Christmas Update

I think we are finally getting things settled down after the craziness of the holidays. We had such a great Christmas. Derrick works for the school as a grader, which I love because he doesn't have to work when there is no school. Hayden and I had him all to ourselves for over two weeks. It was so great! We started traveling the Sunday before Christmas. We left right after church and headed to Derrick's parents' house. We had a great night staying up and talking with family. Until we had to go to bed. Hayden had huge sleeping problems the whole time we were gone. I ended up staying up with him pretty much that whole night.

On Christmas Eve the boys went ice climbing and the girls went horse shopping and we ended up together at a family Christmas Party. It started snowing really hard as we were driving home. It was scary to drive in, but the only time I really love snow is on Christmas Eve, so I was happy. I went to bed early because I was exhausted from the night before and Derrick stayed up with Hayden that whole night. Really, the whole night. Poor Hayden was getting really sick by this time. Fevers, diarrhea, rash, vomiting, runny nose, coughing, teething... everything! I felt so bad that he was so sick for his first Christmas.

On Christmas morning he was so sick he just sat on his grandpa's lap and stared.


Doesn't he look pitiful? Can you believe that's the only picture I have on my camera of Christmas day? We have more, but I left the CD at my mom's. Later that day we went to another family party and the next day we headed up to my mom's. We did a lot of relaxing there. It was so nice, but we started to feel too lazy after a while. Hayden was not getting better and I started to get really worried when I realized he wasn't having enough wet diapers and he was dehydrated. I took him to a doctor and he said he had another ear infection. I couldn't believe it! On top of everything else... He gave him a shot of antibiotics and he started to feel better in a few days though.

He has learned so many new things in the last two weeks! He started really crawling and he can now pull himself up to anything, which means he is getting into absolutely everything!!!! He learned how to wave too. It's my favorite thing ever! He is so cute. Before we know it he is going to be cruising and walking and then talking. I can't believe that he is going to be a year old in less than three months.

One night at my mom's when I was up with Hayden I got a phone call at 2:30 am and it was my sister-in-law announcing that my new baby nephew, Isaac was born! I was so excited! We went to see him the next day and he is beautiful. He looks like his daddy. I forgot how tiny then can be and how they don't do much at first. It sort of almost kinda makes me want another one. (don't worry, no plans yet) And I was so impressed with Marcie. She had a home birth and when we went to her house the next day she was sitting on the couch in jeans and a shirt, up moving around, and just looking great. the whole home-birth experience sounded so amazing for them. I am so glad it turned out just like they wanted. How great to be able to enjoy your new baby and not have to have a million doctors and nurses interrupting you all night and day, and being scared about hospital security and that someone would come steal your baby if you fell asleep (think I was paranoid at all?)

We loved the vacation. It was so great to spend time with family and be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior, and to remember all that he did for us. but we were so excited to get home get Hayden back on a scheduleand get back to reality. There is certainly no place like home.

Derrick went back to school and work today, and we both have callings in presidencies in our ward, so we are crazy busy and just trying to get things accomplished. I look back at the last year and realize that the Lord has blessed us so much! We have so much to be thankful for.