Christmas memories 2.

Christmas memories.

Why not?

Mr. Cranky Pants

Cib's new after nap cranky face.

Geez baby it's cold outside

While moving the cats to the garage for the cold night ahead I lost
one. After searching the whole house I am not surprised to find this
year's Christmas cat under the tree.

Merry Christmas

I am sorry I have been in a bloggy slump. But it has been a fun few weeks of holiday activity. Thought I would kick off the season with this Christmas Questionnaire.

Everything you wanted to know about how we celebrate Christmas**

** but didn't care enough to ask

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Cider. I live for spiked hot cider. Oddly I have a cup in hand now.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? As a child, Santa did not wrap gifts. I plan to carry on that tradition.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White White White. Austin would disagree and say colored colored colored.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Mid November. Yes, that's right - before Thanksgiving. I enjoy having a nice chunk of time to forget how much work it took to get it all out and up.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Fatheree Christmas Eve Filet Mignon. And my mama's red velvet white chocolate peppermint cake!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Gosh, SO many! My dad always bought me a gift that not even my mom knew about. It ranged from pageant quality dresses with petty coats to hub cabs as I got older. It always made me feel very loved. My dad is Santa!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? When I was 12 I finally believed all those horrible dream bursting kids at school. :(

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No way! Must wait for the grand reveal on Christmas morning - bright and early!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The living room tree is all 'peppermint' themed red and white. The bedroom tree is more formal burnt orange and gold.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT! Although people in Houston dont handle it well.

12. Can you ice skate? Never been. But when I recently suggested going Austin informed me that I would hate it. Fair enough.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? see #7 Additionally in more recent years my husband always surprises me with a fab purse for Christmas!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? The birth of Jesus and time with my sweet family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Mama's Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating my tree with Austin and drinking mulled wine.

17. What tops your tree? A giant bow.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving and then receiving :)

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)

20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? I could live without them.

21 Favorite Christmas Show? Santa Claus - The Movie (dudley moore) circa 1980 film

22. Saddest Christmas Song? The Gift. I cry like a baby every time I hear it.

Go ahead, copy this post and fill it out on your blog.
Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Cib's First Haircut

Cib's sweet baby curls.

We went to this great toddler friendly hair cut place called Snip It's - Cib had a blast!

Until I tried to strap him into the chair that is.

Ah but then he saw the animal crackers and all was ok.

I sat there watching him get his first hair cut and felt a knot in the throat - he is getting so big!

He looks so handsome and very 'big boy' with his new do!

When you finish your hair cut you get a prize by depositing your hair!

The best prize was for Cib to have his Granny Nanny there - he loves her so.
As you can see, the feeling is mutual. :)
Thanks Nancy for taking pictures and being a wonderful grandmother!

Happy Holidays!!!

http://www.meenajeanesphotography.com/fathereechristmas09/

Canceled Cycle

After another sono and blood work this morning in Dallas, the doctor has decided to cancel this cycle. He wants perfection and the best chances for the embryos, as do we. I feel pretty peaceful and know that the Lord has His perfect timing. Thank you all for your prayers!

To be continued in a couple weeks! Our new cycle will begin in about 10 days, which will make for an early January transfer.

Most importantly, I am home. Baby boy in hand and hug from my hubby - life is good.

Waiting, Waiting & More Waiting

After a trip to Dallas for, what I thought would be, a quick sono. Well, I am still here.

My uterine (sp?) lining is not 'optimal' at this point, which is tied to my estrogen levels which are about half of what they need to be. Sooo...the doctor has put me on additional, yes additional, estrogen with the hopes that everything will improve. I will have another sono and estrogen check tomorrow which will hopefully show improvement for an embryo transfer Tuesday, Nov. 24th here in Dallas.

If there is no improvement then they will either cancel this cycle and we will try again next month or they will continue with improvement efforts.

I feel confident that the Lord will arrange things according to His perfect plan. If this is not the right month, then I am at peace with waiting. Either way continued prayers are appreciated for success aka healthy full term baby delivered to this mommy's arms. :)

Austin's Birthday

This past week we have celebrated Austin's 32nd birthday! It is also Cap'n Jim's birthday too!

Cib & I wore daddy's favorite color in honor of his birthday!

Cib especially enjoyed the birthday tres leches. Yum!

And what party is not complete without the humiliation of funny hats.

On Friday Granny Nanny was incredibly gracious to keep Cib over night so we could have a night on the town with our friends. Granny Nanny shared these great pics with us of their exploration of the duck pond.

Happy Birthday Austin!!! We love you!!!

Cib has a staring competition with a friendly squrriel

Waiting

Over the last couple weeks, maybe a month, I have come to realize that I am at a 'snapping point'. Unresolved greif and anger from my mother's accident, my mind's inability to completely process all the change our family has endured over the past year (moving/job loss) & the dreaded waiting to know if these precious two embryos are meant for this world and the outcome to either scenario

The Lord has spoken to me through a few of those closest to my heart over the last month. First an out of town friend who spoke a harsh truth about my running from grief, the second a girlfriend from my IVF support group who reminded me (unintentionally) that having a baby is not my life's ultimate goal but the pursuit of holiness and just today my wise friend Missy at It'sAlmostNapTime with her pointed words on tension. I just had to share her post. http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2009/11/tension.html#links


It is amazing how the Lord so pursues me daily. Through His word, through my girlfriends, my husband, my son. Even when I want to shut out my maker He reminds me of His infinite wisdom and grace and most of all how desperately I need him.

May the Lord make me more holy through my current trials, no matter their outcome.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (New International Version)

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Cib's First Longhorn Experience

For Austin's Birthday he wanted to take Cib to his first longhorn game! And that we did, with a little help from St. Granny Nanny!

Cib with cousins Meredith & Tate and of course his Granny Nanny

Not sure why there are two of these, but double the pleasure I guess!

Cib and Granny Nanny in shock and aw over the horns.

Cib trying his hardest to 'hook em horns'

Cib meets his first cousin - Caroline!
They decided to be best friends on the spot.

T minus 2 weeks

Well we are two weeks and a day away from 'lift off'. I can't believe how much quicker this round of fertility treatment has gone. (Compared to last time at nearly four months) Side effects have been different and yet some what the same. Migraines, fatigue and feeling a little pudgy. All bearable in the name of babies.

I have begun estrogen patches and steroids as of this past Sunday along with continued lupron injections. I am up to two patches, which are applied to my abdomen area with the goal of working up to four patches at a time changed every three days. Lots O Hormones People! If you call me and I spontaneously burst into tears, please be patient.

I am otherwise doing feeling pretty good for a woman in artificial menopause. :)
I will say watching Cib every day I am reminded what a miracle he is. I pray for more miracles.

Well, we hope he will grow out of this.

He has taken to wearing things on his head and running around 'blind'

Home

Cib is SUCH a sheer joy to be around! He is absolutely in love with being 'ow-side'.

He loves to roll around in the dirt - such a boy!

After being in our home for 4 1/2 months, he just discovered the sandbox!

But his favorite game, inside or outside, is 'I get you, get you' and we chase him. The sounds that erupt when he is caught and collapses dramatically on the floor can only be captured in this photo. Makes my heart smile!

Happy Halloween!

We started our Halloween off with some daddy time & our new books!

For Cib's second Halloween we had a Lil Monster Mash -

Scarecrow & the Lion

Dorothy & the Lion

We had lots of tasty treats!

And some of our fun friends came too!
Here is sweet Ella as a peacock!

Charlie & His Angels

Aunt Tashi as a sweet lady bug
Sweet Saige as a Bumble Bee

Cib ended his weekend with some good fun at the park with Daddy!

WARNING: Possible Cutey Overdose

Enter at your own risk! :)

Our little lion went to his school halloween party with his entire fan club in tow! Nana & Mamaw - from East Texas, Granny Nanny & Cap'n Jim (Thanks for making the early trip!) and of course, the fan club presidents- Mom & Dad.

We started off with a little photo op at home before heading to the party.

Then we got the party started!

Cib went fishing and won a prize!

Three generations of loving on lookers!

Cib loved the moon walk!

Cib decorated his very own trick or treat bag.

Well, daddy helped a little.

The real high light of the day began when we sat down with Nana for a lesson in decorating the perfect Halloween sugar cookie.
This was Cibbers idea of decorating.
Nana said it was ok as long as we share!

Nana liked the cookies too!
A theme emerged-

Here is Cib getting his tatoo on his hand - with his cookie.

Here is Cib watching Daddy make his Halloween necklace - with his cookie.
An intervention had to be performed.
The giant vants of pasta were a good distraction and a huge hit!

Then we finished off our fun by decorating our pumpkin!
And the big finish, my new trick...
Drinking out of a straw!!!

At the end of the afternoon - I had one very sleepy Lion on my hands.