Our Thanksgiving 2009

Our Thanksgiving got off to a rocky start as Nicholas got a stomach bug on Wednesday morning as we were packing up the car to head to Grandad and Kaki's house. So we stuck around and tended to him on Wednesday praying that our Thanksgiving wasn't ruined. Thankfully, God answered our prayers and amazingly Nick was better on Thursday morning and Graham and I never got sick! So we packed things up (dog and all) 24 hours behind schedule and headed up to the cabin. We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Newman's home and it was wonderful as always. The kids, Nicholas, Trip and Mady, had a great time playing with each other. They spent the majority of the time playing outside. The boys played tackle football with their daddy's and they went on walks to see the tractor and the neighbor's horses. Nicholas did not want to come inside at all. Of course the food was delicious and the company even better! Afterwards, we all came back to Grandad and Kaki's to stay the night. The kids loved joining in on some of the Garrison holiday traditions as Grandad put in the tape of Lauren and Graham's favorite Christmas songs and the whole family danced like crazy. That night, Trip and Nicholas got to have a slumber party and did really well sleeping in the same room. Baxter did not behave as well as the kids and got into the chocolate chip cookies and ran into Lauren, TJ, and Mady's room at 4 am, creating lots of chaos. On Friday, Lauren and I had a great time doing some shopping while everyone else stayed back home and played or helped out around the house.

We came home Friday night and managed to have a date night! Mimi and PopPop got some quality time with Nick while Graham and I got to go see New Moon--woohoo! It was great to get out with just my hubby. I know soon we won't get these opportunities for a long time.

On Saturday I was able to join Ashley and Mom shopping for a wedding dress! Ashley got the most beautiful dress and she will be absolutely stunning on her day! I still cannot believe we are planning her wedding :) Then of course Saturday night we watched the wonderful Georgia win over Tech. Graham is still on a high from the game! We finished everything off on Sunday with church and then a family advent service Sunday night to start the Christmas season off in a wonderful way. Nicholas loved the music and was dancing in the aisles. He wanted to badly to join the children's choir up on the stage and did not understand why he couldn't go be with the other kids. We are so excited for this wonderful season of Christmas to begin. How extra special this December will be!

My camera was having problems so I wasn't able to take any pictures, however my Flip camera was working well and I took lots of video of our Thanksgiving. I tried to upload a few and it was taking forever so I will try again tomorrow hopefully.

Just an update

Thought I'd give an update on our household before Thanksgiving begins. Recently, we've been seeing some changes in Nicholas--both good and very bad. It's almost as if he's turned up the dial on all aspects of his personality (if that makes any sense). His vocabulary and understanding seem to have skyrocketed and he is speaking in full sentences all the time now. He's so much more a part of the conversation all the time now, which is funny. And with this his humor seems to be really developing too. He also has been really showing us that he is all boy and has had times of being very hyper everyday--literally jumping off the walls and climbing on everything. With all of this "increased personality" has come major defiance and disobedience. The number of tantrums and need for discipline have increased like crazy. I can't tell you how much I do not enjoy being 8 1/2 months pregnant and chasing down a tantruming 2 year old in a parking lot and carrying him kicking, screaming, and hitting me to the car. Just this week there have been numerous public episodes like this. I've decided to never take him out in public again! And I've also decided that I won't feel so bad when he's a teenager and I become an embarrassment to him because of all these times that he's embarrassing me now with public tantrums. I am hoping to get through this phase quickly but preparing myself that it may last a while.
On Saturday we went up to Grandad and Kaki's to play and celebrate Butch being finished with his treatments in Nashville! Lauren, TJ, Trip and Mady were there too and it was wonderful having everyone together. The best part was watching the three cousins having so much fun together. Nicholas just loves everything about going up to Grandad and Kaki's house (except for the coming home part).
On Monday I had my doctor's appointment and everything looked good! I'm 34 weeks now. I have not progressed any further from 2 weeks ago and I can now stop taking the medicine to stop me from going into labor and I'm very thankful about this as it made me very ill. Nolan's heartbeat sounded great like always. I go back in 2 weeks and get to have an ultrasound!
Well today is Wednesday and we should be in Fairmount at Grandad and Kaki's to start our Thanksgiving vacation. Unfortunately as we were finishing up packing this morning to get on the road, Nicholas started with an awful stomach bug. We are hoping and praying that this will go away and we can maybe still make it up tomorrow for the big meal! I also pray that Graham and I don't get it too. That would be my worst nightmare--8 1/2 months pregnant with a stomach virus on Thanksgiving!!!! Please pray that won't happen!!

Thanksgiving Feast

On Wednesday, Nick's 2 year old class had their Thanksgiving Feast. It was so cute and such a treat to get to come visit him at school and have lunch with him. When the class first came into the room where the parents were waiting, they had a song/prayer to perform. I thought for sure Nicholas would not stay with the class but would come running to me when he saw me. He has been having serious separation issues when I drop him off at school. But I was so proud of him, he stayed right with his class and said the whole prayer! He was so proud of himself! I have no idea when he learned it because he hasn't been at school but I guess he catches on quickly. Then Aunt Ashley was even able to come and join us for the feast as her office is now up in Alpharetta. Nicholas had made a Fruit Loops necklace that he proceeded to eat in 2.5 seconds. When he finished with the necklace, he tried to eat the candle they had made out of rice and beans!! Guess he was really hungry!

Here is the video of the prayer. Sorry it is so far away, we were across the room and my Flip video doesn't have zoom. Nicholas is one of the last to enter the room, right before the teacher. He's wearing a grey shirt with his Fruit Loop necklace and is doing all of the hand motions.

(Check out my last post too as I'm adding pictures of the festival)

One sick month

It's been a while since I've posted anything and that's because Nicholas and I have been sick with various things since the end of October and I therefore haven't had time to update the blog. Also, my computer broke as well so that put a kink in things as I'm now sharing Graham's computer. Poor Nicholas has missed so much school at the end of October and all of November due to either tummy issues, the croup, or a cold. I am hoping that we are getting through all of this yuckiness before Nolan comes. As for me, I've got this cough that I can't seem to get rid of. I'll probably walk around with it until I deliver--just can't seem to kick it. Thankfully Graham has manage to avoid the germs so far and I hope that continues! With the pregnancy, I've been pretty uncomfortable these days. I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions most days for a couple weeks now. On Monday (a week ago) when I went to the doctor and told my midwife about my pain and contractions, she discovered that I was already dialated to 1 cm. She said that Nolan is also head down and very low, in position to come! She ran some tests and determined that thankfully I was not in preterm labor. But she did put me on some medication to relax my cervix and I'm supposed to be resting as much as I can. I am so ready to not be pregnant anymore and not feel all of these aches and pains all the time. I also can't wait to hold Nolan in my arms, see his precious face, and get to know this gift from God. But at the same time, I'm still so nervous about my world being turned upside down by adding a newborn to our family. And of course I want him to be healthy and fully developed. So I am just praying for God's perfect timing for Nolan's arrival and that he will prepare our hearts and our home for him as well!

We had a pretty fun weekend to share about. On Saturday, Nicholas and I met Mimi and Aunt Ashley at a Holiday Festival at Dunwoody UMC. This is our 3rd year of going to the festival and we always enjoy ourselves. Nicholas has gotten his pictures taken with Santa the past two Christmases and I was looking forward to that again. Unfortunately, Nicholas was not and he became hysterically afraid of Santa and would not go near him. So we probably won't get pictures with Santa this year--so sad! But he did enjoy the pony ride, the moon bounce, the playground, and of course all of the holiday music and decorations.
On Sunday, my family all met up down in Peachtree City at Aunt Sue and Uncle Dick's house for a Thanksgiving dinner! It was so wonderful having everyone together--Ashley, Jay, Mom, Dad, Matt, Mark, and even Papa! Nicholas had the best time playing with toys and just having everyone's attention. The food was delicious too! Thanksgiving is my favorite so I was so excited that we get to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners!