(Embarrassing disclaimer: I am publishing this entry over a year later because of many things getting in the way of posting- mainly life with two toddlers. But because this acts as a journal of my life, I would be remiss in skipping anything. So for those of you who know me best, this will be more of a trip down Memory Lane than new information. But trips down Memory Lane can be a lot of fun too!)
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is always crazy. Like a sidedish of crazy. Add a newborn and a wound vac, and crazy becomes the main meal. I love to decorate for the holidays, and I have to give a special thanks to Mimi and Grandma and Ryan, who let me simply give direction from the sofa while they did all the heavy lifting. Pretty soon those three had everything up and ready to go.
 |
| Lily approved of our tree decorations.
My goal with the wound vac was to have it off in time for Christmas, and my body must have agreed, because it rebelled against the vac, developing a rash around the incision that forced the doctor to take the wound vac out for a weekend. I am happy to report that I never wore it again! Still, in the end I am grateful to it, and thankful that it worked so well; I wish it all the best in its future. :)
|
I began feeling better and started to attempt "mommy" stuff during these cold, shut-in days. Like baking. If you can call it that.
 |
 |
| Liam acted as official taster. |
I loved these maternity leave days, even though the first six weeks were pretty rough. Because of the C-section, it was difficult to be alone with Liam. I was not able to lift him up for 8 weeks, and an almost-two-year-old boy requires a lot of lifting. Luckily, I had amazing support during this time. Thank you to Mimi and Grandma (again) for the extra time and help. And to the rest of the family, particularly Jodi and Shannon and "the boys", who gave up time with Grandma so she could help us out. Without the support, I wouldn't be able to have snuggle times like this one...
However, I couldn't have made it through without Ryan who was my lifesaver. I feel blessed every day to be married to a man who is such a wonderful father. This is my favorite picture in this entire post.
 |
| They both sleep with their tongues out sometimes. |
He even set up a date night for us at our favorite local bar and restaurant, The Tavern in Prairie Village. I remember feeling so lucky to be able to be out of the house and having a nice glass of wine at the bar. Date nights are important, pure and simple. I think my parents taught me that. When I was younger, my sister and I would get excited when we had babysitters come over…it was a fun event. Mom would come out of her room in a waft of perfume, looking gorgeous, and explain that she and Dad were going on a "date." Sometimes, if it was a very special night, my grandma Weezie would be the babysitter because Mom and Dad were going overnight to an exotic place described only to me as "Missouri." Wow.
I understand so much more now that I am a parent that quality time spent alone with Ryan is what recharges me; it is what makes me a better parent.
The month of December was spent quietly at home, but also attending fun social events. One of my favorite memories was taking Lily and Liam to Dominic and Benjamin's Christmas Program at their school. Each class came up and sang a few songs, and it was hysterical bedlam. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it; it was a churchful of cuteness that was packed to the rafters with neck-stretching parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. I was very proud of my nephews, Dominic and Benjamin, who were clearly the top singers of their classes!
 |
| Benjamin bolts one out |
 |
| I think the hat adds a little something special, don't you? |
 |
| While we waited, Diane got to meet little Lily. |
 |
| Proud parents! |
 |
| Eventually, it was all too much excitement for this little girl! |
 |
| Post concert, trying to wrangle little Liam for a picture. Didn't quite work. |
The second Christmas concert we attended with little Lily Louise was the annual holiday program at Mimi and Papa's church, the Church of the Ressurection. Marilyn "Franny" attends as well, and gifts us the tickets every year to this extraordinary event. The flexibility of infants is kind of liberating actually. Bedtimes are not an absolute at one month, and so we brought our little girl with us, all dressed up for the show. She actually slept through all but about 15 minutes of it!
 |
| Mommy and Lily in matching gold attire. |
 |
| Anita "Nina" and Steve were there too! |
A couple of nights later, we were invited to our friend's house for a three-family celebration. Carrie and Chris Parazin hosted and Tammie and Daron Sinkler's family came, and the kiddos all got along great, even though the ages span 13 years. It was a fantastic night, and Liam even sat with the older kids at the kids table in the dining room! I hope this a tradition that continues every year; it will be really special to see them all grow up together.
 |
| Clockwise from 12o'clock: Vin P, Blake S, Campbell P, Grady P, Liam, Austin S (Olivia S not pictured) |
 |
| Her first "cheers!" |
 |
| Hangin' with the big kids |
 |
| Looks like Vin Parazin has captured Lily's attention |
 |
| Olivia Sinkler - she'll probably be babysitting Lily some day soon! |
And this…
And this…
Oh, and of course, this...
That's right…potty training began around this time, but really took awhile to catch on. This is a picture of the very first sitting on the "big potty" for Liam. In hindsight, he actually never really sat on the "little" potty! I think he just liked the sound it made when you put the seat up. Eventually we got rid of it since everyone kept tripping over it! I like to think that maybe his "I don't need no stinkin' training potty" attitude will continue on in his life when it comes time to do new things. You know, straight to riding a bike without training wheels, straight to driving a stick shift without an automatic first, etc. I am very proud of my big potty boy.
It seems like events in my life aren't very real until I share them with Ryan, with my sister Amy, and strangely enough, with my students. Until I had Liam, my students were like my children. It was Marilyn Brewer who told me once that teaching really fills up your maternal side; that good teachers come to nurture their students in similar ways as parents- not to take the place of parents- but rather to help them develop into better people. It was time to take a trip back to SM West to see them and for them to see Lily.
 |
| Lexxy and Lily |
 |
| Kristin and Lily |
Hannah and Lily
I'm not sure why I didn't get any pictures of Lily with the young men in my class- I seem to remember they were a little reluctant to hold her. It seems strange to think that these students will be 16 or 17 years older than her- a different generation- and they will be saying, "I don't know what's wrong with these kids today" when Lily is a teenager!
So that's the end of the social agenda for December- until Christmas, which will be the next post.
It's exhausting being a social butterfly. Lesson well learned.
