Merry First Christmas

Well this was Holden's first Christmas...I am sure it was just another day for him...we had fun though...Tom's folks stayed at our house so they could be here Christmas morning...We went to church on Christmas Eve...Christmas morning Pam got up and made a coffee cake (Tom's request), we relaxed read the Christmas Story,and then opened presents...Holden fell asleep before the opening so we opened ours and then waited for him to open his...hehehe...he didn't really open his...but it was fun to catch some shots...we got some of Mocha too so those we will have to always remember her by...

Here Holden says...woohoo another ribbon to eat! this fun present was from our family in Texas...a Texas sized box;-) so nice that it went with my red & white theme...

Tom and I got each other sunglasses for Christmas so we thought Holden should have some too! Here he is in his new shades...looks cool huh? He is also sporting his Baby's First Christmas gear he got from my mom...We were having a low key Christmas this year...which is good since...this Christmas will be a hard one to forget...BUT, what I was reminded of this Christmas as I was thinking..."This Christmas sucked!" That it isn't what happens now on Christmas that is important, BUT what happened on the first Christmas...and that God doesn't change...He is still good...SO even though this WEEK stunk...Christmas is still as magical as ever...hmmm...I need to remember this when I am sad about Mochster...

Beth, Josh and Makenna came over in the afternoon to hang out and have dinner...Here's Makenna in her hard hat...Grandmere thought she needed it for all her messes...notice it is clearly marked to let all know SHE is the BOSS...So this Christmas was good...we had family together and celebrated the real meaning of Christmas, and what that means to us...but it was also sad too...I guess such is life...If you never love you never have to lose...but then you never love...and loving brings such joy:-)

Goodbye My Mocha My babygirl

Last night we had to say goodbye to a member of our family…Our first babygirl Mocha, a lab mix, got so sick she went into shock…She gave us 4 amazing years of love that is so unconditional it leaves you speechless…If you are not an animal lover…or if you are and don’t want a sad story please don’t read any further…this is my chance to write how I am feeling and my chance for a goodbye…

I had wanted a dog all the time I was in college…I had grown up with dogs and wanted one I could love and that would love me back…I knew I couldn’t get one until we had a house…So I think from the day we were married I talked to Tom about when we could get a dog…I remember the night we got our house I asked him when he thought we could get one…finally out of exhaustion of the topic Tom compromised and gave me a date…March 1st we could think of getting a puppy…Of course when March 1st rolled around I had already looked into rescues and found Mocha’s litter…and Low and Behold they would be at a certain place for adoption on…March 1st…Tom kind of got hoodwinked…Luckily he got Mocha out of the deal…We saw her and brought her home on March 1st…she was all of 8 pounds and had already had a pretty hard life as far as we could tell…she was only about 8 weeks old…but had been taken from her mom right after birth…she had some health problems at first but flourished with food and love…she grew so fast we thought for sure she would get to be 100pounds in no time!

For four years she has been a companion, a daughter, and the most loving dog I have ever met…even when she didn’t feel well she always had love to give…even at the end in shock she wagged her tail if she saw me or Tom…we had so much fun…she went camping with us, traveled to see my family…basically did most of what we did…she was always up for a hike…even when Tom walked her to exhaustion…then she would come home and lay down with her head on your lap…you could always tell when she needed something and she got to be able to tell us when she needed more water…to go out…or just a little butt rub, those were her favorites…each time you walked in the house she was there to greet you…wagging and rubbing up against you…when we brought Holden home…she instantly became his protector…and had just started in the last month giving him kisses…
















Mocha had a large extended family as Beth and Josh had watched her many times…and when Josh lived with us was the only time, Mocha has slept somewhere other than our room (except when Holden needed her)…Tom’s parents also got to know Mocha and love her…she was VERY loved…there was always a butt rub for her…

We don’t know what happened, but sometime on Christmas Eve she stopped eating…she didn’t eat Christmas day…even refusing treats and her beloved cheese…so Tuesday we took her to the vet…they had no idea what was wrong with her but ran a bunch of tests…Tuesday night she got worse…Wednesday was even worse…we got the call that her blood work came back abnormal and it did not look good…there was one more glimmer of hope that it could be a hormonal thing…but they needed to do more tests…could we bring her by in the morning…but even as I agreed I remember looking at Mocha and thinking I don’t think she will make it through the night…I tried to tell the vet how bad she was but maybe it didn’t come across…around 11:00 pm we heard her struggling in the shower…she could barely stand…Tom carried her to bed, we talked and decided she needed to go to the emergency center…Tom took her…they told him she was in shock…it was the end…Tom kissed her and told her loved her…and said goodbye…I must have know when he left with her she would not be back as I gave her an extra kiss and a rub on her soft ears, the softest on earth…

So goodbye Mochster…I love you and will always remember you as my first baby girl…











Goodbye

If I Only Had a Brain

Ok so I have always been a bit scattered brained…but man, I tell you it has been way worse since I got pregnant…I thought it would go away after I had Holden but it is still here in full force…Last night after not being able to find my cell phone for 3 days (it was on vibrate) I found it in my diaper bag…only to forget where I placed it an hour later…and today I was trying to go out and get the last of my shopping done, so Pam came down to help with Holden…and she only had limited time…BUT it took me at least 30 minutes to find all my stuff, (after finding one thing and then having to look for something I already had found five minutes earlier) and get out of the house…geesh! Hard to believe I graduated with a Master’s Degree only 4 short years ago! For proof I thought I would throw the picture in below…although who says I didn’t rent the robe and the friends to stage the pics;-P Maybe someday I will get organized!

Finally a picture with his teeth!

Friendship

This past weekend I got to go to a Tea Luncheon for one of my friends...It was a surprise put on by her husband, and her family for her 30th birthday...Before we went we were asked to write a letter to her...basically giving us a chance to tell this amazing woman, what her friendship has meant to us, a chance to remember funny stories, and just a chance to give her a special birthday...I must admit at first I was a little nervous about writing something, but as I started I realized I had a lot to say to this friend that I probably wouldn't ever say in person. I am much better if I can write something down and think about it, than right off the cuff so many times things go unsaid...it was a really neat experience to then attend the tea and hear (we read them to her out loud) what each person had to say and how she had touched each one of their lives. It was pretty awesome to know that I love and cherish this friend, but that so many others do as well...

I am only writing about this because the past two years Tom and I have had some experiences that have really made us value our friends...we have had friends we have lost and friends we have gained...we have had friendships that have been altered, or that have become harder to maintain...but through it all we have also had many friendships that have grown...ones which have made it through the tougher times so far...One of the things I wrote about was how it is easy to be friends when times are good...but it is true friends who are there when the "right" words don't exist, and when the world seems so cruel. So to all of you who read this that are amongst our friends we thank you and love you and look forward to more times where we can grow as individuals and as friends.

I am Not a Professional Photographer

So Grandmere got Holden and Makenna these cute Christmas outfits along with matching hats and mittens...So we wanted to get some pics of them...in a festive setting like in front of our tree...I am telling you, wrangling a 4+month old and a 14+ month old is EXTREMELY hard work...I was basically shooting non stop...
which got some hilarious series shots like this one...Makenna thought it would be fun to continually take off Holden's hat and either run with it or torture him by trying to put it back on him...Im telling you we took about 250 pictures (thank goodness for digital media) and we maybe got 10 where you can see both of their faces...Beth and I were worn out by the end...
Holden says, "Hey give me back my hat!"
Makenna says, "Ok here you go!" Holden looks happy doesn't he;-P









By the way an update on the sleeping...he is getting up 2 times a night I think he is getting at least one of his top teeth...but last night as he was up and having a hard time, I told him about God and Jesus and how much he is loved...I prayed with him...and I felt such peace, that it was such a sweet sweet time with God and my son...I am thankful for the time I have...even if it is at 5am:-)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Ok, so I HAD an easy baby who slept through the night very quickly…BUT something happened in the last few days…four to be exact…actually the days are fine…but the nights…that’s different…night one…up every4 hrs to nurse…night two…up every 3 hours to nurse….night three…not even 2 hrs between nursing sessions…last night…woohoo! Every 3 hours again…needless to say in this merriest of seasons I am SO exhausted…and being a doer…I am still doing everything and getting gifts out and all the fun stuff… but man I am run down…I am hoping I don’t get sick!

BUT as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I am so thankful that I have a wonderful family…and my son is healthy and such a joy…and every morning when he smiles and giggles at me…all is right with the world again…God is so amazing!

O Christmas Tree

Wednesday was St. Nick Day, which my family has always celebrated...Here is Holden opening his first St. Nick present...He was more interested in the colorful tissue paper but it was fun photographing it! See tissue paper is GOOD! Don't worry I didn't let him eat it! We also decided to go to Apple Hill on Wednesday and pick out and cut down our Christmas tree...which I know is not the most environmental way to have a Christmas tree...but we will recycle it...and the place we got it makes you cut it so that the tree keeps growing...anyway, Apple Hill seems to be becoming quite the tradition...
Of course we stopped at Lava Cap winery...picked up our wine club shipment and took a picture:-) Holden LOVED being outside and the day was beautiful! We tromped around for probably an hour searching for the perfect tree...Holden liked reaching out and feeling the branches...He is getting SO anxious to move around and get into things I am sure it is only a matter of time!
This is Holden inspecting the tree we originally picked out...BUT when the "cutter" came he said that the way we had to cut it would mean it would only be 5' tall...now the trees are the same price up to 8' tall so that would not work so we kept looking and found a fantastic tree...so fantastic we forgot to take a picture of it! So I will get it decorated and then we will post more pics:-)

4 Months and 2 Teeth!

So Holden had his 4 month appointment today...Everything is looking great...his head is still on the smaller side of normal...and he is still a little string bean...way above average in length at 26.5" and a little below average on weight at 13lbs 12 oz. so still growing well:-) And yep, you read right he has 2 teeth! They just came through yesterday...and it was rough! It was the first night in a long time where he didn't get in a good stretch of sleep...YUCK!
He also had shots today...and he took them like a champ...cried only for a bit when they gave them to him and then settled right down...
Guess that's it for right now!