Cookie!

Shortly after we returned home from our Christmas travels, we noticed that MJ was saying a new word.  We were reading a book to him one night when he pointed to a picturea of a chocolate chip cookie and proudly exclaimed "cookie!"  Woah, where did that come from?  I guess all those holiday goodies paid off in more ways than one!  :)  He is beginning to attempt a few words here and there, but few are as clear as this one:

Bring it, 2011!

Dare I even write a New Year's blog post.  Last year I was peacefully blogging on New Year's Eve about how I was hoping and anticipating 2010 to be quiet and consistent.  Then a week later I got the shock of my life, followed by great disappointment and sadness.  2010 felt like a year of dealing and healing as well setting up our home in Dubuque and developing a balance.  Although I experienced some great sadness this year, I also experienced many blessings as well.  First and foremost watching MJ continuing to grow and develop into a happy, healthy toddler has been amazing!  Motherhood fulfills me in a magical way and watching him learn and grow is the ultimate blessing.  I've also experienced gratitude for additional time with Mat; our new jobs have given us a much different day to day lifestyle.  We are able to spend much more time together as a family and as a couple, and even though I was so reluctant to make that change, I do realize that maybe it was for the best all along.  2010 was also a year of more family visits.  Being closer to home has allowed us to visit St. Louis more often as well as open our home more regularly to visiting family and friends. 

My greatest struggle continues to be making Dubuque feel like home.  While there are many things I love about the city itself, words don't begin to describe how much I miss the close friendships I had in both Florida and Missouri.  Thankfully through calling, texting, Facebook, and blogging I can keep up with just about everyone, but there's just something to be said for a girlfriend to go grab  lunch with, catch a chick flick with, set up a play date with or another couple to enjoy a game night with or share a bottle of wine with.  My biggest hope for 2011 is that I will make those connections that I think will make this new little town of ours feel more like "home" to me. 

I anticipate changes in our family in 2011.  Whether it's through a pregnancy of our own or welcoming a foster child into our home, I am excited to see what the future holds this year.  I am guessing that this time next year will be one of those "who would've thought?!?!" reflections!  I feel equipped and ready for this adventure and really feel at peace with God leading us down "our winding road" in the direction He sees fit. 

As always I am so incredibly thankful for our family and friends.  You are the treasures in our lives and I wish you extreme blessings in the year ahead! 

Christmas With Our Little Family

It's important to Mat and I to begin our own Christmas traditions with MJ.  We both have great memories of waking up with our families on Christmas morning and want to pass that along to MJ as well.  Since we weren't at our own home on Christmas morning, we decided to have our own little Christmas once we returned back to Dubuque.  Not sure if we'll continue this tradition down the road, or if we'll wind up spending Christmas morning here in Dubuque as MJ gets older, but for this year it seemed like the perfect solution to recreate Christmas Eve and Christmas morning on New Year's Eve and New Year's morning!  Since we returned home on the 29th, it gave us just enough time to wrap up the final couple presents and prepare for some family fun!

On New Year's Eve, AKA our Christmas Eve we had a fondue night!  I have 2 fondue pots that I have hardly ever used, but always have great intentions of doing so.  It was SOOO yummy!  MJ was in heaven because to him it was like two giant dips, we all know how obsessed he is with dip! 

Yum!  Four Cheese fondue and Milk Chocolate fondue

 After MJ went to bed, Santa came!  I was soo looking forward to setting up MJ's presents and couldn't wait to give him this kitchen!  Daddy couldn't wait to give MJ his riding police motorcycle. 

Stocking time!  Notice the two things in his right hand?  Both from the dollar bin at Target, and I'd say his favorite things of the whole "Christmas morning"....go figure!

Playing with his pull toy from his stocking

New froggy bath towel

Reading a new book that Mommy made

Reading a new book with Daddy

Loves his new Mizzou shirt

My little chef

Milk...MJ's favorite! 

Honestly, I think MJ was a bit over the whole present thing by this point.  We had to keep him coaxing him to open more.  Really, he was content to just play with his cars.  But he did seem to "get it" a bit this year.  After opening presents, Daddy made us a delicious breakfast and we all spent the entire morning and afternoon in our pajamas just playing with toys.  Pure bliss!  

Christmas with the Keyes

On Christmas Day we traditionally spend with the Keyes side of the family at Mat's aunt's house.  We debated just a bit about going this year, because Mat and I were both still not feeling too well and hated to run the risk of spreading any germs, but it's one of the only times of the year we have a chance to see the entire Keyes crew, not to mention the disappointment of missing out on a Christmas celebration and MJ being unable to see his grandparents and great grandparents. 

I was completely off my game though and forgot to bring a sippy cup, snacks or MJ's two essentials for a nap:  binky and Cuddle Bear.  Not sure what we were thinking, but I think we were both just in a fog and rushing around.  Unfortunately that paired with a cranky baby during missed nap time and all three of us not quite feeling too well lead to one ROUGH day!  MJ was in rare form; he cried just about the entire time we were there!  I captured two whole pictures the entire time we were there-this being one of them:

At this point, at least MJ had a smile on his face.  Mat and I spent the entire time holding him and trying to comfort him.  Didn't even get one pic of him in his cute Christmas outfit (not to mention those darn shoes I searched all over for..uhhh).  Instead I stripped him down to some comfy clothes and tried my best to make him happy.  At one point in the day I was rocking him in the bedroom crying along with him. BRUTAL!  It was just so unlike him!  We were supposed to go to Mat's parent's house that evening, but we had to postpone and just call it a day.  Shortly after we gave up, got in the car, and went home (I'm sure everyone was glad to see us go-haha), MJ konked out.  Little stinker!! 

Luckily a couple days later we were able to go spend some time with Mat's grandparents and MJ got some quality play time with them.

Then, we finally had our postponed Christmas with Mema and Papa (Mat's parents) as well as Uncle Leif, Aunt Peggy, and baby Lily!  Mema made a wonderful lunch for us and we all opened presents and spend some time loving on the little ones.

MJ hugging cousin Lily (4 months old)

Cars are MJ's new favorite!  He received cars from his babysitter, GiGi and PopPop, Aunt Lorrie, Mema and PaPa and Mama and Dada!  He loves to say "car" and "go,go,go"! 

Opening presents with Mema

Not one Christmas event seemed to go as planned, but no matter when it was postponed to or who was present, we took joy in just being together and enjoying the company.  One of the greatest blessings around the holidays is just being with loved ones! 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

This was about the point in our trip where I would like to hit the "do over" button.  If only it were possible to get a Christmas re-do!  Mat and I had both been hit by the stomach flu at this point, as well as Jeff and MJ still recovering and now mom starting to feel bad as well.  Typically Christmas Eve is our day to spend with my side of the family.  Of course, the majority of my family just consists of us as well as my parents and brother, but my grandpa was planning to come over and enjoy a nice meal with us along with dinner and church, but unfortunately the whole thing got scratched.  No one was up to eating, so none of the food even got made, and no one was up to heading to church either.  Instead we spent the day indoors watching the snowfall (which was quite beautiful) and trying to regain some strength.  We did open a few gifts on Christmas Eve, and MJ got his Christmas jammies!  Kid you not, this kid did the happy dance and squealed when he opened these pajamas.  I think they might have gotten one of the biggest responses ever!  Should I be worried how excited my kid was to receive silky red pj's?  Ha!  It was adorable! 

In the Christmas jammies and ready for bed!  Notice the neatly combed hair? 

And then the crazy hair by morning!  Christmas morning-MJ finally woke up after 9AM.

Checking out all the loot just for MJ!  What a blessed little boy. 

Opening presents with GiGi and PopPop

Cheers for his new riding toy!

By Christmas morning Mat and I were feeling a bit better, but unfortunately my mom seemed a bit worse.  MJ brought out the strength in all of us though.  We had about an hour or so of adult time to enjoy breakfast and open gifts while MJ was snoozing away.  It worked out well because once he woke up then he ate breakfast and it was all about him and his new goodies!  We all loved watching him open presents and enjoy playing with his new toys.  Then, it was quickly time to get ready and move on to the next event...

Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo

We visited the St. Louis Zoo for the Wild Lights display at the beginning of our visit to St. Louis.  It was a first for all of us, but perhaps a tradition we'll now continue in the future.  I am SO glad we went, because little did we realize that shortly after this everyone would be getting sick.  In fact, the night before we went here MJ had been throwing up, but by this night he seemed to be much better and the weather was great so we figured we'd take advantage.  It was an unusually warm evening for December-upper 40's, so it was  nice not to have to bundle up quite so much! 

GiGi and PopPop with MJ-December 21, 2010

MJ loved just riding in his stroller (that's how I know he still wasn't quite feeling normal) and enjoying the view. He loved all the pretty lights and would "oooh" and "ahhh" and many of the displays.

He got to ride on a carousel with GiGi and Mama, too.  He wasn't too psyched about sitting on top of one of the tall animals, so we went with the bench seat.  As we circled round and round, he would look for Dada and PopPop each time. 

 He was really excited to visit the Penguin House too. It was one of the only places open at night to see animals and he loved pointing at all the penguins and getting the up close view.

Mesmerized!

Looking at the penguins is waaay better than smiling for the camera!

It was a perfect night, and I couldn't help but think about just how blessed we were. Christmas is such a magical time of year for so many reasons, but experiencing it through Mathew's eyes makes it all so much richer. 

Christmas Catch Up

My blogging took a bit of a backseat during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, traveling, and illnesses, but the updates are coming!  This one didn't quite make the Christmas card cut, but sure do love it!  Pure joy on my sweet boy's face. 

Christmas 2010