Do you know what happens when you don't blog for two weeks over Christmas?
I'll tell you what happens. You start developing a twitch thinking of all the pictures over-due and all the updates you should pass along, and then you feel so overwhelmed by the enormous amount of things you haven't blogged that the only thing to do is put off the blogging a bit longer and tuck into the world of The Hunger Games for a good 24 hours before you finally decide to come out of your cave and play catch up.
Today we're playing catch up. I set aside Catching Fire and put Newbie in front of Franklin so I could upload a trillion and sixteen pictures and fill you all in on what we've been up to because an update is long over due and maybe after today I can get back into a regular blogging schedule. HA. Good one. But I will try to be around more often after today.
Ok.
Ready? I'll make this quick. Not really, but I promise there will be pictures. =)
#1: Christmas Adam.
The day before Christmas Eve (Christmas Adam, of course) the Hubs and I went to see a house. A really, really cute house that would fit our little family just perfectly and is only a few minutes away from extended family and friends. Lovely. Christmas Eve we made an offer, and our offer was accepted!!! I can't begin to tell you how much God's hand was in all of this, but I will say this house is a huge blessing, and we are so, so grateful! We are deep in the house-purchasing process now, and much to my dismay, it isn't like shopping at Target where you find something adorable, take it to the register, then go home and start using it right away. There's a lot of footwork involved, but we are through inspections, have submitted an addendum and are hoping to close in the next two weeks! Wahoo! We have some remodeling to do on the inside- replacing flooring and painting everything, but after that we'll be ready to move in. We're shooting for a move-in date late in January or early in February. Praise the Lord!
The ladies have been begging for some pictures, so here's a little sneak peek. We have lots of updating to do- think white cupboards and fresh carpet. As you can see from the pictures, this place has been frozen in the 70's...I can't wait to show a few before and afters once we get in there!
(The Hubs' favorite...a big garage for him to play in.)
(My favorite...a big yard for me and Newbie to play in.)
My grandparents came up from Texas this year, and my uncle came over from Chicago. We had a packed house and loved getting to spend time with everyone. There may have even been a Christmas sing along in front of the fireplace one evening. We are nothing if we don't attempt a Von Trapp family performance every once in a while.
I wish I could go back and describe each and every part of our precious Christmas celebration, but I think at this point that would end up being a 8,309 word post that no one would read. In a nutshell, we spent Christmas morning with my family, Newbie got a table and a big truck and lots and lots of Crayons. Newbie was beside himself all day, exclaiming "Oh BOY!" each time he started opening a gift. He was such a sweetheart and so excited about each and every little thing that it was just a joy to give to him. We took off after a delicious brunch for my MIL and FIL's new house where we got to graze on some more yummy food and then open some presents. More "Oh BOY"'s and then we stopped to visit both of his great grandparents' homes. It was a whirlwind day, but certainly a good time spent celebrating with family.
Here's a reel of way too many pictures:
(Newbie eating "blues" with Mutte and GD- a couple of his southern great-grandparents)
(Newbie and Uncle R)
(Hi there, Santa stash)
(Newbie with Aunt Corndog and "The Guy"...a Cowboy football player who sings and dances)
(Told ya)
(Newbie is especially good at tracing hands...just be sure he isn't using a pen)
(Daddy-O's friend stopped by for a visit...bless his heart, he witnessed our family sing-a-long, and I think it very well may have scared him for life. =])
(Because driving is way more fun with a pug in the trunk)
(No nap on Christmas day is NOT his best game.)
(Sleepy boy made himself at home in a pile of presents)
(Newbie's Great Grandparents)
(Newbie's Great Grandma made him a "yightning MiKeen banket"...Newbie loves it!)
(GD took Newbie for a spin in his new pick-up)
(love love love this picture of Newbie and Mutte)
We had a lot of fun with our family- we missed several aunts and uncles and cousins and on both sides and my grandmother in Texas, but we were thankful for the time we squeezed in with the family we could. It is always hard to see them go, but both my uncle and my grandparents took off a few days after Christmas. Things are quieter around here and we're slowing falling back into our every day routine. It is crazy to think that, Lord willing, the next time we see them we will have a newborn here!#3: New Year's Eve
The Hubs and I dropped the ball this year and waited until about three o'clock on New Year's Eve to make plans. My parents put Newbie to bed for us, and we headed out for dinner and a movie. We may or may not have gotten 18 boneless Buffalo Wild Wings to go and gorged on them in the car on the way to see Moneyball. It may or may not have been the most delicious meal ever.
(Hello, baby bump! Yes, that's the baby. Not the buffalo wings. Just to clarify.)
After our movie, we met up at Aunt Corndog and Uncle J's apartment where they had some friends over to celebrate. We played a few intense rounds of Pictionary and Winkum then watched the Green Goblin try and take over New York. My sister and I were trying to figure out if the guy was actually taking over or if it was just some super lame way to ruin what is already a pretty lame pre-ball drop program. Don't worry, it was the latter. Just a lot of super lame going on. Which was Ok because we had a lot of fresh fruit and sparkling grape juice to keep us company. Not too mention a few good friends. It was a fun night out for the Hubs and I.
And that was the past two weeks.
As far as my kiddos go, Newbie is talking like crazy. All kinds of things coming out of our little guy's mouth including lots of "Please, Mommy?" and "Grandad's dink?" (Can I have Grandad's drink? ...aka: orange juice) and "tank too". He is just a little sweetheart and I adore him. He's also a ham who has been keeping us laughing. I'll have to catch some videos to share one of these days. He is just a riot.
Baby is doing well! Already the size of a lime! We got great news at our last ultra sound and don't have to back in until late this month for a routine appointment and then again for an ultra sound on February 16. My heart is just overjoyed at the gift of health God has granted our little one thus far. Oh, how He spared us weeks ago when things looked so grim. We are making each day count, and are just so happy to have our little one with us still. It is very clear to us that His hand has been on this sweet babe from the beginning, and as we turn the corner on my first trimester, we are so hopeful that we will get to hold this little one in July. Thank you for praying!
Newbie and I are hanging out here today and don't know what to do with ourselves now that everyone is back to work. The house is quiet and the laundry is out of control and the to-do list is lurking. I better get to it before I fall into a pj slump and spend the rest of the day lounging around wondering what it was we used to do all day.
Wishing you all a very Happy Tuesday!
