Great Christmas & Happy New Year!!

We had a GREAT Christmas. Our holiday officially ended last night. We (Sydney and I) were in Paducah for a week and a half!! Ryan had to bounce back & forth a little because of work, but the moments he was off he was there, too. We got to visit all of our family except Ryan's brother Jon & his wife Corena. We missed them terribly, but are planning a visit to San Diego to see them soon!! Sydney was spoiled with all of the attention, of course. I fear that she is in for a rude awakening today! It usually takes us a day or two to get back into the groove. Anyway, we had possibly one of the best Christmases ever!

I hope you all had a great New Year's Eve. We did. We went with the Neistraths and my parents to Flamingo Row. Then headed back to my parents' house for dominoes. The funny part of the night was that Sydney stayed up (not because we made her but because she wouldn't go to sleep--too much commotion) & Ryan fell asleep before midnight! To his defense, he had been up since 5.

To reflect on the year, much has changed since January 1, 2007. Here is a recap:

-We found out on Valentine's Day that Ryan would be either laid off or transferred to San Antonio or Austin. With a new baby & daycare to pay for, we were stressed!

-We found out at the beginning of March that a position within his company had opened up in Elizabethtown, KY. We jumped at the chance to be closer to family & moved a few weeks later.

-We spent Easter, my first Mother's Day, and Ryan's first Father's Day with family!!

-Sydney learned to sit up, roll over, pull up, and crawl in a matter of a few months!

-The beginning of August we went to Lincoln, IL to visit family that I had not seen in years.

-At the end of August, we went to Daytona Beach, Florida for a very fun vacation!! It was so nice to have some special time with just our little family.

-In September we celebrated Ryan's birthday & our 6 year anniversary. We also got a week long vacation in Connecticut...well, I got a vacation while Ryan went to a Navy School. Thanks to our parents for keeping Sydney!! It was so nice having my honey all to myself for a week & seeing his old stomping ground.

-October we celebrated Sydney's 1 year birthday with friends and family.

-Shortly after her birthday Sydney began taking a few steps. By Thanksgiving, she was walking really well. By Christmas, she was practically running!

-November we had Thanksgiving with the family that we saw in August. It is nice to be reconnected with them again!!

-December, I struggled with my health but got it under control before Christmas & had a wonderful Christmas.

2007 has been good to us. We have had our trying times & scary moments, but all in all it has been a good year. We are closer to family & I am able to stay at home with my little one. So, I guess we have to overlook the trying times.

I look forward to 2008. I am excited to see the changes Sydney will make. I am soooo excited to get to see Jon & Corena!!! And, Ryan and I are planning a weekend trip to Paoli Peaks (just 2 hours away from us!!) without the kiddo (thanks to his parents). I am looking forward to see how God will work in our lives this year. I pray we will see what He wants us to see.

No unique title for this one

OK, I'm sure by now you're tired of hearing me complain about my illness. Frankly, I'm tired of blogging about it! I wish I could tell you the cute things that Sydney has done. Although I'm sure she's done a ton of cute stuff, nothing at the moment comes to mind. She's been great most days to be quarantined in the living room & play on her own. She protests at first, but then makes peace & finds a toy to play with. She can keep herself entertained. Hopefully today will be one of those days!!

This morning when I got up I felt quite a bit better. I had a little more energy than yesterday & no pain! Yay! Now, 3 hours later, I'm exhausted & have pain. My excitement was definitely short lived! Granted, it's not the kind of pain that I was feeling Tuesday night. For that I am quite thankful! I'm hoping that Sydney will keep herself entertained & will take a long nap so that I can keep my behind plopped in this recliner & get a nap, too.

This weekend we are planning on going to the Opryland Hotel to see the lights. I really think Sydney will get a kick out of it. She LOVES lights. So, I have been looking forward to it for weeks. Now that the day we are planning on going is 2 days away, I'm starting to get doubtful. I REALLY want to go & have agreed to be wheeled around instead of walking. That has been my motivation for being good this week & trying to do everything possible to get better. I've obviously wanted to get better, this just gave me a deadline. I'm now praying with everything in me to make that deadline!! We'll see, I guess.

As I sit her & watch my daughter go through her toy basket pulling out EVERYTHING in it and think about Opryland, I am also thinking about the different Christmas presents I have yet to buy. Christmas is coming too fast!!! Since I haven't yet decided on what I want to get the people who are left on my list, I can't send Ryan out to get them for me. So, I guess that will be today's task: look on the computer & figure out what to get everyone...then send hubby out to get it. Thanks, Ryan, in advance!!

Last little note, my family has been AMAZING throughout all this. My parents have picked up the slack with Sydney. Ryan's parents have taken a couple of days & cleared their schedules to keep her. My grandmother has come by & helped when others had to work. And, my hubby has gone all week without me so that I could be here to get the support for Sydney. So, thanks to you all for your help!! I don't know what I would have done without you!!

Sickness & Christmas shopping

Sorry for the blog silence to you 3 people who read. (haha) Anyway, I have been dealing with some health issues that have put me out of commission to some degree. I spent Sunday morning at our Acute Care. I was having chest pains & decided not to toy with it & go on to the doctor. They determined my heart was fine...thank goodness. They put me on some meds for what they believe is wrong (I can't pronounce it much less spell it!). The meds are not working and I'm headed back to the doctor today.

Saturday when all the health stuff was beginning, we were out in Louisville Christmas shopping. It was quite fun & exhausting. We didn't get out and about early, but we did hit many places. We got Sydney's big gift from us. It is already in her room, but with a blanket over it. I know that's probably silly, but I want to get pictures of her seeing it for the first time. I'm sure we'll give it to her the day or so before we head to Paducah for Christmas. I'll post pics then.

Well, I'm heading back to the couch. Hope you all are having a good day!!

Christmas tree

Thanks to my mom and Katie Glisson, I have a full tree up in my living room. Yay! My mom suggested the placement of the tree. It is where little hands can admire, but not touch. Katie told me about the shatterproof ornaments that now adorn the tree. We have our own ornaments up as well, but most are not breakable.

Sydney was watching me put it up last night. She would walk up to it wide-eyed, point, and say "ooh ohh!" In that moment, all the fuss was worth it. She has loved lights ever since she was tiny. I have given her a few ornaments to play with hoping that would satisfy her. For the time being, it has. Hopefully it will last!!

I am happy to have my tree up. To me, it is one of the best things about Christmas. I guess Sydney comes by it naturally. I love lights, too! One of my favorite things at Christmas time is to sit with the house lights out, a cup of hot chocolate or wassail in hand, Christmas music playing softly, and admire the tree. I've always figured it was my reward for the time spent putting it up. Plus, what's the point of putting one up if you don't pay any attention to it!!

So, thanks Mom & Katie for helping me make this Christmas special, too!!

Heading home

After a full week of visits with family, we are heading back to E-town today. I have really enjoyed our visits!! We have packed each day full of things to do & wonderful friends and family to see. Today has been my first day to catch up and do laundry. Feels weird for a stay-at-home-mom! It has been such a refreshing time with family.

Yesterday I got more of my shopping done with my grandmother. We got all of her shopping done except for 2 people!! She knows what she's getting them. So, all she has to do is go get it. How awesome would that be? It's not even December yet!! Mine is coming along, but not quite as well as hers.

I think I've decided to put up our Christmas tree. I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to do it. Little hands will be all over it & will make things much more complicated on my day-to-day chores. But I have seen her face light up at the stores when she looks at their tree. I LOVE Christmas trees, so I guess I'll give in & put it up. I am compromising though, I'm going to put the tree up with the lights & garland but no ornaments. I don't think she could handle staying away from all the pretty ornaments. Next year we'll have a whole tree...maybe.

Ryan has been in Memphis the past few days & I have missed him like crazy!! We've obviously done much longer separations before, but I still miss him...whether 2 days or 9 months with out him, I'm still sad. So, I'll be happy to have us all together again!