Christmas time is here!

Well, it's been quite a while.  I have been telling myself I need to blog, but it seems I get too tired at night to do it! :)  Mom told me today that she noticed I haven't updated my blog in a while, so I decided to update everyone on what has been going on!  

A couple of weekends ago, I went to Canton with some girls with the Mommy and Me group.  We had a wonderful time!  We stayed at a house in Ben Wheeler, which is about 10 miles from Canton.  I really enjoyed spending time with the ladies and of course shopping.  River stayed with Nick the night I was gone.  This was Nick's first night to keep River by himself.  They did great and I knew they would.  Nick is such a wonderful daddy and River loves him so much!  

Nick and I took our annual trip to College Station last week.  Every year since we have been in Teague, Nick has gone to a 2 day conference there and I go with him to do my Christmas shopping.  This year River came with us.  I was a little nervous about taking him shopping for 2 days.  We didn't end up leaving quite as early as we had planned on Monday, so the shopping on Monday was only a few hours.  River loves to watch people and ride in his stroller, so the shopping ended up going great.  Before we left for the trip, I made a very detailed Christmas list to be sure I knew who I had left to buy for.  Then, I made a list of where I needed to go and who I was shopping for.  I got everything done while we were there!  Nick couldn't believe how efficient I was! ha!

We had Christmas 1 of 7 last weekend at Granny's.  It was a wonderful time of eating and enjoying each other.  We gave Granny a canvas picture of the whole family.  She loved it!  She was so happy to have such a good picture of her whole family.  I admire my Granny so much.  She is so loving and sweet all the time.  She has been through so much in her life, but she never complains.  She has taught me alot about what it means to be a Christian and to trust in Him.  She has set such a wonderful example for us all to follow.  I love her!

This week, Rachel and Benjamin, are in New York for vacation.  They have been looking forward to this trip for a long time!  Mom and Dad are keeping River while I work this week.  He spent Sunday night with them and then he will spend tomorrow night with them.  This is the first week that he has stayed away 2 nights.  I am so glad he gets to spend time with family, but I do miss him when he's gone.  River is so blessed to have 2 sets of grandparents that love him soooooo much.  They love to keep him and spend time with him.  

Pictures at Ma Ma and Pa Pa's house

River also met Santa for the first time.  At first, it was great!  River was smiling and Rachel got some great pictures.  Then Santa spoke!  River stared up at him for about 30 seconds and then starting crying!  That was his first time to cry with someone he didn't know.  I felt so sorry for him, but Rachel did get some good pictures. 

River has also started sleeping on his tummy with his knees tucked under him and and his bottom in the air.  So cute!

River and Nick watching football on a rainy Sunday afternoon. 

River playing with his new toy.  The balls pop up in the air and he thinks it is so fun!

It's been awhile...

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted, but several things have happened.  We put up our Christmas tree last Wednesday.  That was nice.  Nick came home early from work and we started decorating.  I love Christmas.  At first, River really stared at the tree and the lights, but he really hasn't payed much attention to it since the first day we put it up.  Nick said last night he rolled over to it and started pulling on one of the branches.

 

Thanksgiving was last week.  We spent the day with the Hoffman's.  It was a nice day of eating and relaxing.  River gets soooo much love from both sides of the family.  He is definitely very loved!  The tie onesie I made for River turned out great and it looked so good on him!  Everyone thought it was really cute!

I worked Friday-Sunday after Thanksgiving.  They were nice slow days at work.  I always enjoy those days because the rest of the time work is pretty hectic.  River spent Friday and Saturday at Ma Ma and Pa Pa's and they had a great time.  He was very spoiled when he came home on Saturday night. :)  Ma Ma and Pa Pa said he enjoyed playing in the floor, looking outside, and watching Gracie.

About 2 weeks ago I stopped DVRing my soap opera General Hospital.  This was a pretty big deal.  I started watching General Hospital when I was little and I stayed with my Great Grandma, Grandma Heath.  She watched it everyday, so I did too.  I recorded it all through high school, college, pharmacy school, and the last few years.  When I had about 15 of them recorded on my DVR, I decided that it was time to stop watching.  I haven't had any withdrawals and am glad I decided to stop spending my time watching soaps.  :)

A few things about River...

• He is still teething, but no teeth.  He is chewing on everything!
• He enjoys rolling all over the floor, sitting up and playing with his toys, sitting in his high chair and looking outside, and watching Callie.
• He really thinks I am funny when I act goofy and when I dance.  He loves my hair in a pulled through ponytail on top of my head and has laughed at that since he was very little. 
• He always smiles at his daddy no matter what.
• He loves his paci and his cow lovey blanket.
• He really likes to "work" on things and figure out his toys
• He still doesn't really like to cuddle or be cradled
• His favorite foods are applesauce (we have a very clean bib after eating applesauce because he doesn't let any of it fall from his mouth!) and sweet peas.  
• He enjoys music and when his Daddy sings to him
• He smiles often and wakes up talking and playing in his crib when he's had enough rest
• He is very ticklish and has recently started using his hands to push you away when you tickle him 
• He loves for you to play peek-a-boo with him
• His favorite songs are pat-a-cake and the Wheels on the Bus.

Well, that is all for now.  River is waking up from his nap and is talking in his crib.  I love him so much!