Wednesday, December 29, 2010

'Tis the season to be merry!

2010 was our first Christmas to celebrate as a family of 3. The beginning of the season was a little traumatic. G-daddy and Gigi both gave us quite a scare and spent a little time in the hospital (separately). I got sick. Silas endured bronchiolitis for over a week complete with fever, total congestion, and an inhaler. Richard got sick. Caitlin, Mimi, and Chubbs got sick. Granny Armstrong had a not so fun adventure, and before we knew it, Christmas was over. I tell you what, December and Christmas snuck up on me this year.



My side of the family celebrates our Family Christmas together the Saturday prior to Christmas. Since Silas was still sick, we opted to stay home. This ended up being a good choice since Emi, Payton, and Graci ended up sick afterwards. I was extremely sad to miss Si's first Family Christmas, but I am already excited about next year's. I told him all about dinner, reading the Christmas story together, singing Happy Birthday Jesus around the birthday cake baked by Gruncle Barry, how next year he could blow out Jesus's candles, passing out presents, and the big mess left afterwards. We also always take a family picture which I cherish dearly. (I hope Richard and I can convince his family to start next year. Wink, wink!) I will share it with you once I receive a copy. Chris is usually in charge, and the Dramers are currently skiing. (In a ton of fresh snow, might I add.) Good news! Graunt Judy sent me the pics! Thankfully, they were sure to put our little family in! So sweet!


Back: Chris, Bryan, Gruncle Barry, Graunt Judy, Chubbs, Mimi holding our fam
Mid: Shannon, Gates, G-daddy, Payton, Gigi, Graci, Aunt Cait, Blanton
Front: Amy, Anna Reed, Emi, Mary Clay


Please notice our fam went silly too- upside down!

The Great-grands minus Si

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Since Si was born, we had to change up our holiday plans this year. Once Richard and I got married, we went to Granny Armstrong's Christmas Eve day, my parents' Christmas Eve night, home to sleep, my parents' Christmas morning, and his parents' Christmas late afternoon. Well, one of my favorite things growing up was that we never left our house on Christmas. I got to stay in my Christmas pajamas all day and play with my new toys. I have been preparing our families since marriage that once we had a child, we would not be going anywhere on Christmas day. Therefore, this year was the beginning of new traditions.

Christmas Eve we headed over to my parents' house to celebrate. This was Si's first time out of the house since being sick, and he was so excited to go. After our traditional Christmas dinner of steak and shrimp, we opened presents. Silas was in heaven. He got an awesome chair...that Chubbs so kindly broke in for him. Gruncle Barry sent Richard a car wash kit (hint, hint, hint). Although he liked the car wash kit, I think he was most excited about the Dothan National VIP card. I RACKED UP with a sewing machine. Yes, you read correctly. The forever clumsy, uncrafty tomboy asked for and received a sewing machine!!! I am stoked about learning to sew thanks to Laura Ashley who got me hooked with one simple pair of pants that Silas has already outgrown. (Thanks to Aunt Cait for the pictures.)










Lottie Moon got an awesome squirrel toy from Silas. If Mimi had let me put it in the tree, it would have actually been National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Before we left Mimi and Chubbs's house, Nannan etertained Si with a story about Little Orlie, just like she did me when I was growing up.


Once we got home and Si was tucked into bed while visions of sugar plums danced in his head, I in my kerchief and Richard in his hat settled down for...Santa to come. Boy, did he!!


I love that Santa wraps his presents in paper that we have never seen before and doesn't do bows. I understand that he doesn't have time for bows because I know how long they take Mimi and me to make when we are wrapping. I hope that in future years Santa drops toy off of his sleigh that have been put together already. We learned the hard way that when he leaves a note on the box that says "20 minute assembly," it really means an hour and a half.

Christmas morning, Silas was so adorable. Richard fed him a quick bottle and placed him on the floor to put it away so we could open presents. Apparently, Silas got the hang of the whole present thing the night before because he strained to lean over as far as he could, grabbed a present, and began without us! (That is why he isn't set up all cutely beside the Christmas tree.) I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

















That afternoon, the grandparents all joined us for breakfast. We tried to take some family pictures. Now, we all know from experience that taking family pictures with Chubbs and Nannan is a nightmare. I will spare you the gazillion outtakes and give you the best we could do. We also took one with Richard's side of the family. Everyone didn't smile simultaneously, but we had better luck than with my side.



Mimi, Si, Nannan, Chubbs


Granddaddy, Si, Granny Armstrong, Grandmother

Sunday, after church, we headed to Richard's parents' for their family Christmas. It is funny to me how traditions vary from family to family. In my family, we pass out all of the presents, and everyone rips away on the count of 3. Richard's family doles out the gifts and opens them from youngest to oldest. So, my family's presents portion takes approximately 5 minutes and Richard's an hour plus. Silas got to go first this year. Sara Grace, 9, has been going first each year for her entire life. I think it was a traumatic experience for her, but she made through it ok! We were very glad to have Uncle Jerry and Granny Armstrong join us this year. There is nothing better than good ole family time during the holidays!






Jonathan, Justin, Uncle Doug, Aunt Dawn, Grandmother, Granddaddy

Grandmother, Granddaddy, Uncle Jerry, Lynne, Granny Armstrong

I cannot believe Si's first Christmas has already come and gone. The house is deChristmasized- well, almost. (All of the Christmas decorations from the inside are down and stacked in the kitchen to be put away. The rest is Richard's job.) Richard heads back to work Monday, and I will follow on Wednesday. I think that will be a big adjustment seeing as though I have spent every day all day with Si for the last 2 weeks. I am not looking forward to it. The good news? We are halfway through the school year! Summertime and every day with Si will be here before I know it!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Aunt Cait enters the real world...now.



As of December 11, 2010, Caitlin is officially out of college and can get a real job as a nurse. We all had to travel to T-town for the momentous day. (No, my house was not funeralized. I was just hoping for the best.) Si and I left with Mimi to meet Chubbs in Montgomery and head that way. Richard was planning to sleepily meet us Saturday morning after coaching Friday night. The trip itself was great. Silas really is a good traveler- especially with Mimi in the backseat from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa.



Silas and I stayed with Cait and loved the quality time, even though we didn't hang out too late. She had to get up at the crack of dawn in order to be on campus on time. Thankfully, Silas's crib at home is right behind our shower wall, so being in the bedroom while Cait showered and got ready did not hinder his sleep at all. The problem was that once he woke up, he was extremely clingy and fussy. Little did we know this was the beginning of our scary episode with bronchiolitis. (For some reason, his nose keeps photographing orange. I am so careful to be sure that he eats green veggies before orange veggies and eats them evenly. I have no clue why this is happening. But, boy is he beautiful! Orange nose and all!)



Richard, Silas, and I finally made it to the ceremony to meet the rest of the family. Caitlin gracefully adorned the stage and received her diploma. Hurray! Not only did Caitlin graduate, but Santa did too! Twice! Ha! Before we made it outside to take pictures, Richard took Silas down to see Caitlin as she exited. Blanton requested a shout out in the orchestra's microphone, while they were playing of course. Richard definitely answered his request, and the mic was on! We died laughing. If looks could kill, the conductor would have blown Richard to smithereens.


Mimi, Aunt Cait, Chubbs


Gruncle Barry, Aunt Cait, Graunt Judy

Amy, Aunt Cait, Blanton, Me

A Sisters' Tradition

Richard, Si, Chubbs, Gruncle Barry, Blanton

Mimi had lunch catered, and Uncle Barry made delicious dessert. We are so thankful that Caitlin has her nursing degree and is home so that she can see Si more often. Praise the Lord! Now, on to the job search!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Crinkle

Silas has learned to crinkle his nose, usually on command. Granddaddy captured it Christmas day while Chubbs was holding him- unbeknownst to the rest of us that ignored the camera and kept right on talking. Ha!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

8 months



I know this post is approximately 20 days past due; however, we have been battling the busy bug and the under the weather bug over here in the Tisdale household. Seems that after a yucky case of bronchiolitis that caused us to be grumpy for Aunt Cait's graduation and completely miss Si's first family Christmas on my side, we are on the mend. Praise ye the Lord!!



Our little buddy is now 8 months old! He is still not mobile. (Notice from the pictures that he is still a Serious McGee.) I find myself encouraging him to move frequently. Then I realize what I am doing and snap out of it! Hey, as it is we have nothing baby proofed. It's great! You sit him somewhere, and you know he will be there until you sit him somewhere else. The only bummer is that Silas is beginning to want to move around and can't figure it out. He lays on his stomach, pushes up with his arms, and kicks like he is swimming. If you put his legs in "crawling position," he lets go with his arms and face plants into the carpet. Si would much rather stand and hold onto something. He is working on pulling up to standing and going from lying to sitting. Silas's favorite trick is to "slide" from your lap to standing on the floor. He is so proud of himself each time he does it.



Silas has tried blueberry yogurt, cheese pieces, and Cheerios for the first time and adores them all. His food intake has decreased drastically since being sick, so we are working on building it back up. He used to take an 8 oz bottle, but now we are lucky if he will drink more than 4 oz over a 30-45 minute period. You know my baby is sick if he won't eat and drink! He has done better eating baby food though. Silas isn't loving his cereal very much, but I make him eat it once a day. Dr. B says it is important, so we will trust her.



Sleeping is going great as well. Si will sleep all night through though he has been waking up a little early since being sick. He was taking 2 naps a day- a short one in the morning and long one in the afternoon. During our post sickness build everything back up period, he stays awake about 2 hours and then wants to lie down even if it is just to rest.



Silas has learned to pitch a grand fit when something doesn't go his way. He scream cries, throws his head back, goes rigid, and kicks like a bear has grabbed a hold of his foot until he gets whatever he wanted or you distract him. It is ridiculous- and obvious that we have a headstrong individual on our hands. He, without question, got this temper from his daddy, but we love them both anyway.



The paci is still adored by Si. It was heartbreaking when he couldn't suck it because he was so congested. I had to hide them because he would just look at them and cry. Now I know you are thinking, "What a good time to break him from the paci!" In theory, yes. In practice, no. My hiding places weren't that great, and when he saw one after he was feeling a little less congested, his face lit up. So nap times are back to being easy and wonderful because our little friend the paci is able to provide some soothing. Getting rid of the paci is something we can worry about later.



Right now we are ready for our first Christmas as a family of 3. Even though we missed my extended family Christmas (I held it together fairly well that day), Silas did get to open a couple of his presents from that day. (We are saving the rest for Christmas Eve with my parents.) He got this awesome ornament from Gigi and G-daddy. It recorded them singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas and telling him Merry Christmas. I completely cried when we played it. Bonus: Richard and I got one too! These will be cherished always!


Happy 8 months Baby Si!

I will be back soon with Christmas updates and Aunt Cait's graduation.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Turkey Day in Photographs


Happy first Turkey Day Si!


He would rather play with the grass than smile.


So he did.


We began the festivities with Richard's family. Si is always the center of attention. They noticed Richard and I were there after lunch.


Cranium losers Zachary and Richard


Cranium losers Aunt Cindy and Grandmother


Cranium CHAMPIONS!!! (One of which cannot keep his eyes open for a picture to save his life.)


Next, we headed to Selma to celebrate with my family.


Nannan was there!


G-daddy and his two princes


Snuggling with Anna Reed


Meeting Great-great Uncle Ralph for the first time


Si wasn't so sure about Great-great Aunt Eleanor at first.


Then, with a little encouragement from Aunt Cait, they became fast friends.


Si would sit with G-daddy all day.


Gates is too funny.


For some reason Gigi's old cell phone would not let us delete contacts. We decided to go about it in a sure fire way. (I am not sure why this picture is vertical.)


Gruncle Barry sneaking out with Gigi and G-daddy's old television while we struggle to keep them out of the den.


A birthday/Christmas surprise!


They were so excited!


We had to call G-daddy and ask him to change the channel once we got home because we could see their new tv in Dothan!


First bath in a big tub

Gigi filling Si full before bed.

What a wonderful holiday weekend! Now, we can't wait until Christmas!