MERRY CHRISTMAS (to me!)

Hey, I just wanted to let all of you out there in cyberspace that I, Brenda, have received a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Christmas. This might not be such a big deal to some of you others out there, but to me it takes that cake. I am very excited to get that baby home and see what that bad boy can do!

On another note, I am making a side dish for the big in-law family gathering, it is my cooking debut to the entire family, I hope everything goes well! They are pretty accepting, and understanding, so even if it sucks they will tell me its great!

A little update on Jacob, he is still sick, yesturday I called the advice line of our pediatrician's office and they instructed me to nurse every 45 minutes to prevent dehydration from the vomitting and diarhea. It was really time consuming, but he looks like he is feeling much better. I think it is because Papa laid hands on him last night and prayed that he be better for Christmas. The Lord heard his prayers!

Merry Christmas!! I hope yours is and was a great as mine turned out to be.

Vacations

There is no such thing as a vacation for a parent (unless children are not present). I have yet to relax anymore than I do at my own house, and I can at least sleep in my own bed there. I have a whole new love of those commercials where the people are on holiday and something happens like "aunt mole" or the married couple who has to sleep in bunk beds. I know they are just trying to sell airline tickets, but they really speak to me on a whole new level. sleeping on a sofa sleeper for 3 weeks isn't exactly my idea of a fun time. I guess my blogs have become somewhat less "happy". Hopefully that will change as time goes on and the vacation gets better. I just hope I get a little more rest while we are here. Somehow I really think that is just wishful thinking on my part.

My Poor Baby

Last night we were all still sitting around the table after dinner chatting when Jacob began getting a little fussy. I took him out of his chair and not five minutes later the kid threw up so much food! It projectiled all over me and the floor and the tablecloth. There was bits of lunch as well as dinner. The poor little guy had been feeling sick all day, sleeping a lot and cuddling when awake. He had a temp of 101, so we adminitered tylenol and he cuddled some more. He slept all night and still seemed to feel sick when he woke up, so in went more tylenol. He seems to be feeling better this afternoon after eating only bland foods (I did not want a repeat of last night! It almost made me sick).

We have so much stuff still to do for my home business, I hope he gets to feeling better very soon. The majority of people down here think he is teething, so he might even come back with another tooth! Not walking yet....

We're Here!

Don't you all just love flying on an airplane in the very last row next to guy-who-is-way-to-close-for-comfort, near guy-with-BO and guy-who-smells-a-lot-like-stale-cigarettes? The only thing that makes it even more enjoyable is when you have a fussy 9 month old! YAY!!!! Needless to say the trip kind of sucked and we almost were diverted to LA due to fog in Bakersfield, but we made it. I am getting less sleep these days since like a nuckle head I forgot the baby monitor and the other room I could sleep in is too far away, so I have to bunk with Jacob (who likes to wake up at 3 to cry for a while).

Even with all of these complaints I am really glad to be here and to have brought Jacob to spend time with Nana and Papa and Auntie Cole. They are having a blast with him. By the way, he has not walked any more than he was doing before (Aimee). Never fear! I hope to post some pics soon so we can truely share our trip with you.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Wow, I am really not used to this blogging thing. I think every time I post something (twice now) I push the "back" icon and lose my entire blog that I totally just spent minutes on! I have a grabby little one on my lap at this very moment who is blowing raspberries on my arm and then trying to type a few words of his own. I just love having drool run down my arm, I really think babies might be the ultimate natural moisturizer!

In my accidentally deleated previous blog I discussed a recent trip to grammy's house, but I am too bored with it to type it twice. However, while we were down in Eugene we had two (or three) great pleasures, besides the wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Since our family is not going to be together for Christmas, we decided to exchange gifts at Thanksgiving. Instead of buying our gifts in advance we planned on getting up early for the awesome day after sales. So, the Monday before Thanksgiving we got into our car to go play poker with my Dad and our car wouldn't start. We were running a little late, so we vowed to look into it in the moring and we took my Dad's car. The next day we called a mechanic and had the car towed in, and to our delight and extreme pleasure we were allowed to pay $1000 to fix the timing belt that had slipped. We still went shopping the day after Thanksgiving and we had to stiff my family with $10 gifts, but they didn't mind. It seems like we are having to stiff my family on gifts every year (last year I was pregnant and Billy was unemployed). Now that I have a child of my own I finally truely understand the fun and importance if gift giving as opposed to gift getting. I wish I could do more for them, but they know I love them and that is really the most important thing.

Something that semi-relates, in Sunday school Allan talked about the reality of Jesus' birth and we all discussed what we thought it was actually like. The King of Kings was born into the dirties, most smelly place there was, and here I am complaining about not giving very expensive gifts. I definitely needed a little perspective, thanks Allan!

Next stop, travelling by plane alone with a nine-month old...