What a busy month December has been! It's crazy to think how much has changed in just one month. We are grateful beyond words that Lindsey had a healthy pregnancy, easy delivery and that Aspen is a BIG brother to Bennett Rainier Hawkins, 8 lbs 6 ounces and 20 inches long (more on that soon).
We started the month celebrating Granny's birthday. We were able to take family pictures and enjoyed our family time.
Happy 81st Birthday to Granny! We love you!
Sweet memories with Aspen. He has learned to watch the timer on our camera, so he's always looking…well, usually. Yes! One proud Dee Dee! :)
Aspen's first "Tacky Sweater" Christmas party! :) The Young Married class at our church gave a gift to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Aspen's name for Christmas. #blessedus #CURECF
Aspen's motto in the world of picture taking is, "Catch me if you can!" He loves to play outside and run as fast as he can. He runs with his hips swinging from side to side…almost like he isn't bending his knees at all. He has the cutest run, the cutest laugh, the cutest smile. He's pretty much the cutest little boy in all ways! :)
ONE, TWO, THREE….. GO! He loves to say that! You know when he gets to "GO" that the ball is about to be thrown or he's about to run fast! He also loves to say, "Ready, SET, GOOOO!"
He loves to chase you, laughing all the way! His laugh melts our hearts! He's such a happy little boy!
He loves, loves his lawnmower (better known as a car) and will cut the grass for a long, long, LONG time if you let him. That was the best investment!
We've been talking to Aspen about being a big brother soon and I think this was during one of those talks. Aspen was like…. "How much longer? Are you kidding me?"
Lindsey makes the best pregnant woman! She didn't have a minutes worth of trouble, her blood pressure was always perfect, she didn't even realize when she was dilated to 7, and she was only in active labor about 3 hours (she pushed twice and there Bennett was). It's hard to believe in this picture, that Bennett would be born the next week...only 3 days before his due date. Pregnancy didn't slow her down from being active with Aspen and being such an awesome mother!
On December 23rd, Lindsey went for her routine doctor's visit and Dr. Pohl asked her several times…"Are you sure you aren't having ANY pains?" He was truly surprised and so were we when he said that she was dilated to almost 7cm. He sent us straight to the hospital and sweet Bennett was born at 4:21pm.
Aspen's first look at "the baby!" Curiosity….
And then confusion… LOL
Aspen didn't know what to think at first, but he ended his first visit with a huge KISS! We know they are going to be the best of friends! :)
Aunt Nelly took Aspen to Chick-Fil-A while his Mama was in labor and Aspen got a cow for being a new big brother! :)
We are still waiting on the results of Bennett's CF genetic test but PRAISE THE LORD, his intestines are healthy and he didn't require emergency surgery like Aspen did. We are so grateful. Bennett lost down to 8 pounds 1 ounce when he left the hospital. The day after Christmas he was down to 7 pounds, 10 ounces and the doctor was a little concerned. Today, we took Bennett to the doctor and he had gained back up to 8 pounds, 8.5 ounces and the doctors were so excited and impressed (especially in three short days). He doesn't show any signs of CF (like failure to thrive or grow), and we are praying daily that his results will be negative. We should find out by January 2nd. Please continue to pray!
He's the cutest little chunky monkey! He looks just like Chris!
Proud Daddy moment!
Those sweet first moments!
Lindsey and Chris made it home from the hospital around 9pm on Christmas Eve. What a blessing it was to have our family together for Christmas Eve and morning.
Christmas morning was so much fun! I loved watching Lindsey and Chris with Aspen and Bennett. Aspen was so happy and the looks he gave while watching Bennett were priceless.
One of my favorite pictures EVER! Love this sweet picture. Lindsey and Chris have really made sure that Aspen still has his special moments with them!
"You want me to do what with this seat?"
His laugh can brighten even the craziest of times! His belly laughs are the best!
"Do you see what I got??" Yes! Santa visits Dee Dee and Pops house too! :)
Chilling like a big boy! He changes so much every day!
He wasn't sure what to think at first about this whole "stocking" thing but it didn't take him long to want to open another present. :)
His very favorite thing in all of the world (except people of course). THOMAS the Train… Better known as PERCY! ;)
Thomas pajamas, Thomas shirt, Thomas movies, Thomas remote control, Thomas train set, Thomas fork and spoon. Did we mention that Aspen LOVES Thomas?
Their first Christmas as a family of four! It still doesn't seem for real! :)
Aspen, after nap time, is the sweetest! He has to bring his blanket down and he loves to bring "Honey Bear" too. That's the one time he will snuggle and snuggle!
Singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus! He was all in favor of the singing to Jesus until we lit the candle (notice the shocked face). haha! When Danielle and Lindsey were young we ate cinnamon rolls and sang to Jesus. We've started that tradition back and it's so much fun!
Always the entertainer. Always the jokester. Always the one laughing! Sweet boy!
Where's Cookie? Also known as Uncle Chri or Cocoa Crisp… It just depends on the day.
So thankful that we were all able to be together for Christmas Eve at Granny and Papa's.
Aspen LOVED playing with his cousin, Grady. They are about 6 months apart in age.
Bennett in his going home from the hospital outfit because they came straight to Granny and Papa's!
Christmas day was really hectic but what a blessing it was. We may not have eaten breakfast (yes, breakfast) until 2:30pm but the most important thing is tradition. We were all still able to be together and it was awesome!!!
Breakfast with Granny and Papa!
What's a family Christmas picture without a "funny" one. Makes me laugh!
December was a blur but I look back in awe! I'm in awe of God's peace and comfort when we need it the most. I'm in awe of His goodness! I'm in awe of how the details of life worked themselves out. What a great month it was! We don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do see God's hand in the NOW. I see how perfect His timing was in Bennett's delivery. I see how everyone around us was sick, but our entire family remained healthy. I see a sweet baby that was born with his intestines in place. I see so many answered prayers and I see God's LOVE for us all. Thank you, Lord, for your peace that can only come from you.
We received all sorts of gifts for Christmas. I think we were all SO excited about what we got. We actually completely surprised Chris with a new gun (he even teared up….YES! SCORE!). LOL But the greatest gift of ALL is the gift of Jesus!
Jesus!
Jesus!
No other name but Jesus!
The real message of Christmas (even in all of the craziness) is not the gifts that we give to each other but it is the reminder of the gift that God has given to each of us! His gift just keeps on giving!
At Christmas, we give gifts to those that we love and care about. We don't give gifts to the person that is ugly to us, or the angry co-worker or neighbor. God gave us His gift even though we didn't deserve it at ALL! Romans 5:8 says…"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, while we were sinners, Christ died for us."
God gave us the gift of eternal life. Long before there was a town called Bethlehem, a garden of Eden, and a place called Earth, a decision was made in eternity that God would send His son, born of a woman, to redeem the world.
This Christmas, it is my prayer that everyone would know the God that made them and who gave the greatest gift you will EVER receive. Eternal life! If you have any questions about this FREE gift that God gave, please feel free to message me! I would love to hear from you!
From our family to yours…. Merry Christmas and prayers for a blessed 2015!!!
