Christmas Traditions

With Christmas comes tradition...and all families have those special things that they do, year after year. As random as they can be, no year goes by without the excitement that goes along with that tradition. I do not know how ours started, but it's been going on for at least 20 years (probably more). I remember so fondly getting together at my Grandma's house. She would take such care in making everything so special. Year after year Christmas Eve was such a special time. Our menu NEVER changed, we have Chicken Ole' (like an enchilada casserole...only 100x better). Now I know what you are thinking, not very "Christmasy", but that is what we did. Not only did we have Chicken Ole', but raspberry jell-o with raspberries in it, green (lime) jell-o salad, olives, pickles, rolls and green salad. Before the meal...there was plenty of homemade fudge, beef stick, cheese log with crackers, and my Grandma's favorite...peanut M&M's. As we kids got older, lives got busier, but that tradition NEVER changed, although the location did, the menu didn't.

Christmas time ALWAYS reminds me of my Grandma. Its been a couple years since my Grandma has passed, but the thoughts of her tradition keeps going. I often think about my grandma and since having Brody, I find myself thinking of her more and more. I watch my parents with Brody...the love in their eyes for him, I can see just how much my Grandma loved me. I know she has already met Brody, she has already held him in heaven, I can picture her rocking him in her arms, telling him all about his family, stories of me when I was just a baby, cherishing that special time knowing that soon she would have to let him go...send him perfectly formed, from heaven to earth to meet his parents. I know she is watching us...laughing at her great grandsons, proud of her children for carrying on the role of being a perfect grandparent, proud of her grand-kids for making family a priority. I know she is beaming as she watches from heaven the family that she worked so hard for, still to this day, laughing together, making time to be together and carrying on the traditions that she loved so much.

This year was no different. Although with families growing and the responsibilities of life, the traditional "Christmas Eve", was moved up. Last Saturday, December 19 was "Christmas Eve". We gathered for Chicken Ole, raspberry jello-o with raspberries in it, lime jell-o salad, cheese balls, beef sticks, fudge and a bowl of peanut M&M's. My family gathered together to celebrate Christmas. Although some vital parts of the family was missing, this was such a special time. I remember looking around the room, thinking about how much the roles have reversed and quickly life had changed. When once I enjoyed the Christmas time as a little girl, with my grandma, aunts and uncles...there I sat with my son and husband. Watching my parents...being that same grandparent that I so fondly remember. Brody is still so young, but I cannot wait until he truly can understand the love and devotion of family. Until he can remember these memories and truly enjoy these traditions.

Pappy, Grandma, Uncle Ryan, Auntie Des, Eli, Uncle Sam, Aunt Jill, Troy, Lana, Auntie Jan: Thank you for being there for this tradition, for sharing the love of family during this special time. For being a part of Brody's first Christmas!!!

Scott and Ashley...you were not forgotten!! You were so very missed and more than anything we would have LOVED for you both to be with us. Denver will be UNFORGETTABLE!!!!





Eli (left) and Brody (Right)...they are going to be TROUBLE!!!


Aunt Jan...happily watching her great-nephews


Brody LOVES Lana!




Eli opening presents!


Brody showing off his new bib!


Eli gets a bib too!


Grandma sharing her water with Brody






Merry Christmas from the Simpsons!!!!
We hope you make wonderful memories!

Santa Comes Early

This year the family opted not to do gifts for the adults in the family, however they all pitched in to get the babies something really fun (which worked out well for us):) !!

A special "THANK YOU" to Grandma, Pappy, Uncle Ryan, Auntie Des, Uncle Scott and Auntie Ashley for making Brody's first Christmas gift so fun!!!


SPECIAL DELIVERY! Grandma and Pappy are here to make the drop.


FUN!!!!


Grandma will help you go up! (And the EVER PRESENT Thor)


Pappy will be at the top!


SUCCESS!


And now he thinks he's a pirate!


Going down!


...and the box is just as fun!





All that work...deserves a snack!

Thanksgiving (well "leftovers" anyway)

Although Halloween was Brody's first "Holiday", Thanksgiving was his very first meaningful family holiday. It was great to be together with the WHOLE FAMILY (minus Uncle Scott and Auntie Ashley...who were EXTREMELY missed). For those of you who don't know Brody, he LOVES food! Whether it be stuffing, jello, mashed potatoes or turkey...I just lay it on his tray and allow him to just go for it. Fitful after fistful he shovels it into his mouth (sometime having a little better aim than other times). My motto..."he's washable...and he's having fun". Drew, on the other hand, cannot bear to watch Brody eating with food all over his face.

I am sorry to say that I forgot to bring my camera to the actual Thanksgiving day, however I did get the following pictures of him eating leftovers.


Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and cranberry salad!


"What are you looking at?"


"I'm funny....I know"


"mmmmm Turkey is good"


Yes...that IS a piece of cranberry in his ear!


He sat...he ate...he conquered!

This past weekend Brody was really sick. 103 fever, not wanting to eat or drink and waking up all night long. The poor little guy was just pitiful, (as were Drew and I). Saturday night was the WORST night we had ever had with him. He was up at least once an hour, and was screaming. He couldn't breath because his nose was so stuffed up, he was HOT to the touch and seemed to have a sore throat and was achy all over (I can only assume that these are his symptoms, since Drew is home in bed with the same ones). Sunday morning he woke up...we were all 3 in the same bed (along with BOTH dogs), Brody went 3 full hours solidly sleeping, while he and I both sat up in bed. Bottles, medicine, and pacifiers were everywhere, but at 7 am when he opened his eyes...he looked at me a laughed, like, "wasn't that fun!". Regardless of him being so sick, he did have a FUN weekend. See pictures below of his VERY FIRST ice cream cone (Grandma shared with him). He was so funny because it was sooooooo cold (hence the facial expressions), but also soooooooo good.

I just love this kid!

Halloween With Pinchy

This was Brody's first holiday, Halloween...Let me first preface this by giving you some background into Brody's nickname of "Pinchy". We have come to find out that Drew and I are a "nickname" family, for instance we have 2 wiener dogs whos names are Lexi and Thor, however we call them "Moose" and "Baby Girl Deutch (like Roni Deutch the tax lawyer lady)", but that explanation may have to be for another time. Drew and I also call each other nicknames, which I too will save for another time...(this is not that type of blog).

Brody was quick to aquire many nicknames...Bro-Frog, Brod-a-saur, "B", and Button (which my mom still calls him). And then there is "Pinchy", which has stuck. Drew thought of this name for him and it all began with a little onesie that had a crab on it and said "Feed me or I'll snap". To which Drew remembered back to an episode of the Simpsons, where Homer got a pet crab and named it "pinchy"...with that it was (and forever will be) PINCHY! Random...I know, but that's how we are. So just be nice or we will give YOU a nickname!

Back to Halloween...Pinchy was a Lobster!! (Thank you Des who found the VERY LAST costume at Evangeline's...we are forever in debt to you). Now this costume was made for a tiny baby, one that didn't move, so there was only a pouch for the legs. This was NOT going to work for Pinchy, so I altered it.

Now, for those of you who know me well enough, also know that I DO NOT sew. I have no patience, and I would rather hot glue a button to a shirt than sew it on. But...as "mom" trait, I cut leg holes (which looked like a backwards baby thong), sewed the pouch up so that the lobster tail could drag, and sewed the arm pinchers to the sleeve. Mind you, I did all of this with a little sewing kit that you get for free at hotels, and the thread was so tangled when I was done that I just threw it all away. (saves me from having to sew ever again). Nonetheless...the costume was complete and Brody could even crawl around in it, which was quite the site. He didn't mind having it on at all, after all the work that went into it, I should make him wear it out everyday!

Scroll on down...PINCHY awaits...

Hoping I am better at blogging....

Well, here I am, doing something I swore to Drew that I would never start doing...BLOGGING! (Sorry Babe).

I found it difficult to keep up on Brody's baby book, all the while balancing being a mom, a wife, a friend and even working full time. So, here I am, creating a blog, hoping to keep it up so that it can serve as a virtual baby book (special thanks to Des and Eli for the inspiration). I hope to update regualrly, making it easier for our loved ones to be a fly on the wall in our day to day life all the while creating memories for Brody to one day look back at.

Our little man is almost 9 months, and I the time has just flown by. Each phase is 100 times better than the previous one, and he surprises me more and more every day. I try to think back to the person I was and the life I lived before Brody, and honestly, I cannot even remember. Brody has taken over every part of me and I cannot remember who I was before him.

Now, at 9 months he:

• is crawling EVERYWHERE and climbing up on everything. In fact, he is very close to walking. (Going to day care with kids just a little older...he has been taught a ton)
• has 7 teeth, yes 7! 4 on the top and 3 on the bottom. He has what they call "Texas Teeth", goofy looking and cute all at the same time.
• will eat ANYTHING. I'm not talking baby food here, but whatever we eat...we feed him. He's had stir fry (veggies and all), mashed potatoes (with his hands), lasagna, chicken, eggs, pancakes, just to list a few. He has also enjoyed things that Drew and I do not eat, like dog food, leaves, bark, and dirt. He is all boy!
• is best friends with Thor (or male mini doxie). Thor has staked his claim on Brody and they are inseparable.
• LOVES to be tossed around. Now I am not talking about lifted up in the air and bounced on your knee...I mean thrown face first, onto a pile of pillows...all to roll off and giggle! The higher he goes off the bounce, the louder he laughs!
• gives kisses (sloppy wet ones) and is learning to wave "bye-bye".
• knows that the world revolves around his big blue eyes and blonde hair.

As I mentioned before, I am starting this 9 months into his life, so below are some pictures to catch you up and we can all just pretend that I've been blogging all along:

1 month...true love.

2 Months...deep in thought.

3 Months....practicing on getting the ladies.

4 Months...big muscles.

5 Months...golf anyone?



6 months...cheese!



7 months...always happy while eating.



8 months...best friends



9 months...love that little face