Looking Like Christmas!

Our little family has a tradition of decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. We are all home and can enjoy doing it together. The children loved helping to decorate the tree. Here I am putting the last touch of red bows on the tree and they sit and enjoy our basket of Christmas books that comes out with the decorations as well. There is something special in the air this time of year. I love Christmas!

Snuggle Bugs

Rebecca has a cozy bed which is like a little cove under Davids bed. (this is the bed, plus the tent) Everyone loves to roll onto Rebecca's bed since it is so easy to crawl to. Benjamin especially loves snuggling down in her bed. I think he wishes he could join them in sharing a room.
Don't you want to jump in and get cozy too?

Feeling Relief

Benjamin being funny.

This past week we had a follow-up appointment to the doctor for Benjamin. I really haven't enjoyed the visits to the doctor since our little one is very little. When I am at home with him I don't worry about his size because he is just right to me. He is active in crawling and trying to walk. He communicates in almost using recognizable words. Best of all, he has a great sense of humor and loves interacting and laughing with each of us. All this points to a very healthy little boy, even if he is very little in size.

The doctor has been informing us that these situations are worded as "failure to thrive" just because the child isn't following the growth curve. We have even taken a cystic fibrosis test (thankfully negative). We were also told to call an interventionist who would help us watch Benjamin.

This last visit came and as usual I had a prayer in my heart that perhaps this time we could hear some good news about his growth and health. We took him in and they weighed him and I couldn't believe my eyes! Benjamin had jumped 5 ounces in two weeks, which is an amazing jump since he hasn't grown very much in a long time. Then they told us the C.F. test was negative, and his wheezing (something he also had at the previous appointment) was gone. I was filled with gratitude and felt like I was walking in the clouds. We will still have to watch his growth, but I am so thankful to have at least one happy visit for Benjamin (although he did have to get his shots, poor boy)!

"Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings (see Alma 37:37). . . . We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God's will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed (see 3 Nephi 18:20; D&C 19:38)."

David A. Bednar
"Pray Always, Ensign," Nov. 2008, 41

Growing Big

We have updated our photos here, if you care to see some of the fun we have had this past month.

Rocks

David loves rocks. Often when we are playing at the park, or going any where else, David will notice rocks and inspect them. Here is a bit of his collections, of course he didn't find many of those on the ground, but a few of them he has.
I love seeing my children learn and explore the beauties around them. David even made a museum, much like the one we visit, to go and look at rocks. He has quite a collection.

Halloween Fun

The children loved making root beer and watching it bubble.

Thanks to Clark's brother, we had some great costumes for Halloween.