Baby's 1st Christmas

My head is swimming with everything that has happened since my last update 3 weeks ago.  How have 3 weeks passed so quickly?!?

Parker's first Christmas was wonderful.  For years I've wondered when we would get to celebrate "Baby's 1st Christmas".  Last Christmas was especially hard on the heals of the miscarriage.  This year was a dream.  I feel so blessed!  Justin had duty on Christmas day... let me rephrase that... Justin VOLUNTEERED for Christmas Day duty (24 hour duty).  He told me back in October, about 5 hours before we were leaving for the hospital to begin the induction.

(INSERT DRAMATIC PAUSE)

No, he didn't run it by me before he volunteered.  Fortunately for both of us, he told me at the car dealership while we were waiting for the van to be repaired.  Good for him because I couldn't hurt him... good for me because it forced me to control the emotions/hormones that I probably wouldn't have attempted to control had we been at home.  It took me 15 minutes to get over and I think I deserve a huge amount of applause for managing to get over this lapse in judgement so quickly considering I was 41 weeks pregnant and to say I was "hormonal" would be a massive understatement.  So Parker and I spent Christmas Day on base with him.  Our best friends prepared a Christmas dinner picnic basket for us that I picked up and took with me.  We watched movies and changed a steady stream of diapers before I headed home since the snow was starting to fall. By that night it looked like this

At 4am I woke up to feed Parker but wasn't feeling that great.  I managed to get him back down but I wasn't able to fall back asleep I was feeling so poorly.  By 6am the full wrath of the stomach flu struck. Over the next few hours I did a lot of praying for strength as I was alone with a baby he wanted to play and snuggle but I couldn't even sit up ... even having to stop nursing to run for the bathroom.  Outside it looked like this:

Our 4-6" of snow that was forecasted we had already exceeded.  Justin's relief finally made it to the base and praise God, Justin was able to get home (none of the side streets had been plowed of the 6"+ that had fallen and the highways were icy)... and he took over caring for Parker for the next 24 hours.  I slept all of the 26th and woke up on Tuesday the 27th feeling much better and to a true Winter Wonderland.

I think we had about 14" of snow at our house.  It was beautiful!  The locals said the last time it snowed like this was in the 1970s!

Justin wanted to go play in the snow so we headed to our best friend's house (we'll call them Mr. & Mrs. K).  The stores were all sold out of sleds... so Mr. K joked about taking the kayak sledding.  They also somehow decided that the kayak would fit inside the minivan.  It didn't and we now have a nice new windshield!  Mrs. K and I stayed behind at the house with the babies while our husbands (and their toddler) ventured out in the snow.  Justin suggested I call the insurance company about the windshield since "it's going to need to be replaced soon."

Insurance Agent: And how did this windshield damage occur?
Me: (as Mrs. K starts laughing and I try not to laugh)  Ummm... from what I was told, trying to fit something that was too big into the car.
Insurance Agent: And when did this damage occur?
Me: Today.
Insurance Agent: Oh wow.  You're sure quick to call in.
Me: From what I'm told, it's not something that can wait long.
Insurance Agent: Oh.  And is the crack bigger than a dollar bill?
Me: From what I was told, much bigger.

My husband so owes me a shoulder rub or something for making that call!  Ha ha.

My parents flew in later that day.  It was my dad's first time meeting Parker so it was a special day.  We finally celebrated Christmas on the 28th.  Parker got a new gym mat that he absolutely LOVES!  I'll have to post some video of him on it.  He'll lay there for hours happily talking, cooing, kicking and reaching for the toys.  I love watching him discover his surroundings!

Parker absolutely hates hats... so much so that if I position a blanket so that it's touching his head (like a hat), he'll start screaming.  We all found it so entertaining.  My mom had been chastising me for having him out in the 20 degree weather without a hat... but she now understands just how bad the temper tantrums become.  Gee I wonder who he gets that temper from...  

The flag was suppose to be a gift for Justin but the tags got mixed up and I got it.  I'm seriously considering installing a flag pole inside so on the tough days, I can fly it :)  Or maybe I'll fly it outside on the bad days so Justin knows what he's walking into when he comes home!  Ha ha.