Thanksgiving 2011

So I know we've been absent for awhile and I promise I have good reasons! There is so much to tell, there's no way I'll fit it into one post. So I think what I'm going to try and do is start with Thanksgiving and maybe between now and Christmas do some backtracking to Jake's 2nd birthday, Halloween and other activities I've managed NOT to blog about.

I'm sure most of you know by now that we found out in September that we are expecting baby #2 in May. We are extremely thrilled... now that we've gotten through the rough spot called the first trimester. To say it wasn't nice to me is very much an under statement. I went from having HORRIBLE nausea and losing 10 lbs to breaking out in hives from HEAD to TOE. I'm talking swollen ears, hands, knuckles, etc. You know the scene in "Hitched" where Will Smith eats fish and has an allergic reaction. Well, lets just say that was my ENTIRE body. It was AWFUL! It's a long story, but we're past that now and I'm LOVING the second trimester. I'm full of energy and have a RENEWED joy for what I get to do as a stay at home Mom!

This Thanksgiving we had so much to be Thankful for, but never have I been so thankful for my health and the ability to do.... do laundry, do dishes, do the dusting and cleaning, do the normally mundane tasks. The Lord really has put a new song in my heart for the place I am in in life right now. He truly puts a new song in my heart each and every morning. I ask Him DAILY to never let me forget what it was like to NOT be able to do. To have to sit by and not be able to cook/clean/take care of my son. To watch my AMAZING husband take on not only his task as husband and dad, but also the task of Mom, cook, sole child care provider, EVERYTHING. He was running SOLO. And let me tell you, not ONE TIME did he EVER complain. He would actually tell me at night, as I cried myself to sleep time and time again, how honored he was to be able to serve me in such a way. WOW... sorry ladies, he's taken and he's MINE!

So needless to say, just the fact that we were able to get in the car as a family, drive to Mesquite and spend time with family was more than I could have ever asked for. We had THE BEST time with Gerald's family. We ATE, and ATE, and ATE.... you see the trend. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed being together. Now, the drive there was not so pleasant, sitting in traffic for about an hr. and making it about 5 miles, but even in that I was able to remain joyful. GOD IS GOOD!!

So we arrived in Mesquite Wed. evening where Jake pretty much went straight to bed on his fun little pallet on the floor. Thursday we woke up, had a great breakfast with G's family, and relaxed until it was time to get ready and head over to Dawna's house for turkey and other yummy fixings.  We got there around 3:30 and had a smorgasbord of food. It was all DELICIOUS! This expecting Mommy was happy! Jake got to play with cousin Grayson, who is about 6 months younger than him. They had fun running around and playing with cars. Later when the men were taking a break from football they hooked up the Kinect for Jake-Man to play with. He was a HOOT! He thought it was the coolest thing that he could see himself appear and then disappear on screen. They also had a mini-tramp out for him to play on and the phrase "Jumpin' Jake" was quickly coined. He would have jumped on that thing all night if we had let him. Jake pretty much had everyone in stitches by the end.  He would jump, jump, jump, then jump off and yell, "YAY JAKE!". Such a cutie! He had a good time with all his Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. (Minus Aunt Merry who didn't make it down this year, she was missed!) We finally managed to get J-Man loaded in the car and headed back to Bauchi's house for the night. He crashed hard! The next morning we got up and headed out the door around 9:30 to do a little shopping.  Nothing serious, just a little browsing and to just get out and see the crowds, which really didn't end up being that bad in Mesquite. We had fun just strolling and letting J run the mall. After that we headed home for a quick nap and then off to the park with Aunt Michelle, Uncle John, and Bauchi to feed the ducks and play on the playground. The weather was perfect, and as usual, Jake had a great time. He could play on a playground 24/7 if we had the time. Once we were done at the park we went and picked up Grandpa and headed to eat at Texas Roadhouse, YUMMM! Jake was such a big boy, he did AMAZING, if I can say that. G and I were so proud at how well he sat in his highchair, and what a joyful heart he had.... I guess it's contagious. We had a great visit and plenty of leftovers.
So Saturday came and Bauchi had to leave and meet up with Aunt Merry in Vicksburg, we were sad to see her go. We packed up and headed over to Aunt Michelle's where we spent the day and evening. It was great to get to spend so much time with Gerald's family this holiday. It's usually a whirlwind trip, but this one was relaxed and just enough time to see everyone. WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!