I'm very sorry to dump everything into one post, but that's how it goes! My mom and Jimmy came from the 13th through the 21st to visit and then we were getting all of our holiday stuff done after that. We had a really wonderful visit with my parents. They were able to experience all of the seasons of Texas in the week that they were here given our kooky weather. Follow me along this photojournalistic look into the lives of Vivien and Silas, won't you?
Vivien and Grammy had a swinging competition, but we all know that no one swings higher than Vivien. That's just a fact. Sorry Grammy.
Vivien's friends, Dominic and Gabriel gave her a beautiful carrying case for her girly stuff that she could decorate herself. Also, Aiden and Brandon got her some lovely hair accessories that she was able to put in the box. She and Grammy practiced their up-dos.
Grampy and Silas were trying to have their picture taken, and then a certain little dog decided he should be in the shot as well. That's his Zoolander pose.
Vivien's Christmas program at school was on the 16th. That was the day the roads were icy and I was so worried that they would cancel the performance. Vivien has been practicing the songs for weeks. We had to drop the kids off in their classrooms when we got there. After we dropped Vivien off, the school director stopped me in the hall to tell me that Vivien sings like a little angel. Years ago, I went to a friend's son's elementary school program and I cried, so I knew when it was my own kid I would really be in for it. Well sure enough, I could barely keep it together. It was like ugly cry. And I was trying to hide it, but I don't think I did that great of a job. The second I saw her walk through the door, my eyes welled up. I was so happy my parents were there to enjoy the program with us.
It was really funny to see this sea of parents' hands waving to the risers full of kids. How confusing that must have been. Yet as soon as we saw Vivien, we started waving. It took her a while to find us, but when she finally spotted Grampy, she had the biggest smile. It was hard to get good pictures and video. We sat a ways back in case we needed to escape with a crying baby (we did not need to). Luckily, the school will sell good video copies of the performance.
Vivien was so beautiful up there. She was so serious about the music. It was just so darling. Again after the performance, the director came up to me and told me that she and the music director thought Vivien should be wearing wings when she sings. The whole production was adorable, and of course, the loudest ones are the most tone deaf. Bless their little hearts. Look how beautiful she is...
Grammy told Vivien she would knit a blanket for her baby doll. Vivien got to help her knit part of it. How cool is that?!
Here she is nursing Anna, a gift from her friends Rissa and Ashley.
We pulled Vivien's Jumperoo out of the attic only to find that the straps that hold the seat in were snapping off from the heat. I called Fisher Price and the replaced the seat for me for free. They didn't have the exact pattern any longer, but I didn't care about that. This is the second time I've called Fisher Price about something breaking, and they sent a free replacement. Great customer service is so hard to find these days, so kudos to them! Here is my little angel trying out the Jumperoo for the first time. I am so in love with this child.
Here is Grammy saying good-bye to Silas in his Santa suit. I've been so bad about marking milestones, but he is rolling and rolling and rolling (back to front, front to back, etc.). He found his feet. He's trying to sit up. He's been accomplishing a lot in this past month.
Uncle Joel took a couple of pictures of Santa Silas. Now, I believe that Silas looks like Jim. But occasionally I see my sister, Becky, in his eyes. This picture, in particular, looks like my sister as a baby. But here he is looking like his Daddy again. We had Christmas with Jim's family on the 21st at Liza and Joel's house. Here is Vivien eating lunch with her cousin, Catherine. It's hard to believe that Catherine was Vivien's age when Jim and I started dating.
Aunt Liza came up the stairs to see the girls like this watching Enchanted. She had me get the camera to get this cute pic.
Vivien never misses an opportunity to jump on a trampoline.
My mom gave me her aluminum cookie cutters a while back that we used when I was a kid. Vivien and I used them (and the old recipe) to make Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve.
I got the kids matching pajamas to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. Silas has to wear a hat most of the time because he likes to scratch his head. He has a head full of scratches. Poor little guy.
Vivien's pediatrician convinced her to leave her pacifiers for Santa to take to the babies that need them. We have tried EVERYTHING in the book to get her to give them up. Nothing has worked. Somehow Dr. Merchant's suggestion resonated within her. We tied ribbons to them and left them with Santa's cookies. She was pretty emotional about it. She hugged them good-bye. Jim and I can't believe it's really over. We thought for sure she would go to college with pacifiers.
Here is the tree after Santa came.
Vivien was so excited to see Mommy Jan that she didn't even stop to see what was under the tree!
Santa brought her a new big girl bike!!! The flowers on the bike match one of the flowers I have tattooed on my foot. Ha ha.
Look at this cool frame I bought myself and had Jim and Vivien wrap. Don't look at my dirty fish tank. Seriously, stop looking at it.
Speedy was growling at Toby in this pic. He did not want to share Mommy Jan's lap.
Silas got his first Bible.
Vivien's school does the coolest stuff. This is a light bulb coated in glitter and made into an ornament. This picture doesn't do it justice. It is adorable.
Here is also a handprint wreath that Vivien made in school.
Santa brought Silas a high chair so that he can sit with us at dinner time. He was testing it out.
Aunt Becky and Uncle Doug got Vivien roller skates. She was cracking me up with this.
And finally, we moved Silas into his bedroom tonight. I didn't take any pics yet, mainly because his room has served as a storage closet recently. But he's in there all comfy and cozy. Luckily, there is a queen bed in there so that we can still snuggle together when we nurse.
I have so much to post, but now Vivien is really sick. I have thank you cards to write and video clips to send to my grandmother and laundry and a billion other things. I'll get to it soon!!!!
I'm super behind on the blog. I have a lot of new things that I want to post on, but don't want to put them all on the same update. I'll add them separately, I guess. Grammy and Grampy were here this week to celebrate Vivien's birthday, which was last Monday. She's 4 now! We had a nice party with close friends at the park. We could not have asked for better weather. It was a bit windy, but in the 70's. The next day we had ice. How lucky! Here is a pic of Vivien blowing out her candles, courtesy of my dear friend, Cami. She was covering her ears because the singing was too loud for her. Ha ha!
I didn't tell Vivien where we were going. We walked in and I showed her how to play the Gamecube. She stayed pretty well distracted until they called her back. Her hygienist was a ROCK STAR. I loved her so much. Vivien was so polite and didn't balk at anything. She followed all of their directions. Silas was quiet the whole time and just looked around. I was wearing him in my Beco. Everyone gushed about how good of a baby he is. I got a bunch of compliments on Vivien too. They said she was exceptional especially for her first time. The hygienist kept giving her extra toys for being so good. Dr. Kelli said she has great teeth! I was a proud mama!
Here she is getting her x-rays.
They have fun sunglasses for the kids to wear during the cleaning.
Getting cleaned by the awesome hygienist.
Dr. Kelli examining her. She has a 30% overbite and a crossbite on her right side.
And I had to throw this in, because who doesn't love a nakey baby???
Here is Grammy saying good-bye to Silas in his Santa suit. I've been so bad about marking milestones, but he is rolling and rolling and rolling (back to front, front to back, etc.). He found his feet. He's trying to sit up. He's been accomplishing a lot in this past month.
