Trip (or trips) to see Santa

Mom and I took the boys up to the mall the beginning of December to get their picture made with Santa. Parker was a little unsure at first but never cried and sat patiently as we snapped pictures. Jonathan was happy to be held and didn't drool too much on Santa! The week of Christmas we were in the Bass Pro Shops with Brooke and Collin. Pictures with Santa were free and the line was short so we decided on round two! This time Parker cried a little but we still got a good picture.

And the role of Baby Jesus will be played by...

This year our church had a live nativity comprised of different scenes from the Christmas story. You walked through in a small group with a narrator with the last stop being the stable with Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus- aka Jonathan. I warned the coordinator of the "cast" of the risks involving Jonathan but they thought he would be perfect. Of course a cold front came through the day before and so he was so bundled up you could barely tell he was a real baby. We practiced looking heavenly all week and tried to adjust his schedule so the two hour event would fall during a happy time and not a fussy one. All in all Jonathan was a trooper. He slept for part of the time but there was a donkey near by who was extremely loud and would wake Jonathan up every time. I decided that surely Jesus cried and so when Jonathan was crying, it was a much more accurate portrayal and made it look more realistic. I came to the rescue a few times while they pulled out the fake baby as the stand in. Jonathan (and his nervous mommy) survived and slept very well that night!

Getting him back to sleep after the donkey woke him up.

Parker hung out with Melissa & Carrie for the evening so I would be free to help out with Jonathan while Mark was counseling. They had a scene set up where kids could dress in biblical costumes and take photos. The costumes did not come in baby sizes!

It's Been a Long Day

Three Months of Jonathan

We were glad to make it to the three month mark with Jonathan because we were told he would be a totally different baby and most reflux and colic issues would disappear. Well I would say that is an accurate statement. Jonathan is much happier these days and full of smiles. He is content while awake and only really gets fussy when he is tired. We are so thankful he is better and are feeling like we can enjoy our surprise blessing.

A few things about Jonathan:

• At his most recent appointment he weighed 13.5 lbs (75%) and was 24.5 inches (95%)
• Survived his first double ear infection
  
• Not quite sleeping through the night but makes it anywhere from 5-6:30 am. We are getting close
  
• He is starting to enjoy the swing and laying on the play mat which was hard for him because of his reflux
• Loves to smile at Clifford on his change table while we are dressing him- just like Parker
• Loves his hands and constantly puts them in his mouth which produces lots of drool
  
• He takes 3 naps a day. Two are usually 1 1/2- 2 hours with a shorter one in the early evening. He is settled in a routine which we are thankful for!
• For those who know my dad, we are told he looks just like him. If not then they say he most resembles his mom. We often refer to him as "Little Grandad"
  

Eleven Months of Parker

Parker turned eleven months on Thanksgiving day and by the time I am writing this he is well on his way to being a year old! It is still hard to believe this time last year we were anticipating and preparing for his arrival. Now we have already enjoyed eleven months of our little man.

Here are a few things he is up to these days:

• Talking more and making more sounds. His main "word" is "da-da". Mark likes to think he is talking about him every time but he says it to everything! He has also started saying "ba-ba" We are working on "ma-ma"
• He is pulling up and cruising and is very curious about everything around him
• He mimics a lot of what we do like shaking his head, clapping his hands etc.
• He shows affection by leaning his head in and bumping your forehead to his forehead
• Starting to like table food a lot more than in the beginning- carbs being his favorite
• LOVES Jonathan and head bumps him, beats on his face, steps on him and all the other things older brothers do
• "Helps" around the house by standing up at the dishwasher door rolling the bottom rack back and forth and taking out utensils. He also stands at the washing machine as I load in the clothes and then watches it spin once it starts up
• He is so happy and makes us laugh on a daily basis
  

Thanksgiving Day

We watched the parade.
We ate.
We watched the Cowboys.
We napped.
We ate some more.
We watched the Aggies.
We read Thanksgiving books.
Most of all we loved spending time with our boys celebrating our first Thanksgiving.

Thankful

This time last year Thanksgiving was spent with just Mark and I and my parents. We had the privilege of being invited to an appointment with our birth mom a couple of days before where we got to see Parker for the first time on an ultrasound. There was much anticipation about what our Thanksgiving would look like the next year. Well, what a difference a year makes!!! Not only are we thankful to have had our little man for eleven months but also for our added surprise blessing. Never could I have imagined we would be sharing this day with two babies. This Thanksgiving we are overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and provision in granting our desire to have a family.