Holiday season...

Originally posted 12/06/09

I know it has been quite a while since I have posted...we have been busy traveling for Thanksgiving and getting settled back in from the trip.

Taryne had her first overnight trip over Thanksgiving. It was a "fun" time packing the truck with all the stuff you need for a baby for 4 nights. We were pretty impressed, she did really well in the car and slept the entire time...which is a good thing because she was "packed" in the car and if she needed out, we would have to unpack several things...

Thanksgiving was exciting because she was able to meet all of her family on Kyle's side. Everyone was so excited to meet her! We also got to spend a little time with my family and Charlotte, Zach, Kyle and I had our traditional lunch/dinner at Mamacita's in Fredericksburg. It was yummy! We also took a few family pictures in Fredericksburg...

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Taryne slept through the night 3 nights in a row. It was awesome and a little scary that first morning. I thought Kyle had got up with her and just let me sleep, but in reality she slept all night! Well on Monday, she had her 2 month checkup (she was really 2 1/2 months but we couldn't get an appt right away) and she weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces and was 21 inches long. She was given a clean bill of health and she got all of her 2 month vaccinations that day...well that ended the sleeping all night routine...

While we were in Llano for the holiday, she got up at least twice a night, but I know she was not used to sleeping in a pack and play...this past week at home she transitioned back to waking up once a night and this weekend she has started sleeping all night again....so... I am wondering if this is going to be a weekend thing...you know, when we can get extra rest and sleep in or if this will be the new routine. We shall see...

During her checkup, the doctor said we could give her a little rice cereal to help her sleep longer at night, especially when she acts like she is starving after she eats. So..we attempted the rice cereal. She ate a little, but that was it...but she did sleep longer and seemed full, which is a good thing.

We also discovered this week that Taryne has started sucking her thumb. I have gone in her room to check on her and I hear this really loud sucking noise and she has discovered her thumb...

Christmas is really my favorite time of year...until we get to the actual day because we are expected at so many places. We really have gotten tired of the going and going that has become associated with the holidays. Since we are now a family of 3 we have decided that we are going to spend Christmas day at home...together...just the 3 of us. We have yet to decide what our own family traditions will be, but we have a little time to decide.

Getting a fresh Christmas tree is part of my holiday preparations every year. I go the Monday or so after Thanksgiving and select a fresh tree. Once I get it home, I have this 24 hour process I go through in order to make sure my tree lasts until at least Christmas day, but hopefully for a little longer since the recycle day for Christmas trees in College Station is about 2 weeks after Christmas. So I got my tree on Monday and Tuesday evening we set it up. And Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning...around 3 am...it fell over. Now this is pretty normal for us. We have the tree fall over almost every year....usually it starts to fall and I somehow get stuck under it...holding it up. This year, we utilized one of our tested methods to keep it up...after it fell of course...we used floral wire tied to the top of the tree and attached to a cup hook that is mounted (discretely) above the window trim.

We also ended up with at least 30 ornaments that needed "surgery" after this fall...there are some ornaments that are completely missing large pieces...no idea where they went...

We have tried countless different things to prevent this including the purchase of several different tree stands. Every year Kyle tells me I just need to get an artificial tree... We grew up with a fresh tree (for the most part anyway) and I remember waiting for the day my dad would come home with a surprise for us...the Christmas tree. I just loved the anticipation and the smell of the fresh tree. Luckily, technology has now created candles that smell EXACTLY like a Christmas tree....I guess if I end up with an artificial tree, then I will be utilizing these candles more often...I still use them anyway...especially during the year when I want the Christmas smell in my house.

Here is our tree and mantle. Taryne's stocking is on the way so we have a decorative one in it's place at the moment...

Well...I have blabbed on long enough today...I hope you have a great holiday season, a Merry Christmas ( I will be back before Christmas, but I still want to wish you a Merry Christmas) and until next time...Gig'em!