Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

If you live in Maryland, you don't get overly excited when it snows. People enjoy it, but it is not unusual to get some of the white stuff each winter. If you are from Texas, it is a little more exciting. I think we have already crossed over to the Maryland side when it comes to snow. There have been several occasions when it has been snowing that I have asked Dylan if he would like to go outside, and his response, like any native Texan, is that it is too cold. Last winter, our first winter in Maryland, I have to admit, I was not a lot of fun. I was very pregnant or the mother of a very young baby any time it snowed. I had no interest in going outside and playing in the snow. Well, we finally had a good snow, five inches or snow and the kids and I went out and played. They weren't as excited about being out in the snow as I thought they would be for first timers this season. We had fun standing and looking around. Next time, I am buying a little sled. They will love it! Little did I know, that the next day our five inches of snow would be five inches of ice.

My Helpful Husband

My sweet husband always does nice little things when he is home. I guess I should say when he is not traveling because that sounded really funny. Yesterday, he did the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, made my lunch, put Dylan to bed, and then he decided to wash my car. That would have been a really sweet thought if it had not been twenty degrees. I guess he was tired the day they covered the freezing point in science because he was completely unaware that the water was going to freeze while he was doing this at 10:00 in the evening. As he saw the water on my car freezing, he came up with a plan to remedy the situation. He had a brillant thought that he would melt the ice on the car and the sidewalk with hot water. Then he would put salt on the concrete and everything would be okay. Little did he realize that I would awake to a frozen car, that would not open for me to take the kids to school and go to work. I had to come up with a solution of my own. After feeling frazzled and frustrated, I recognized that his intentions were good. Everyone at work had a good laugh as it caused me to arrive 35 minutes late. He is even a bit embarrased by the mishap. I guess I'm lucky that he wants my car to look good that he will spend the time washing it in 20 degree weather. What a great guy!

Allyson Is Upright and Mobile

Today Allyson surprised all of us by putting her steps together and started walking. She is so proud of herself and she loved all of the attention she received. Of course she stumbles occasionally, but she gets better with each attempt. Dylan is thrilled that Allyson is now upright and mobile. She has been trying to walk for awhile now, but finally was able to put it all together. Dylan calls his sister, "Our Cutie Girl." He kept saying, "Look at our cutie girl." The best part for me was that Kevin was home to see it. It wasn't a moment I wanted to tell him about over the phone. It was a great day and a big step for Allyson.

Dylan Time

My sweet little boy experienced throwing up for the first time. He was a bit freaked out by it, but quickly decided that he didn't mind being sick once he realized that he was going to stay home with mommy. Our family life is very busy. Kevin and I both have demanding jobs and we are always on the go. As a friend of mine said, I've been bitten by the mommy bug. I am really wanting more time with my kids. Today was the first day that I didn't feel guilty about calling in sick. It felt great to take care of Dylan. We rested, played, and worked around the house. He loved every minute of it because we spent time together. One of my resolutions this year is to find more fun time with the kids. As for Dylan, he woke up the next morning jumping up and down on his bed trying to convince me that he was still sick. He is feeling great and so am I...we have a day off from school on Monday. We will definitely have fun together.

Happy Belated Birthday, Allyson Elyse

For months, my mom and I planned Allyson's first birthday. Living out of state, it is unusual that we are home on special occasions. On New Year's Eve, I started feeling sick. I would get better and then I would get really sick again. Finally on January 3rd, Kevin took me to the ER and they admitted me to the hospital, acute gastroentinitis with severe dehydration. I was actually thinking that I was getting better, not realizing that my electrolyte levels were so depleted. I was so looking forward to spending the day with family and friends to celebrate our sweet little girl's birthday. Mimi, Papa, and Daddy brought the kids up to the hospital and I was able to spend the day with Allyson. It actually looked like a small party in my room with all of my visitors. As I was lying in the hospital bed, I thought to myself how ironic it was that just a year ago we were so filled with joy with the arrival of Allyson and there I was so sick. Once I was released from the hospital, we decided to make January 6th Allyson's special day. She will never know the difference, but it was fun having a small party for her. She loved being surrounded by family. Mimi, the outfit was adorable and the cake was great. We were able to spend an extra week in Texas, which was good for all of us.

A New Year, A New Blog

One of my resolutions this year is to start a blog. My friend Misty has the most incredible blog and I have been wanting to start one for awhile. It will be interesting to see if I can keep it updated with our busy schedules once I get back to work. We have traveled to Texas for the holidays and we are all enjoying a break. I have enjoyed spending time with the kids. It is amazing how they grow and change before your eyes. Dylan and Allyson love seeing their grandparents and spending time with friends. On Monday we will head home to Maryland and assume our routine on Tuesday. Here's to 2009 and all that is to come.