December 2009

Our Christmas card for 2009:

Wow! Where has the time gone? I haven't posted in almost a month???!!!

Well, let me catch you up....

We went on our first trip (Rick and me) to NYC on Dec 10-13. This was my first trip away from Will ever since he's been born. I did good! I didn't even cry because I know its good for us to have alone time together as husband and wife. (This was a business trip for Rick) But Grandma Connie & Grandpa Dan came to town to take care of Will for us. Will was so good for them and they loved having the time together with him. I attached a picture taken on Dec. 10th. Thanks

Mom & Dan!!

My Mom was here then until Dec 21st and we went to the Vikings/Panthers game together. We had fun!! The funny story is that my Mom wore a short sleeve t-shirt to game with a fleece jacket. No hat and little magic gloves. I kept saying to my Mom, are you sure you don't want a sweatshirt or a hat etc? No, no no she says! I'm from Minnesota. Well when we got to the game, she didn't realize it was outside because she is used to the Metrodome which is indoors. It was a night game and kick off was 40 degrees. I guess I failed to tell her it was outside because I thought she knew! haha. That was funny. But thankfully, once inside the stadium, our seats backed up to a lower level wall and it cut on the wind alot. So it really wasn't that cold. Rick babysat Will. Awww.

Then, my 10th annual girlfriend Christmas party was December 19th. We had a blast! Mom cooked her homemade lasagna. It was funky "accessory" theme this year. And guess who got the last number for the steal game?? Yep --yours truly. I got the pick of the crop. FUN. Rick watched Will upstairs so I could enjoy the party. We drank wine, ate good food, listened to Christmas music, mingled and played reindeer games. Yay.

Then, Will contracted his first sickness around the 3rd weekend of December. He developed CROUP. Ya know, that barking seal cough? I am such a freaker about washing hands etc that I can't believe he got sick so young. BUT, the doc said he could have gotten it anywhere because its droplets that are inhaled from somebody coughing. We could have brought it home on our clothes. And it affects small children typically 6 mos to six years. He could have breathed it in at Harris Teeter or a restaurant. We'll just never know. At first, I thought he might be teething because he had all the signs of that. Runny nose was first. Then I started hearing him cough. The next thing you know, I thought he had pneumonia! When I brought him to the doctor, I was so upset and crying. I felt helpless. He was so small and the little guy made me sad just looking at him. Plus, not to mention that we were about to fly to Michigan for Christmas the next day. Well, Rick and I chalked it up to most likely not going on our trip. And that made me even more sad. But the doctor said he was okay to fly because his ears and lungs were clear. The croup is all in the throat area. She prescribed a steroid medicine that was liquid. I gave him a teaspoon every night. Let me tell you this... after one dose he was 50% better. I couldn't believe it. He had to take the medicine for 3-5 nights and we ended up doing 4 nights.

SO, we went on our trip to Michigan (Dec 22-27). I was nervous for the flying because Will is such a babe. But guess what? He was the best baby EVER! He slept the entire way to Detroit (direct flight from Charlotte --1:15 in air). He was sleeping before we taxied from the gate in Charlotte. He woke up when I picked him up to my shoulder to head to baggage. The trip home, he didn't sleep the entire way but was so good. We fed him for 1/3 of the flight. His ears seemed fine. No screaming. Whew! That's the part that makes you so nerve wracked. You don't want to upset your neighbors. You know that's coming someday! ha. We think we aren't going to fly when he's between 2-3 years old because that's when they are a nightmare (from what I hear). :-)

We had such a blast with the Johnson family in Michigan over Christmas. Julie flew in from Minnesota. Branden/Rachel/Annika stayed with us the entire time. We had nine adults, 2 babies, four dogs and three cats all in one house! It was insane and busy but so much fun. And how Annika has grown since we've met her in April 2009 when she was six weeks old. Her and Will are six months apart as cousins. They are going to have the best time of their lives together growing up. And we can't wait to get them on those skis when they are four or five years old. Debbie did a fantastic job cooking and feeding all of us. We also had a mini Godfather's Pizza reunion at the Cork Street store with all of our friends. It rained Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which made me a little sad. But then it turned to snow on Saturday afternoon through Sunday. We even went sliding! Thanks Julie. :-)

Here is a picture of us on Christmas morning:

Cousins Annika (10 mos) and Will (4 mos)

Happy New Year 2010!!! Boy my life has changed. Wow. I was in bed at 10pm asleep. I didn't even get to catch the ball drop. Oh well. There are many more New Years to come and I'm excited for them. I can't wait for Will to experience all the fun little things in life. We are going to have so much fun together.