For the first time

We did it, we sure did it. After talking about it for nine months we actually did it tonight for the first time. I was so scared and I thought I would have done it when he was six months old, but didn't feel right about it till now. It was so hard to leave him so hard to say good bye. I just backed away waving my hand and turned my back as he stared at me leaving. Jason and I walked hand in hand to our destination and were not interrupted the whole time. We sat there peacefully and enjoyed ourselves. My mind wondered how he was doing and if he missed us. As soon as it ended, we quickly picked him up, I hugged and kissed him as we left the nursery for the first time!

The Last of a decade

Well, tomorrow I will be turning 29! I had wanted to be married, with kids, in a house, and to have taught several years by the time I was 30. I am so blessed to say that I have done all of those things. I did want to be done with kids by the time I was 30, but obviously that won't be happening. Which I am okay with, I want to enjoy Blake as long as I can before having another baby enter our lives.

Jason out did himself this year for my birthday. On Saturday, he woke me up with several strokes on my feet as I was sleeping in bed. I turn around to see him standing by my side with a candle in my favorite doughnut and coffee. He stood there and sang just the last part of "happy birthday to you". He gave me the cutest card ever!

My sister Janna, which Blake just LOVES...came and watched Blake for us. She is a lifesaver to be able to allow us free babysitting.

Then we got ready and we started off on our little surprise birthday day for me. He didn't tell me where we were going, but I could tell after a while we were headed to the city. As we walked down the city streets, I didn't know where we were going, but he whisked me into the door of this place. I didn't see a sign for it, but I finally did ask him..where we were. He took me to a restaurant that I had wanted to go to for so long...The Grand Lux. It was beautiful. We didn't have to wait long at all and even got a window seat. We had awesome food with a great Key Lime pie to top off our meal. During the meal, Jason kept saying he couldn't wait for the next part of my surprise he was so excited. After we ate we walked a little on Michigan Ave. It was so fun! I spotted one of my favorite stores: Express. Jason said perfect, we can go shop there after your next surprise. We turned the corner and low and behold there was a horse and carriage, we went on a horse and carriage ride in the city. I have always wanted to do that, and finally was able to. The snow began to fall as we were on our ride and the sound of hte horses hooves and bells made it so Christmas like, it was perfect. We got off the carriage and headed to Express where I was able to get several items. It was the best birthday I think I have ever had. I usually celebrate my birthday on Christmas Eve..my actual birthday, but I told Jason that this year maybe we can do a separate day for my birthday. We did, and it was wonderful. Jason did a great job of preplanning everything...even Janna coming to babysit. As we were ending our day together Jason looked down at me and said, "Wow..I really have to think about how to out do this for your 30th!"

Not Sure

This Christmas Season is hard for me this year. I am overwhelmed by those around me who are in such great need. I hurt for them, cry for them, and pray for them so much. I wish God would give these people what they NEED...not so much wants...but what they NEED right now. It breaks my heart. I have been so blessed in so many areas, but I want those around me to have those same blessings. Who am I to have received all this from the Lord. Why did he choose me to have so much and more than I NEED. I am so grateful, but then feel so bad for those who NEED so much more right now. I can only hope this Christmas, that God will meet the needs and desires of those around. That sometime soon I can blog about the overwhelming flowing of God's blessing that has been poured out upon family and friends of mine.

Equal Time

The time that Blake has been alive has been the same amount of time he was in my belly. Blake is 9 months old on Wed. Dec. 24th! We had his nine month appointment today. He is 50th percentile for height (28inches) and weight (20 lbs) and 90th for his head measurement.
At this point Blake can
* Stand while holding on to things
* Say mama and dada (doesn't associate the words to us)
* Spin himself around while sitting
* Scoot backwards
* Pincer grasp
* Eat Gerber puffs
* Eat yogurt
* Drink out of a cup with my assistance
* Lift his body off the ground to his torso
* Give kisses to himself in the mirror
* Sits in a big boy car seat since last week
* Since about a month ago he reaches his hand out to mine to dance
* Claps when other clap
* Still has only 3 teeth
* When I say HI in a high pitch voice, he repeats sound in a high pitch voice
* Screams when he wants something and can't reach it or we won't let him have it
* Is into the remotes

Still working on: crawling, and moving from furniture to furniture, waving bye bye, doing how big is blake, and staying on his stomach longer than 30 sec.

Chef

If you could choose one famous Chef to cook for you who would you choose? I have some thoughts on who some of you would pick???!!!

Great idea

So I wanted to do a cookie exchange with new recipes and a friend suggested to post the cookies on the blog...so if you are reading this and have a favorite christmas cookie recipe please post it on your blog!

Mine is snowball cookies...they are easy to make, festive, and get tons out of it!

3 sticks of butter 3 cups flour
3/4 cup powder sugar 1 2/3 cup of Nestle toll house white choc swirl
1 tbsp. vanila 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
1/2 tsp salt Extra powder sugar

Preheat oven to 375-ungreased cookie sheet

1) Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a bowl until creamy
2) Gradually beat in flour
3) Stir in morsels and nuts
4) Shape into level tablespoons on dough. They do not flatten out, they stay rounded so you can get alot on a cookie sheet.
5) Bake 10-12 min. when it comes us, remove and sprinkle with powder sugar.

MMMMMM MMMMMM GOOD! Really good by itself or dipped in Hot chocolate or coffee!

Blogger friends

I wish all my blogger friends lived close by...we then could do a cookie swap with recipes.

12 days

I told Jason today that I wanted to do a 12 days of Christmas with Blake every year as our tradition.

So for example we would count backwards on Dec.

25th- Read the Christmas story
24th-Sing happy birthday to me
23rd- Sleep under the Christmas tree
22nd- Read the gingerbread boy and make the gingerbread man cookie
21st- Have hot chocolate and watch our favorite Christmas movie as a family
20th-
19th
18th
17th
16th
15th- Write letter to santa of what is wanted for Christmas
14th- Sing 12 days of Christmas through out the day and then make up our own version


So as you can see, I don't have anything for several days....any ideas that wouldn't cost money and we can easily do every year???!!!

It makes sense!

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

On my mind

Lately, on my mind I have been thinking about what is my vision for my life. All I ever wanted in life was three things:
1) Be a wife
2) Be a teacher
3) Be a mother

I have done all those things and now have been pondering what is next for me. Of course I will continue to be a wife and mother, but what else is it that God wants me to do with my life as a stay at home mother? I am not sure. I know that I need to ask God for a vision for my life and my family. I want to strive for something more than just going through the daily routine of life. Wonder what it is the Lord will show me.

ON another note...here are some pics of Thanksgiving weekend. We made gingerbread houses and had tons of fun all weekend with the family! Blake loved his first big Holiday! He can't wait for Christmas!!!