T Family Christmas 2012

A little behind on the weekend festivities but to be honest... I have too much swirling around in my head regarding this post...

My uncle is dying...

the one in the blue shirt.

He has the end stages of ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease...

and he's my favorite.

We all got together as we typically do near the first of December. The group has grown, the next generation getting married, people having babies... cousins STEALING babies....

My uncle's gorgeous wife...the one he's been with since high school. His best friend in the whole world.

Husband's FAVORITE part of the T Family Christmas... my two tall hot blond cousins...:)

and my uncle's daughters...

Minnie's favorite part... hanging with HER cousins

It was a time of visiting, eating, laughing...

getting crazy for the 3rd generation in a very small room...

stories told....

siblings snuggling

cousins/in laws

and if you've never seen two grown men hold each other and weep... it is the most heart wrenching, saddest, most beautiful, horrible, awful, sweet thing...

ever.

My Uncle was the quarterback... he married the cheerleader. They have three GORGEOUS kids. Two beautiful grandbabies... and Jesus.

To be honest... I don't know how they'd even survive one DAY of this nasty disease without Him. My Uncle will go to meet his Saviour, and at this point it looks like sooner than the rest of us... but you know what... you just don't know.

The beauty of the dark is this... He will NOT forsake us.

One for Tamarah....Just keepin' it real for the rest of yah...

for "everyone" else... the REST of the story...

These are the things I call Tamarah about because it helps both of us get through those dark times... literally. Like when we are up at 1, 2, and 3AM...only to be up for the DAY before 5... you know... all times of the day that it is DARK.

On Monday I had emailed Husband to see if he was game for a family trip to the LOCAL (and by local I mean 10 min. from the Mouse House) grocery store. He was (he's always up for groceries :) and we all packed up and headed... note to the story... HUSBAND changed Miss B's poopy pants RIGHT before we left...

When we got to the store she had just woken up from a nap, eaten, (been changed) and I figured she'd like to be out of her car seat and just carried through the store. It gave big sister a seat in a buggy and I figured I could hold her since I had help to hunt and gather.

We no sooner hit the produce section that the little gem in my hands started tooting... we hit the bananas and it was MORE than tooting. I looked down just as her PANTS started DRIPPING. No joke.

I looked up at Husband, and as I do in situations like this... got a SERIOUS case of the "church giggles". You know the ones you can't control that make tears come out of your eyes while you are trying to be quiet and not breathe!? Praying that you are not drawing attention to your family of four while the 3 year old hollers "WHAT'S WRONG MOM?!!?!?!"

He reaches into his pocket and tries to hand me the keys... uh... NO. I just GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE. I'M NOT GOING out to change her... so he says... I'll go get some wipes. At this point I think he's headed for the car to get the diaper bag...

meanwhile... I hold little miss squishy pants and push the buggy one handed to... the FREE cookies of course. It's the reason EVERYONE (under 12) in my house goes to local grocery store. Grab some napkins to hold under her bottom and Husband meets me there... empty handed. I, of course ask, where's the bag? His response... I didn't go to the car, just to see if they had any of those cleaning wipes so you can wipe off... oh... my JEANS AND SHOES HAD SPLATTER MARKS ON THEM....I had no idea she'd HIT ME AS WELL....

Another round of "church giggles" and we continue through the store... he and the buggy head one way and I meander over near the meat department... poopy pants... starts another ROUND...

AT THE SAME TIME a lady in the meat section looks at the ADORABLE baby in my poop covered napkin hands and does the ol' "awwww"... I hold back from saying "you wanna hold her?" :)

Two isles later and Miss B's done with her business AND done with sitting in it... so I take the keys and head for the back of the "Scooby".

and then it hits me....

Girlfriend went through THREE outfits on Sunday and I never REFILLED THE BAG WITH CLOTHES....

sure enough she was almost head to toe with pooh so I stripped her down, threw on the ONE onesie (thank GOODNESS it was long sleeved) that I had left in the bag, hauled her cozy Life is Good socks up to her knees, put her jacket back on and tucked her blanket around her in her car seat for the ride home.

She promptly fell asleep.

just keepin' it real people and livin' the dream...

HAPPY FOUR MONTHS BABY SISTER!!!

12 LBS 22%

24 3/4 inches tall 75%

39 3/4 cm head circumference 22%

Sweet little love! It's like you just keep getting better and better :) well... except for that whole sleep thing... BUT... we have had a few nights here and there when you've gone the whole way through! SOOOO I know you can DO IT! :)

You really are still the happiest baby on the block :) You did catch your very FIRST cold this past month though and it was the saddest thing. Your little nose was running and you had a cough. It's still hanging on a bit but your mood has never faltered. You've been just as happy even SICK. You even slept through the night two nights in a ROW! :) WE WERE SO PROUD.

Your typical day is pretty much just like the last month... up somewhere between 5-7 for the day, eating every 3ish hours during the day. We usually get at least one chunky nap from yah, either first thing in the AM or later in the afternoon. If you have a fussy time it is DEF. from 4-6PM just like every OTHER baby :)

You are wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes. You have a few 3-6 onesies that still fit. Crazy to me that you popped out at 10lbs and you are only 12lbs now... BUT the pediatrician said that you are just even-ing out and finding your growth groove. You had your first set of shots (vaccinations) this month and you handled it like a CHAMP. The saddest cry ever when you got them but then you were just fine. No fever or red spot or bruising. Your mood was great and you did just fine. Mom was SOOOO happy. I was shaking I was so nervous for you.

 Minnie is still your fav. but Daddy sure can make you giggle. You like to snuggle with Mom and can't say that I mind even a little bit :)

You still love the stinkin' Red Sox binks but I did buy you some new CUTE binks to put in your stocking for Christmas that I HOPE you will like :)

What a little joy and a love you are to us sweet Miss B. We love you SO much!!!

*just to compare Minnie at 4 months

My Photographer: Miss B 3 Month Photo Shoot

MY photographer really IS amazing! :) Thanks for these BIL!!!

*all photos courtesy of Dawsky Photography

Just a quick post...

Chrissy's baby DID arrive safe and sound... BIG 10LB 13OZ BABY BOY! :) Congrats to all of them...

I'm overwhelmed with LIFE right now, hence the silence... I need to grab my camera and snap some pics...

Enjoy the season of CRAZY everyone... and try to remember the REASON for the SEASON.

Sweet Friend/Family

my sweet friend/cousin-in-law is having surgery RIGHT now to welcome her NEW BABY into the world. Won't you pray with me that everything goes well? :) And for those on the other side of #2 (or more) that she can adjust as quickly as possible? :)

We LOVE you Chrissy and are anxiously awaiting your phone call / email letting us know if we have a new baby GIRL or baby BOY to welcome! :) Hugs to you my sweet girl!

The ANNUAL hunt for the tree...

It's that time again... and don't forget to go back to see how far we've come! :) 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

It was someones first time...

and I'll letcha guess what she'd did the ENTIRE time? :) Poor thing has had a bit of a cold with a runny nose and a cough so it was good that she got some rest...

Meanwhile... I gotta love Sky turning Minnie's head to LOOK at the camera...

and one of the FOUR of them. Wowzers. I used to beg, borrow and STEAL children and whodha thunk I'd get two of my VERY OWN...

Redneck city central anyone?

Minnie scoping out and doing the heavy on-lookin'

It's not as big as past years but it's a good one and one that required some effort to get it back to the truck...

I had a little moment with Daws in the truck while Husband was getting gas... we only have 3 more SHORT times with this kid... then he'll be away at school somewhere like GA and it just won't be the same. Course after he hauled the tree up the hill with Husband I think he was thinking.... HIP HIP... ONLY THREE MORE YEARS! :)

A swing? For my girl? Yes please.

Sweet Sky...

And the tradition of hot chocolate when we get back home... this year was MEGA COLORED marshmallows! :)

and they were pretty psyched :)

Thank goodness "Tricky" came to help Husband set it up in the living room and then I had Brando and Kylie to get the ornaments way WAY up on the top. Who needs a ladder when you have these two? :)

Thanks guys! :)

A good trip, a fun time and my tree is up and ready!!! Come get cozy!