Bristol Trip

After spending three years being only two hours away from Aunt T and Uncle Ralph, we were definitely spoiled by their generosity and kindness. Now that we're further away, we don't get to make the trip nearly as often, so Tommy and I decided to head on down a few weeks ago and spend some quality time. Not only does he have a great time with Gatty and Uncle Ralph, but Tommy also love love loves the kitties, Ginger and Hidey, and follows them around non-stop (much to Hidey's dismay!). Thankfully, Ginger is friendly (and brave!) enough to let a wild little three-year-old try to pick her up, pull her tail, and throw treats at her, in addition to giving her more hugs than she probably bargained for. You can clearly see the love in the pictures below! During our visit, Tommy got to spend time at the playground, check out all the pets at the pet store, and get out a bunch of Shawn and Brett's old toys, which he LOVED! On Saturday evening, Shawn and Amber were able to come by for a visit - first time we've seen them in over a year! It was so great to catch up and spend some time together. Shawn and Tommy had fun passing the basketball and playing with all the old toys. Although there is much love between Tommy and the kitties, he wasn't so sure about S&A's dog Hailey, although he did warm up a little by the end! Thanks again, Gatty and Uncle R, for another great weekend in Bristol! We'll be back for Rhythm and Roots in September! Love you :)

Profile Comparison

Let's do a little comparison: Tommy on top, baby girl underneath. Don't you think they have the same nose?!

P.s. I had a better picture of her that showed her "nice round belly" but it got bent in my bag :(

A Christmas Smorgasbord

For your viewing pleasure: Christmas Eve treats for Santa and Rudolph, Christmas morning, so much shoveling, visiting Gramma on Christmas Day, opening presents at Steffy's, Tommy's fantastic new John Deere blanket (thanks GG!), quality time with Uncle Ralph, sledding sledding at the farm, and being silly with GG :)

One of my favorite Tommy quotes from Christmas has to be when he opened up the new kitchen Santa brought him. He took one look at the picture on the box and said, "This is for a girl!" He's been spending too much time around his daddy and uncles who like to joke that the kitchen is only for girls. I'll have you know that Will is fully broken in: he does his own dishes throughout the day and all of them after dinner :)

Updates

Ok, this blog is in serious need of some updates.

Update #1: It's a girl :)

Future updates: Christmas pictures, Bristol pictures, one or two from Pennsylvania, Tommy and the blue van, and a comparison of 20 week ultrasound pictures (they have the same nose!). My goal is to start tonight, but I should let you know that that was my goal for LAST night and it didn't happen. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Also on the list of things to do for tonight: pull out all of Tommy's old clothes and start going through them. Hopefully both of these will at least be started tonight. We'll see. Happy Thursday!

Conversations

Some recent conversations I've had with Tommy:

Me: Tommy, are you excited about having a baby brother or sister?
T: No.
Me: Why not?
T: I don't want a baby.


Me: Tommy, what kinds of things are you going to teach the baby?
T: Nufin.
Me: Nothing at all? Why not?
T: I don't want a baby.


Me: Tommy, do you want a baby brother or baby sister?
T: Neiver.
Me: What do you mean? Why don't you want a baby?
T: Mama, we talked about dis wast night. I don't wike babies. Dey don't talk to me!


Me: Tommy, do you want a baby brother or baby sister?
T: Baby sister.
Me: What if we have a baby boy? Will you be happy with a brother, too?
T: No.
Me: What? Why not?
T: Because I wuv grils.


Me (at work, talking to T on the phone): Hey buddy!
T: Hi Mama!
Me: Whatcha doin?
T: I dis want to tell you an da baby dat I wuv you!


Last night on the couch:
Me: Hey Tommy, can I have a hug?
T: Ok Mama. (Hugs me)
Me: Thanks buddy.
T: Wait Mama, I wanna hug the baby, too! (Hugs my stomach)


As you can see, we've made great progress in the past several weeks! Now if we can just get him prepared for the possibility of having a little brother then we'll be all set. At least we have until August...

Thanksgiving 2010

Some pictures from our Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania. We would have had more pictures, but I (of course) left my camera in Virginia. A great weekend full of family, fun, and food! They're a little out of order, but you get the idea. :)


Tommy and I catching snowflakes (you can't see them, but they were there!)


Dani trying to save the stuffing after dumping waaaay too much in the pot :)


Tommy and his mashed potatoes


Sisters and Tommy cooking Thanksgiving dinner


After running Carlisle's Turkey Trot in the pouring cold rain - we made it!


Tommy and Pa and a turkey at the Turkey Trot


Before the run

Life

I keep a journal. It's not something I write in every day or even every week or even every month. Sometimes I write about little things - like what Tommy said that was so funny I never want to forget it or what we ate that I must make again or what color the sky was when I was driving home from work. Other times I write about bigger things - what's going on in the world or problems that we're working through or hopes and dreams for the future. Today I wrote about life over the last three months. Don't worry, I'm not about to turn this into a blog where I post my journal entries. But so much has happened, and is happening. A mix of little things that I want to remember and big things that I know I'll never forget. Conflicting emotions, great days, tough days. I woke up this morning and felt like something had to be said. Something had to be written to try to capture it all in one place, together, instead of all these different experiences floating around on their own. So this is what it is. This is what I said, what I wrote about everything our family of three (soon to be four!) has been through since Thanksgiving. It's a lot about all of us, and a little about just me. Hopefully it helps to explain the otherwise sparse posting on this fun-loving blog about the adventures of our best boy. Back to the regularly scheduled three-year-old-and-growing posts in the near future. I don't know how many people are out there reading, but thanks for pushing pause with me for just a moment. This is important.


02/16/11 So many things have gone by. Experiences in life that come and go in the blink of an eye. And yet, during each day of joy, fear, excitement, sadness, it seems as if time is passing so very slowly. But now, three months later, it's hard to believe that so much has happened in so little time. Two Thanksgiving weekends with an abundance of love and laughing and food. News of spreading and stronger medications and surgery. Two pink lines, anxiety, hope. A week of visiting in a sterile environment. Christmas spent with families. Laughing, eating, toasting, smiling, sledding, opening, holding on for one more day. More hours, days, weeks spent by a hospital bed. Alternating fear and hope, fear and hope, fear and hope. Watching the end come slowly but sooner than anyone was prepared for. A three-year-old growing, changing, laughing, watching, understanding, enjoying, accepting. Pictures of first a wiggling peanut, then a human form with fingers, toes, eyes, nose, mouth, beating heart. Relief and joy and hope. A day of remembering, grieving, celebrating. One bullet too many, fear and relief and sadness from afar as loved ones lost a loved one.

How is it possible to have so many emotions at once? So many emotions that are opposite, and yet complimentary to one another at the same time. Yes, there is sadness for the past and present. But there is also joy for the present and future. Yes, there is anger for life lost too soon. But there is also happiness at two little lives that have yet to begin. And over everything, there is sunrise, clouds, light, rain, and sunset. Trees swaying in the wind, buds forming on trees. There is Hope. There is the promise of unconditional love. There is a world spinning through the universe.

And then there is me, an insignificant speck of dust on the surface, seemingly lost in a sea of humanity and other, bigger problems - hunger, war, disaster. But a small Voice somehow breaks through the noise of everyday, telling me that even I am loved and accepted and treasured as if I was the only one. Even when I cannot speak, there is understanding. There is enough for all, for every one.

Life is unpredictable and wonderful and terrible and amazing. Even in these moments of conflicting emotions, the world keeps spinning, bringing a new day, a new light, a new promise, a new opportunity to soak things in. To be present and open to whatever life brings. I will never understand the chaos, but I am starting to accept it for what it is.

Today is a new day.

We love you, Gramma. And we'll never, ever forget.

Christmas Cheer

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, our little family of three headed out to the Berry Farm to find the perfect Christmas tree to bring home. Tommy spent a long morning at church and hadn't slept well the night before, so he was a bit on the crabby side. Despite that, he did feel good enough to hug most of the trees on the lot. Right away, he got attached to what I would call a "Tommy-sized tree" and wanted to bring it home. We opted for one just a little taller to accomodate all of our beautiful ornaments, and I'm happy to say that once we got it home (and after he woke up from his nap), he did decide that he liked it :) Once the plastic was carefully cut off, we strung the lights with minimal difficulty, hung all the ornaments, and then turned the lights off so we could admire our work and say, "ooooooooooo." Tommy said, "Mama, why are you bein' a ghost?" :) The next day, we made hot chocolate and hung our stockings while tuning into "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Although Christmas tends to be a pretty commercial holiday, now that he's old enough to understand the story, we're really trying to teach him the more quiet and meaningful side of Christmas amidst all the noise and advertisements. Here's what we've got so far:

Me: Hey Tommy, what special baby was born on Christmas Day?
T: Baby Jesus!
Me: Right! And who was baby Jesus' mama?
T: Mary!
Me: Right! And who was his daddy?
T: Justin!
Me: Close - his name was Joseph.
T: Joseph!
Me: You got it. So where was baby Jesus born? Was he born in a house?
T: No, he was born at a birthday party!

We're getting there :)

Also, here's one of Tommy's newest jokes (he definitely takes after Will):

T: Knock knock!
Us: Who's there?
T: I love chicken!

I just love having a three-year-old! :) Hope you are enjoying this wonderful holiday season!