Merry Christmas!

We just got home from church, and our annual Christmas Eve trip to Chili's. Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year, and this year was more than I could have ever imagined. Christmas just takes on a completely new meaning when you have a child of your own. As we sang Silent Night in church tonight, I could barely get the words out for the tears of joy streaming down my face.

We had the awesome opportunity to be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus at the family service tonight and it was such a sweet moment.

And now the cookies for Santa are in the oven baking and we are getting ready to give Drew a bath and then decorate the cookies and put them out (and take a few pictures, of course!) before we put the little man to bed.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful, wonderful Christmas, and that we can all finally STOP and take in the true miracle of the day. And may we all remember that the most perfect gift ever given arrived in a lowly stable - the Savior of the world.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Poor Baby Boy.....

Well, the inevitable has happened....my baby is sick for the first time. And it is breaking this momma's heart. Poor little thing has a terrible cough, and everytime he tries to cry, nothing comes out. It's like baby laryngitis. We're hoping he will be better by Wednesday since we are supposed to be Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Service. I guess if he has to be sick at Christmas, it is better this year than next year since he doesn't even know it's Christmas this year. But it is just sad for a boy to be sick at Christmas, regardless of his age!!!

As for me, well, I'm busy trying to finish up everything for Christmas while tending to the boy. It's challenging when he is well to keep up....much more so when he is sick! But if it doesn't get done, then it doesn't get done. The world won't end.

I will post some Christmas pictures soon...Now that I have my cards out, I can show the pictures I've been keeping a secret! Plus I have all kinds of Christmas=y shots to share!

If you think of it, lift up some prayers for sweet Drew-bear for a speedy recovery!! Hope everyone is doing well!!!

3 Months

Dear Drew,

Time seems to go faster and faster as each month goes by. I can hardly believe that you have already been here for 3 months. But at the same time, I can hardly remember life without you.

What a fun month we have had!!! You are really starting to find your voice, and your little coos simply melt my heart. You are sleeping through the night (although I shouldn't say that too loud...you might hear me and decide it's time to shake things up a bit). You have started to really interact with your daddy and me. You smile at us and coo at us, and it makes us both so happy. You are also starting to figure out your toys and, after studying them for a few minutes, are playing with them.

You still LOVE your paci. You are most definitely a paci baby and we don't go anywhere without it.

Everyone tells us what a good baby you are, and we know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. You are so happy, so laid back, so sweet. Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure you are real.

You are really growing and you definitely love to eat!!! At your last dr. appointment this past weekend, you weighed 14 lbs, 10 oz. You look like you are 6 months old.

You are still having some reflux issues, but we are working on it. It just breaks your mommy's heart to see you hurt.

This past Sunday you were baptized, and it was a precious moment for your daddy and me. Mr. Louis did such a great job and made that time so very special. We are so grateful to know that God has His hand on you, and we promise to raise you so that you know God and so that you know His immeasurable love for you. It amazes me to think that He loves you even more than I do - because I can't imagine loving anyone more than how much I love you.

It is almost your first Christmas, and we have loved sharing this time of year with you.

As each day passes, I love you more. You bring so much joy to my life.

I love you, Drew-bear,

Mommy

We've Come A Long Way, Baby!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my sweet hubby!

This past year has brought more joy to life than I ever imagined possible. I am so glad that CAL is my husband, and even more glad that he is Drew's daddy. What an amazing man.

CAL, thanks for putting up with my crazy and for loving me for who I am! It has been a great 3 years!!!!

I love you!

Thankful...

Can't even begin to explain just how thankful I am for this sweet little boy....

We had such a great day with family, and loved every moment of Drew's First Thanksgiving.

I am amazed at the abundance of blessings in my life, and I am so grateful. This year, especially, I am grateful for the gift of a precious son. Life is so much sweeter with him in it!!!

Hope everyone had a great day!

2 Months

Dear Drew,

Wow! You are 2 months old today! Where has the time gone??

You have grown up so much this month and you are doing something new every day, it seems. You are smiling now, although you are quite stingy with them! But when you let me have one, it truly melts my heart!! You are also cooing all the time. You have so many things to say to us! The sounds you make are just so sweet. I could listen to you all day long and never get tired of it.

You have slept through the night a few times, and that makes your mommy very happy. But even though those nights are sweet, I still love our quiet morning feedings when you do wake up in the middle of the night. It is then that I just look at you and marvel at God's awesome workmanship.

You've had a few little issues this month that we are slowly working out. You have reflux, so you are on some medicine for that. And then your little eye got infected from your clogged tear duct. But you are such a trooper. Nothing seems to bother you too much and you handle things so well. You really are quite a laid back baby!

You have grown to really love your paci. But that is about the only "thing" you are attached to right now. You do enjoy to swing and to play in your bouncy seat. You also like to watch football with your daddy.

You weigh about 13 pounds now - you are quite a big boy! You love to eat and you are such a good eater.

We love watching you grow and witnessing all the amazing things you are learning to do. It is truly a gift to be your mommy. This weekend I was looking for your baptism invitations and ran across a saying that brought tears to my eyes..."God chose him to be our son." I truly believe that God knew you would be our son from the beginning of time, and I am so grateful to Him that He would entrust us with such a precious gift. I pray that we will bring you up to love Him and serve Him faithfully. We thank God every day for the gift of you - our precious son.

I love you, Andrew Tyler,

Mommy

Wasn't it JUST Halloween??

So, I just returned from Wal-Mart, which in and of itself is not a thrilling way to spend my Sunday evening. But, to make it even worse...not only were all the Christmas decorations out, they were playing Christmas music. Loudly. And incessently. I mean, really.... It was just Halloween. I mean, I have gotten used to the whole "must sell Christmas decorations as soon as Halloween is over" thing, but the music?? That was a little much.