Christmas 2009

Daniel and Ryan. Daniel prefers already opened gifts as opposed to opening them himself
I've upgraded diaper bags!

Jake's first Christmas

My favorite gift ♥
Santa stopped by
Daniel was not pleased

I think this Christmas was by far the most enjoyable to date. Christmas 2007 I had a 3 day old and Christmas 2008 Daniel had an ear infection. But even though we were all free from maladies, seeing family and making new traditions topped it all.

Christmas Eve is always Ryan's side (which is great since it has always been tradition on my side to celebrate on Christmas day). We enjoy soup and family and endless pictures by the tree ;). This year a special visitor stopped by, but Daniel was less than thrilled. Perhaps he will enjoy Santa next year. All the gifts were special and it was so nice to see my boys interacting with Ryan's side of the family.

Christmas day we awoke to snow! I love snow, if I do not have to drive in it, so I was a little displeased, but with a quick prayer asking for watch over us as we drove to my parents, we made it in one piece. This year Christmas was at my parent's new home and my mom had it decorated with so much Christmas cheer. The boys again got many nice gifts and it was wonderful to be able to exchange gifts. We had the obligatory noodles and cheese and created a new tradition of playing with the Wii. I am sooo addicted now! Ryan and I are going to have to invest in one. Nothing like a little family competition on Jesus' birthday ;)

Happy 2 years of life, Daniel!

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psalms 127:3-5

It started at 5:45 p.m. on December 21st, 2007 (technically 38 weeks ago, but only Ryan and I need to know those details ;) when I got up from the couch with my empty bowl of cereal (in hindsight, should of ate more) and felt a pop, a pause, and then a gush. Ready or not, I was truly in labor and my first born was ready to come. Ryan and I quickly called our respective moms, changed and left with our belongings. Of course there was still the remains of rush hour traffic so we detoured a bit. Only I didn't realize Ryan would detour quite so much and stop for a candy bar while, with every bump in the road, I gushed fluid onto myself. He was kidding and it makes for a great story now, but I was not happy then! We get to the hospital and noone is there to meet us! Apparently a lot of other women's children decided it was a good time to be born too as there were no clean rooms and the secretary was out. Luckily, it was change of shift (only a RN can really plan to have a baby when it's another RN's change of shift!) and a labor nurse saw my soaked pants and put me into a semi-clean room to change. (My own little version of the Christmas story :) Soon to be grandma and grandpa arrived, "aunt" Rach, and later, grandma Chris to celebrate Daniel's birth.

11 hours later, I began pushing. 1 hour later,at 6:23 AM on December 22, 2007, my son, my beautiful, baby boy was born-with APGARS of 3 and 8. (Apparently, he stunned himself at the very end and didn't want to breathe or move. The monkey. 1 hour later, I FINALLY got to hold my baby and have not let go since.) We named you Daniel Robert after your grandfather, Robert. You share names and a great friendship.

Today we not only celebrate your birth, baby boy, but the beginning of our family that God so greatly blessed us with. You are a bright light in our lives. A boy to the very core you love to run and wrestle and tumble around, but a momma's man all the same. You love cookies and chips and to dance. You are a creature of habit, and hate being thrown off. You love openly and fiercely and give kisses and hugs without abandon. You are a big brother and first grandson and play those titles very well. You belong to our hearts and we love you very much. Happy 2 years Daniel ♥

December already?

I am still in shock. 2009 is coming to a close and it is so very hard to wrap my mind around it. In fact, these past 2 years have just gone by in a blaze. In 2 years, I have graduated college, started my career, gotten married and become the mother of 2 very special boys. It is my New Years resolution (1 month early) to enjoy and relax in 2010. To watch my boys grow into curious toddlers, to continue to grow in my marriage, to find some "me" time and continue to make my house a home. I am ready to see what awaits this little family in 2010.

In other happenings, I have thought heavily of the Seattle, Washington police officers that were brutally killed last week. I'm not sure why this particular story is weighing so heavily on my mind, but I cannot seem to shake these thoughts away. I am so proud of my husband and the decision he made to become a police officer 2.5 years ago, but it's times like these that make me so nervous. I think what is truly fueling my worries is one particular individuals comment concerning the gunman in Seattle are his applaud at the gunman's efforts-and the 42 pages of comments agreeing with the aforementioned comment. It makes me literally sick to my stomach to even fathom that many people with a vendetta against our protective services.
And even more heart wrenching than that was the comment made by a longtime friend of Ryan's that stated he wishes "crackheads" would kill State Troopers and police should die because one gave him a rightfully earned speeding ticket!
So, I end with this. Thank you, thank you, thank you all who made the decision to risk their lives to protect ours. Thank you all protective services. Thank you to my husband, my brother and my brother in law for doing what is honorable and right when so many, many people do not.