Christmas Card 2009

While We Were Away

In case you were worried about little Edmond and what he did when he was abandoned by his parents on Christmas morning and left to fend for himself at someone else's house, this should ease your troubled mind:

Let the good times roll! He obviously had a blast playing with all the other kids' toys and being the center of attention.

That morning when we dropped him off, Jenn came out to the car to take him away. I was in a lot of pain, but as she took Edmond I gave him a big kiss and told him that I loved him. As they walked into the house I suddenly started to cry. I knew that the next time I saw him that everything would be different, he wouldn't be my baby anymore. He wouldn't be my one and only. It was the end of an era...and it made me sad. I am so glad and thankful that I chose to stay home with Edmond and enjoy him every minute of the day. Our time together with our children is so precious and goes by so swiftly. I don't ever want to take that for granted.

Anyway, now that we're home and all four of us are together, we are adjusting to our new life together with Charlie. Edmond is adjusting to his new brother and B and I are doing our best to make sure that each of our boys feel loved. I thought that my heart was maxed out with the great love I have for my husband and Edmond, but somehow Charlie has managed to squeeze in there too. We are in one of those "honeymoon" periods of life when things are good. I'm sure we'll look back on this time and say, "Remember back when our kids were small and they liked us? Yeah...those were good times."

More Charlie

During our hospital stay, Jenn and Jay came to visit us and take pictures with their awesome new camera.

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Unto us a child is given

And his name shall be called

Charles B

Born December 25, 2009

6:58 AM

7 lbs 8 oz

19 inches

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house

People were sleeping, hoping never to rouse

Mommy laid down to rest her weary head

When the pain in her tummy woke her from bed

Could it be? Is this it? She jumped in the shower

The pains kept on coming hour after hour

We woke little Edmond and took him to Jenn

Then sped to the hospital going mach ten

The hospital was quiet, we felt a foreboding

For no one would dare have a child THIS morning

They're going to hate us, I thought, feeling sad

Because working on Christmas makes workers mad

What Doctor will see us? Will the nurses be mean?

We meekly presented our case to the team

The nurses were nice, my fears were abated

We found that our care was to be top rated

My epidural arrived, which helped clear the air

And from that moment, I loved everyone there

A Doctor arrived and greeted me with cheer

Five pushes later, our baby was here

"The first baby born this Christmas day"

the doctor informed me, as she walked away

So I looked down at the bundle in my arms

Nestled him close, and succumbed to his charms

He is, we decided, our best Christmas present

He reminds us of Jesus, and all things pleasant.

.

Candy Houses

It was time to make our Christmas candy houses. We make them every year. They're called candy houses, because to call them gingerbread houses would be incorrect, and "graham cracker houses" sounds lame. So, they are candy houses.

As we made the preparations for the candy house mess to begin, the kids entertained themselves with choo choo trains and trucks. When it was time to start, Edmond was at the top of the stairs. I called up to him, "Edmond, do you want to come down and make a candy house?"

Now, the boy has no idea what a candy house is. He was too young to remember last year's. But, at the word "candy", I didn't have to ask him twice. He was down the stairs in a few seconds. He looked around expectantly for his candy. I sat him in his chair and placed him in front of the house structure we had already built for him. It actually looked more like an outhouse, not a house. But Edmond didn't care. He grabbed a fistfull of candy and began eating before someone could tell him "no".

But I had no intentions of telling him "no". It pleased me to watch him eat his candy. He loves it so.

Daddy iced the outhouse for him, and together they decorated it with pieces of half-eaten candy.

Everyone else was working diligently on their houses, too.

The finished product:

We brought the candy outhouse home and it is sitting on our countertop. But, it's only been half a day and all that remains is the graham cracker shell. All the candy has mysteriously gone missing.

Toot Toot Twain

While out shopping we found a train to ride. We bought our tickets. They were red. Edmond held his "wed ticket" as we waited for the conductor to bring the train around. When the train stopped in front of us, Edmond happily handed over his ticket, and the conductor let him keep the other half. Edmond held it close to him during the whole ride. He chose to sit in the "wed boose" (red caboose). He grinned happily at everyone as we rode around on the train, and said, "Toot toot twain".

I think that he warmed the hearts of everyone who looked at him. Nothing spreads Christmas cheer like a little boy riding a choo choo train.

Birthday Party

We got invited to Lizzy's birthday party. It was at one of those jungle gym places that are like a McDonald's Playplace on steroids. Edmond loved it. And he loved the pizza they fed us afterwards.

But the cupcake was the best of all.

Christmas Sunday

Edmond loves to wear a tie. He's always requesting to wear one. So, Sunday's are special because I'm finally able to grant his request.

This is his special Christmas Sunday outfit.

What's All This White Stuff?

It totally snowed at our house. It's not supposed to snow where we live. The weather man said we haven't had this much snow since 1988.

During our morning walk, all the neighborhood kids were out playing in it. Nobody has snow clothes here, so none of the kids had gloves on. All the parents were trying to take their kids' pictures while playing in the snow. Our neighbors made a 2 foot snowman.

It was a special day.

Santa says, "Bo bo bo!"

We happened to find Santa at the store. Having never met Santa, I thought it was high time that Edmond sat on his lap. Edmond didn't cry, but looked like he wanted to. I advised Santa that he should give Edmond his candy cane now, rather than wait until it was time for Edmond to get off his lap. This did the trick.



The rest of the day, Edmond entertained me by saying, "Santa...Edmond...candy".

When Daddy asked Edmond what Santa says, Edmond told him, "Bo bo bo!"