Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was different than most. It was hectic and rushed, and almost seemed like we missed it.  We started out the week stressing over Brandon's dad and his surgery.  He ended up having two spots on his lungs that were both nonthreatening, and one was removed with a portion of his lower lung. Monday (Nov 22) also marked the all important 12 week point in my pregnancy.  It was a relief to have made it that far. 


On Tuesday, I had an ultrasound that looks at different features of the baby to look for a possibility of Down's Syndrome.  Brandon and I could not have cared less what the doctor found, we just wanted to see the precious little heart beat.  It was a huge relief, and we got a bonus because HE (!!!) had the hiccups, so we got to sit and watch his little body (at that point they are only about two inches long) bounce with each hiccup.  It also looked like he kept trying to put his fingers in his mouth!  There are no words for the amount of relief we felt seeing a healthy baby (the Down's results came back negative.)

Wednesday was very hectic, as I had plans to clean the house to get ready for Christmas decorations on Friday, but Preston had other plans for us. He managed to get his hands on a permanent marker, and colored the kitchen floor, cabinet, stove, fridge and dishwasher.  It was a mess, and sidetracked me.  We went and bought every remedy suggested online, and came back and scrubbed! We are going to have to find some time to sand the cabinet, and the marks are the floor were faded to barely there, and the stove and the dishwasher wiped right off.  The fridge, however, appears to be a permanent reminder. 

Thursday, since Preston still hasn't figured out daylight savings time, we were up bright and early. We decided to go ahead to mom's so we could watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, after we dropped Bob's daily coffee off with him at the hospital.  Preston loved seeing all the balloons, and different floats.  It melts my heart to watch the excitement he has for Christmas this year.  He sat in awe at the end of the parade when Santa came on.  He wanted everyone to see him, and he just sat and watch with such wonder on his face.  He refused to eat the turkey, but pigged out on the sweet potatoes, Waldorf salad, mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. His little tummy was tight as a drum after he and Brandon split a piece of Brittany's pumpkin cheesecake. He was out cold before we even made it out of Mom and Dale's driveway.

Friday, I woke up at 5am, apparently this pregnancy I am not meant to sleep, and decided to go into town and see what the black Friday mess was all about.  For Christmas, Linda and Bob wanted to buy us a flip video camera.  I went to Wal-Mart first to see what kind of deals they had. They had one version on sale, but not the one that would suit us best.  I went to Radio Shack because I had scoped out the sale papers, and knew that they were putting one on sale.  I got the last one, and saved $50! I was really excited, and decided to brave Target because the two stores I had visited so far weren't crowded or miserable. BIG mistake, apparently, everyone was in Target.  I had to get Pull-ups, and ended up spending 45 minutes to buy one thing!  It was maddening. Now I know what it is all about though!


We prayed and crossed our fingers that Preston would take a nap, so that we could go do something fun.  He did, and as promised, we went to do something fun!  Every year I insist on chopping down our tree.  This year we went to a farm near our house, and searched for the perfect tree.  I drive Brandon crazy because he thinks that I need to see every tree before I can make a decision.  So, of course, we were all the way at the back of the field before I found one that would live up to my standards. Preston couldn't believe all the trees, and pointed out all the little trees, and which trees would be good for each of his friends.  He picked out a Charlie Brown looking one for himself that was his height.  I think he was as relieved as his dad when I finally found one that passed!  He helped cut the tree down by helping hold the saw for the first couple cuts, and then was off to explore the trees again. 


The excitement in him was contagious.  With each ornament, he had to pause and show both of us, and had such excitement for each one.  After we had put all the ornaments on the tree, he nervously pointed out that there were still branches left. Poor kid thought we had to hang an ornament on each branch!  Each time we came across one of his ornaments he wanted the whole story behind it, then caught onto the fact that all the ornaments had stories behind them. He loved to hear about where each one came from and what it meant. Then he sang a silly version of Jingle Bells, complete with made up words because he was on camera. 


We have so much to be thankful for this year, our health and our family's health, our new addition, the excitement in little boys, good friends and family, a great church, happiness, and love.  I couldn't ask for a better start to the Holiday season, and look forward to all things to come!

Halloween Pictures.... Finally!

Trying on a fireman's hat at our church's Trunk or Treat

Big pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

Playing in the tunnel at the pumpkin patch

Wanted a ghost and a cat in a boot on his pumpkins!

The Halloween parade at his preschool, so cute!

Miss Debbie, the squirrel, Pastor Bernie, the tree & Miss Kerri, the hunter!

My little BBQ!

So proud waling past the parents in the parade!

Playing in the YUCKS!

Why does that man have a beard?

When your baby is little you take the time to read all the books, listen to what the experts say, and do your best to adhere to what they say. We got on board with the "kids need routine" routine.  We had Preston eating, sleeping, playing, pooping at the same time everyday.  The kid still poops after lunch everyday. 

I had forgotten about how much we were into routine with him when he was little until recently.  Every night during bath time, right after we finish rinsing off, he looks up, smiles, sticks up a finger, and says, "I need one minute."  He gages our response, then tries to bargain for more depending on how easily we give up one.  Once the minute is up, he climbs up on the side of the tub, and tries to break his neck while jumping down (I never come away from bath time dry.) Then he and Daddy brush teeth, but before they can start, he and I have a talk about the tooth paste.  Same one, every night.  Preston: Mommy, I don't like this kind. Me: Do you want the gray? Preston: No, then opens wide so Dad can brush. 

He is now on a big kid version of toothpaste that he can't drink by the gallons because it does have some fluoride in it. When we first got this new "big boy" toothpaste, he was excited because it has Buzz Lightbeer on it.  We talked about the fact that he can no longer swallow his toothpaste, and that threw him for a loop.  He was terrified that he would accidentally swallow it.  So one night after an especially dramatic plea for help, I offered to let him try my toothpaste.  He thought this was a great idea. Little did he know it wasn't going to have any bubble gum disguise to it.  My tooth paste is in a gray tube.  It didn't go well, so now we have our chat about which toothpaste is better every night. 

Last night Brandon was telling me that every night after he reads the number of bargained books, that he says, "night, night, love you." before leaving the room, and every night he asks "Daddy, why do you say night, night?" Brandon replies with "because it is night time."  Yes, the "why's" are in full swing.

My point is though, this kid still is attached to his routines, and has created new ones without us even realizing it. We had him so structured and routine as an infant, that even now he looks for the sameness in everyday. One night I was at dinner with friends, and Brandon said he started looking for me when they went to brush teeth. I will miss when he is too old to play little games with us over toothpaste (as exhausting as they are some days.) I will miss the questions over, "Why is milk cold, why is it white, why do we drink milk, why isn't it all chocolate?" Most of which I have created a standard response of "I guess that's the way God made it."  So in case you were wondering, last night at the grocery store, "Why does that man have a beard? Oh, never mind, (giggle) that's just the way God made him!"