Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a day filled with joy, love and the peace that can only be found in Jesus!

Pajama Playdate

Hollis Wade came over this morning while he and his momma were in town.  Hayden was a bit of a toot, but we managed to have some fun despite her black mood.

Beets

Guess which veggie Lauren tried for the first time today?

She didn’t seem to mind them…only gagged a few times.

Faces Of Lauren

Just a few cute ones we’ve captured recently…

Relearning how to walk…FINALLY

The doctor didn’t tell us when he put the cast on Hayden that she would have to relearn to walk when it was removed.  I’m sure he omitted that info on purpose.  We can only take so much at a time.

Anyway, the relearning process has been slow…read: non existent.  H. has had no interest in putting any weight on her right leg.  At two weeks I called the pediatric orthopedist.  I spoke briefly with his PA (long enough to know that H. should have made some progress by now) and was told she would speak with the doctor and call back.  That hasn’t happened, but I did take that as permission to speak plainly with Hayden about what she needed to do.

Yesterday afternoon I told her the doctor said she had to start practicing by holding my hands and moving that leg. To say she was reluctant is an understatement, but she did it.  And we have continued to practice today. Here is her cruising debut:

We are very proud of Hayden. We seriously thought Lauren might walk before her…

I selfishly admit that it will be so nice to have at least one kid who walks.  I’ve gotten way too good at carrying two kids at once. Of course now I might have to start going to the gym…please, who am I kidding.

Thanksgiving Highlights

We have so much to be thankful for! 

We spent several days in Odessa with my family for the holiday.  We enjoyed watching the parade, eating lots of great food, and spending lots of good quality time with Grammy, Granny Mac, Brian and April.

H. enjoyed the parade…at least what the network managed to squeeze in between interviews and commercials. (totally not bitter) First Thanksgiving feast…sweet potatoes.

Hayden’s favorite part was dessert.  I think she had a sampler plate with cookies, cake and pie.  What bounty!

Thank you Lord for all our many blessings!

Christmas Decor Repurposed

This is what happens when you don’t get your stockings hung up in a timely manner…

They become fair game for cold toes.

Long Week

Lauren has a double ear infection and Hayden got her cast off and has to relearn to walk.  I just can’t seem to get the energy up to take a shower much less blog. Of course there are many things I need to catch up on.  Please stay tuned.  I promise to update soon. 

A picture to tide you over.

Milestone-Clapping

This was a surprise today.  She keeps us guessing!

Note to self: sing softer and with less twang when on camera.

35 Years of Bryan

Happy Birthday to the best husband, friend and daddy around!

We love you!

Trick Or Treat

I’m not sure what we would have done if someone had chosen “trick.” Thankfully we got straight “treats” and had a wonderful time sporting our cute costumes to two reverse trick-or-treat sessions at nursing homes and trick-or-treating with the Macys.

H. was a trooper and hobbled up to most of the doors.  She may have gotten some extra sympathy candy from a few houses…

A BIG thanks to Mandy and Hannah for the ballerina costume.  H. loved, loved, loved it! And to Nathan’s Nana for the bunny ears which we recycled from Easter.

 

Totally stole some of these pics from Kerri! Anyone seeing a pattern here?

Eight Months of Lauren

Lauren is sleeping from about 6:30 pm to 5:45ish am.  No matter what time we put that girl to bed she will wake up between 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning!  (I’ve tried to explain that my alarm doesn’t go off until 7:00, but she doesn’t seem to care.) She is taking a morning and an afternoon nap, each about 1.5 hours long.

Real Food!  The girl is eating three “solid” meals a day now.  Mostly oatmeal and veggies.  Her favorites are butternut squash and sweet potatoes.  She says, “no thank you” to applesauce, avocado and rice cereal, though we keep trying them. Apparently she has a texture issue as she will eat bananas when pureed in blender or food processor, but not when mashed by hand.  Picky, picky.

Lauren continues to prefer being stationary.  (She obviously takes after her mother.)  She sits up or scootches a little on her back, but refuses to do anything that even looks like crawling. She will sit in her exersaucer or Jumperoo for short periods of time, but like her sister does not enjoy being confined.  Another child who doesn’t like boundaries…oh goodie.

Eight.  Not only is that how old she is in months, but that is how many razor sharp teeth she has in her little mouth.  Three finally popped through the gum in the last week or so.  She has been a little fussy, which has inspired Hayden to include “LAWren’s teef” in her prayers.  Perhaps H. has overheard Bryan and I complaining about discussing Lauren’s discomfort.

Lauren continues to enjoy milk, bath time, playing with Daddy on the floor and being entertained by her sister.  She dislikes being in her highchair, having her sister take her toys away, and watching Mommy leave the room she is in.  Lauren loves to make lots of fun noises and sing songs.  Hayden tells us Lauren’s favorite color is green.

  

Anyone notice that month 7 is missing? October was really busy!

We can hardly believe how the time is flying by!

Thank you Lord for our sweet Lauren!

Fall Fun--Arboretum

   What handsome Macy men we had as escorts!

Fun before she broke her leg.

Lauren was not interested in a “sisters” shot.

Perhaps next year we will go and return unscathed. 

It’s a new goal.

Totally stole some of these pictures from Kerri!!

Fun With The Macys!

While Bryan and I were in Chicago having a great time without our children vacationing, Grammy was in Dallas with H. and L. That Saturday the sweet Macys took Hayden with them for a day of family fun.

They hit many fall hotspots like the pumpkin patch and the hayride.  Eric, Kerri, Nathan and Luke also included H. on a trip out to Eric’s brothers house for whole roasted pig and craziness with the cousins! Thanks Macys for making our girl feel so loved and included! (and for giving Grammy and Lauren a little quiet time :)

Totally stole all these pictures from Kerri!!

Thank You Lord for wonderful family friends.