A crying baby

So Adyson is 10 months now and we have almost always put her to bed asleep. So the other day, we were exhuasted from lots of taveling and running around and we put her to bed half asleep. She did not like that and she cried, well more like screamed herself to fell asleep. She cried for 20 minutes, not a sad cry, an angry one, she threw her pacifier at the door but finally fell asleep. We on the other hand laid in bed tense, staring at the ceiling saying do you think she is ok (keep in mind that we can sit up in bed look into the hall into her room and can see her standing in her crib) Kris asked if I had said goodnight, i said yes and then we debated on going in there a million times, should we pick her up or not and how long would we let her cry and is this method a good one for us. Long story short, she fell asleep, was not emotionally hurt, and woke up in a great mood the next day. I put her down tonight and she screamed for 4 minutes and went to sleep, big difference. I just hate that she cries when we put her in her bed awake but she is the child that will keep going and going until she passes out if we let her. I hope next time she just goes to sleep no crying, I can't take it when she cries :-)

Christmas Eve and Day

decorating for Christmas at our house

I love Christmas. I love to decorate and be with family. I love to give presents and feel a little wierd getting gifts. Weird huh? Anyway the pics are us having fun decorating our tree. We have been talking about what traditions we want to have with our kids as they grow up. This year we bought Addy one gift, an ornament, something she will keep forever. We decided that for our children we will fill thier stockings, give them one gift, and have one family gift. The rest of the family can be in charge of spoiling them. I want them to learn from us the real meaning of Christmas. Kris is going to read the story of Jesus' birth and we will let the kids buy gifts for families thru an Angel tree.

I think what brought all the presents talk was money and what are we teaching our children. I have a friend that is struggling right now with money and they really couldn't afford to buy gifts but felt like they had too. We talked about how the family would understand and wouldn't want them to go in debt for a present. If only the grandparents would have known that they can't afford baby food right now. But I degress. I understand how they are feeling, the last four years have been a little stressful after Christmas for us, trying to budget after buying all those gifts for everyone (roughfully 16 people), this is the first year that we aren't feeling that as bad, better planning on our part (shopping for almost everything the day after Thanksgiving), hardly any eating out, along with as little groceries as possible, and not spending what we wanted to spend, keeping it at bay. It helps that we don't get each other gifts too. We tried that one year and realized that we couldn't afford it, so we chose a few to keep, showed each other what we bought (it's the thought that counts right?) and then took back all the presents. Since then Kris has written me poems or made me cards, things that I will cherish always. This year we got Addy, the best gift.

So what has all my rambling been about. Having children change everything. It changes how you see everything and hopefully makes you a better person.

Anyway it's late I'm going to bed!

Christmas in Vevay

We went to my mom's and Henry's the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. Addy thought unloading all of my mom's kitchen towels out of the drawer was great fun.

Christmas with the Mullins

playing with the boys












Maddie let Addy touch her without crying


















Asher and Dan














Chrissy and Addy opening gifts
















Asher and Addy












We did Christmas with the whole family two Saturday's before Christmas. We had it at Al and Sue's. It took me showing Addy how to unwrap two presents then she got the hang of it.

Clean bill of health

Finally Addy had a clean bill of health from the doctor. For the last 4 months, she has been fighting ear infections, a sinus infection that caused pink eye twice, a bug that settled in her intestines, and now she is fine. You would never know that she is sick, she shows no signs (except the pink eye). We take her in for her regular check ups and they tell us that she has ear infections. So I am glad she is fine now. The doctor said that she is working on her top teeth but she doesn't cry, she just chews on everything. She is 20 pounds and 12 ounces, and 29 and a quarter long. She is getting so big. She stood by herself today for a minute until she realize she wasn't holding on to Daddy anymore then she sat down. I can't wait till she walks but I'm not ready too.