4 months!

Brooke, I absolutely love this outfit! He looks like such a little man!

"Look at me! I'm four months old now!"

My little rock star...looking good for the ladies. :)

Katelyn helping Sam stand up!

That is not where he was two minutes ago!

Here's how I scare Mommy! My favorite game to play

Again, with the covering of the face...hmmm

Today we went for Sam's four month checkup. I cannot believe it's already been four months. We have a WONDERFUL pediatrician who always listens to my fifty million (how ya like that number Jared?!) questions without making me feel like I'm being over protective or something. Our little man is growing like a weed and is doing great. He just looked and smiled at the dr. Dr. Hubbell says its time to start cereal! I can't believe that....I feel like I should still be holding this little baby who can't do anything. It feels like just yesterday Jared and I were saying..."When is he going to start doing stuff?" My how time flies. Sam is rolling over, scooting, singing (in his own way), standing with help, and sitting up with help. He loves to chew on everything including his toes! Yuck! He has such a neat personality...He loves to smile. He'll smile at anybody even perfect strangers. Lately he's started playing this little game with me. It's called "How to give Mommy a heart attack." Here's how you play. Fall asleep in whatever place you like, and stick whatever you can over your face. Bib. Burp cloth. Chewey. Blanket. Whatever. When Mommy takes it off b/c she's afraid you can't breathe, open your eyes and give her a big smile. Then, fall back asleep. Play this game as often as you like. :) What a crazy little man. He did get his shots today though. That wasn't fun. He did fine at the dr's office, but once we got home and he woke up...it wasn't good. He just went to sleep so here I am catching up on my blogging.

December has been insanely busy. I think our next free weekend is sometime in January...I find that the more we go, the more I want to stay home. When did I get so old? My parents used to go to work and come home. Every day it was the same. When I was growing up I hated that. I always wanted to run the roads. Go and do. Not anymore. I like to come home and stay home. No Wal-Mart, no park, nothing. Just let me be at home. Unfortunately, the world doesn't understand my need for family quality time at home. We're adjusting though.

Tomorrow is my class party at school. Friday is early release. Thank you Jesus! I have never been so ready for Christmas break in my life. School is crazy this year. It's not me having a baby, I'm not sure what it is. It's just.....different. I have really been challenged as a teacher this year. For one, this is the first time I've ever been at the same school teaching the same grade two years in a row. Wow. This group of students is different from last year, so I'm having to do things a lot different. What worked last year, doesn't work for this group. I have to continually remind myself of what Jared always says, "If you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting." If I want my students to be successful then I've got to keep working until something sticks. I'm still loving teaching b/c it is challenging. It is rewarding. Like no other. I'll just be ready for a vacation. Melissa is coming to stay for a little while. She's going to keep Sam while Jared and I and a group of our friends go see Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio in Houston. Woo Hoo. Excited about how the Lord is going to use that night to speak to us.

Well, I wish I had some inspiring things to say...I just wanted to give a quick update for our faithful readers (if we have any ) who don't get to see Sam on a regular basis. I do hope that you all have a great Christmas and that you would truly celebrate Christ's birth this season.

~Elizabeth

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Stockings are hung!

Tree is up! It's our "grown-up" tree. Gigantic!!!

Sam's first snow! He didn't realize this NEVER happens. We tried to tell him to be a little more excited....what can you do???

Daddy & Sam in the snow (well...sorta)

Mommy and Sam in the snow...brrrr!!!

The tree is up, the stockings are hung, the cinnamon candle is burning, and the first (and probably only) snow has fallen. Christmas is officially here. Jared made a really funny joke today. He said, "The most wonderful time of the year is getting kinda expensive." While Jared had some good comedic timing, that's sadly the truth. This morning Jared talked about how so many times we are like the inn keeper. You remember him don't you? He's the guy who didn't have room for Jesus, the Savior of the world. Because of him, Jesus was born in a manger. He compared us to him. OUCH! During Christmas time especially (which should be totally opposite) we don't have any room for Jesus. We'd love to give more or do more, but there's just not enough time or money. Well, the truth is, there is enough time and you do have enough money it's just a matter of priority. For me I needed to hear that. Every year at Christmas time I participate in two different things at my school. 1. Secret Santa. Always fun, but it does cost money. 2. Christmas Angels. Teachers turn in different student's names to be put on a tree. These are students who won't get a Christmas at all or are just in need of basics like clothes, deodorant, school supplies. Both of these cost money. I like to do both, but if it comes down to it and I have to choose to do only one, which is it going to be? When Jared and I got married, we talked about what traditions we wanted to start as a family. One of those has always been reading the Nativity story (The real Christmas story) on Christmas Eve. We've also done shoeboxes for Operation Christmas child. But now that we have Sam, I've been thinking about what traditions I want to do with him, and what significance they will have. I want Sam to know why we celebrate Christmas. I want him to have a giving heart. But I want him to treasure the memories that we make along the way. Some traditions we've already started: Reading the Nativity story, Operation Christmas Child , caroling each year (we take the kids at church every year). I'm looking for some new ideas that you do too! What is something that you either do with your kids now, did as a child, or plan to do with your own? I'm just wanting meaningful holiday traditions to remind our family of the real meaning of the season. I enjoy getting to hear some ideas! Stay warm!

~Elizabeth