Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The week before, Jeremy met us up in Washington after boards for the weekend and the boys and I stayed a couple more days. All my siblings were home, which hasn't happened in a long time. It was great to be all together and I was a little sad to not get to spend Christmas with them.
On Christmas Eve, Paul and I made shortbread and I super-cleaned the house and tried to enlist Paul's help cleaning his toys for Santa to come. He was really cute about it. We had our traditional Jesus supper for dinner at Jer's parent's house. We ate by candlelight and watched the snow fall. We opened our new pj's from Grandma then came home and Sam was ready for bed, so only Paul stayed up for eggnog and reading the Christmas story and singing songs. I love Christmas Eve even more than Christmas Day! Then we set out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and the reindeer and Paul went to bed. Again, it was so fun to play Santa and get everything ready. I still didn't sleep that well (when will I out grow the excitement of Christmas!)
We had a great Christmas morning and Paul and Sam both loved their little kitchen. We went back to Grandma and Grandpa's for more fun and then to Grandpa's cousin's house for breakfast (well, lunch) and then home for naps.
The boys have really enjoyed all their new toys and I've enjoyed their entertainment. Another year is over, and we're so very grateful for all we've been blessed with this year and for the opportunity to celebrate our Savior's birth and try to teach our boys the true meaning of Christmas. We're looking forward to more adventures next year!

Happy Birthday, Paul

Paul turned 3 last Tuesday.
I can't believe it's been 3 years since we met our 1st baby boy. We were so excited to find out I was pregnant and then more excited to find out it was a boy. I was due December 16, 2004--right in the middle of Jer's first finals week. I had mild pre-ecclampsia and so was induced on December 17. (Jer took his last final that morning.) I couldn't sleep the night before, I was so excited. I was started on pitocin at 11am and after an epidural and a lot of hunger, heartburn, exhaustion (still couldn't sleep), Paul was born at 2 am, December 18. He was 7 lbs. 5 oz. 19.5 in. and completely perfect. I couldn't believe how much I loved him, how I cried if he cried and could hardly stand to be apart from him. He has brought so much joy into our family.
Paul has grown-up a lot this last year. He is very active and loves jumping, playing ball and riding bikes. He's all boy. He also loves to talk and sing. He's into rhyming and is learning his letters. He can dress and undress himself completely and loves to help me cook. He is shy and sensitive as well. He's always been very clingy. Now that his imagination is emerging, he's afraid of giants and the dark. But it's fun to watch him pretend and play games. He amazes us with his memory and ability to express himself.
Paul had a Curious George party tonight and got a new big bike that he's been asking for. Jeremy painted it green (Paul's favorite) and he couldn't resist a ride even in the snow. Happy Birthday, Paul!

First Words

A couple days before we moved Sam started saying "mama" and I was so excited since I'd been trying to get him to say it since birth pretty much. At first he just babbled it a lot, practicing the new sound, but soon he was saying it when he really wanted something, especially me. Now he says it correctly and he also says "dada" and his favorite word, "no, no, no." He loves to go to the Christmas tree and turn to me and say, "no, no" and smile. Today he said "nana" for banana at breakfast and he said "buh-buh" when he waved bye-bye to Grandma. He also said what sounded like "yea" as he clapped his hands. He's quite the jabber-box. Paul was too (still is) and also said his first word at 8 months. He said "dada" first and then ball and more. He could say over a dozen words at his first birthday and looks like Sam will be a talkative little guy too. So fun!
I was waiting to post a good video, but he doesn't perform much for the camera, so here's one of him riding his horse. Sorry it's sideways.