Christmas Cough!

The last two weeks have been filled with lots and lots of activity! Dean was sick for the first time and it sent me a little over the edge - and by "a little" I mean a lot! It started with a bit of congestion and the doctor told me he needed some TLC and he would get over his first cold just fine. The congestion turned into and cough and some curious sounds in his chest. So...we headed back to the doctor on Monday and we have been giving him breathing treatments to treat his bronchiolitis all week. Dean's first Christmas gift was a nebulizer. Lucky boy. As of today we have some lingering gunk but he sounds MUCH better.

During the course of his cold we had him baptised at our church, Grace Fellowship United Methodist. We thought the Holy water was going to clear his cough right up but we weren't so lucky. Despite not feeling great, Dean was a little champ! The evening after his baptism we celebrated Christmas early with Michael's family before they headed to Michigan. It was a lovely evening with lots of gifts. We were also lucky to get a visit this week from our friends, the Brewer's! They were in town to visit family and dropped by. It makes us wish they still lived in Houston!

On Christmas Eve we baked Jesus a birthday cake, sang, and blew out the candles. I am hoping this will be a new Christmas tradition for us...it was fun! Christmas day was spent with my family. And again, there was lots of food and lots of gifts.

Now we are looking forward to the New Year! I am pretty sure we are going to be spending our New Year's Eve at home playing with the BEST Christmas gift we have ever received. Michael and I are so blessed and humbled by the gift of our Dean. I am so excited to see what God has planned for our family. I know that whatever He has planned is much greater than anything we could ever dream of.

Lake Travis & Santa

What a fun week we've had. Dean and I skipped town on Wednesday and met my best friends, Jess and Marlo at the new lake house on Lake Travis. Jess had not met Dean yet so this made our journey even more exciting. True to form the girls, Dean and I did a whole lot of nothing. We ate dinner at The Iguana, shopped at The Domain, lunched at The Oasis, watched a movie in the theatre and did a lot of catching up. Very cathartic for me. While shopping on Thursday we happened upon Santa! I tossed Dean into his lap and they took one of THE funniest photos of my son to date. It looks like Dean ate one or two of Santa's helpers. Not sure if the all-over horizontal stripes are to blame or if it's the camera angle? He looks like a chub. Totally precious. Our trip was too short and it makes me miss my dear friends so much. Why can't we all live on the same street?

When we hit town on Friday I was exhausted and Michael was excited to see Dean. Saturday morning we went to ROCC where my parents are members and attended "Breakfast with Santa." It was the cutest little event ever. There was cookie decorating, real snow outside, a DJ, Santa and lots of kids on a sugar high. Next year we will be able to enjoy more of this event but this year we just went to get some good shots with the big man. We had a bit of a meltdown but by the time it was our turn Dean had chilled out. Pictures turned out great!

Next weekend we are looking forward to Dean's baptism, the Uncles and Aunt (safely) coming home from school and our early Christmas celebration with Michael's family before they go to Michigan. Stay tuned for the update!

xoxo

Snowflakes and Giggles

Well, hell must have frozen over because not only did it snow in Houston, Texas...it actually stuck. We had what many Houstonians would call a blizzard last week. And it happened to be Dean Elliot's FIRST snow. The excitment was largely lost on Dean but, I documented every last snowflake. I took enough photos and Flip video that when Michael arrived home that evening he rolled his eyes and said, "Busy day, huh?" Well yes, it was in fact it was a busy day. Plus, a large portion of my new job description is to document my son's every movement and milestone. Duh. Dean will thank me one day. Actually, he probably won't but his wife might. I have some great shots for the photo montage at his wedding.

And yes, there were costume changes. Shoot me.

The latest breaking Dean news: we had our first big giggle last night. And I am proud to say I was the one with the comic genius. Apparently, fake sneezing and fart noises are totally hysterical. I could watch this video clip for hours.

Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving came and went with lots of family and even more food! I began the day feverishly getting Dean ready & packed, trying to make myself somewhat decent looking and attempting to bake Emeril's 3 cheese macaroni for the first time. I'm sweating just thinking about it all. After 2 different mid-recipe runs to HEB for ingredients (yes, 2) we were off to our first Thanksgiving with Michael's family. We enjoyed all the traditional turkey, dressing, etc... and no one choked on my mac & cheese so I assume it was edible. We then headed to my parents house on the other side of town and enjoyed a delicious non-traditional meal. Steak. After our final meal we rolled ourselves back home and crashed. Dean did fantastic but he was completely pooped! The poor kid only got to nap in the car between the two meals but, you would never have known. He was a all-star the whole day as he got passed around, hugged, kissed, fed and fussed over. Must have been rough.

The remainder of our weekend was filled with visits from Dean's Uncles and Aunt and our good friend Jason Alley! We had a fabulous first Thanksgiving and we have TONS to be thankful for this year....

a healthy baby boy

family & friends

our warm home

each other

Michael's job

and my hormones returning to normal levels

Now we are headed into Dean's first Christmas season!!! YEA!! Let the fun begin!

xoxo

Swine Flu & Family Pictures

Its been a busy week here at our house and it's only Tuesday! On Monday morning, Dean and I ventured out VERY early to a Houston clinic so I could get the swine flu vaccine. The clinic was in a rather sketchy area of town so my plan was to get there and get home as quickly as possible. I was in line for about 3 1/2 hours sandwiched between a women who stood three inches away from the back of my neck while coughing and a little boy who kept trying to grab Dean's paci out of his mouth. It was a nightmare. I spent the majority of the time trying to distract the little paci thief with hand sanitizer and discreetly wipe the back of my neck with a wet ones wipe. I kept Dean covered up with about three blankets. I was finally given a number (63) and ushered into a room and administered the vaccine. Ahh, government run health care at its finest. Bottom line, I am glad I went and got vaccinated - even if everyone is panicking about the safety of the vaccine. I will let you know if I grow a third eye. Stay tuned.

Today was much more fun. We had Adam Nyholt come to the house to take some pictures. He was great! I dressed Dean in a buffalo check onsie, cable knit booties and the most precious hat with little ears. I took a picture of him in this outfit however, Adam's photos will be MUCH cooler! After two hours of smiling, clapping, laughing, snapping and making ridiculous faces all in a failed attempt to make my son laugh - I am exhausted. And of course, as soon as I closed the door behind Adam, Dean started laughing. Weasel. I can't wait to see the proofs in a couple of weeks.

Tonight, Michael is getting to have actual adult conversation at the Rockets game with a customer (lucky). I am glad he gets to get out of the house! And after a long day of pictures and costume changes Dean is chilling in his Bumbo grunting and pooping and I'm getting ready to change a diaper. Tomorrow, we head back to the pediatrician for Dean's last two month shots. Poor guy.

xoxo