The Adventures of Gabe

A Christmas Angel adopted us this year for the Christmas season.  A package arrived for Sam and Lucy in early December with a book inside that explained what really makes this season special.  Our angel, Gabe, showed up several times throughout the month bringing special tasks for Sam and Lucy to  complete and spread some Christmas cheer.  Gabe helped remind us all this season that it is truly better to give than to receive.

Gabe's first task he brought was to SMILE at others and be nicer than necessary.  He also brought stickers for Sam to share with all those that he smiled at throughout the day.  

          

Next, Gabe brought a message to HELP with the Christmas decorations.  He brought some winter window clings for Sam and Lucy to stick to the doors and make the house look festive.

                      

Perhaps the most popular message Gabe brought was to spend TIME with special people at Christmas. So, we baked cookies for our sweet neighbor, Ms. Foster, and took some Christmas carrots to our favorite horses, Buddy and Dutchess.

                      

Sam did great with Gabe's request to GIVE away some of his toys to other boys and girls who would enjoy them.  We talked about how blessed he is to have so many fun things to play with, and he was very willing to share what he has with others.  Gabe was proud.

                     

We left the house for a trip to Nani's for the weekend, and who beat us there?  Gabe!  He brought a book from our home to open and READ to Nani.  That Gabe sure did help our family create some sweet Christmas memories together this year.  

                     

One morning, we woke up to find Gabe with a message to KISS the cooks at school.  He even brought a bag of chocolate kisses for Sam to give to Ms. Becky at his school as a thank you for all her hard work.  One special kiss was set aside just for Sam, too.

                     

I bet as the kids get older, Gabe will come even more often throughout the Christmas season bringing them messages and tasks to show kindness to others.  I am so glad Gabe chose to bring his special messages and missions to this house and help us stay focused on the reason for the season.

A Look at Lucy - 8 months

Late on the upload (as usual) and no official 8 month stickers (can't find 'em), but...

here are the official 8-month old photos of our girlie!

                     

Highlights of this month:

Officially a Momma's girl (like the invisible cement glued, no substitute kind)

Guess who got her two front teeth for Christmas??? (lower front teeth finally broke through)

Pat-a-cake champion

Learning to use a sippy cup

Loves fruits and veggies, hates most anything with meat in it

Still working on this walking thing, getting close though

This was as close as we got to Santa photos this year.  I got the babies all dressed up and headed to Bass Pro just 20 minutes after the store opened only to find a line about 200 people long.  There was no way little sister was going to wait that long.  So, we walked over to the Winter Wonderland play area, and I got this little gem.  We'll have to try again next year to get Lucy and Santa together.

                              

Lucy's new party trick is walking up and down the halls behind her walking toy.  She still needs a little help on the steering, but I'm amazed at how persistent she is.  She's determined to learn how to walk!  

                                       

This is a very rare shot, considering Lucy seems to be rebelling against the concept of sleep lately, at least at night.  Bedtime is around 7:00, but this girl is ready to start her day sometime around 1:30 am.  I'm not against the "cry it out" method, except she won't quit.  I can't wait her out.  So, she ends up in bed with me most nights where she tosses, turns, raises up, flops back down right on my face or nose or cheekbone, and even sometimes begins singing.  Really.  I wouldn't make this stuff up.  I'm beginning to wonder if she (or I) will ever sleep again.  It's a good thing she's cute.

                                             

These were my church dates this morning.  Since we had been up for the day since 3:00 am (thanks again, Lucy) we were showered, dressed, checked in the nursery and seated in the sanctuary before the first worship song started.  It was a Christmas miracle!

                                          

North Pole Express

Several months ago, Jenne, Kendall and I made plans to meet up and take the kids on their very first train ride on the North Pole Express.  We had the VIP seating, special gift package, and extra time with Santa himself!  Sam and I were the first ones on the train, excited and ready for our trip to the North Pole.  

                                 

Seated right behind us was this fine looking crew.  Seeing how cute little Lawson looked in his Christmas pjs made me second guess leaving Lucy at home with Nani (for about a minute).

                                 

These two sat together and (hardly) contained their excitement to be 

on their way to see the man with the bag.  

                                 

It took some time, but we finally made it by train to the North Pole.  Santa's elves boarded the train and talked with all the kiddos about their Christmas lists, but this pair is who they really came to see…

Sam threw a surprise twist into his list for Santa, a SPORTSCAR!  

("Green if you have it," his words, not mine)

The kids had a great time, and that's really all that matters.  That being said, I think that will probably be our last North Pole Express experience.  What a treat it was to see all these little ones together.  Next year, I vote we all come to Nashville, stay at the lodge and go see the Rockettes and ICE!  

Who's with me?

                                        

Hello ER

When Lucy gets a cold, she sounds terrible.  This is about our fourth cold now, so I'm a little immune to the awful croupy, barking baby seal cough.  However, I drew the line at coughing so hard and so fast she was throwing up and gasping for air…

To urgent care we went, only to be told immediately that we needed to go to the ER.  She was much too serious to be cared for at Urgent Care.

Back to the car and on to Murfreesboro.  Walk in the ER around 7:00 pm, 100+ people waiting.  Awesome.  We met with the triage nurse and told him Lucy was having trouble breathing.  He tested her O2 levels, and they were dangerously low.  He hooked her up to oxygen, sat me (with her) down in a wheel chair and took us back immediately.  On our way back, he commented, "Well, that's the quickest way to piss about a hundred people off."  I knew.  I tried not to look anyone in the eye.  

Two breathing treatments and some chest x-rays later, she was still not improving.  Oxygen levels too low.  Heart rate too high.  They wanted to transfer us to Vandy by ambulance.  Well, that's a first.  Lucy and I buckled into the back of an ambulance while Daddy followed behind in the car.  

Turns out, she needed deep tube-suction treatments.  Believe me, if that sounds bad, holding her down through them was worse!  But, almost immediately, she began to breath better and improve.  After a few hours of observation, we were on our way back home in the 4:00 am fog.  What a night!

Whew, from birth, this baby girl has kept us on our toes and strengthened our faith.

Thanksgiving 2013

Lucy's first Thanksgiving.  Kimmie's birthday.  The beginning of Hanukkah.  Michael's first year to have to work on Thanksgiving.  It was a big day with lots to celebrate.  I really wanted a great shot of the babies on their way to Thanksgiving feast, but this is the best I got...

Lucy was really good, and loved visiting with all the family.  

I wised up this year and brought several activities for the boys to do at our Thanksgiving gathering.  Turkey tag with clothespins, coloring galore, and a turkey made of fruit designed by these fellas.

My girl and me

The grid-iron brigade, getting ready for a serious game of turkey tag.

They really are super great friends.  It's a blessing these boys are growing up together.

After our Thanksgiving meal, we celebrated Kimmie's birthday with not one, but two, cakes!

Birthday girl

It was a Pandora-themed birthday for Kimmie.  

The boys wrote their first book as a gift for Kimmie, called The Library Fairy.  They each took turns reading their lines to Kimmie after she opened the book.  It was a hit!

We celebrated Thanksgiving again on Saturday with our Alabama/Mississippi family.  Uncle Allen completely surprised us with this 1950 Taylor Tot stroller for Lucy, completely restored by him.  By far, one of the coolest and most unique gifts we have ever received.  Lucy loved it, and I couldn't wait to show her (and the stroller) off, so we loaded up and went to Bass Pro where she and her stroller were the talk of the store.  So very special.  Thank you, Uncle Allen.

                     

And, my little bit got to spend some quality time with her sweet great Grandmom.  

I love these two so very much.

                       

And, just like that, the Christmas season begins!  Bring on the most wonderful time of the year!

A Look at Lucy - 7 months

Month number seven has put some pretty big events in the books for little Lucy.  Every day is still a good day to play and wrestle with big brother and Daddy. 

7 month stats and pics:

19 pounds, 28 inches

crawling, pulling up, standing, and couch-surfing

"mama", "dada", and "bubba" spoken often

no teeth yet, but expecting them any time

Being 7 months old is hard work, but she loves her bunny and takes naps with him often.

She loves to grocery shop; clearly, her brother does not.

                                         

It's hat season in these parts.  

I'm pretty sure there is nothing more cute than baby hats and the babies that fill them.

                                         

Baby girls are so much fun and bring so much joy to our house.