A Visit with Santa

I wasn't sure if I wanted to take James to see Santa this year.  I have mixed emotions on the whole subject and plus I knew he wouldn't really get it and would probably be terrified of him.  However, in the end my sister convinced me that the Santa in a small neighboring town was charming and fun for the kids.  So, we trucked on up the road the Sunday evening before Christmas for our visit.  It was quite a spectacle... one I will never forget!

How funny is this Santa?  Charming for sure...  He was actually a very nice guy, but I think he was a little worn out at this point in the Christmas season!  My sister-in-law has already submitted the photo to the Ellen show.  It was the quintessential Santa experience!  It will be fun to show this picture to James one day. Drew did just fine on Santa's lap!

Maybe next year will be better!

Thanksgiving 2011

I am a little behind on my holidays here!  But I didn't want to skip over anything, so I am playing catch up today.  We hosted Thanksgiving at our home this year, which was really nice because we were able to have both sides of our family all together rather than running from one house to the next.  The day started early with breakfast for me and my little turkey.

My mom came over mid-morning and helped me with the bird... phew!  I have no idea what I am doing in that department!  We made the stuffing together and peeled the potatoes and then she went home for a few hours before everyone else arrived.  Everyone brought a dish, so the prep work was very easy.  I really just had to set the table!

We served appetizers around four and ate dinner at 5:30.  Of course I filled up on all the yummy appetizers and was stuffed by the time the turkey came around!

Lots of merriment followed our meal.  We went through all the shopping ads to see if there were any good deals to be had on Black Friday, the guys watched sporting events of some sort, cousins raced around laughing and loving on one another and of course we ate some more... pie, cookies, cupcakes.  It was the overindulgence that has come to be expected on this day.

We are so thankful for the many blessings our God has showered upon us this past year.  We praise His holy name yesterday, today and always...

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.  His love endures forever.

~Psalm 136:1

A Trip to the Children's Museum

We joined the Children's Museum a few weeks ago and I took James for the first time.  He loved it!  He ran from one thing to the next in the toddler area like a crazy 16 month old boy!  He even loved the big kid areas, which I thought would be a little intimidating for him.  But he just ran right into the craziness and had fun!

We are looking forward to another trip down there!

Lovely Fall Days!

I can't believe we are already into the beginning of November and we are still enjoying a few sixty degree days!  We have been soaking up the sunshine the past month and especially the past few days before the doom and gloom of another dreary Pittsburgh winter.  James absolutely LOVES being outside!  He would spend the whole day out there if I would let him.  Every time he hears the door beep he abandons whatever he has been doing and goes running... only to throw himself into an angry heap on the floor when he realizes the door has already shut and he has missed his opportunity!  He loves the leaves on the ground and thinks it's hilarious to crunch around in them or jump in them.

It's so much fun to see him wander around and explore the yard with wonder.  It is a reminder to me to see the beauty in God's creation each day.  So often I get caught up in the busyness of day to day life and forget to look up and to look around... and I miss Him speaking to me.

There is so much He wants to say to me through His creation, through my children, through folding another load of laundry or washing another dish... and yet so often I miss it because I am too busy or too absorbed into my own world.  I am so grateful for His grace.  And I am so thankful that He loves me enough to shake me out of myself and catch a glimpse of things from His perspective.  It makes all the difference and it is wonderfully overwhelming!

It is through the eyes of a child that I behold His wonder and praise Him.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things...

                                                          

                                                            ~Psalm 119:18

Kiski Junction Railroad

A few Saturdays ago we decided to take a fall foliage train ride with my sister and her family and my mom and dad.  It was a bit of a drive to get there, but I thought James would love the train!  Unfortunately... due to a series of mishaps including being rear ended ... Laura and Greg were pulling into the parking lot as we were pulling out on the train:(  We were so bummed!  But we tried to make the best of it.  After a slow start and a little boredom exhibited by both James and his older brother Drew, we started to really enjoy the ride!

It turned out to be a beautiful day... worth the ride!  We missed the Smith crew, but there is always next year!

James Makes an Announcement!

Recently we had our family over for a lovely Sunday brunch.  Unbeknownst to our guests... we had a little announcement to make!

We are overjoyed to announce that James is being promoted to "big brother" effective May 2012!   This is probably a more accurate description of his reaction...

Everyone was truly surprised and it was a really fun way to share the news!  We have decided to use a midwife this time and will be having this baby at The Birthing Center in downtown Pittsburgh.  I am so excited!  My birthing experience with James was not as I expected and while wonderful... I really desire to do things differently this time.  We are praying that God will allow me to have a smooth and uneventful pregnancy and a quick and healthy delivery!  So far things are great!  I am feeling good and this past week we had our first appointment.  Our sweet little ones' heartbeat was loud and strong!

This will be an adventure for sure, but we are ready for the journey.  We praise God that He has blessed our family with even more love and joy!  We can't wait to meet you little Lewi!

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,

and my blessing on your descendents.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

like poplar trees by flowing streams.

~Isaiah 44:3-4

15 Months Old!

Dear James,

You are fifteen months old this week!  You are at such a fun age and are truly coming into your own as a little boy.  Daddy put your Cozy Coup together this past weekend and it is a big hit!  You love to go down in the basement with Daddy and Drew and ride in your car.  You mostly enjoy getting in and out of it over and over again.  It's fun to watch!  

You are quite an explorer... always getting into something.  You have even figured out how to open the doors.  I frequently hear a beep beep and catch you just as you are backing your little self out the door and into the garage.  You love to be outdoors and become very angry when others get to leave the house and don't take you with them!  It is a joy to watch you at this age as you discover new things on your own two feet!

You definitely keep me on my toes!  You are constantly tumbling, tripping and pulling things over on yourself.  You don't have fear of many things at this point.  Daddy likes to throw you into the air as you laugh gleefully and you love to do it over and over again.  

My favorite things about you at this age are your curiosity and eagerness to explore new things.  I love your independence, but you still need your mama too.  At story time you frequently toddle into the middle of the room with the other little ones.  Once you realize you are alone you scan the room looking for me and then run back for a quick hug of reassurance.  This fills my heart to bursting.  I love that you are all boy, but you still want to sit on my lap and read a book.  As a matter of fact... you love to look at your books and spend a good part of the day tearing them off your bookshelf and then flipping through the pages.  You are frequently carrying a book to someone and handing it to them to read to you.  

The other day I asked you to bring me your Twinkle Twinkle book.  You looked around the room, spotted it on the floor, went and picked it up and then brought it back to me.  I'm sure you are a genius!  You are a good listener and most often follow our directions when we ask you to do something.  You are such a sweet little boy!

Your word bank is coming along.  You have added baby, bye bye and all done to your vocabulary.   But your two favorites are still wow and uh oh.  Wednesday mornings are a favorite time to stand by the window and use your words as you watch the garbage truck go by.

I wish I could bottle you up and capture all of your sweetness during this time.  The days pass so quickly and I know some day I am going to be sitting and looking at these pictures and wanting to have just one hour of this time back.  There are so many little things that happen during the day and I just want to remember them all, but I know that I won't be able to and so I am content in the fact that I get to spend every day being at home with you.  There is no greater joy than just soaking up the moments... even if I can't remember every little detail... I will rest in the fact that I got to be with you and invest in your little life and just love you.  I praise God for that and I know that it will make all the difference.  

I say this to you all the time and I pray that you know it in your heart... you are a blessing and a gift from God and we love you.

Love,

Mama

He gives... making her the joyous mother.

~Psalm 113:9

Seabrook Island

We spent the second week of September soaking up the sun with my family on lovely Seabrook Island in South Carolina.  James loved the beach... including the sand!  In fact... he had no problem eating it.  Ick!  We spent the week going for bike rides, hitting the pool and living it up on the beach.  It was so much fun and went way too quickly!  The only bummer was not having daddy and Drew with us.  Since Drew had just started school they couldn't make the trip.  They were missed!

Here are just a few highlights...

Checking out the ocean for the first time...

This is the life!

Lazy pool days

James was obsessed with pushing Chloe's pink raft around on the sand!

Cozy naps after playing hard in the sun and sand!

Cousin hugs!

Having fun with beach toys

More cousin fun!

Our blonde curlies... so cute!

No fear!  James just went right into the water.

Lovin the beach

Pool time with Pop!

A visit to the South Carolina Aquarium

Tot zone at the Aquarium

We are already counting the days until next year!