Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. On Christmas Day, we woke up and Santa had visited. He brought a lot of toys for Michael and filled all of our stockings with goodies. Michael got really good at ripping the paper off the presents. After the last present, he was giving us the sign for "more." Fortunately, there for one more big present waiting for him outside. We bundled him up and found a yellow Hummer outside our door with a big red bow on it. It has a working radio. he loves driving it and listening to his music.

After opening presents and getting ready, we headed to Bill's family get together. We enjoyed spending time with his family, eating, and chasing Michael around. He has so much energy! Afterwards, we came home and made sure we were packed for our early morning.

The day after Christmas we woke up at 3 a.m. (UGH!) We got ready and made sure our luggage, the car seat and stroller were all by the door. Bill's aunt Anne and his cousins Maggie and Kelly picked us up just before 4 a.m. We headed to the airport where we boarded a plane to Boston. Gamma and Papa met us at the airport. After gathering our luggage, we headed to New Hampshire. We had a big breakfast and then went to the "Shire house" in Rye. We had our second Christmas there. Michael enjoyed pulling bows and name tags off the gifts the most.

We had a great time visiting with Gamma and Papa. While we were there, we enjoyed a heat wave in the 50s that melted the 2 feet of snow they had received the weekend before. We did get to sled before that round of snow melted. Michael did not care for that one bit. We took a trip to Maine where we saw the Bush residence in Kennebunkport. We also went to the HUGE L.L. Bean store and the Cabela's in Maine. That Tuesday we headed to Boston and retrieved Aunt Carrie and Patrick from the airport. From the airport, we went to the New England Aquarium. I think everyone in New England had the same idea. After the aquarium, we had a nice dinner at a restaurant that looks like a ship. I can't remember the name right now. On Wednesday, we were able to enjoy trekking out in the pouring snow and blistering wind. We got 10" of snow that day and night and had wind chill factors of -20. Yep that is right! Negative 20!

New Years Eve was fun. We were able to enjoy our family tradition of having a bunch of tasty munchies and just staying in. It would have been to cold to be out anyway. On New Years Day, we played in the new snow and on Jan. 2nd Bill, Michael, and I flew home.

Now that we are home, we are trying to get back in our routine of going back to work and daycare. It has been a challenge after being on vacation for two weeks.

Enjoy the pictures. Check back in a few days. I should have another update up soon.

After Santa Visited Our House

Opening Presents

Hmmm... how does this thing work?

Cruisin' Along in My Automobile

Dancing to the Music

Riding on the Scooter from Grandpa

Michael & Grandpa

4 Generations of Halls

(Michael, Grandpa, Baba, & Nana)

Papa Pulling Michael on the Sled

Michael Trying to Defy Gravity

Sledding... he did not care for it

Baba Sledding

Gamma Sledding


Kite Boarder.... BRRRRRRR!!!!

Surfer! Can you say crazy!?!?

It might have been 20 degrees out.

The Bush Residence

Kennebunkport, Maine

Silly Face

New England Aquarium

(I love the reflection)

Waving at the Fishies

Jellyfish

Penguins

New Snow

Down the Driveway

Mama Making a Snow Angel

"I can't put my arms down!"

Snow Wrestling

(Carrie & Patrick)

Professional Taste Tester

Playing with Baba

Michael & Papa

Christmas Decor

Prepping for New Year's Eve

Merry Christmas!

It is not quite Christmas yet. However, Bill and I are so thankful for the gifts we have already received. We have a wonderful family and many wonderful friends near and far. There are no words to show the appreciation we feel for the love and support you have given us this year.

The best gift we received this year was Michael. We are very blessed to have him in our lives. He is such an amazing, loving, and happy little boy. He has a way to bring a smile to your face. It is also really incredible how well he fits in our family. Although our wait was long, it proves that God's timing is perfect.

I will more than likely not be posting until after the New Year. Bill, Michael, and I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Getting ready for Christmas

The past few weeks we have been doing a lot to get ready for our first Christmas with Michael. We made and decorated gingerbread houses at church. We have also decorated the inside of our house and put our tree up. We decided to put a small tree on a table this year for two reasons. First, we thought it would be safer for our rambunctious little boy. Second, we will be headed to New Hampshire to visit Gamma and Papa after Christmas, so the tree will not take much time to take down when we get home.

This past Saturday we had breakfast with Santa at Michael's day care. We were not sure what Michael would think of the jolly old elf. However, we were pleasantly surprised. We let him approach old St. Nick on his own terms. We put him down and he walked right up to him and held his arms out for Santa to pick him up. He sat on his lap and babbled to him a bit. He made the sign for cookie (his favorite sign). We are guessing that he asked Santa for lots of cookies. Then, he smiled really big for his photo op.

We are really looking forward to Michael's first Christmas with us. Here are a few pictures. Check back in a few days for his Christmas pictures and his picture with Santa.

Our Gingerbread House

Decorating Our Tree

Hanging Ornaments with Baba

"Oooooooo" (said with a high pitched squeal of joy)

A Christmas Kiss for Mama

(no mistletoe required)


Our Tree Before the Finishing Touches

Thanksgiving Trip

We took Michael to Alabama for a long Thanksgiving week. The Friday before Thanksgiving, we stopped at Karl & Kim's (Bill's cousin) house for a couple of nights. We had a lot of fun with them. Michael really enjoyed playing the banjo with Karl.

We headed to Alabama on Sunday. While in Alabama, Michael got to meet his great grandparents and his many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He also got to meet a few of his Mama's friend from home including his Aunt Gennifer (Mama's lifelong friend).

Michael enjoyed most of his trip, excluding the 12 hour car ride home strapped in a car seat. Who could blame him?? While in Alabama, we successfully weaned him from the bottle. He is now on a diet of "real" (solid) foods. He has not had baby food or the bottle for over a week. YAY!! It is amazing how much this little boy can eat! To say the least, he had a wonderful appetite while we were gone.

Michael also loved riding the tractor, staying up late, and being spoiled rotten.

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

First Thanksgiving

I really like this eating thing.

Riding the tractor with Papa

Driving a tractor is very serious business

Michael's new buddy.... Papaw

Playing the banjo with Karl Michael & Uncle Doyle

Taking Pictures with Aunt Mary

Papaw, Mamaw, Gamma, Papa, Mama, & Michael

(4 generations)

Matt & Michael

Swinging with Uncle Tim & Aunt Mimi

Rainbow, a sick week, and plans

Just over a week ago I came home and there was a bright rainbow over our house. Bill went inside to get the camera and we took some pictures. We took pictures of both the rainbow, the fall foliage, and Michael.

This past Saturday Michael started getting sick. We ended up taking him to the "doc-in-a-box" because they were the only ones open except for the emergency room. He had a 103 degree temp. They misdiagnosed him with a sinus infection and ear infection. Bill ended up taking our sick little emperor to our family doctor on Monday. Michael was very miserable. He had hand, foot, and mouth disease. The doctor told us not to let him go back to day care until next Monday, so Bill and I have been taking turns staying home with him and trying to get him to eat and drink. As of today, we seem to be on the downhill side of this. Michael is talking, eating, and drinking. These are things he tried not to do for the past few days. Also, as you can tell by the picture, his sense of humor is back, too.

We leave for Alabama soon to see all of our family and friends that we haven't seen in years. We are looking forward to it, but are wondering how Michael will do on an 11 hour car ride. Since he is a seasoned world traveler, we are sure he will do fine.

Here are a few pictures:

Yep! He is feeling better.

The picture says it all.

Playing in the leaves

Down our road

Tree in front of our house

Rainbow over our house

Fall & Halloween

Over the past week, we have had a lot to do. We carved pumpkins on Thursday night. We took Michael, Joseph, and Joseph's friend Justin trick or treating on Friday night. Michael caught on really fast and really liked people giving him candy. However, some made the mistake of letting him reach in the bowl and take what he wanted. He didn't want to stop. He also tried to go into some people's houses. However, all in all we all had a good time.

We took Michael to a fall carnival at his day care on Saturday. Then, we went to the carnival at church tonight. He had fun at both.

Also, tonight Michael said a new word while we were at church. When he was ready to leave, he said, "home."

Earlier in the week, it was time for Michael to go to bed. I told him to go get his blankie. Bill tried to hand him the blankie he uses in his bed. However, he passed right by Bill and without missing a beat started dragging my Alabama blanket to his room which is a big chore for a little boy. He has been sleeping with it ever since.

Here are a few pictures from this week:

I love fall!

Our little monster

Isn't he adorable?!?

Our jack-o-lantern

Playing at the church carnival

What have they done to me??

Roll Tide to all and to all a goodnight!

There isn't a whole lot to update you with. I have started back to work full time and Michael is in day care. He seems to really like it. His teachers are very happy with how fast he has caught on to everything. He is also getting used to me dropping him off in the morning. This week he didn't cry and he waved good bye when I left. One day, he even pointed his finger towards the door as to say, "You go now!"


Last weekend, Michael and I both had colds so we stayed inside most of the time. Bill now is recovering from the same stuff we had. Yesterday, we had pajama day and didn't leave the house. We watched a lot of football. I am very happy that my team is still undefeated! Roll Tide Roll!


We are in the process of weaning Michael from the bottle. He has started to self feed using a spoon. Since he had his surgery, he has learned how to suck. He had no suction before because of his cleft. Now, he is able to use a regular sippy cup. He has started to eat more solid foods and is more open to trying new foods. I think day care has really helped Michael with these things.




I am posting a few pictures. They are of him just after church today and the others are of him eating mashed potatoes. As you can tell, he loves them!