Countdown to Christmas!!!

Well, we've been MIA for a few weeks, and I apologize. Christmas has always been a hectic time of year around here. Add to that a very active 9 month old, a 40 hour work week for each parent, throw in a stomach bug (for all 3 of us), and another case of RSV/bronchiolitis (topped off with a very first ear infection!) and you have sheer and utter chaos. And exhaustion. Don't forget exhaustion. I'll get the illness talk out of the way first. Yep, we all got a nasty stomach bug that Tyler graciously brought home from daycare at the beginning of the month. It's very difficult to care for your ill infant when you yourself are ill, and so is your husband. It was a long weekend in the beginning of the month. And just this week, I took Tyler back to the pediatrician, as daycare thought that he might have an ear infection, and he had been coughing and wheezing a lot again. Another case of RSV/bronchiolitis along with an ear infection. We're doing breathing treatments again, and have started an antibiotic. There is some discussion of starting him on an oral steroid (Pulmicort) to help prevent these recurring respiratory infections. We're not real sure why this is happening so often to our little man, but it could be that he was born a little too early (38 weeks), he could just be overly susceptible (Travis had some severe allergy issues as a child), or he could just need to outgrow it. It's kind of a wait and see. But hopefully he'll be all better for Christmas morning!

And speaking of Christmas, we've had a lot going on to prepare for the big day! We went Christmas tree shopping a few weekends ago, and Tyler seemed to have fun helping us choose his first tree. I grew up with white pines, so it's always a hunt to find a place around here that sells them. They just don't seem to be as popular or as abundant as they were when I was growing up. But we found a little lot right down the street from our house that had them! Tyler wasn't really thrilled with the decorating of the tree, nor was he very interested in the tree after it was decorated. That is, until there were presents under the tree. He immediately high-tailed it over to the tree to mess with presents and ornaments. After a few obligatory photos of the offending behavior, we set up the Superyard so that it enclosed the tree. No problems since, though Tyler does sometimes climb the gate to "get a better look" at the tree. It's really cute.

We went and had Tyler's 9 month pictures taken, along with a few Christmas pictures as well as our very first family portrait. We went to Portrait Innovations again, and though it was VERY crowded and VERY far behind schedule, we came away from there with some great pictures. As we waited for the pics to be printed, we headed over to Short Pump Town Center to see Santa Claus. And what a wonderful Santa he was. And we showed up at a great time - there was no line! There were only a few people in front of us. Tyler did very well and didn't cry at all. He did give Santa "the look", but other than that we think that it went quite smoothly. I'll admit, I cried seeing Tyler on Santa's lap. Something about seeing your child experience the joys and magic of the Christmas season for the first time really brings out the emotion. I get very teary eyed thinking about it now too. I can't wait to watch him grow and learn and experience new things each year.

We also had our annual fondue Christmas dinner with Laura & Matt, Sara, and Jennifer & Bryon. We once again had it at our house, and had Tyler join in the festivities for as long as his little body would let him. He got lots of great gifts - a new toy drum, bath toys, and great clothes (including a VT outfit for him to wear on Orange Bowl day from Aunt Sara!). He didn't really "get" the unwrapping, but I think he had a good time with it nonetheless.

We have a busy weekend getting all of the last minute things taken care of, and preparing the house for the guests that will be here for Christmas. We decided several months ago that it would work best for us to not travel this year. So Grandpa and Uncle Eddie are coming to us on Christmas Eve and I will make our traditional Christmas Eve dinner for us all. They'll spend the night and celebrate Christmas morning with us before having to head back to Lynchburg. Travis' family will then come over for a late lunch that day to celebrate with us. And then, hopefully the three of us will be able to rest and relax for the rest of the evening! We're really looking forward to Christmas this year, though having everyone at our house will most certainly be a (hectic) change. We've gone a little overboard as far as Tyler is concerned. We were going to take a page from some other friends' books and wrap up toys that he already had, since he won't really know what's going on this year, and we're sure he's going to be more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes anyway. But that didn't happen. He hit the motherload this year. We're suckers. OK, I am a sucker. Oh well, it's only his first Christmas once, right?

If I don't get another post in between now and then, MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone! And to our family & friends that we aren't able to be with this year, know that we love you and are thinking of you. We hope to see everyone soon. Have a safe and happy holiday!!!!!

Oh, and one more thing - congratulations to Ben & Chrissy on their marriage on December 8! We weren't able to attend the wedding in NC due to illness, but you were both in our thoughts!!!