Merry Christmas!

You guys are so lucky that I am in the hospital. This has got to be the most attention I've paid my blog in months!

We did Christmas morning at the hospital this year. Well, the kids did breakfast and stockings at home, and then they, Jeremy, my parents, and Angelina and Wayne all came down to the hospital to open presents.
It is a little different look without the tree, but the kids really did not care one bit.

Jeremy got an Eagles throw blanket to replace the one Blake stole from him about a year ago. Thanks to my wonderful friend who brought my fabric and scissors to the hospital and proceeded to do all the cutting for me since I couldn't get down on the floor. Good friends are priceless.
And here's Carolyn with something she's been wanting for well over a year. Get ready, world. She's planning on being a rock star someday.


We wish all of you a very merry Christmas and hope you are all doing well!

Thank goodness for...

puzzles...

vaulted ceilings...

and a sister-in-law who takes care of business when I can't.

Blake proudly told me he didn't even cry.

Blake's birthday

By far, the hardest part of being in the hospital has been missing Blake's birthday. We had plans. After weeks of trying to decide, he settled on wanting a Max and Ruby birthday cake. We made plans to go to lunch while Carolyn was at school, just a Mommy-Blake date. He was excited about his presents that were gathering.

Then he woke up the morning of his birthday to find Angelina there, not Mom. He loves Angelina, but it's not the same.

The first thing he and Carolyn asked after was whether or not I had made the cake. I didn't. Carolyn harassed me the entire day before. I told her I had time. Besides, I was trying to get her teacher gift finished and go to a meeting and do a million other things.

Instead of baking his cake, I was stuck in the hospital trying not to feel horrible that all of our plans were shot. Not just for that day, but for weeks.

I convinced Jeremy to go on the lunch date for me. He didn't want to leave me here, but once Angelina said she would sit with me, he went. That was fantastic for both of them. I am very happy that when I couldn't make it, the plans became a Daddy-Blake date. They don't get enough of those.

Then we spent the afternoon trying to scrounge up a cake. I knew it wouldn't be what he pictured, or what I pictured, but we needed to find something. We settled on a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake that said "Happy Birthday Blake! From Max and Ruby."As you can tell, he was more than happy to eat his substitute cake. (This boy desperately needs a haircut.)

Jeremy also went home to do presents and cake with Blake. We wanted to use FaceTime so I could watch Blake open his presents, but the hospital wi-fi is not up to snuff. Instead, Angelina and Jeremy taped it, and I listened on speakerphone. It was fun to hear the joy in his voice as he opened his gifts.

Thanks to everyone who helped make Blake's 3rd birthday wonderful. I am sure that I felt worse about it than he did. How could he be sad?! He got this awesome kitchen!

Guess who lost her first tooth?!

Zoo lights 2011

I had a long list of things I wanted to do this Christmas season, and I was insistent that we get started as soon as possible. The Christmas tree had to be up early. We were going to attend Zoo Lights the first week it was open. I needed to have family pictures taken before the holidays, so that I could attempt to get a Christmas card out.

I was feeling happy with my progress and a little overwhelmed trying to get Blake's birthday taken care of by Dec. 15 before tackling the rest of my list. Then we ended up at the hospital in the wee hours of the morning on Dec. 15 because my waters broke. Labor didn't start and since I wasn't even 29 weeks yet, the doctors determined that I would stay at the hospital until I delivered, which we hope will be 6 or 7 weeks from now. (Sorry for the repeat information for those on Facebook.)

Those were things we were able to do. Of course, I still had a list a mile-long that has been snipped here and there as I adjust to a hospital room instead of my own house. I am so happy with the things we were able to get done before it all came to a stop.

Going to Zoo Lights without a memory card in your camera is stupid. Not only do you not get pictures, but you are still dragging around a camera bag. Also, iPods are not made for taking pictures in the dark. But I am so glad we have these few so that I remember we still had fun holiday activities this year.

This gingerbread house was my favorite light display. And it's the only one that semi-turned out in the pictures.

We took the kids around the zoo for the train ride. Blake and Carolyn loved seeing all the different animals lit up in lights.

We ended the night with dinner at Five Guys, trying to get Blake and Carolyn to eat before falling asleep.

Wishing you a little sugar mixed in with your Christmas

Pictures from a 5-year-old photographer

We are having another boy due at the beginning of March.