this year. Last year we just did so much for Cy, and it was unnecessary. He has SO much and really needs nothing. So, we are going to give him 4 special presents each Christmas: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. Obviously, he will still get special presents from Santa but we want him to just get a few things he really wants/needs so he can appreciate those rather than have an overflowing house full like last year. Plus, we still do a second Christmas with the cousins at Doc & Jill's each Christmas afternoon. It's just a LOT of stuff.

We finally got all the gifts together and the bed completed by 1am and went down to "sleep". I think Brad made it until about 5:00 before he left for our bed and Cy crept in with me. I think that is when we finally actually fell asleep. Next thing I knew, Brad was waking us up telling me that it was 8:30. Cy and I were out! Doc and Jill were already here and my parents were just walking in as I came upstairs. Good morning!

Christmas 2013

After being awakened by Brad, I zipped up the stairs to brush my teeth and take my PJs off since all the grandparents were there and got a BIG cup of coffee :) Cy got right to work opening his presents and as he finished up Brad told him we had one more. Brad blindfolded him and walked him down the hallway to his room. He sat him on his couch before taking the blindfold off and allowing him to see the bed for the first time. He was SO excited, running and bouncing around the room. Up the stairs, down the slide, under the fort, up the stairs, repeat. It was adorable. He loved it.

After the presents were done we had a delicious Christmas breakfast with the grandparents. Mom and Dad brought this delicious Frittata from Good Foods, I made Keilbasa Balls, and Jill brought a delicious fruit salad. We finished up around 10:45 and Cy told me he needed a nap already. I couldn't tell if he really did or just wanted some quiet time in his new bed, either way, he went in his room for a bit as the grandparents headed out. Jill & Doc needed to get ready for the afternoon activities at their house. After everyone left, Brad and I cleaned up the living room and crashed out on the couch downstairs to watch a movie for a bit.

We needed to be at Doc & Jill's by 2pm to open gifts with Hailey and Katie, Todd & Sallie, Jim & Maureen, and Mrs. White. My parents and Sallie's parents were arriving around 4pm for our annual Christmas dinner of a Low Country Boil. It is SOOO delicious! We had lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, muscles, kielbasa, potatoes, and pearl onions in the boil and some garlic bread and corn bread.

We finally headed home, exhausted, about 11pm. It was a wonderful day, as always, but a tiring one. Merry Christmas!

Light Tour and Mellow Mushroom

We finished up an awesome family weekend with dinner at Mellow Mushroom (Brad's favorite) and a holiday light tour. It's beginning to feel like Christmas:) We will definitely do the "Tacky Light Tour" next week with Cy, I think this year will be his favorite!!

Cy and I had a Date Day :)

Cy and I are starting to go on dates. It's so fun:) Whenever we go anywhere together, even to the grocery store, he tells people we are on a date. Our latest date included our annual trip to see the musical, Drifty the SnowMan, and then to lunch at Jason's Deli, which is Cy's favorite (because they have ice cream). We had such a nice time together, I love spending time with my little man. I'm going to have to figure it out when the new one comes because I am not willing to sacrifice my special time with Cy, it's too important to me:)

Little Elf

Today was Elf Yourself day at Cy's school. We had nothing that was great for an elf costume unfortunately and I was definitely not going to buy something or see something after practice so we made due. He looked adorable and was super excited to show his friends at school;) he is so adorable!!

Little Rock Climber

Cy has finally taken to rock climbing. We've been taking him, a bit intermittently, since he was 2 and he has never enjoyed it. But, last week Brad brought him after school and he loved it. He is not afraid anymore and really enjoys climbing up to the top. Last week, he did a few of the lower wall climbs but was not interested in hitting up the 52' wall in the back. So today, he told me he wanted to show me that he could do it. And, he did. All the way up to the top of the 52' wall. Good lord, he is a rock star:) The whole gym was clapping for him, which was cute. Cracks me up when people were saying what a natural he is at 4…aren't all kids natural climbers?! We just become less so when we let fear sneak in as we get older and start to think about all the "what ifs". I just love that he enjoys it because I have always had visions of climbing with my children. In my mind, there is no greater family bonding experience than being out in the mountains, relying solely on each other. I look forward to doing that with both of them as they get a bit older :)

almost ready

Now, perfect!

"I'm ready to climb, Dad"

making sure that I am watching :)

Needed a little rest

Yep, seems secure :)

Up the 52 footer...

Still going...

ding ding! He made it.

Just swinging around :)

love my adventuresome boys!

Baby Tag Photo Shoot :)

I will be 71/2 months pregnant tomorrow, although I think maybe my due date is a bit screwed up and I'm further along than anticipated. I weigh exactly the same and am measuring exactly the same as I did when I went into labor with Cyrus. I had two mothers at the swim meet on Friday tell me that they think the baby has dropped already and that there is no way I'm making it to mid-February. I was surprised they noticed b/c I too think she has dropped. I caught a side profile of myself in a window at school on Friday and was like, "Holy smokes, I swear she's moving down". I go in tomorrow for what will be the beginning of the every 2 week visits and will see what Dr. Hirata thinks. I hope I am going to have this one early. I am so uncomfortable!! Plus, Cy was 8.5 pounds at altitude (which has been shown to produce smaller babies). I do NOT want to push a 10 pounder out! Especially a little girl. What the heck, I have preconceived notions of a tiny, dainty little peanut.

Anyway, I wanted to get some shots of Cy and my belly and decided today was the day:) I have scheduled a true photo shoot for Tag when she arrives so I can do a collage in her room with her new born photos like I did with Cy, but as far as a maternity shoot, I decided not to do that. It's pretty expensive and I don't rotate pictures out around my house enough to actually do anything with them. And, I don't care if they look professional. I just wanted to get Cy loving on his baby sister while she is in my belly for a photo book that I will make for them to have one day.

So, here we go. Brad got some great shots:) He wouldn't get in any of them bc he was feeling scruffy but that's ok:)

Feeling goofy

trying to make contact

listening for sounds of life in there :)

He swears he heard her

He needed a crazy break :)

belly to belly

that face, he is so cute

umm, that about sums it up:)

another break ;)

too much fun

probably my favorite one, such a sweet photo

this child has my heart

And Tag has his

He kisses and hugs my belly every time he comes near me. He's very excited to be a big brother

Brad's appearance 

Cy tried to get one of B and me, missed his head a bit I'd say:)