Merry Christmas...and a prayer request

So Christmas was crazy for my Kendall. The picture above sums up her exhaustion by the end of the day (and it's also my favorite picture ever). Christmas Eve was spent at church (awesome service - short and sweet and meaningful), then at my Aunt Tina's house with Ronnie's family (which ended up being more meaningful than I knew at the time...more on that in a minute).

We got Kendall to bed and played Santa for the first time, which was truly the best thing! We had a good time setting her things out for her. Granted, there was nothing to put together this year. The main attraction for us was a way cute toy box that she could have cared less about, but I know she'll use for years and years.

Mom, Ronnie and Meg came over for Christmas morning breakfast and to see Kendall's gifts. Then we got ready and went over to James' parents for lunch. We also saw a very close friend of ours that moved to Atlanta last year. He came over for lunch and met Kendall (and brought her the cutest Duke outfit that she'll proudly rock as soon as the weather gets warmer). Then we headed over to mom's for dinner and to open presents there. Whew! I know how tired I was, so I KNOW my KK was exhausted. She was not a happy camper by the end of the evening. Next year, we may have to rethink how we do things.

Kendall also made the all important move to cow's milk over the holiday. She doesn't seem all too thrilled about it, but I'm sure she'll get used to it soon. She's drinking from a cup like a champ, so I'm hoping if I consistently offer her milk she'll end up loving it.

Now on to other news. I mentioned earlier that Christmas Eve ended up being more meaningful than I knew. Last night I got the call that my cousin, Mikki, had been rushed to the hospital for a severe brain bleed. She had been battling a headache earlier in the day and started sort of talking crazy and was unable to function, so her brother called an ambulance. As of right now, she's in ICU, ventilated and receiving medicines to hopefully stop the swelling in her brain that the bleed caused. They have determined that the bleed was due to a stroke, but they have no answers as to why a 24-year old healthy woman would have a stroke. Please pray for Mikki. She is a sweet, sweet woman. A single mother to a 5 year old little boy. She spent a lot of time loving on Kendall on Christmas Eve and she and I spent a lot of time chatting and laughing that night. It makes me feel good to know that we were able to spend time together, but it also shows how quickly life can turn on a dime. I must admit that I'm not sure if Mikki is a believer or not and of course I'm full of guilt for not bringing up spiritual matters when she and I were talking. Also, please pray for her mother, my Aunt Tina, Ronnie's sister...she has known such loss and hardship in her life and I just know that behind her tough facade, she is dying inside. Please pray that God is glorified through all of this.

I hope everyone had an excellent Christmas and will have an awesome New Year! We are celebrating KK's one year birthday on Thursday. Gosh - time flies!

Weekend festivities

So I guess I'm the hostess with the mostess this holiday season. Last year I was a grinch in the worst way on account of my pregnancy discomfort. The year before that I wasn't confident enough of my "skills" to have anyone over. This year, however, I'll invite you over even if I don't know you. I think it's because I'm proud of my fireplace motif. I went crazy and got some sparkly poinsettias and I think I should be on MTV Cribs.

Anyhoo - this weekend we're having two events here. Tomorrow, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and two of my sister-in-law's good friends are coming over for lunch. This is the second girls lunch we've had with Sonya's friends and it really makes me feel good to have them over. I was convinced for a while that Sonya didn't care much for me, but ever since Kendall has been born, we're like in-law BFFs. It's great.

Then Sunday evening, we're having my dad, stepmom and three sisters over for finger foods and to exchange PRESENTS!! WOO HOO! It'll be fun to see my sisters...especially Lexie and Lindsay who are in college in Florida. I haven't seen them in months. However, I'm wiggin out because I bought discount movie tickets for the whole family for Christmas and guess what WAS NOT in the mail this week? Yep - the tickets. We'll have to go to plan B if they're not in the mail tomorrow. (If anyone has suggestions for a Plan B, please let me know).

All better!

Turns out I had a nasty sinus infection. I felt like my head weighed 50 pounds and my sinuses were filled with concrete. But, I'm telling you, the Lord healed me. I mean that thing.

Kendall is also doing better. I don't know what was up with her explosive diapers...

Christmas decorations are up, shopping is pretty much done and a lot has been wrapped. Kendall is getting a toy box from Santa and it was delivered on Friday. I LOVE IT! I'll have to take a picture and post. It is WAY cute and I think she'll be able to use it for years, both as a toy box and as a seat in her room.

Friday night we had family over that we haven't really seen in a while. I made chili and we just hung out playing with Kendall. It was really nice. It's amazing to me how God works. Long, long story, but everything turned out really well. And Kendall took THREE STEPS!! Woo hoo! She hasn't done it again, of course - but hey. Gotta start somewhere.

The -itis

It seems like we've had some sort of illness at the Mason home for like 2 months now. I suppose some of it can be chalked up to having a sweet precious baby now, but geez!! Last night, we went to bed fine. This morning, I had a sore throat, Kendall was snotty again and by mid-day had truly disgusting diahrrea (the kind that has you considering just cutting the clothes off of her instead of washing them...ugh). So pray for us. I've Lysoled the house and am going to embark on a crusade to wash my hands at least 928 times a day.

I'm really not complaining...we are blessed with good health and I sincerely thank God for that. And oddly enough, Kendall and I have had some of our sweetest moments when we're not feeling 100%.

However, Im a little bummed I missed Sunday festivities. There was dancing at church this morning and I've been looking forward to seeing it for weeks. And my LifeGroup is enjoying breakfast for dinner tonight. Pancakes and fellowship - can't beat that with a stick.

Hope everyone has an awesome week!

Thankful

Thanksgiving is here again! Seems like only yesterday I was making a sugar-free pumpkin cheesecake, rubbing my huge belly and feeling Kendall kick. My how things have changed in a year!! Kendall still kicks, but now it's when I'm trying to change her diaper. Any cheesecake that I eat this year will definitely have sugar and I am so full of love and gratitude that I feel like my heart will burst at any moment. So - some serious things that I am thankful for, then some not-so-serious things:

* The relationship that I have with Jesus. It's been tough this year. I've let down my end of the relationship too many times to count. I've allowed "stuff" - some important, some not important - to busy my time. I've been lazy. But He forgives me and I don't deserve that grace, but I'm thankful for it.

* My precious husband. I've seen a side of James since the birth of Kendall that literally amazes me. He's gentle and patient, sweet and loving and it just melts my heart.

* My daughter. I've never known such a love. She's the answer to so many prayers, the source of so much laughter and joy. Oh, how I pray that the Lord will use me to direct her to Him and that her days would be full of serving Him. Words fail me when I think of her.

* Our extended family. They have supported us, prayed for us, given to us out of their love for us...they are so wonderful. Mom, who blesses us by taking care of Kendall during the day. Ronnie, who lights up when he sees her. Megan, who shows a tenderness with Kendall that I've never seen her display before. James' parents, who always anticipate our physical needs. And on and on.

* My LifeGroup. I was hesitant about the whole LifeGroup thing. I didn't understand that it would change my life forever. I've never had friends like this before...friends that are in the trenches with me, that love my child like their own, that I know pray for me, that make me laugh, that tell me when I'm being a brat. This is not to say that I don't have amazing friends outside of this group. Of course I do and I'm so grateful for them. I just really believe that the Lord answered a cry of my heart - one that I hadn't even voiced audibly - with these families.

Okay - I could go on forever - my home, our jobs, our cars, food, warmth...but here's a few that I just have to throw out there, they seem trivial, but I am genuinely thankful for them:

* My new cell phone. It barely ever drops calls (unlike the piece of junk I had before), has large numbers and I totally heart my keypad for texting.

* Portrait Innovations. They are cheap, they are quick and they take great pictures. And hello - you get to change clothes while you're there! You totally feel like a model when you get to change clothes.

* The blue snot sucker that they give you in the hospital. This thing has really come through for us given that Kendall has the thickest, stickiest snot known to mankind. Sucks it right out.

* Rotisserie chickens. Man, those things are good. And cheap, fast, ready to go. Love them.

And last, but certainly not least - Redbox. Megan turned me on to $1.00 movies and I'm never looking back.

I pray that you and yours have an awesome time of thanks giving. Be safe!

She needs a helmet...

So Kendall is mobile. She's crawling, inch-worming, pulling up, cruising....and falling....A LOT! Contrary to popular belief, this doesn't really freak me out as much as people think. I know that kids are gonna fall and bump their noggins, bruise their chins, etc. But yesterday took the cake. The child must have fallen like 3,291 times. And she topped it off with a face plant to the granite fireplace that resulted in a busted lip. In the words of Jesse on Full House "Have Mercy"...I saw blood and didn't even lose it. She cried for a minute, then went right back to getting into everything possible. So, should I get her a helmet? Maybe a nice baby pink one?

She loves him more...

Her daddy, that is. Last night James came home from a business trip to Atlanta. He had been gone since Saturday. All night Kendall was a little cranky...not her usual chipper self. So I took her up and gave her a bath and put her pj's on. We heard the garage door open, so I took her downstairs and as soon as she saw her daddy - her whole demeanor (can a 9 month old have demeanor??) changed. Her face lit up and she just loved on James. It did my heart good. Until I got jealous. Hee, hee.