What an amazing month December has been. It's been a really strange month weather wise but we've enjoyed the warm weather on the days it doesn't rain. The month started out cold and quickly warmed up. We've had a record month for rain and temperatures but we couldn't feel more happy or blessed!
We had Bennett's birthday party at your house and also had a young married Christmas party at your house but managed to escape anyone getting sick. The stomach flu is going around and so is the flu/croup. We are so grateful that your family and the rest of us (except Granny and Papa) managed to stay well. Thank you, Lord!
December was full of family time and fun galore. So thankful for the many blessings the Lord has provided.
We started off the month going to the Christmas parade in downtown Monroe. It was a longgg parade but you loved watching the floats go by.
This is you and your sweet Mommy when we were leaving to go.
The downtown area was packed but we were able to hang around until Santa came by!
We waited for about 45 minutes but had fun passing the time away...
I loved watching your face as you watched with amazement. You are SO sweet!
Afterwards, a local bakery was open and we stopped in for dessert. You picked this snowman cookie out all by yourself!
You came up and spent the afternoon with Dee Dee and we watched Frosty and Rudolph and played in Dee Dee's bedroom. You had to take our picture with all your friends! :)
We went downstairs and watched
the Macy's Thanksgiving parade... a little late!
We LOVE the basement and all the jumping and running you two can do! You love to play with Pops!
SO thankful that Stone Mountain Christmas was a beautiful day/night. We had such a good time!
We've started a new tradition...
This time last year you were terrified of the snowman. Not this year! :)
You were amazed at the lights and the floats of the parade! I loved watching you with your Dada!
You got to see Santa! You didn't want to sit in his lap but you would sit with Dada and watch!
Nelly bought you a reindeer cookie...
The warm weather gave us some great outside time and you LOVE the outdoors. I was trying to take your picture and you kept getting right up to the camera. I love this picture though. It shows your silly personality!
You're starting to shock us with some of the things you say (I'm not sure why) but you had us rolling! You were saying..."Bow!!! Bow!!!! Look at Dee Dee! She's trying to take our picture!!!" hahaha
If only you would take that advise when I try to take yours. :)
Me and your Mommy looked over and you and Bow were sitting in the yard like this! This has become one of our favorite pictures. SO sweet! Pops loves this! I only wish I had my camera instead of just my phone. You sure do love Bow Valley!
Dee Dee and Pops went to see The Grinch in Nashville and I brought you back this rice crisp! You thought it was a sucker. You are SO funny!
Dee Dee and Pops bought you a camo waterproof snowsuit. We just KNOW one day it is going to snow.
Your Mommy is teaching you about the greatest gift EVER.... Jesus! You are reading a story about Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. I love to hear you tell me whose birthday is on Christmas.
You love to get the mail and bring the trash can up. You are wearing your fancy necklace you got at Stone Mountain that lights up!
The ONLY way to get you to sit is to let you watch educational videos. You love "Bob Train!"
We were trying to teach Bennett how to do silly selfies! :) He wasn't amused by us! haha
Pops is teaching you bad tricks at Longhorn's. :) Your Mommy and Daddy treated us to dinner one night and we had such a great time!
Playing by the swing in our backyard is one of our favorite things to do. You were climbing these rocks and jumping off. Me and Mommy had to watch or you would call our names until we did! :)
B is into everything and today he got your M&M's! Look at your face when you discovered what he had done...
You were quick to help him "clean up!" :)
Dee Dee sent this card out to some of the most generous "givers" of our campaign for a CURE for Cystic Fibrosis! We couldn't be more thankful for everyone for their support in 2015. We #BELIEVE
Your Mommy had the best party for Bennett's first birthday. We had so much fun. A lot of people were sick but we enjoyed every minute of it. You were confused about Bennett getting presents but it was a learning day! :)
I love this family picture!
Your Mommy and Dada hosted our Christmas Eve party at your house with Granny and Papa, Aunt Anita, Uncle Gary, Bryan, Robin, Grady, Mackenzie, Alysha, Josh, Rowan and of course, Nelly and Co-Chri. We had a great time together. Granny and Papa gave you this cute VW bus!
Dee Dee loves "traditions" and so does your Mommy. I'm so grateful. You all spent the night with us and we had an awesome morning. You got a lot of fun things! Aunt Nelly won this Leap Frog for you for Christmas.
Dee Dee made your Mommy and Dada a book of Bennett's birth. You kept saying, "What happened, Mommy?" when you looked at the pictures. SO cute!
Dee Dee and Pops got you a train set for the basement. You love it!
We sure do love you and Bennett!
We got you a counting caterpillar and you really seemed to love it...
Dee Dee and Pops have been trying to show you how to make a peace sign. On Christmas you sure were studying my hands to figure it out.
This is what your "peace sign" HAS looked like. Just this week you've mastered the "real" way. :)
Dee Dee and Pops bought you a ball house and we think you're loving it.
We had a delicious breakfast around 1pm. LOL We sang happy birthday to Jesus!
Chris and Sarah and Summer and Steven came over for dinner. You love Summer! :)
It was 76 on Christmas day. It was such a beautiful warm day. We were outside sitting by the pool and bouncing in your bouncy house that Aunt Nelly and Co-Chri bought you.
This is so good for your lungs...
You were hesitant to go in the house at first, but Pops was able to convince you. You LOVE the house now and Dada even blows it up on your sunporch. :)
We had a fun-filled day!
What would Christmas be without a silly picture or two...
We didn't go to the mountains this year and it worked out for the best with the warm temps and all the rain we've had but we DID go to Discover Mills for Thai (your Mommy and Dada treated us) and we rode the train around the mall.
Your Mommy made me the coolest books for Christmas. These are books of this blog for 2013 and 2014. What an awesome thing to do!
Raegan raised money for a CURE for CF. She made and sold these nutcrackers and worked SO hard. Here you and I are showing Raegan how much we love her and love them too!
We were so excited to get her donation...the first for 2016 and her sweet notes.
You love to find "Charlie bug"!
You've started putting Charlie on your Mommy or chasing her with him. She's a good sport about it. Dee Dee does NOT like Charlie. LOL
The Sunday after Christmas we visited the aquarium and had so much fun. You were so excited to see the sharks!
You picked out a dolphin for your prize and Bennett picked out Nemo...
Watching y'all was so much fun...
What a fun day it was....
We climbed through this tunnel to see the penguins up closer.
The things that Dee Dee will do to experience life with you!
You were amazed...
We saw a 4D movie... The Polar Express!
This couldn't have been a better month. Thank you, Lord!
You were supposed to go back to the CF clinic sometime in December but your appointment never got worked out. You'll go back sometime in January. They are most concerned about your weight right now. You are approximately 28 pounds (we think). You seem to be eating a little better since Bennett started eating table food but not a lot. You need a 3T for height now but a 2T still falls off of you in the waist. We're going to have to stop buying Carter's and go for Gap pants that can be adjusted. Your waist is so tiny!
You love to run and jump off of everything you can find. You love your trampoline and your bouncy house so much and we are so grateful that every bounce and every jump is not only good for you but for your lungs. We pray that your activity will continue to be a HUGE blessing in your care.
You love to sing... You know most of the words to Twinkle, Twinkle and love for us to sing Christmas carols. Your favorite songs are Rudolph and Jingle Bells. You'll let me sing SOME to you or with you, but sometimes you tell me to only let Pops sing! I get that so I don't take it personally. :) You know so many of the words and know your "parts" for sure (the echo's). You love the movie "HOME"... your Mommy says you love to watch it over and over.
You are talking so much and I know you must say Mommy 1000 times a day. Even though your Mommy (or Dee Dee if she's not around) acknowledges you... you are constantly saying, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Dee Dee! Dee Dee!" You are inquisitive and want to know WHY things are like they are. You love to be watched. You love the outdoors and you still love to find Charlie and play with him. You've been known to pull his tail off by mistake :) .... You are so funny!
You are learning every day and I love to watch how much you change. You're growing into a BIG boy before our very eyes. You love to be told you are a big boy too. You are really steady on your feet and can handle jumping down off of places that might scare some. LOL
You have a stubborn streak to you and can be picky about things but most often you are hilarious and funny and smart and always thinking. You nap well and sleep well at night for the most part. You love to go to Mrs. Emma's and play with Bella and Leo. Your Mommy loves that you do crafts with Mrs. Emma too.
You do better with your eating if we don't "bug you" about eating (the dietician recommended that). You LOVE the pediasure or Carnation drinks. You would drink them all day...anytime. You usually have 2-3 a day just because you need the calories.
You love to wake Bennett up (or go and get him) in the morning. You love playing with him too. You share your food well with him (haha). It's fun to watch y'all playing together. The Lord saw and He knew that you would need a partner in crime and a buddy at home since you can't get around a lot of children.
Your Mommy gave me a sign to hang over the kitchen door with sunflowers and this saying. I LOVE it! I've really had to fight back the fear this past month. I'm determined that God has taught us SO much and will continue but that He sees and He knows and He wants what is best for our lives. My faith in Him is what keeps me from worrying constantly about you. Finding that fine line to live a "normal" life and stay far away from "germs" can be un-nerving and thinking about the "what ifs" can drive us crazy. One thing I do know for SURE is that God has a plan and purpose for everything He allows in our lives. I pray that this will always be instilled in you. I pray for determination and perseverance. I pray for your attitude and desire to exercise. I pray for your heart and for you to draw close to the Lord at an early age.
Thank you, Lord, for showing up SO many times and in SO many ways in Aspen's short life.
I'm praying for a CURE sweet boy and I'm praying for the Great Strides walk that will be in May of 2016. I'm praying that our family can make a difference in your life and all those with CF!
I'm praying that we will REJOICE in the HOPE we have in HIM and keep on praying for a CURE and for your health.
Dee Dee was chosen to be acknowledged at the Volunteer Awards ceremony in February put on by the CF Foundation. I am so honored and so thrilled to represent you, sweet boy!
Prayers that 2016 will be a blessed year for you and our family. Praying for your weight, your lungs and your overall health. You bring so much JOY to our family and I'm so grateful to be your Dee Dee. I love you to the moon and back and back again!
Until 2016.....
