Holiday Greeting

The holidays are a busy time for everyone and it's no exception with our family. I've been able to send out a few Christmas cards to friends and family who live out of town, but I don't think there are enough hours in the day to allow me to send one to everyone as I would like. I hope those of you who read my annual holiday update here (with a few minor edits) instead of on paper will chalk it up as a contribution to "go green" and save trees...

Greetings From Our Family!

Our family has been blessed this year with good health and fortune on both the home and job fronts. Dave has continued to be very busily employed with BASF, and although we’d all like to reduce the amount of time he has to spend on work, we are very happy he continues to have a great job he enjoys. I am still very much involved with our children as a stay-at-home-mom, and our first full year as parents of two little ones has been both a challenge and a delight.

Lauren has gone from a 13lb baby last Christmas to a 22lb, 14-month-old toddler this Christmas. We celebrated her baptism in March and her 1st birthday in October. She began walking at 10 months (and can really move now), has 8 teeth (and loves to eat – especially cheese), and has begun to say a few words (especially “Dada”, but not “Mama” nearly enough). She loves music, books, Mickey Mouse, being outside, and playing with her big brother. It’s so wonderful to see the two of them interact so well together.

In April, Mason turned 3, stopped taking naps, and completed potty training all at the same time. He has really become our little engineer. He loves watching “New Yankee Workshop” on PBS and “How It’s Made” on the Science Channel. He constantly wants to know how things work or where they come from and can spend hours working with tools and building forts out of the sofa cushions. He’s really enjoying going to preschool three days a week and will start going four days with the beginning of the new year. I’m constantly amazed at how much he knows. Vocabulary, reading, math – he’s definitely one smart kid.

Although traveling with two kids has proven to be quite an undertaking, we’ve made a few trips this year. We joined my family at a cabin in Pigeon Forge, TN early this year, made a couple more trips to visit both Dave’s and my parents in Florida, and met my parents in North Myrtle Beach twice. We also made a couple weekend vacations as a family of four to Raleigh and Lake Lure, NC. For the first time, we celebrated a quiet Thanksgiving at home this year, but will join all of our family for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

We’ve certainly had a wonderful year, and we hope your home has been as blessed as ours. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy new year.

With Love,
Karen, David, Mason, and Lauren

Recap

I've not been in the blogging mood lately, and honestly, I'm still not really in the mood, but since the kids are in bed, Dave's working, there's nothing on TV, and the cold that I have is preventing me from doing anything productive, I thought I'd post a quick recap of the past couple of weeks...

Dave did a lot of traveling in November. He had a couple of multiple-day work trips as well as a fun trip out to Seattle for a friend's wedding (which I mentioned rather jealously in my last post), so I was on my own with the kids a lot. Let me tell you, I love these kids, but this single parenting thing is one tough job. Major props to all of you reading this who do it on their own.

Mason had a couple of additional ear infections. He had his first one the previous month and I guess he just never really got rid of it. Mason has never really been sick, and has never had any antibiotics, but after round three of this, Dr. Smoak gave us some antibiotic ear drops (which we preferred over oral ones) and it seemed to do the trick. I hope it doesn't come back, because as much as it's a pain for me, I know it's 10 times worse for poor Mason.

My parents came to visit for a few days and while they were here to watch the kids, I went to the dentist. I hate going to the dentist, and this time was no exception. I was told I have not one but TWO cavities that need to be taken care of sooner than later. I haven't had any cavities since I got my braces taken off back when I was a kid. Since I haven't really done anything different where my teeth are concerned, this is yet another thing I blame on having babies (along with my straightened hair, wider hips, and red "beauty" spots that have popped up all over).

And speaking of the dentist, I took Mason for his first visit. I was ready for a fight, but he did much better than I expected. And unlike his mother, he got a very good report on his teeth. He did get a comment about a misaligned bite and possible orthodontics down the road, but since he is my child, I'm not surprised.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at home for the second year in a row. Last year we were home due to the 1 month old baby we didn't want to travel with, so Dave's family came here. This year, we had no visitors since we're planning knocking out visits to both sets of parents in one shot over Christmas. So instead, we invited our very nice across-the-street neighbors over for dinner and had a great time. When you can't be with family for holidays, it's so nice to have friends with whom you can celebrate. Mason was in heaven since the family includes a baby. Mason has told me many times lately he wants to be a baby doctor when he grows up and he's all about "taking care" of little babies, singing to them, and playing with them. I have a hard time getting him to keep any kind of distance from babies.

Finely, for the past few days, I've been battling a cold. It started as just a runny nose just like the one Lauren had for several days last week, but now it's progressed to the watery eyes, sneezing, and cough that won't quit - especially at night. I never get enough sleep at night as it is, but this cough is throwing me over the edge. Mason woke me up at 3am last night when he wanted water after what I suspect was a bad dream. Since I moved out of bed, I was up coughing for the next hour. I finally settled down and felt like I could sleep when Lauren woke up at 4:30. I settled her down to sleep pretty quickly, but I was up again until about 5:15. I had just gotten to sleep when Lauren was back up at her usual 5:30 wake up call.

Maybe one of these days, I'll be back in the mood to do a better job of keeping up with this blog, and I might even throw in a picture or two. I suspect though it won't be until I get some sleep in, some of the piled up dishes done, or the sickness over with. I'm afraid to think how long that will be.

Moms Miss All the Fun

Why is it that as the Mom in this family, I have to miss all the fun?

Last week Mason was sick with his second ear infection in a month (and never had one before that) which caused us to miss two dinners with friends and a fun outing to tour the new hospital complex right behind our house.

One of our college friends is getting married in Seattle. We considered taking the whole family, but finally decided the logistics of it all would be too tough, so Dave gets to go and I get to stay home with the kids.

I haven't been to Dave's office Christmas party the last three years due to you know who. Dave's been going stag. At last year's party, he won the grand door prize: a free night in a local hotel suite. But since we don't have anyone to leave the kids with over night, and I couldn't even if I wanted to do to nursing the little one, it will probably go to waste. Dave is considering staying in the suite with Mason (so that he can swim in the indoor pool) while I get to stay home with Lauren.

And I don't know how many cocktails, Mom's Night Outs, choir practices, gym workouts, and chances to ride roller coasters at Carowinds I've missed, all due to the kids. I used to play tennis pretty regularly BC (Before Children), but since then, I haven't picked up a racquet.

I just realized the other day that I've been pregnant, nursing, or both for the last 4 years and 4 months. And since neither Lauren or I are ready to quit nursing yet, it will be a few more months. One day, I know this will all be behind me and and I'll miss it. But until then, I'm looking forward to getting a chance to be in on some of the fun again.

Over the River and Through the Woods

This past weekend we took a long weekend vacation to Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and Bat Cave, NC. It was the first vacation we took as a family of four while not visiting extended family.

After doing a little research online, we found a cozy little cabin in Lake Lure at a bed and breakfast called Grafton Lodge. It was about the size of a single wide trailer, but it had two bedrooms and a little kitchen. A very nice place.When we got to town, we stopped at the only gas station we could find. I didn't know these pumps still existed, so I had to take a picture...

The main reason we chose this area was because the Old Cider Mill in Bat Cave. Mason has recently been really into watching a show we recorded off the Food Network that shows how fresh apple cider is made. He's borderline obsessed with it and has asked to watch it daily for the past couple of months now. So we figured it would be a good learning experience for him to see a real cider mill in action.

We stopped here first, but they weren't pressing that day. They told us to come back the next day, so while Lauren was napping, Dave took Mason to watch. You can see the apples lined up to go up the little apple escalator to the grinder, and the 'mash' falling down the chute to the press below. The fresh cider was so delicious, we bought 1.5 gallons of it over the course of the weekend. Dave said Mason was riveted by the whole thing.

Later that afternoon, it was raining, so we headed over to the kids museum called Kid Senses in Rutherfordton about 20 miles away. I wasn't sure what to expect for a little museum in a small town, but it greatly exceeded expectations. I highly recommend you go for a visit with your little ones if you're ever in the area. Here's Mason inside a bubble.

And inside a kaleidoscope of mirrors...

Lauren enjoyed the bananas (her favorite fruit) at the grocery store...

On Sunday before we headed home, the weather cleared a bit, and we went to Chimney Rock Park to enjoy the gorgeous views and beautiful autumn leaves.

This is in the tunnel heading to the elevator that will take us to the top of Chimney Rock. Lauren and Mason enjoyed hearing their echos in there.

On the walkway heading to the top of the rock...

Our family on top of the rock...

Chimney Rock, elevation 2200 ft. I wish I could show in better detail how beautiful the views are here. The leaves were so pretty. We hit it right at the peak time for the changing colors.
After heading down off the rock, we rented a backpack for Lauren and headed out for a little hike to see the Hickory Nut Falls, also in Chimney Rock park. I wasn't sure if Lauren would be up for this, but she did great. It wasn't long after we started walking that she fell asleep.
The path to the falls was so beautiful. It was about a 1.5mile round trip, and I wasn't sure if Mason would make it, especially after walking around on the top of Chimney Rock, but he did great. He got a little tired and whiny at times, but he made it better than I expected.
The bottom of Hickory Nut Falls. Scenes from the movie Last of the Mochicans were filmed here. The picture doesn't do it justice.

By the time we got back to the car after our hike, everyone was tired and hungry. We stopped for some pizza for lunch and headed home. Lauren slept the whole two hour trip.

It was a great little vacation despite the rainy weather we had most of the time, and not getting enough sleep due to Lauren's nighttime antics and the dreaded time change. We've learned it's pretty hard to take two little kids, especially with one that still naps, on a vacation, but even though it's tough, it's worth it to me to expose them to new things and to get away to spend some family time together. I'll be looking forward to visiting this area again sometime.

Best Homecoming Ever

October 20, 2001 - the date Dave and I officially became engaged. Since yesterday was the 8-year "anniversary" of that special date, and since I doubt Dave even remembers it's significance, I thought I'd post a little picture to commemorate it. This was taken by a passer-by right after the big moment.
We met each other in Atlanta for Georgia Tech's homecoming festivities that weekend. At the time, Dave was working in Texas and I was in North Carolina. We had been long distance dating since he graduated in June of 99 except for a few short months when we both worked in Charlotte.

On that beautiful Saturday morning, we joined my parents and brother\sis-in-law\new nephew at the Ramblin Wreck parade on campus. Then we had breakfast at the Silver Skillet right next to campus (featured in a Travis Tritt video as well as a classic episode of Good Eats) and walked around for a bit.

Before the game started that afternoon, we stopped by "our bench" next to the Tech Tower where we used to go when we were dating. It is a very nice courtyard area right next to the football stadium. Once upon a time, Dave carved our initials in that bench, but when we sat down, we saw they had recently replaced it (due probably in part to our vandalism). And that's where he popped the question. I knew it was coming and of course I said yes. (After all, I had been ready to say yes for the last four years.)

Then we went to the game and shared our news with the family. Mom and Dad already knew since Dave had called them ahead of time. After the game (in which Tech beat NC State - the tickets are displayed in our playroom) they surprised us with a little champagne celebration at our hotel.

It was really hard going our separate ways the next day, but we would soon be together again. I moved to Texas a couple of months later, and the rest as they say is history.

One Year Update

Since Lauren turned one yesterday, I was obligated to take her for her one-year well-child visit at the doctor's office this morning. Originally, I had it scheduled for her birthday, and I'm so glad I changed it to today. Poor girl shouldn't have to be subjected to needles on her birthday. Here are her stats:

Height: 29.5in (50-75th%)
Weight: 20lbs, 13oz (50th%)
Head Circ: 46cm (75-90th%)

After Dr. Smoak declared her perfectly healthy, the nurse came back in to give her the shots. She also snuck in an anemia check - the finger prick test I always dreaded as a kid. At least now they don't use the equivalent of a thumb tack. Instead they use a little contraption that punches the little needle down on the finger to draw the blood. That part didn't seem to be a problem with Lauren. It was the way the nurse was holding her arm and squeezing her poked finger while she got the blood to go in the tiny vial. This went on for at least two minutes while Lauren screamed and cried the whole time. My poor baby made me want to scream and cry with her. And when the nurse came at her finger with a Bandaid, that really put her over the edge.

And what was worse, the finger test was followed up with not one but two shots. (We usually only do one at a time with the exception of the IPV and HIB which we do together and happened to fall on this visit.)

Needless to say, Lauren was not a happy camper when we left. She was so worn out from crying, she fell asleep in the car on the way home (after unsuccessfully trying to take off her finger bandage). I got her in bed and she slept for another hour and a half until I had to wake her up to go pick up Mason from school. (I always hate having to wake her up for that.)

When we got home from school pick-up, she had some pizza and milk (which she started drinking yesterday!) and she was once again her bubbly self. Hopefully, she won't remember these doctor's office visits as she gets older.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

She may be a year old now, but she'll always be my little baby! Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl!

Photo album of Lauren with her favorite Pooh Bear taken the 13th of each month of her life...

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