Happy Second Birthday Henry!

Today our little baby turns 2! Can that really be right?? Maybe it is always like this with the baby of the family but I feel like he should still be an infant...of course he is not. He runs (actually he bounces) around the house at full speed all day long and talks up a storm every waking moment - he is most certainly not an infant anymore.

Ten reasons why Henry is the most lovable little boy ever (and not just because I am his mother, I swear!):

1. The way he says "kisses" to get one last peck before he lays down in bed.

2. The way his eyes sparkle with excitement and happiness over every little thing.

3. The way he dramatically pouts and hangs his head when he has been told no.

4. The way he takes your face between his little hands to make sure you are listening to him.

5. The way he tries so hard to do everything Emma is able to do.

6. The way he runs, falls on his face, gets back up and starts running again, without a peep of a complaint (he's a tough kid).

7. The way he tells you a whole story that takes forever and you only understand three words of what he said. Then he is very adamant that you repeat what he said.

8. The way he talks on the phone with a big smile on his face, nodding his head in agreement to what the other person is saying, expecting them to see his nodding.

9. The way he says he wants oatmeal and cinnamon, eggs, bagels, waffles and pancakes for breakfast every day. Then he is perfectly happy to eat whatever is put in front of him.

10. The way he says "uppie", gives my neck a big squeeze and puts his head on my shoulder when he is sleepy.

I LOVE YOU HENRY!

Thoughts...

2008 has been a difficult year. It started off just fine but by spring it was already a lousy one.

My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in May and went from being extremely active with so much going on to not being able to stay up for more than a few minutes at a time. This was such hard news to hear, and harder to see when we went to visit her in Sweden over the summer. I have such wonderful memories of playing with Farmor and Farfar from the time I was very little. We played store and dress-up, made button houses (didn't you?) and played "hide-the-key". We drove to Askersund for soft ice cream after swimming in the lake and ate LOT'S of Farmor's wonderful cookies (at least 7 kinds plus a cinnamon roll and cake - she was always the proper hostess). She has been one of those people that likes to keep busy all the time. Rarely did she sit down to rest, at least when I was watching. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for her, now that she can't do any of the things she has always enjoyed so much. Of course we all get older and one generation passes the torch to the next, but this does not make it any easier to watch your loved ones in pain, knowing that the end is nearing. I just wish I could be with Farmor now. Life is tricky.

The end of October brought the next blow, and this was a big one, as I mentioned previously. Our precious little Emma was diagnosed with leukemia. Imagine the shock! This can't happen to our baby! But it did. And of course we dealt with it. There are a few positive points to make here. If you have to have leukemia, having ALL (the type Emma has) is the one you want. Being 3 1/2 years old is the right age to get it. Also, treating leukemia in a girl takes about 2 1/2 years, while it takes 3 1/2 for a boy. These are all things I cling to. Emma will be just fine. I know she will. We just have to get through the next couple of years. Emma is already doing much better. She is responding to treatment the way she should and she is feeling better every day.

This post is not meant to be a depressing one. What I want to ultimately get across are two things. One, that we are lucky in so many ways and two, that I look to the new year and beyond with hope and quite a bit of excitement.

Let me start with the lucky part. I have a wonderful husband - I can't imagine going through this with anyone else. I think it has made us stronger and for that I am very lucky. We have a wonderful family that supports us - I don't know what we would do without them. We also have incredible friends and neighbors. I have been completely amazed at the kindness and generosity of everyone in my life. Emma has received so many sweet gifts to keep her occupied while she is recuperating. We have received meals when cooking dinner was the last thing I could even think about doing. I have received phone calls, letters and e-mails offering positive thoughts and prayers. I am blessed and I am humbled. The only problem is, how can I every say thank you enough? This must be the perfect opportunity for paying it forward. I am determined to look harder for ways to help and support those around me.

Then there is the hope and excitement I feel. I am so happy that we will be starting a brand new year in two days. I have never been more excited about starting fresh. 2009 will be a good year. Emma will continue on her path to recovery and move closer to being completely cured with every day that passes. We will all do what we can for Farmor and hope and pray that she does not have a lot of pain. We will value family like never before. We will nurture friendships like never before. We will be grateful for the little things like never before. I am hopeful and excited.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008 Holiday Season

Welcome!

Lucia

Looking for Santa?

Christmas morning

Lot's of fun was had by all!

The Third Sunday of Advent

...and the third candle is lit.

I am collage-happy!

We had such a nice weekend. Emma was her old happy self and we had som fun, though still very low-key, family activities while also getting some things crossed off my holiday to-do list!

First off, we took family pictures out in the snow with the hopes of getting holiday cards sent out this year. I am usually much further along when it comes to holiday planning by this time but the past few weeks have been anything but ordinary so I will be happy to get cards out in time for New Year's Eve! The kids cooperated pretty well, especially considering the cold weather. We just started snapping away really fast and didn't stop to look at the pictures at all. We figured we would get what we could and work with it. Nancy helped out and we were done in no time. By the way, don't you absolutely love Emma's and Henry's gorgeous coats? They are the ones we got in New York in October. (which seems like a lifetime ago now!)

When our photo session was completed, Dan and I left the kids with the grandparents and went to watch Virginia Tech beat Boston College, thereby making it to the Orange Bowl. This has not been a stellar season for the Hokies so winning the ACC and going to a BCS bowl is very unexpected, and of course so exciting! Doesn't going to Miami on New Year's Day to watch Virginia Tech play sound like fun? Just not this year...

Our last activity for the day was going to Candy Cane Lane to see all the Christmas lights there. It is amazing how ambitious this little neighborhood is. They go all out! I wonder if you have to sign something when you move there saying you have commit to putting up X number of lights and Y number of santas and snowmen in your yard each December :)

The kids absolutely loved all there was to look at - they were pointing this way and that - telling us what they were seeing. It was so cute - I am sure going to see the lights will become a tradition at this time of year.

On our way home we stopped at Kopp's for some wholesome burgers and fries. We also bought frozen custard but none of us could manage to eat any after those enormous hamburgers!

We all slept very well that night - what a busy day we had.

Sunday was gingerbread-cookie-baking-day. Emma and I attacked that dough and made tons of cookies. (Even though I only made half the recipe!) I was really impressed with how patient Emma was. It is not easy for 3 year old to make cut out cookies but she kept working at it. After a bit she decided she wanted to color instead so I finished up the rest. It feels so good to have the baking done. It is just not Christmas without gingerbread cookies!

How was your weekend?

Second Sunday of Advent

Two candles are lit.

Our weekend has been lovely. I will tell all tomorrow, though here is a sneak peak:

Henry loves watching the workers with their trucks and other heavy equipment as they build a house behind ours.

December 1st

Emma is back! My happy, funny, chatty and sweet little girl is back! Not that she didn't have moments of sweetness during the last month, but today Emma had a really good day.
This morning she and Henry opened their first advent gifts and they had such a good time trying to hang their new ornaments on the tree. When Henry went down for his morning nap, Emma and I decorated the rest of the Christmas tree. She was so cute about it, taking her time and carefully placing the ornaments just so. We had a really nice time together.

When Henry woke up I explained to him that he was not to touch the Christmas tree. Of course this was too tempting for an almost-two-year-old so as soon as I turned around he tore down a few decorations. We have recently started to try time outs with Henry so I told him to go to time out because he had touched the tree when I had said not to. Henry ran straight to the hall closet (this is where Dan put him for a time out yesterday) and sat down with a pouty look on his face. I think he secretly likes to sit in there for a minute or two...