every captive thought

Today we decorated for Christmas!  I love it!  James really got into it this year but Jude was skeptical.  He was particularly terrified of the Nutcrackers.  And the stuffed animals that sing Christmas songs.  And the Christmas tree.  But mostly of the Nutcrackers.  James loves all things Christmas.  He insisted that we sing "happy birthday" to Jesus after we got the tree decorated. I love the memories we are making with our sweet boys.  I have precious memories of my family decorating the tree when I was a little girl. (In case you wonder why James is always only in undies and a t-shirt...it's for potty training purposes.) Last year when we put up the tree James declared that the angel on top of the tree was Dr. Honey, his pediatrician.  This year he decided to put the angel on his head instead of on top of the tree. Jude faced his fears and made friends with the Christmas tree.  Sort of. The Nutcrackers are still on his naughty list.

The past couple of days have been quiet.  James is feeling better but he's not 100% yet. But he did get in a little batting practice today.   Jude has a new trick.  When we get onto him or tell him "no" he gives us the big pouty lip.  So now it has turned into a joke.  We pretend to get onto him so we can see the cute face.  But he's onto us.  Now he gives us the pouty lip then looks up at us and smiles. (Crummy grainy pictures courtesy of iPhone and being too pregnant and lazy to get up to get my real camera.)

Happy Thanksgiving!  We celebrated by Jamesie spewing vomit ALL over the kitchen.  For reals...I even found some under the stove.  When I went in to get the boys up this morning James was just laying on the floor by his bed and didn't respond to me when I said his name several times.  He finally got up and was just pitiful.  We knew something was wrong but didn't know what.  I took his temperature and he didn't have any but he clearly didn't feel well.  We kept asking him what was wrong and he couldn't say.  I asked him what hurt and he said his feet hurt.  Weird.  He ate breakfast, took a bath, and Brad got him dressed and took him downstairs while I jumped into the shower to get ready to go to Mom's.  A little bit later Brad and James show up at the bathroom door and James was stripped down to his diaper and covered in vomit.  Brad (SAINT that he is) cleaned up the bomb site.  I re-washed James.  He was crying and scared and felt horrible.  We gave him some me

Jude and I had his first appointment with his new oncologist in Dallas this week.  We are so grateful to be in the care of a far more capable, competent and intelligent doctor and group of doctors.  I am sad that we wasted any time trying to get Jude cared for in Amarillo.  Live and learn.  But the Lord has led us to the best place for Jude and I am thankful.  Mom and Dad kept James for me.  He had a wonderful time as always.  And the BEST news of all!?!?!?  My amazing Mother finally managed the impossible.  She POTTY TRAINED JAMES!!!!!!!  I am so thrilled and excited!  Such a major milestone. The first night when James got in bed he got out the toy laptop Mom has and told Mom he had some blogging to do.  He hears me say that a lot I guess. He managed to con Mom into staying up late by needing just "one more drink" of water before bed. I missed him so much while we were gone.  I hate being away from him and from Brad. Jude is a great traveler.  I was proud of him.

Today was my first sonogram.  I found out that the baby's due date is July 4th!  My little firecracker!  So in love already.

James has been saying for days that he wanted to get me a "big big balloon" for my birthday.  Nana snuck him out and he got me a big white balloon with a pink string.  I have to say...it is indeed my favorite present. He also picked out a card for me all by himself.  Mom said that he walked straight up to it at the store and pointed to it.  Amazingly, it was appropriate.  I love my thoughtful little boy.  

I like to stretch my birthday celebrations out for as long as possible.  Friday night my in-laws took us out to dinner.  Today we celebrated at Mom and Dad's with the MOST delicious lunch ever...Chicken Florentine, ravioli with balsamic brown butter and walnuts, caramelized pancetta and fennel salad, and a cocoa pound cake with creme anglaise.  YUM!  Jamesie helped Mom by placing the candles on my cake with his own special flair. Then he helped me blow out the candles. He also helped me open all of my special gifts.  He is such a good helper. As I was, he was tremendously thrilled with my new deep fryer.  What can I say?  This pregnant gal needs her fried food. We had so much fun!  Until James decided to throw a great big fit and not pick up the toys.  He was up super late thanks to the speed I gave him in the form of cough syrup.  Then he was up and ready to party at 4:00 am.  So what ensued was a massive-melt-down-snot-flinging-fit that got him some corner time.  When he

Both of my sweet boys have some major sniffles today.  Ick.  And a certain little blondie I know is having an adverse reaction to his congestion medication and is in bed with me watching tv instead of sleeping.  I don't mind at all. These pictures were from Tuesday before BSF.  

If you haven't scheduled your pictures with David yet, you really better get on that!  He is the best photographer.  Ever.  These are just a few from our session with him last week.  I had to save my favorites for our Christmas card.    David and Bonnie were amazing.  I usually dread photo shoots but they made it so fun and totally relaxed.  David had James (ok, and me too) cracking up and made the whole evening fun for all of us.  His pictures completely captured the boys the way I see them...their expressions, their personalities, their quirks.  I am so grateful to have these treasures from this fun time in our lives.