Christmas, Part 2

On Christmas morning, we got up and opened stockings. Aidan got a Superman t-shirt in his stocking, which he was very excited about. He and Gresham pretty much play super heroes all the time...

Then we went to my parents' house to open gifts! Gresham and Aidan each got a Buzz Lightyear from Grandma and Grandpa that they are very excited about.

After gifts, all the guys went out to have a snowball fight before lunch. Now you can't do that every year in Texas!

Why is Aidan not wearing a jacket in this picture? Who knows... he only wears one when he absolutely has to, but the funny part is that he is always complaining about being cold. He likes to be warm, he just doesn't like to be slowed down by the bulk of a jacket. I guess it impedes his super hero lifestyle.

I thought this was an interesting action shot...

Christmas dinner, after warming up from the snow.

Today it is snowing again! This makes three snowstorms in December. All real snow, as opposed to the usual Texas ice. Gresham said that he does not like snow because it is too cold! He is ready for summer so that he can get out the inflatable pool again. I think I have to agree, Gresh...

Christmas, Part 1

This was the scene out our back window on Christmas Eve! When we heard that there was a chance of snow, we didn't really take it all that seriously since the tv weather people tend to exaggerate any type of storm. The snow started mid-morning and lasted all day. We started wondering if we were really in Texas!

When Jordan got home from work at lunchtime, he and Aidan went outside for a few minutes. It was still pretty wet at that point, so they didn't last long out there. By evening, the roads snow covered, but we decided to venture out for the Christmas Eve service at church. The drive there was slushy and slow because of the traffic. The drive home was more icy, but at least there were less cars! And it made for a memorable Christmas Eve!

Here is baby Owen on the long car ride to church! I sat by him and kept him entertained with the camera flash.

Our family of 5 by the church Christmas tree.

Then we came home for chicken tortilla soup, and the boys opened their gifts to each other. This has become our tradition for Christmas Eve. We were all disappointed that Jordan's mom couldn't be with us this year because of the weather.

And this is what it looked like on Christmas morning! A white Christmas in Texas! We overheard someone at church saying that the last white Christmas was in 1926.

More pictures to come...

A Mom's Thoughts on Christmas

2009. What a year!

Last year at this time, we were getting ready to have our ultrasound to find out the gender of our baby! We found out on Dec. 30th that we were expecting our third son. I figured that at this Christmas season, we would have a chubby little baby sitting and playing with his toys by the Christmas tree. I figured that life would have settled into a routine by now, and that we would be past the difficult newborn days. Well, it hasn't exactly turned out that way...

Instead we are riding the reflux roller coaster! Owen is a beautiful baby (yes, I can say that about a boy!) and we are so thankful that he is healthy. But reflux makes it painful for him to eat, and it affects him at pretty much every feeding. He starts out a feeding, only to begin arching and refusing the food after just a few swallows. Consequently, he has had trouble gaining weight and is in the 3rd percentile for weight. If he continues to gain weight this slowly, our doctor will refer us to a gastroenterologist. Every day revolves around counting how many ounces he eats (or refuses!). I do realize that many parents face much more serious challenges with their children, but it has still been just plain hard. It's hard for a mom to watch her son suffer so much, and not be able to do anything about it! Then there's the time required to feed a person who doesn't want to eat! I have run the gamut of emotions from wondering how I can possibly go on another minute with feeding an arching, crying baby half an ounce at a time to kissing his beautiful cheeks and realizing that no matter how hard it is, he's my son and I love him with all my heart.

A few weeks ago, our pastor was praying and thanking God that He is "too wise to make a mistake and too loving to do anything unkind." I have not forgotten those words because I need to cling to what is true about God. He is not unkind in allowing Owen to suffer. He is not wringing his hands and wondering what to do. He IS doing what is best in this situation, but what is best for us is not necessarily what is most comfortable. I have realized that when we are wrapped up in wanting our lives to be comfortable, we are acting like this life is all there is. We are on this earth for a short time! And if our current circumstances, though painful, are drawing us closer to our Father with whom we will spend eternity with, then what loss is that?

I have been thinking a lot about Mary this Christmas. I'm sure her newborn days were hard. She gave birth in a stable after all! Then she invested years in raising Jesus which culminated in having to endure watching him be put to death. It doesn't matter whether your son is 3 months or 33 years. No mother wants to watch her child die! What a privilege to be part of God's redemptive plan, but I'm sure there were many difficult moments.

And then there's the Incarnation. God in the flesh! Owen is helpless. There's reflux and teething and childhood illnesses and many things to face as part of life on this earth. And that's only as a baby! Jesus willingly took on human flesh to not only die on our behalf, but to live a perfect life on this earth. He is our compassionate high priest who understands our weaknesses. He is able to help us because He can relate to us.

In her book Keep a Quiet Heart, Elisabeth Elliot says, "God came down and lived in this same world as a man. He showed us how to live in this world, subject to its vicissitudes and necessities that we might be changed - not into an angel or a storybook princess, not wafted into another world, but changed into saints in this world. The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."

It is my hope that Owen will recover fully from the reflux in 2010. But whether he does or not, the more important issue is that we fix our eyes on Christ and find Him to be more than sufficient for every storm.

Gresham Sings Christmas!

Here is Gresham singing "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night." Well, sort of...

Listen for my favorite words: Loid (Lord) and sta-ees (stars)

Also, note the candy bribery which bought you this cute video!

Owen is sitting!

Aidan sure loves his baby brother!! He has asked me when we are getting another baby. I told him I'm not sure... we may not have any more babies. He responded with, "Well, you don't know Mom. We might get another one. Some families have a lot of kids at their house!"

Owen can sit all by himself! What a big boy!

Telling Time

Aidan is really into telling time right now, and is constantly asking me, "how many minutes until...?" I told him that he should ask for a watch for Christmas.

Today he came home from Grandma's house and said that he asked her for a watch.

Aidan: I want a digital watch, because I'm better at telling digital time. See? Right now it's 375.
Mom: Actually, that's how hot the oven is...
Aidan: Oh...

Another cute one of Owen...

Hot Chocolate