Pre Christmas Day!

Wow we had a fun December!  And I have so much to write down that this post will be pretty boring for everyone.  It's mostly for my knowlege.

Brynlee - We made some fun crafts and played some fun games.  I think those are what got Brynlee excited for and understanding Christmas and its traditions.  She really understood what was going on and it made Christmas traditions so fun!  We didn't get the "wow" yell we were hoping for when she was opening her presents but I think she was a little shell shocked that Santa actually came and she actually got to open all the presents!  She was a little tentative the whole time.  We could never really get her to ask for one specific thing, she just wanted a lot of toys!  We eased up on toys and her nap time lately and it has been horrible re-teaching her we don't play with our toys before naps.  She would  2 hours or so to go to bed and then sleep for 2-3 hours.  I'm happy to say our nap time routine has returned!  You would think I would learn the whole no judging thing but no.  When Callen was born she started acting up emotionally and with potty training.  The emotional fits have been gone for weeks now but the potty training digrestion hasn't left.  So she wears mini-wear during the day and naps completely fine but she just can't keep it dry during night time.  I have given up because the time and laundry with a newborn as well isn't worth the hassle.  I also think our relationship has suffered from me always telling her I'm dissapointed in her.  So right now I want her to know I really love her especially when I don't spend as much time with her as I did before.  When she is ready, she'll let me know.  The cost of pull-ups is worth the possibility of our relationship being damaged.  Brynlee finally got her ABC's and the sounds of every letter.  For some reason she still can't count to 10 and can't sing the ABC song!  Funny!  But I accredit Letter Factory completely for her transformation!  She still talks about Nana Jewel and Grandma Shaw all the time.  We really miss them!

Callen - He is getting so big.  I bought a box of size 1 diapers thinking he would at least be in them as long as the new born size.  No - he has grown out of them in 2 weeks.  Yikes.  He has his 2 month check up this week and I'm expecting 13-14 lbs and 25 inches.  He is happier than Brynlee.  I don't feel like I deserve his disposition.  He isn't sleeping as well as Brynlee but still enough that I don't feel tired.  He is pretty consistent with 3 hour schedule during the day and 4-6 at night.  His skin has cleared up, belly button has healed and we are just waiting on 1 tear duct to clear now.  He basically burps himself which is why I think he is such a happy baby compared to Brynlee.  No projectile vomitting!  He hates a bottle.  I still try to give it to him every night.  I think he is eating around 5-6 oz a feeding.  Another "foot in the mouth" moment I've been having is the whole love over disciple.  I never understood why parents would choose to spoil their kids over discipline.  Now I get it.  I just want to hold Callen all day long and rock him when he cries.  I know that I probably won't have as flexible a baby but for me I don't care right now.  I'm just relishing his smell, his smiles, and his need for me. I feel so much maternal satisfaction when I can get that burp out of him or when he stops crying when I hold him.  I love love cuddling with him.  I don't know when we will have another kid and I just keep trying to slam on the breaks of how fast he is growing and developing.  He still has never peed on me!  YEAH!
Devin - He took boards and once again I love the "after test" husband instead of the "stressed husband!" We have packed everything we won't use in 6 months.  We have deep cleaned the entire house and fininshed all our little projects we never got too.  We cleaned out and organized every room and closet.  Man, we have got a lot done.  And today on Jan 1 we put our house up for sale!  Dev has scheduled a meeting with an agent but we thought we would give the for sale by owner a little chance.  We already got an email back and I'm praying we can sell this house before graduation!  Dev is on the internet a lot looking at and applying for jobs.  75% of the jobs have been from Texas and 25% from Montana and Colorado.  Devin needs one more set of dentures and 2 root canals to finish in his requirements.  He also is needs to do a restoration (filling) infront of 2 judges in Feb and then he will be Dr. Gneiting in May!  I might be his patient for Feb.  He keeps joking about giving me sugary gummy candy to get this filling ready for his test!  Oh and he is growing out a mustach for his class graduation picture.  Thank goodness the picture will be taken in Jan and not May!

Me- I have loved this second child.  Maybe I get an easy recovery and postpartum cause I have a hard pregnancy but looking back I don't feel like I had a hard adjustment.  I never cried, I got tired but nothing that affected my mothering with Brynlee, I feel like I'm as close to skinny as I'm going to get (although if I keep adding a size or 2 with every pregnancy I won't be happy after a few more kids!) and I don't feel like my house jobs have slacked.  I want to remember next time that after delivery, life usually gets back to normal really fast so I shouldn't freak out as much as I do every pregnancy!  I finished my freezer meals and loved that I did them.  Totally worth that preparation.  I'm back to doing my fun projects and blowing my monthly craft/fashion/hobby budget!  Devin made me clean out my craft bins which are about 10!  We widdled them down to about 5 or 6.  It hurt but was needed!  I got a laminator for christmas and can't wait to use that.  Dev keeps joking that I'm going to laminate all my scriptures next!  Not funny!

I cooked a little too much this year.  I think I'll cut back next year.  We had a great multi-course dinner for Christmas eve, opened pj's from Santa's elf, went to see the Hartwood lights (I couldn't get Brynlee to look at me she loved it so much), then set cookies we made out and carrots and said good bye to "Fairy" our elf!