An unordinary Christmas!

A quick Christmas blog: We were thrilled to have Tatum with us this Christmas, so we tried to soak up the season as much as possible and really cherish the memories. We had an early immediate family Christmas with just the 3 of us before heading off to Arizona for a week and a half (we are still here). This Christmas was a little different than others because, as most of you know Jeremey's sister Stephanie is still in the hospital on bedrest awaiting her new baby girl. Because she couldn't be with us for the opening of presents at Grandma and Grandpas we hooked her up to facetime chat and she was able to experience the madness right along with us. And when I say "madness" I really mean it, with so many kids, the gifts, noise and mess gets pretty crazy. After Christmas lunch, and gift opening we headed down to the hospital where we had rented out a big room and spent the remainder of Christmas there. It was different, but it was wonderful. Thank you Jesus for the big family I always wanted.

The only thing Jeremey's mom wanted for Christmas was a photo of all her grandkids together. There is no way we could get all the kids smiling and paying attention at one time, so we took individual pictures of each family group of kids, and photoshopped it together. Here is what it ended up looking like. Not perfect, not professional, but it got the job done, and everyone is at least looking at the camera. Jeremey's mom is such a blessing and such a strong women in the Lord. She holds this family together in more ways than anybody will ever understand. A true proverbs 31 women!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Aunt Stephanie made tutus for all the girl cousins. We are missing 3 girls who were sick for Christmas day though.

Grandpa handing out the gifts!

Little T got really sick the day after Christmas. We think it might have been a bad reaction to food or food poisoning.

Our almost Christmas cards ...

Go ahead and call us the worst family around when it comes to sending out Christmas cards, baby announcements, or wedding thank you's ... It seems to be something that we NEED to work on, and master before everyone we love thinks we have forgotten about them ... This year, after failing to get professional family pictures taken, we decided to go out on a whim and take them of ourselfs. This involved making our house into a mini photoset, and individually taking pictures of each other, and photoshopping them together to look like we were actually standing next to each other. Resulting in some majorly cheesy Christmas pics! I can't yet reveal all of the photos, (in my opinion some of the best ones), because they may or may not be given as gifts this holiday. But here are a few ... and then a few extra random pictures as well ... TIS the season to Celebrate Jesus. I am beyond thankful for all that he has blessed us with and brought our family through this year. (Even the little bout of the stomach flu that hit my little gal this morning, thankful that she is sleeping sound right now).

Her first year of putting the star on top of the Christmas tree!

Xmas baby??? --- Steph/London update

The not so important issue ...

For those of you that were born near, or have children that were born near Christmas, how did you deal with the whole double wammy gift thing? I am finding that even at the young age of one, with Tatum being born just 5 days after Christmas, giving people enough gift ideas for her, to cover both events is difficult. She doesn't need a whole mountain of new things all at once, but I'm sure in 6 months, she will be on to new things developmentally, and obviously onto new fitting clothes. But by then, it will be way past her birthday, she will be needing new things, but with no special occasion looming. Oh how I long for the perfectly situatuated July birthday, to avoid this dilemma. I always thought it would be hard for the kid when they got old enough to realize what was going on, I didn't think about it from the parents point of view. Also, does anybody have any birthday theme ideas. With her birthday being 1 day before the ever so wonderful new years eve, I'm sure there will be an enormous amount of silver and gold streamers and 2012 hats, but that isn't exactly the them I was thinking, haha. I guess lucky for her (in some ways), for the rest of her life, there are going to be built in "parties" going on every year around her birthday. Just don't want her to get lost in the mix. Just something this first time mom is thinking about these days. Would love some feedback.

On to the more important issue ...

My sister Stephanie (for those that have been following her pregnancy journey) is now officially in the hospital on bedrest. She has been there several days now, and is nearing week 31 of her 3rd trimester. So far, the doctors have informed the family that baby London is doing wonderfully, and are planning the C-section for the 3rd, 10th or 17th (there have been several dates mentioned.) With that news, the main focus is really on Stephanie now. The Doctors have good expectations, but each day seems to bring more serious news. The surgery she will undergo at the time of the birth comes with many many complications, within 3 minutes, because of the amount of scar tissue they have to go through and sew back up, and the amount of blood that will be lost, she could easily bleed to death. We need prayer that the massive team of doctors will have quick hands, and quick problem solving skills the day of. Jeremey has had the chance to talk to Stephanie every night she has been in the hospital thus far. She sounds like she is in good spirits (though we know it is still very difficult). Her room is fully decorated, and there are prayers hanging all over the walls, and we hear that the nursing staff loves her. We aren't surprised though, she is a joy to be around! Thank you for your prayers, and I will be updating as the days drawer closer.

Pure Determination!

The Christmas season is here, thus reminding me of a very stressfull Christmas season that I had last year. I was due with Tatum in 10 days, which turned int0 20 ... I did everything I could to have my baby before Christmas ...but in the end just ended up looking silly in the process ... Here is a little clip of what my life consisted of ... pure determination.

And now, here she is in her first Christmas season, in her first Christmas party outfit, gearing up to turn ONE in a few weeks! LIFE, YOU MOVE SO FAST.

With the christmas season beginning that also means that Jeremey has finished up yet another semester highlight video. Here is a clip from the end sequence. Check out Tatum's buddy Chloe Celaya at the 1:00 mark. She is Jeremey's boss' little girl and one of the cutest kids ever!

Fall 2011 The End from CCBC Videos on Vimeo.