Happy New Year

Looking back on 2008 and all I can think is, wow. I am amazed by how much I continue to grow and change every year.
I started 2008 with Bobby and James at my parent's house. At the time I was thinking I was lame but now when I look back I think that I had my values in place and that I would rather ring in the new year with my brother and his best friend then being drunk at some bar with strangers. 18 days later David came home from Iraq. That was like having a huge boulder lifted off my chest. I could finally breathe.
Jacob was baptized in February and about that same time I had a strong feeling I was pregnant. I took a test and it came back positive, of course.
Jacob got sick with pneumonia twice and RSV in May and had to spend a couple days in the hospital. That led to David deciding he didn't want to reenlist.
The months January to June were spent in Fort Hood, TX. I left a place I had met many good friends and to this day I do not know if I will ever see any of them again.
June 2nd we found out through ultrasound that Ryder was a boy. Ryder was born October 18th. He was absolutely beautiful. The best part was David was able to be with me through the delivery.
Last week David spent his first Christmas at his grand parents house, it was also his first Christmas with Jacob, it was Ryder's first Christmas, and our first Christmas as a family all together.
David and I ended the year 2008 watching a movie in our living room in Grand Forks.
The year 2007 was good to me and it is a year I will cherish forever.

New Year's Resolutions

My 2009 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Spend more quality time with my children.
2. Laugh more with David.
3. Don't complain as much
4. Get my weight down to 120 and stay there.
5. Exercise

I was looking back at last years and I did pretty good. Would have did better but sometimes circumstances change.

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Happy 2 Month Birthday Ryder!

Ryder turns two months old today. Wow, I can't believe he has been here for two whole months! He is a precious baby boy. I know one day Ryder and Jacob will be best buds. I can already imagine them playing together out in the yard in a couple years.
I truly am blessed to have a hardworking husband and two wonderful children.
Ryder will be baptized January 3rd. I am not really sure what I am supposed to be doing to prepare for that day. Is the reception after the ceremony just a time for family and friends to get together, eat cake, and give Ryder gifts? I feel bad for not knowing the protocol but I guess I haven't been to enough baptisms to know. I guess I will ask when I meet with the sister on Monday. All I know is we have chose Carrie and Brandon to be godparents. David really wanted Brandon and I thought the only person besides my sister that I would want to help shape my child's life would be my best friend. I decided to follow David's lead and choose my best friend, Carrie. I already trust her and know she will be a wonderful godmother.
I don't know when we will be having another baby but I already know the godmother will be Annie. This leads me on to wondering about who to appoint as guardians of our children should something ever happen to us. This is something we will have to take time and discuss. Funny how planning a baptism leads to picking guardians for our children.
Hold tight to your baby, close your eyes, and smell their sweet smell. This time is limited and it seems when you open your eyes your baby is now a child...

Happy Belated 2nd Birthday Jacob!

I now have a 2 year old. It doesn't feel like he should be that old yet. Jacob didn't really get a birthday party. On his birthday we drove to Roosevelt and went to the community Christmas party. All he wanted to do was hang on his grandma and grandpa. On Monday Auntie Susan came over and he opened his presents, made cookies, and watched "Shrek the Halls". It was a nice quiet little birthday party.
I am in the Christmas mood but it's still coming too quickly. I have tons of gifts to buy. The house is decorated but I still need to clean it so it actually looks good. I love this time of year and I wish it wouldn't fly by so fast.
Ryder is growing up to fast. He is trying to babble and has started giving us little smiles. He is almost 11 pounds! We are still really struggling with feedings. The one thing I regret is not working harder to breast feed him. I think that would have prevented most of his tummy aches and my sleepless nights.
Jacob is getting whiny so I am thinking it's time to sit down and watch some ER until he falls asleep. After he is sleeping I need to get some deep down cleaning done around here.

"and then there was this time I called the ambulance because I got an artificial nail stuck up my nose..." -- A very lovely psych patient.