It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

December always seems to bring an abundance of hustle and bustle, and this year is no exception!  It really is insane that we try to pack so much into a few short weeks!  Just getting all the gifts purchased and wrapped in time for Christmas is a gigantic endeavor.  Then add on all the extra stuff – gingerbread houses, concerts, church parties, decorations, work parties, family parties, drives to see the lights – and we’ve got one insanely busy month!  All I want for Christmas is to be able to spread it all out throughout the year!  (And a new lens for my camera would be fun too!)

Emily had her orchestra concert last week.  It was short, sweet, and perfect!  She did a great job and it was so much fun to watch her interact with her friends and see her play with her class.  She is growing up so fast!  I wish I could slow down time! 

 

And what would December be without a little illness to keep things exciting?!?  The poor thing just finished antibiotics for her second case of Strep in the last 6 weeks!  If she gets it one more time in the next 6 months she’ll have to get her tonsils removed.  We’re hoping we can avoid that route, and Emily has her fingers crossed tightly in hopes that her tonsils can stay put!

Rachel went to a fun princess-themed birthday party yesterday.  She was soooo excited about getting to dress up in her princess dress and to play with all her friends from preschool.

Caleb’s favorite thing to say lately is, “There’s nothing to do!”  Of course he uses his most whiny voice and practically flops himself onto the nearest surface as he says it.  He was offered a sucker by Jared’s uncle (who teaches at Emily’s school) the night of Emily’s concert.  I think he grabbed one for himself and a few more for all his friends!  I wish I could say that the suckers kept him quiet and still for the concert, but  I’d be a liar if a did.

Daniel has already had quite the busy month.  He had a trip to the ophthamologist in Salt Lake last week.  We were supposed to get his eyes checked by the time he was 6 months old, but with surgery and the doctor being booked for 2 months solid, we were a little slow to get it done.  His eyes look great, but he does have blocked tear ducts.  We’re hoping they take care of themselves in the next few months.

We had to run into the doctor’s office on Tuesday so he could be weighed before the pharmacy sent his RSV shot.  13 pounds, 7 ounces.  I’m starting to think he’ll be less than 14 pounds for the rest of his life!  He had his shot on Thursday afternoon, which made for our third trip to the same office in three days!  After another weight check – 13 pounds, 9 ounces – the nurse gave him the shot and we watched him for 15 minutes to make sure he didn’t show any signs of an allergic reaction.

(Feet, glorious feet!  They’re great for pulling and toes are perfect for sucking!)

(Mom…can you see a bit of baby Greg in that face?)

He had a routine appointment with the ENT on Friday – just a re-check of his hearing and a general exam.  This appointment was a definite tender mercy.  Both of Daniel’s ears were full of thick, icky fluid!  Aside from his almost constant congestion, he had no symptoms at all!  I felt so bad that we had no clue and he’s been living with a double ear infection for who-knows-how-long!  I’m so thankful I scheduled this appointment, as I wondered at the time if it was really necessary.

All that aside, Daniel has made some huge strides in his physical development.  Rolling has turned him into quite the traveling man.  This is a very common sight lately…

…little Mister several feet away from his blanket!  I guess we’re going to have to pull out the gate.

And lastly…Josh.  Josh, Josh, Josh.  He has a never-ending source of energy (except when it’s time to do his work) and a constant desire to play Wii.  Thankfully he has Legos to fall back on when he’s used up all his Wii time!