Christmas is coming!

Last night my boys and I set up half of our Christmas decorations. 

We put up the tree and the lights 

And Franklin, our winter greeting snowman. I made warm chicken soup and cornbread muffins and we watched Christmas movies until Andrew's bedtime. Then I stayed up late baking cupcakes for Andrew's birthday party. (Watch for a post on that!) 

Today I plan to finish some indoor decorating, finish things for Andrew's birthday party, make Christmas popcorn and tonight Tyler and I are going on a date to see FROZEN! 

Let the Holidays begin! 

Thanksgiving and Drew's birthday

Drew turned one the day before Thanksgiving 

I can't believe it's only been a year since I first held him and gazed into those perfectly blue eyes. 

I hope he had a good day. 

We went to my mom's house that night and had our annual Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. One of my favorite traditions! 

And on Thanksgiving Day we celebrated with the Furlongs. My awesome in-laws made a delicious meal and super cute turkey hats for the grandchildren! 

(Andrew in his turkey hat. Please excuse his mismatched socks. I rarely have time to match them. What matters is that his feet are warm, right??) 

A few facts

#1. I haven't been able to post in so long because we are expecting baby #2 in APRIL! 

#2. I have had severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum this pregnancy. (We are talking home health care, IVs, and being fed TPN through a PICC line in my arm.) 

#3. I'm 21 weeks and finally feeling better as long as I take my zofran! 

#4. Our name choices for new baby were Lydia and Benjamin.

#5. Baby #2 is a Benjamin! 

#6. Andrew (Tug) turned ONE! 

Missionary Muddy Buddies

We mad MUDDY BUDDIES

For Aunt Jeaniece who is currently in the Provo MTC. She will be leaving for Japan in a few weeks. We are so proud of her! 

Tyler would have loved to have helped us, but he was at his first day of FIREFIGHTER SCHOOL! We missed him. But we had fun. I opened the back door and let the brilliant sunshine warm us as I mixed the chocolate and peanut butter. Tug helped by pouring in the cereal. 

Some things, like MOTHERHOOD and MUDDY BUDDIES are just too good for words.

Supper with Tug

Tyler is at school.

So it's just Tug and myself.





We like to play a little bit before we eat :)





I love these quiet moments when it's just us, although I miss Tyler like crazy. In an hour we will take a bath, read scriptures and a story, sing a song and Tug will sleep while I clean :)








Happy Wednesdee!

Tug

I know a lot of people are wondering why I gave my son the nickname "Tug." That is not his real name, I promise. And no, I did not name him after Tug McGraw.


Tug McGraw got his nickname from his mother when he was a newborn, because of his aggressive breast feeding. (Ouch! His poor mamma!)


My Tug got his nickname because of a thought that came to my head the first time I caught a glimpse of him. He was so tiny and so calm. He didn't cry and just looked around, wide-eyed and curious. "He tugs on my heart strings," I though. I smiled.

Tyler handed him to me and I stared into his blue eyes. According to Tyler we both seemed to be staring at each other in awe and wonder. Tyler kept saying, "Ree, sweetheart, you are glowing! You look like an angel!" I thought he was crazy or just trying to make me feel better. I had just had a baby! My face was hot and my hair was damp and I was exhausted. But he looked at me with such love and excitement and repeated those words again. "You look like an angel."

As I held and admired my newborn baby, I thought again, "He Tugs on my heart strings."

A few nights after he was born, I decided to try out the nickname I had picked from that random thought. "Can you change Tug's diaper for me?" I asked Tyler. He stared at me.
"What did you call him?"
".... Tug."
" Where did you come up with that?"
"... He tugs on my heart strings. Cheesy, I know."
Grinning, Tyler said, "Interesting."



And that was that.

Walkin' on sunshine

On Friday night Tug had a sleepover at my parent's house. We do this once a month so Tyler and I can get a date night and a good night's rest.


We had a great time and it was something we both needed.



Saturday morning we went to my cousin's baptism in Ogden. My grandmother gave a gorgeous talk, and I was so thankful Tug was there to hear her, even if he didn't understand. Although I do believe in some ways he did.


Later that day it finally warmed up enough we decided to go for a walk on a trail not far from where we live. I walked nearly every day of my pregnancy, and when we moved to our current location I was thrilled to discover this trail.


Tyler always walked with me, along with the dogs, Abbie and Sierra.


The last time I walked the trail was two days before Tug was born.



I felt SO good to walk on it again (as opposed to the pregnant waddle I developed near the end of my pregnancy.) I felt so light and moving was smooth and easy in my old running shoes. I wasn't feeling like I wanted to throw up breakfast. I just wanted to walk and talk to Tyler and push Tug in his stroller.


I can't wait for it to get even warmer so I can RUN again!







And I was happy. Oh so happy. The sun was shining in the sky and in my heart. Such a lovely weekend!!!