Winter Update

I seem to be getting worse at writing about life around here again! I really need to write as I think my memory fades daily, don't know if that's just me, the hormones, or the sleep deprivation at work! Ahh...Where to start?? I just went back to see that I didn't even write about Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!
So...Christmas was wonderful as always! It was Bryson's first, and he was a great age-curious and intrigued but fairly slow to get around. He didn't bother the tree too much...I did find him crawling under it and sitting up in the limbs a few times, what joy to be "in the woods"! : ) Oh! Our tree fell this year! So ironic, I was telling Ben how some friends anchored theirs bc of little ones at home a while back, but that I was hopeful ours wouldn't be pulling on it...then, CRASH!! came our beautiful tree one evening a couple of days after putting it up, and we had to anchor it to the wall. Thankfully, I think it was a tree issue rather than a child issue. We had a great time celebrating the wonderful season with our nightly family advent devotions. The Christmas songs were definitely Emma's and Bryson's favorite part--precious to hear Em's sweet voice, and our little man faithfully beat on the table keeping rhythm each night. : ) Had a great time at Christmas parties. Christmas Eve, we did our birthday party for Jesus before heading to the service at church. Then we headed home for the kids to open their Christmas pajamas and put out cookies and milk for Santa before heading back out for dinner with the family. Christmas morning was great fun! Emma was a little disappointed at first seeing that the cookies and milk were gone as well as was Santa...her response, "But, I wanted to see him!" It took a minute to get past that and even notice her gifts! At least she's more interested in people than gifts! : ) Bryson didn't know what was going on but loved Emma's balls and the puffs from his stocking. He actually did pretty well opening presents; he does love to tear paper!
Soon after, we celebrated Emma's 3rd birthday! That is hard to believe and so very bittersweet. She had a great time with her 3 parties...one with our little family of 4, a beach party with her little buds, and then a big family party. She was all about her 3 parties bc she was 3; hopefully, she doesn't expect that trend to keep up! We do love our precious girl and are grateful for every day and year of life we are blessed with her in our lives! She continues to amaze me and bring unimaginable joy to my heart! I really need to get a new digital camera with a little video option so I can share her talking. Her body language cracks me up! She is soooo expressive, and it is funny to see her imitations of me and others come through as she talks. I often think, "do I really say that?" or "do I really move like that?"...and, then I usually catch myself later. : ) Some favorite "Emma-isms" these days: park for part, smark for smart, bamb-aid, wipe for white, hanitizer for hand sanitizer...all I can think of for now. She is getting so good at riding her bike, and I can't keep up with her anymore. Thankfully, she's obedient and doesn't get too far away. She continues to grow in independence, which is mostly a huge blessing! Of course, there are times it causes friction or hideous outfits, but that's life. She is pumped about another baby and insists she is going to have a sister this time. She loves my already expanding belly and just tried lifting my shirt in the grocery store today, saying, "I want to see your baby"...how nice! At least a few people knew I was expecting instead of clinging to the post Bryson weight. : )
Bryson is quite attached to Mommy still and still not sleeping well. But, he is full of life, smiles and joy, and I wouldn't trade my independence or sleep for one moment of life with my little man! He is somewhat destructive, stubborn and into everything! He loves to eat and nurse, loves balls, and loves being outside! Momma and ball are the only 2 words he's said as of now though he babbles like crazy trying to tell us all about everything. He has become infatuated with Tanner these days and still loves to play with Emma! It is funny to watch him take shots back at her now when he realizes she's purposely being mean. Oh...the joys of trying to parent "correctly" through the "fights" coming. That is not something I look forward to, and I am praying they will be minimal.
So, I don't know when I first started working on this post, but it is now April 13. Not a whole lot has changed...Bryson turned 1 on April 2. It was a super busy week-end bc of Easter, but he seemed to have a great time! Just the four of us celebrated with him at home for dinner on his birthday. He LOVED his cupcake and the singing! We had the family over Sunday for Easter lunch and birthday celebration. He loved his cake...I made him a b'ball cake bc that does seem to be his passion these days. Of course, he wasn't too sure what to do about the candle, but Emma and Will gladly assisted! : ) He loved his presents and playing in the yard and with an egg as Emma and Will hunted eggs. He's added the word dog to his vocab since I last wrote as well. He's trying hard to walk, and took 7 steps on his own last night!! He's done 5 steps today...shouldn't be long! Only reason I'm eager is bc of his love for the outdoors. I can't stand watching him move on the driveway on those knees!
We did have a couple of snows this winter. The only "real" one I saw from the bedroom window. I had another stomach bug!!! 2 stomach bugs in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy along with pregnancy vomit has done me in! : ) Thankfully, all sickness seem to be gone.
The pregnancy is going well. I'm 16 or 17 weeks along and really showing! We had a big scare with some bleeding, but thankfully, it was only a scare. It finally completely cleared up after several weeks. Because of all that, I was really thankful for sickness; it gave me a little more peace of mind that all was well. We finally heard the heartbeat a few weeks ago, and we go for an ultrasound at the end of the month.
Hopefully, I'll get to posting some pics up in the near future for any of you who don't see my whole life on my sisters' facebook page. : )