Christmas 2010

Like I've said before, having a kid just gets better and better. I haven't been this excited about a Christmas since I was a kid. Jamis LOVED everything about Christmas. He loved the nativities (especially baby Jesus and his mommy), the tree and ornaments (every day the bottom half of the tree was rearranged), and the presents. Nothing was better than the Christmas lights though. This kid could spot Christmas lights anywhere. "A kismis light mommy, a kismis light. Woooow, " was the most heard phrase all month. We hung lights all around the inside of our house and the first thing every morning he asked to turn them on and just stare, it never got old to him. The magic was alive.

Christmas Eve we did our family tradition of reading Luke 2 and opening one present. Jamis didn't really get the whole present thing until that night when he got a new Thomas train. Total jackpot. Since Devan was on Chief call Christmas week, he had to go in and round in the morning, but then we got him the rest of the day. Jamis had a hard time waiting for Dad to get home to open presents. He killed the time by devouring everything in his stocking and rearranging everything under the tree.
"Really it's finally time"

After everything he opened he stopped and played with it...for quite awhile.

He took so long opening his gifts, we had to have a lunch and then a nap break.

So careful not to rip the paper.

His face lite up with every gift, making me wish I would've gotten him more. I love that smile.

I had a lot of fun with Devan's presents this year too. It truly is better to give, than receive (even when your husband surprises you with a 2 hour spa massage/pedicure appointment on Christmas Eve).

As long as I've know Devan he has wanted to get a copy of his favorite picture of Christ, "Gentle Healer" by Greg Olsen.
I love now that its the first thing you see when you walk into our home.

We ended our day with a family walk and a great meal with the Arne's.
Jamis had to wear Devan's Russia hat.

How grateful are we for this wonderful season to celebrate the birth of our savior. Being 9 months pregnant during this time of year has really opened my eyes to the sacrifices that Christ's earthly parents made. I had a great opportunity to represent Mary in a nativity scene for the Young Women. I was asked to talk about what I thought it would've been like to travel and be treated the way she was, in my "condition" and honestly I can't imagine how uncomfortable she most likely was. A few days prior to this Devan and I made a trip up to Raleigh for one last temple session before Jaxon's arrival. We traveled approximately the same distance Mary and Joseph did. I got to sit on a heated leather seat in a comfy car on a smoothly paved highway, a far cry from a donkey, yet I was still not very comfortable.

As this is also my first delivery, I have the comfort of knowing I have a hospital bed waiting for me. I have doctors, nurses, and clean sheets to care for me and my newborn. I have pain meds. My husband and I have no worries as to what to do or where to go. I have such a greater love and respect for the conditions of our Saviors birth. It really hit home this year. How much we take for granted and how much we have to be thankful for. I am eternally grateful for my Savior and his atoning sacrifice. I hope all can remember and the true reason for this Christmas Season.

Biking with Dad...Part 2

Lately Jamis has completely become a " Daddy's Boy" and riding beside daddy isn't enough anymore.

He'll side here forever just grinning and laughing, totally thinking he is helping Daddy "drive" his bike.

Gingerbread House 2010

One of our favorite things to do during the Christmas season is to build a "Gingerbread" house. We were so excited this year that Jamis was old enough to take part in our family tradition.
What a natural.
He had to have his own creation on the side.
I don't know who got more candy, Jamis or the House. I had no idea this kid could fit so much food in his mouth at once. He totally made up for his years of no sugar.
Total concentration. This is serious work.

Oops. A little too much love from our enthusiastic designer.

With no house to decorate, the boys started decorating themselves.

What a masterpiece.

Babyshower

The sweet Resident wives threw me a baby shower this week at the Little Dipper (an amazing fondue restaurant). It was so fun to have some girls time.

All the girls were so sweet and got Jaxon some really cute clothes, bibs, books, and my favorite, DIAPERS! Thanks girls for thinking about me and such a warm welcome to the wee one.

Bedtime

A few months ago Devan started a new bedtime routine with Jamis. We'd turn the lights off, Jamis would get a cup of milk, and then he and Devan would snuggle as they watched a short cartoon on Dev's phone. Well lately this has slowly evolved and now they watch their cartoon in Jamis's bed and Devan never lasts long.
Nothing better than seeing your husband curled up in a toddler bed with your baby.

As soon as Devan leaves, Jamis assumes his normal sleeping position...Sheets off, blankets off, face smashed into the side of the bed.

Just like Daddy

Jamis is all about being just like Daddy these days.

Really, does it get any cuter than this.

Babysitting...Devan style

Friday night we babysat our two neighbor kids while their dad went out on a date. The 7 year old boy was not happy about getting left and was throwing quite the fit as his dad left. As Devan was blocking the door from our attempted escapee, he was told that "your house is stupid and no fun." Well Devan took this as a personal challenge and decided that he would show "the little man what a fun house I have."

Enter the way Devan babysits....



Yes. You are seeing that right. He turned our living room into a shooting range.
It worked and a certain young man didn't want to leave our house when his dad came back.

Our fearless 110 lb dog being comforted by our 2 year old. Air soft guns make scary noises you know.

Jamis turned 2!!!

I tell ya, having a kid just gets better and better. Jamis turned two this year. TWO!!! I still can't believe how fast the time has gone. It seems like we just brought him home, yet it seems like life never existed without him.


Devan and I were so excited for his birthday, we ended up celebrating it 5 days early.
I finally got to make my boy a cake

He devoured his fondant Thomas.Can you tell he is used to being the center of attention.

Devan could hardly wait to give Jamis his present, a new bike, and even more importantly his first bike. Devan picked it out months ago, bought it himself, and put it together.

Jamis knew exactly what it was and hasn't gotten off it since.

The next day we took it to the park. Oh, the freedom. It took a few days to get the pedaling down, but there's no stopping him now.

Update: Devan read this blog entry and had this to say, " I remember life before Jamis. You worked, we had lots of money, and we went out a lot." Can you feel the love. What a brat.

Air Force Mission

Devan has always loved all things military. War games, camo, guns, planes, you name it. To quench this military thirst he was able to go on an Air Force refueling mission this past week.

Like a kid in a candy shop.

Halloween

Halloween has always been a take it or leave it kind of holiday for me. This year it climbed the charts and totally ROCKED!!!

We all got in the festive spirit this year.

Devan was an escaped convict.

I dressed the belly up as Humpty Dumpty.

And Jamis was a fire breathing Dragon

The absolute best part of the whole holiday though was trick-or-treating. It took only one house for Jamis to catch the Halloween bug. He would run from house to house, say "tric tree", dig through their bowls of candy (being sure to touch every piece), take NOTHING, and then run to the next house. He so didn't understand that the purpose wasn't to see shiny wrappers, but to eat what was inside. Luckily Devan and I snuck him some and he later quickly realized that the good stuff was on the inside of those wrappers.

If Halloween was this much fun with him this year, Christmas is going to be AMAZING!!!! I already can't wait for next year.