Recovering and Remembering

Landon had another birthday party this year!! Yes- I had 10 two-year-olds at my house for 2 hours. We all had a blast! Landon was quite the little entertainer, was great at sharing his train table, loved opening presents, blowing out candles and enjoyed the 15 helium balloons we had to decorate better than any gift!
It was truly a great party. It was harder this year to write a guest list as I realized for the first time that I needed to invite the friends that Landon actually plays with- even though I wanted to invite so many more of our special friends! I really consider it a great problem to have that we have so many wonderful friends. So, whether you were here or not we are thankful for whatever role you have played in the past 2 years of Landon's life. Thanks so much for each of your friendships.

We did have a pleasant surprise at the party- Heather, Ryan and Emma came from Greensboro! Most of you all know Heather, my best friend from graduate school/UNC Hospital 7 Childrens. Times have changed from our white mocha coffee mornings racing to get to class on time, then sharing a cookie as we contemplated all of life's challenges- no doubt solving them all. It was so great to see she, Ryan and Emma (who I absolutely adore- the biggest blue eyes and personality you have ever met!). I miss and love you immensely Heather hoochie and hope to get a beach date planned soon.Well, after this terrific effort to blow out all the candles, starting before the cake even reached the table as you can see...

We had one tired little 2 year old.

Happy 2nd Birthday Landon!

So hard to believe that Landon is 2 Years Old! We had such a great day today, complete with a rooster awakening enabling us to make it to the 8:45 service at church! :) I guess he just remembered entering this world at 5:30am 2 years ago today. We had truck and plane pancakes, snacks on a towel for an indoor picnic as we watched the "Bee Movie", and his favorite dinner- spaghetti! I did make his cake- a "Choo-Choo" complete with 2 candles that he actually blew out! He was so proud- as you can tell by the picture. What a little treasure.

I have thought today about his delivery and all of the awesome emotions that came that day and in the past 2 years. As I laid there in the delivery room with oxygen on, being flipped like a pancake as his heartbeat dropped, my epidural leaving a hot spot in my left lower abdomen, knowing I was one pull of a vacuum extractor away from a C-section and my OB saying, "It is my job to be worried, not yours and I will let you know. Everything is fine", I never imagined that I would put aside that fear and desire the experience again. Wow, it is so true- children really are the greatest gifts and are worth every bit of pain labor may bring.

Landon is such an amazing gift and I celebrate him today... I watched him so many times today, laughing, playing, talking up a storm and laying in my arms as he counted to two, so proud, and went to bed without his paci for the first time like a big boy. He was convinced once I said that Pop did not have a paci and neither did Thomas the Train. :) He actually was more convinced when Stan said, well, it is "broke" I guess we have to throw it away. You may think we are cruel for doing it on his birthday, but I promise, he went to bed without fussing and is sleeping soundly as I write. Anyway, when is a good time to get rid of the paci?

Landon wore his superman outfit all day today and we got this shot of he and Raffie...

I love this little fella so much. He is such a part of who I am. I look at him and my heart just melts. It makes me even more in love with Stan. I am so blessed and I treasure the fact that I can say at this point that I have no regrets. I am so thankful to be able to be where I am and be able to work part time. The time I spend with him is irreplaceable. My heart is just bubbling over at the gift I have been given in Landon.

Happy Birthday to my little buddy. I am looking forward to another fun filled year of laughing and learning together.

Christmas Memories 2008

What a wonderful Christmas we had! We began our festivities at the Coles' annual Christmas gathering at Patti and Alan's (Stan's aunt and uncle). It was a touching time as we remembered Ma Cole and Stan shared our Christmas devotion this year. He spoke about how Ma and Pa Cole were the yeast in our family and how their faith has spread throughout the whole family...he likened this to the Amish friendship bread that has graced our kitchen throughout this fall season. We shared a special family time and enjoyed the pure JOY that Landon exuded as he danced and danced- he is SUCH a ham!

We had a delightful time with Stan's family on Tuesday night and celebrated Christmas with them on Christmas Eve. I would say the highlight of our time was watching Anna and Brandon open not one gallon of syrup from Sam's Club...but SIX! Stan and I AND LD and Kay had the same idea to play this joke on them! We got such a great laugh.

Next, we headed to our church for Christmas Eve Service where we shared communion by intinction- where each person tears a piece of bread and dips it in the wine/grape juice as the words are spoken of the "Body of Christ broken for YOU" and the "Blood of Christ shed for YOU"- always a meaningful experience for me- esp. on Christmas as we celebrate Christ's birth. We then made a new family tradition- we went to Bandidos so mommy didn't have to cook! Landon LOVED the chips and salsa and we just laughed at him crunching and crunching!

Then we headed home to open our traditional Christmas Eve gifts of new P.J.'s. Stan and I settled in after Landon went to bed and got started on THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh what FUN it was watching him delight in his Choo Choo Train- which he first started saying Christmas morning. Stan and I had opened all of our gifts the night before so we could enjoy Landon. It was the best gift of all.

We then had a birthday cake for Jesus and Landon blew out the candles. The cake was shaped like a Choo Choo this year- surprise I know. :)

Next, we headed to the mountains to be with my parents. We had a blast relaxing and enjoying one anothers company. Dad fixed his famous prime rib and mushroom reduction sauce, crab soup, mashed potatoes, and a delicious chicken with goat cheese and tarragon and parsley. Oh, as usual we were spoiled with his cooking. I think the highlight of the mountains was watching Mamma Mia with everyone. Oh, how funny it was to watch Marc and Stan's faces during this very silly "chick flick". Wow, we laughed and laughed.

So, Christmas has come and gone. But, the memories we made this year are priceless. Stan and I have reflected a lot over the Advent season and over Christmas about all of our many blessings. We pray we keep in mind the true celebration involved in Christmas- Jesus' birth and celebrate this gift throughout the year. May your 2009 be blessed!

Santa Snuggle and Christmas Hosting

So, how cute is this? I could not stop smiling after Landon posed with Santa. This sweet little face is growing up so fast. So hard to believe.

We have hosted four Christmas gatherings so far...I know...I am crazy. Pictured below are the attempted photos from three of them.

Our neighborhood playgroup. I really do think that is the best picture we got! Somehow our one little girl friend, Kate, didn't make it in this one! That's right, one girl in the whole playgroup!

Our family gathering. We had yummy ham with my Pappa's raisin sauce - my dad's special request. We made Christmas tree cookies in honor of my grandmother, Minkie. We had such a nice family time, reflecting on all of our many blessings.

Our church playgroup. We missed Janise and Sophia, Meggan and Kate, Ursula and Josephine! We had a nice quiet time sitting around the table, talking about the joys and challenges of motherhood, sharing such a special bond in Christian sisterhood. What a blessing!

Lightening McQueen in our Nativity?

So, it's official, Lightening McQueen has made his was to the manger to be a witness to Jesus's birth---according to my 23 month old Cars fanatic!! Notice that "Diesel" from Thomas the Train is also front and center. Landon and I set this up, talking about all of the animals, Mommy Mary, Daddy Joseph and Baby Jesus, the wise men, shepherds, angel and star and I turned around to get something and next thing I heard was, "MACK!!!!" (his name for McQueen). Yep- he had placed "MACK" front and center, along with Diesel just prior to wrecking the whole scene and saying, "Uh-Oh!" the whole time. I am still trying to explain to him that you only say "Uh-Oh" when you have an accident, NOT when you do things on purpose!

Next order of business of the day, after our Nativity creation and trip to the Museum of Life and Science to ride the "Choo-Choo," play with the ball display and look at the ant farm, was to make cookies. Landon had a blast rolling the gingerbread dough, putting lots of flour on it, pushing the cookie cutters into the dough and then...smashing them! I did manage to salvage a few.

We had a special day today, just the two of us. He is my little buddy. What a joy!

Preparing for Christmas

Merry Christmas! We are so excited to be in this time of preparation and waiting- the season of Advent. We are settling in now that my Christmas shopping is complete, our first Christmas party has come and gone successfully and Landon is well! We are ready for the wait- the wait to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. We are waiting to celebrate the biggest gift ever- Jesus!

As parents, Stan and I pray nightly to be the best that we can be. We are humbled at the opportunity we have to raise our own child- the responsibility that is- and know we can only do it with God's guidance.

We went to get our Christmas tree together and had a great time. It was cold, as you can tell by our attire. It was a quick trip, that ended when the man selling the trees gave Landon (a not even 2 year old) a candy cane...no, I did not let him eat it by himself, like I said, we had a quick trip to get our tree this year!

We have decorated our home- my favorite time of year, so I thought I would share a picture! Stan did all the wreaths (his favorite time of year too...as you can imagine). Please notice the four white rockers on the front porch- my Christmas gift from Stan! I pray each of you can take a step back and relax. Enjoy the true meaning of this season.

A Thanksgiving "Ham"

Well, Landon sure did enjoy his second Thanksgiving- as evidenced by his silly grin. It seems that he likes ham better than turkey just like his mom, and also likes to be the little "ham" (which I also hear was like me as a child- I know, hard to believe).

Don't be fooled though...our precious baby boy has reached the real deal- the tantrums I have heard and read about and the so-called terrible twos. It is hard to describe him as terrible, so I hesitate to use that word...though if you had asked me while I was carrying him out of Stan's aunt's house in front of the entire family literally kicking and screaming, I may have had a different response.

Landon is also just getting over a battle with pneumonia and respiratory issues that scared ole' mommy. He has been such a trooper through it all but needless to say, we are all sleep deprived. Times like these past two weeks really make me thankful for our health. I also realize how often I take our good health for granted, esp. little Landon. You know- I will take the so called "terrible twos" - In the grand scheme of things, I have a healthy little boy and for that I am very thankful.