Merry Christmas

Missing Daddy

It's enough to break my heart.  Last night Simon slept with a photo of Christopher (large, pointy, glass-enclosed picture that's usually on my nightstand).  We had a rough night together which ended in a bit of discipline followed by a lot of prayer and hugs.  Usually it's my sensitive girl who gets weepy at night and asks to sleep with the photo.  So when Si asked for it, I had to reassess how I interact with this guy.  At the top of my "take a deep breath and remember" list?: He's only three years old.  I often treat him and Millie just the same when it comes to both physical capabilities (putting shoes on, getting snacks, etc) and emotional capacity (buck up, power through, keep on going).  I need to cut him a break.  Also at the top of that list?: Simon's energy and humor mask a very sensitive core.  My boy likes the snuggles and probably internalizes the stress of the household.  I need to slow down and sit and just be with him much more often.

So here we go...the learning, struggling and overcoming.  Can't wait to see what our family looks like on the other side of this challenge.  But really, just can't wait to BE on the other side of this challenge!

Four Months

 

Four Month Stats:

26 inches long (93%)

14.6 pounds (67%)

Family, Holidays

Thanksgiving was a cozy affair for five here at home in Norfolk.  We went for our semi-traditional family run along the Virginia Beach boardwalk in the morning:

And then gathered for a feast in the afternoon:

This happened a little too soon after Millie's nap...she's clearly in no mood to be messed with.

Millie made the costumes.

The next day we were so excited that Jennie and Skip and Kaitlin and Sydney made a special trip from their own family Thanksgiving in Richmond to spend some time with us.  The cousins could not be cuter together:

We managed to get a tree and put some good thought and half-hearted effort into getting it decorated (for some reason it took days to complete the task this year):

And then we just celebrated us, and her, and the sweetness of being together during these holidays.