Visiting Santa Claus

While in Dallas, I wanted to attempt to take Latham to visit the "real life" North Park Santa Claus. I figured it was worth a try since I could take pictures with my own camera and not be forced to buy any if I didn't want to.

A couple days before we began "prepping" Latham for what he would do...explaining about how he can sit on Santa's lap and ask for things he would like for Christmas. I hoped the "prepping" might help his overcome his shyness. (He seems to be like me and I was deathly afraid of Santa until I was 5). We have not even attempted to take him to see Santa for fear of traumatizing him when he already tends to be shy. (He did give Santa a high five last year, but had a death grip on Nick.)

Yesterday, we were able to meet Kim and Caroline and "Aunt Amy" for a visit with Santa. Kim was amazing and got there at 9 so we had early numbers and were done visiting Santa at noon. (Santa starts visiting with kids at 11:30). All morning Latham was talking about seeing Santa Claus and asking for a Polar Express Train. I still was unsure if he would actually follow through with it. BUT, he shocked me and DID it...he walked right up, told Santa his name and that he was three (close enough) and then sat on his knee. He answered his questions, "smiled" for some pictures, asked for a Polar Express Train, and told Santa he would leave cookies for him.

Enjoy the pictures of our brave little boy...

As we walked away from Santa, Latham said, "I want my Polar Express Train now." We had to explain to him that Santa has to make the toys and then we have to pay him for the toys. Annnd...we DON'T have him a Polar Express Train...we do have him a part to Thomas the Train. It will give us a great opportunity to teach being thankful for what we are given. :)

Thankful

As I think past over the last year, as hard as it has been at times, I am thankful...for many things. If I had not experienced the year that I (my family) has had, I don't know that I would truly understand some of the things I do now...or appreciate things the way I do now.

In no particular order, some of the things I'm thankful for:

-experiencing a wonderful vacation to Disney World with my family. I hadn't been since I was about 5 and it was magical. I loved experiencing it through the eyes of Latham too.

- HOPE! Not only the only HOPE but also human hope. As hard as it has been, I'm thankful to have been able to gain a better eternal perspective. I'm also thankful for doctors and medicine, who even though HE is in control, HE chooses to allow us hope through the drugs. I'm thankful for my pregnancy with Addyson. At a time when I was struggling with not getting pregnant immediately, we were blessed with her pregnancy. She has been in a way, a source of hope for us.

- forever friends. This year I've leaned on my friends, be them close or miles away, in a way I've never needed before. I'm thankful they are willing to drop anything at the drop of a hat and come clean my nasty kitchen and fold my laundry. I'm thankful they are willing to drop everything and come visit and help out. I'm thankful they listen to me vent in anger, cry in pain, and laugh at the joys of motherhood. I'm thankful they will talk to me straight...like my mom sometimes has to do. :)

- NICK! He has been and is my rock. For the past, umm...4 months, he goes to work and comes home and takes over as much as possible at home. There were many a days when he did it all...he was the provider and came home to be the full caretaker of Latham. He's done all of this while starting his MBA...and he hasn't complained. I really could not have survived since August if it weren't for him!

- LATHAM! He has been such a source of joy. He has provided many distractions when we've needed them most. He provides us laughter every day with the things an almost 3 year old says. The laughter has helped balance out the trying times of him learning to be independent and testing those boundaries.

- amazing beach vacation with friends. At a time when we needed it most, we were able to escape to one of the most relaxing places...the beach!

- riding 4-wheelers. This summer I was able to do my another one of my favorite relaxing things...riding 4-wheelers in the country. Emm and I sure had fun making memories as we tried to blaze new trails...only to have one of the 4-wheelers die.

- Mother's Day Out. I've been waiting 2 1/2 years to have regular days to myself. Latham started at just the right time! Thank you, Lord!!

- all our family. It's been a tough year for all of our families, but when they have been available, they have been there to help us out if we need it.

- our Life Group at church. They consistently support us by offering help in any way possible, pray for us and our families, and check in on us. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to experience true community.

A Shopping Buddy

Yesterday afternoon we found out that we are having a GIRL...I'm going to have my shopping buddy. We have decided to name her Addyson Rebecca, and we will be calling her Addyson. (Profile shot.)

She was quite the active little girl on the ultrasound! She kept trying to stretch out and was arching her head and back. (Hope that doesn't mean we have a strong headed little girl on our hands.) Addyson sure does love her hands by her face...keeping them there the entire ultrasound, constantly trying to put them in her mouth. She kept her little feet crossed most of the time as well. She was "indecent" enough for us to know with confidence that she is most definitely a girl. Her brain, heart, kidneys, bladder, stomach, spine, etc. are all developing perfectly. As of now, she is still measuring right on track for the April 1 due date, although we are praying she comes a week early since Nick is leaving the country on April 11. She is in the 50% percentile in all her measurments...it will be interesting to see if she stays there. (Addyson arching her back and head)


The ultrasound tech was so sweet and turned on the 4D to try to get a picture of her face for us...but of course, those hands were preventing us from getting a good picture. It also happened that the umbilical cord was up in front of her face as well. It was so different seeing a baby at 18+ weeks on 4D versus when we saw Latham on 4D at 32 and 36 weeks. I prefer seeing a baby with more "meat" on their bones, but of course, we still thought she was cute. :)

As soon as we finished up at the doctor Nick and I headed out to buy Addyson her first dress. We finally settled on a dress in a much bigger size, for her to wear next fall/winter/spring.


Nick's parents are in England because his dad is there on business, but we were able to call them on his work cell phone and tell them the exciting news. We told my parents once my dad came home from work. We pulled the dress out of my purse in order to tell them girl. When we told Latham that he was going to have a sister, he said, "No, brother!" I don't think he really understands because he had said sister at times too...depending on his mood. When we told him there was a baby girl in my tummy he just said, "No, it's a baby!" He can say her name and has been interested (at times) to come feel her move. We were on the phone a lot last night letting the rest of the family know the news. (Here's a another, smaller profile shot.)


And just for memory's sake, I really felt like I was having a girl all along...well, fromt the time I started getting a little pooch. When my sister-in-law was pregnant, a Vietnamese (I believe) nail lady said that in their country, they say if the belly is flat it means a boy and if it's round, it means a girl. With Latham, I was flat...it was like someone had cut off the front part of my belly. With this pregnancy, I'm round...once my belly button pops out, there will be no "flat" part on me. :) Also, with both pregnancies, before I knew, I did the needle and thread wives tale. It says if it's a boy, the needle will move in a circle and if it's a girl, the needle will move back and forth. With Latham the needle slowly started moving in a circle and with Addyson, the needle just kept moving back and forth...so who knows if those always work, but for me, they've been 2 for 2. :)

We are excited and look forward to the many adventures of raising a little girl. And I can't wait to put on headbands and hairbows, but I might need some help actually fixing little girls' hair. :)

A "Clean" Heart

This afternoon I picked Latham up from school, and I was greeted with him declaring, "Mom, I was being MEAN!" Honestly, it caught me off guard. I felt like I needed to address the issue right there so his teachers didn't think we let those things slide. I asked him if that was being a nice friend and if he said he was sorry.

As soon as we walked out of his classroom, I asked Latham if he had made a good choice or a bad choice. He immediately said, "A bad choice." I then continued talking about how making bad choices makes our heart dirty. (I loved how this post mentioned a dirty heart and how Jesus can make it clean. We've started addressing things like that as well.)

As soon as I finished my part of the talk, Latham tells me, "My heart is clean." I then asked, "How did you make your heart clean?" hoping I would hear, I asked Jesus to forgive me. Instead of those words, I see Latham lick his lips and then exclaim, "I licked it!"

Guess we still have some learning to do.

Chef Latham

This morning Latham pulled me out of bed, wanting pasta for breakfast. He went to the pantry and got out the rigatoni, bow tie pasta, and lasagna noodles. He also then got out a container of chocolate sprinkles and rainbow sprinkles. He told me he also wanted to make cupcakes. I convinced him we could make cupcakes tomorrow since we had to get ready for school this morning. He would not give up on wanting pasta for breakfast. While I was cooking him bow tie pasta...I added butter and cinnamon and sugar once it was completed, he was busy making his own chocolate pasta. I completely forgot that he was able to open the chocolate sprinkles container. By the time I realized this, the mess was already started. He was then tired of making chocolate pasta, so he threw all the noodles out so he could then make chocolate oatmeal. He's quite the messy cook, but we always say, the messier the cook, the better the food.

Latham was sweet enough to say he wanted to stay home and help me clean up but I told him, "nope, you are going to school to paint your pumpkin today." He had fun and the mess it completely cleaned up.

In other random happenings this morning, I scored Latham a great trash find this morning. I stopped by my brother's house to borrow a Halloween costume for Latham. I pull up and see his next door neighbors are throwing out a Power Wheel 4-wheeler. I thought about grabbing it but the neighbor's garage was open. My brother then asked me, "You don't want that 4-wheeler for Latham?" Of course I did but thought it was weird to take it with the garage open. He wouldn't get it for me, but by the time I decided to go for it, the garbage men were already there. I told them I wanted it. At first I think they thought I was telling them it was mine because they put it in the garbage truck, but then I insisted that I wanted it. The garbage man grabbed it out of the truck, carried it to my car, and put it in the back for me. It needs a new battery and charger, but I think we can get one for pretty cheap. Score for Latham...too bad it's too big to try to hide for Christmas. We're hoping we can get it working...it's worth a shot. Check it out!