Merry Christmas!!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Growing up, mine and Bob's parents made sure we had a new ornament each year.
I'm so glad that they did. It's always a fun trip down memory lane when we decorate our tree. Now, Bob and I enjoy swapping stories about why we received an ornament, or why a certain one is extra special. This year was no different! And to celebrate our first year as parents, I just had to order this cutie!

Bob and I are so excited for our 1st Christmas with Ethan!

This was actually a McDonald's toy.
My mom turned some of my favorite ones into ornaments!

Every time I hang this ornament, I get a massive craving for chocolate
(and an overwhelming urge to bite into this chocolatey Santa!)

Bob is a great golfer, so his parents made sure he had a golfing Santa!

Growing up, Bob loved magic tricks.
It looks like this Santa has a few tricks in his hat!

One year, a friend and I went around to several houses and sang Christmas Carols. I think we were about 10. We came to one house, and for some reason we got so tickled. We tried to sing Silent Night, but couldn't stop laughing!! I remember the mom and daughter staring at us, with a confused look on their face.
I ended up running off and leaving my friend to fend for herself!
I was humiliated!!!

I grew up playing basketball, so any basketball ornament I have (and I have several) is very special!

For some reason, this is my all-time favorite ornament. There's really nothing extra special about it. I guess this one just reminds me the most of my childhood..and I had a great one.
I believe it's from 1993.

Bob and I have many more ornaments. I wish I could show you all of them, but it probably wouldn't be as fun for you as it would be for me! haha.
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*~The Reason for the Season~*

"And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Luke 2:12

Our tree ~ 2009

I love how when Bob gets home, he's excited that the lights are on around the house. It's almost a childlike excitement. There's nothing like relaxing together after a long and hectic day, under the glow of a cozy Christmas home!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
~Burton Hillis~

Lord, we have so much to be thankful for!
Our home, our health, our family, our friends.
But most importantly, we have You:
Our Savior, Redeemer, the Greatest of Friends;
Our gracious, loving, merciful, all-powerful, risen Heavenly Father.
We praise You!!

Dr. Bob

I found out today, that the doctor who delivered Ethan passed away.
He had been fighting cancer for quite some time.

Dr. Robert Aikman was his name, but we all called him "Dr. Bob"

Dr. Bob always had a smile on his face at each appointment, and had to duck just to get into the room! He was 7 ft. tall!

While pregnant, me and my paranoid self would constantly search the internet for an answer to a little question I had, or to see if a certain pain I was feeling was normal. Usually, I'd end up diagnosing myself with something weird, or worrying that Ethan was going to come early. I'd relay my fears at each appointment, and every time, Dr. Bob would say, "You've gotta stop searching the internet!" Haha.

Delivering Ethan.
He's holding one of Ethan's little feet.

Dr. Bob was caring, gentle, funny, compassionate, and very good at what he did.

I'm so thankful that he was the Dr. who delivered Ethan.

Dr. Bob is survived by his wonderful wife, 7 children, and 6 grandchildren.
Your prayers for the family would certainly be appreciated.

"I believe in the innate, created wisdom of a woman's body to maintain itself in health, and to restore itself in disease; my role is to assist my patients in achieving that wisdom in every aspect of her life-physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually."
-Dr. Robert "Bob" Aikman
1940-2009

How 'Bout Them Taters

Ethan recently had his first taste of sweet potatoes!

I'm thinkin' he loved them! (NOT)

Several laughs later (on mine and my mom's part only), Ethan finally swallowed some of them taters!
I'm thinking next time, we'll need to back down a little (or a lot!) so that he won't be freaked every time he sees a spoon coming at him!
Slowly, but surely, he'll have an appetite just as big as his mommy's!

Welcome Josie Duggar!

Yesterday, via emergency C-Section, the Duggar family welcomed Josie Brooklyn Duggar, the 19th child for the family. She was only 25 weeks, weighing in at 1lb. and 6oz., and 30 cm long! She's currently in stable condition.

Please pray for the Duggars during this time. Especially remember Michelle as she recovers and little Josie as she continues to grow!

The Lord is our healer!

BLB (Blog Land Buddy)

One of the great things about blogging is that you get to meet all kinds of neat women!

And I've done just that! There are tons of blogs I enjoy reading. I get a lot of great tips, inspiration, and encouragement.

Several months ago, I met a fellow blogger who has a son born the day after Ethan! She's the sweetest gal! You can check her blog out here.

We talk on Facebook several times a week. We swap mommy ideas, talk about marriage, and laugh about our silly antics as women--it's a blast!

I'm so thankful for my new BLB!

What about you? Have you made any new friends via blog land?

Television Schmelevision!

I'm NEVER letting Ethan watch TV!!

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit here, but sometimes that thought crosses my mind!

I mean, TV these days isn't even fit for adults to watch. And now, most commercials
aren't either!!!

I enjoy a good show (when I can find one), so don't think I'm a TV hatin'-you-should-never-watch-the-thing-kind-of-person. But the older I get, the more angry I become at most of what's put on television for our "entertainment". Puh-leeeeze.


I've become so tolerant of a lot of the junk that's broadcast these days. There are shows I know I shouldn't watch. There's nothing edifying about them. There's no wholesome lesson to learn. But I watch them anyway, b/c afterall, I'm a grown up now! My parents aren't in the room telling me to "turn that thing off!"

But Jesus is in the room. Shouldn't that matter more?

Sometimes I want to throw the TV out the window.

But I know I'd probably miss it.

Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home. -David Frost-