Ringing in 2010

Friends are coming to town tomorrow to help us and the Ayers (we'll miss the Young family) ring in the new year. It's our turn to host the 3rd annual celebration. The boys are so excited. They keep chanting "we want Joshua." With 6 kids among us we opted to stay home, but with such great friends we've got no complaints! Besides the 20 and 30 temps are enough to keep me inside until March :(

Roommates

On Saturday our baby moved in with his big brother and the empty nursery will soon have a crib again! As if I didn't have enough emotions going on, with our big Christmas present and the post Christmas Day blues. But they were so excited. What a blessing. The novelty still has not worn off, but I am sure it will hit sooner than later.
Owen's door has this "nameplate" on it, made by Courtney from a beach trip long before Mason was even born. And so Owen insisted that Mason has one too. He made it all by himself. So cute!
The boys each got bed tents for Christmas. Thanks Mim! They love them. It makes reading bed time stories a little challenging ;)
They are doing great so far. Naps are the trickiest, but once Owen goes back to school it won't really matter. They were awake and chatting this morning around 6. I hope that ends soon!
Next on the list, potty training! UGH!

Our reaction

Yes, we opened the card in front of all our family. It was the first present opened by an adult.

I have been pondering for 3 days how much to say about my reaction, but I know you are all wondering and some of you possibly avoiding me for this very reason :)

I'd love to say it was one of super excitement. As much as we assumed the baby was a boy, evidently a big part of us (EJ and me) was still holding out for a girl.

It's not that we are sad for another boy, I actually haven't begun to process what that will be like! Boys are so fun and I am happy to have another one for lots of reasons. I pray they will be the best of friends! It's actually just sadness that we won't have a daughter. (Yes, folks this is it. My body is done. Don't ask me how women have 12+ children, or 4 for that matter, but my body can not.)

Anyway, in my disappointment I have come to some great realizations and have learned a lot about myself. The experiences a mother assumes she will have with a daughter (tea parties, prom dress shopping, wedding, 1st baby, weekly phone calls, late night chats etc.) are not promised to us just because we have a girl. A daughter might not choose to do any of those things, or may choose not to involve her mother anyway. There is also no guarantee for that perfect mother and daughter relationship (which doesn't exist anyway). It's easy to glamorize what we don't have! And from what I've heard the hair curling, tights and bows and extra tears aren't so fun ;)

And so in our disappointment, which EJ and I have dealt very little with together (God is gracious), we consider ourselves blessed to be having another child. There are so many people longing for children of their own, how can we be disappointed!

We look forward to meeting this little guy and can't wait to see what he looks like and what his personality will be like.

You can bet, I will be praying for awesome nieces, daughter -in laws and granddaughters and for grown sons who call home and visit a lot!

And on a lighter note the difference between EJ and I...
he is excited he won't have to make preparations (nusery, etc) and I am sad:) No planning? What will we do while we wait? (the master bath, which he suggested, is definitely out of the question!)

Christmas Morning

Christmas Day seemed to go by so fast, but yet we took it slow and enjoyed ourselves. Even preparing breakfast and dinner was a breeze with so many people to help.
Owen was most excited to see what was in his stocking. He was definitely the fastest at unwrapping presents. Mason on the other hand enjoyed unwrapping, opening each toy and actually playing with them before moving on to the next one.

I didn't get many good pictures, most were blurry from excitement, but here are some that turned out okay.

Breakfast

Mason and Sir

Sand art with Mim

Mom got a Wii and Wii Fit.
That kept us entertained the rest of the afternoon.

Mom playing Wii fit with both boys.Just had to take a picture before it was all over.

I was sad to see it all end. I still am for that matter.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We had a wonderful day. I can't believe it's all over.