He's Seven Months-With an ATTITUDE!

WOW!!! I have been REEEEAAAALLLYYY bad at blogging...I am trying to do better, in fact I have about 6 blog post topics to do, it's honestly just been CRAZY busy. Anyways, I am going to make a commitment to keep up on my blog.
Ryder is seven months old today! I can't believe it. He is crawling, sitting up, PULLING himself up to a standing position on the couch and has developed an attitude to boot. He SCREAMS when he wants something, a loud, screeching purely obnoxious sound, but can I just say that we all love the sound of it? Crazy but we do! He loves to eat (still!!!) but I have to say that he doesn't like the meals in a can, ie the "Chicken Noodle Dinner" or the "Beef and Vegetables Dinner" he pukes horribly after eating it (not that I can blame him, just SMELLING the stuff makes me want to vomit). Soooo, we are sticking to pure veggies and fruit and he is loving all of them. He sleeps through the night, only cries (and SCREECHES!!) when he needs something, he gives us slobbery loves and kisses and he is becoming a MAJOR daddies boy. Did I mention that we are just EATING him up and can't get enough??? Love him!

Someone's Eating Solids!

I had a goal to breastfeed Ryder for 6 months. I have to tell you that after a rough pregnancy and a NATURAL child birth, NOTHING was as painful and hard for me as breastfeeding. I made it to just past 5 months and then Ryder and I decided that we were done! We started him on rice cereal, formula and vegetables and so far so good. He LOVES his food, and we LOVE him!

Christmas 2008

Geez, could I be ANY more behind?!? Oh well, better late then never I suppose. We had a fantastic Christmas! Instead of writing a whole bunch, I am just going to post a ton of pictures. I am so thankful for the holiday season to remind us what is really important in life. We spent Christmas Eve at my dad's as per tradition. We had lots of yummy food and enjoyed visiting and being together. The kids got their customary Christmas pj's while we were there, then we came home and got ready for SANTA! The next morning, after basking in the generosity of Santa Clause, we went to my dad's and Kim's for a few hours to exchange gifts then spent the afternoon at the Gatherum's. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. The kids were properly spoiled by Santa, mom and dad and grandparents. It was a great day!

A Star For Nathaniel...

Several months ago, I did a post on Austin, my nephew who got to go to the Make-A-Wish house and make his wish to go to Disney World. At the time, I started talking to the wish facilitator, named Kandis. I told her that my brother had gone on a wish years before the wish house had been built. She told me we should come and have a "wish" party for Nathaniel, even though he had passed away. Well, the wheels started turning and I talked to my sisters and Kim and we decided that we would donate the money that we would usually spend on my dad for Christmas and surprise him with a donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation and throw a "wish" party for Nathaniel. So we did it on December 23rd. It was awesome. We got there and were greeted by a big sign that said "Welcome Thomas Family." Kandis took us on a tour of the house and told us about it and all the HUNDREDS of kids the foundation has granted wishes for. We got to go to the wishing room and make wishes for anyone we wanted to. We all read our wishes and gave them to my dad who put them in his wish box. He also got a special key that unlocks the wishing room and he can go back there anytime he wants to. We also got to send Nathaniel's wish to the wishing wizard. All the things we would have gotten to do if Nathaniel was there making his wish now. The coolest thing was at the end, my dad got to make a star for Nathaniel and "sign" it however he wanted to. On each point of the star, front and back, my dad etched in memories of Nathaniel and then he got to raise his star onto the ceiling of stars where it will always stay. It was so awesome to be able to give our donation to the foundation. We qualified to be a co-donor and will get to help send a child on a wish and because of this, we will be contacted when that child's wish is granted and we will get to know who the child is and what their wish is. It was a wonderful night of remembering Nathaniel and remembering what the Christmas season is all about. Love you dad and we love and miss you Nathaniel...