Surprise Visitor

Today (Saturday, since it's now 1am on Sunday) my doorbell rang (rare). I looked out the peephole and thought I must be seeing things, because the person on the doorstep looked a whole lot like Husband's brother, Kevin (husband of this lovely lady).

And it was Kevin.

This was totally unexpected, because they live something like 1300 miles away and we didn't know he'd be in town. The only hint we had was that the night before my sister-in-law had called to ask our address. I figured she had a good reason so I didn't ask why she wanted it. (Although I have a sneaking suspicion that if I'd asked if she was sending us something, she'd have said yes...and it wouldn't have been a lie because technically she was "sending" Kevin to us.)

Apparently he has received many wedding invitations for various friends over the years and has never gone, but this time he decided he was going and used some frequent flier miles.

And it was a great surprise for us! We just hung out and grabbed some Taco Bell for lunch. I was a bit embarrassed that my house wasn't quite as clean as I'd have liked...oh well. (Husband and Kevin both told me that I am ridiculous for feeling this way.) It sure was fun to see you, Kevin! Glad you stopped by.

--------

In other news, Jeric is a good bit over 17 pounds. I don't know length and head circumference, and I don't know his normal weight because we are without insurance and I haven't taken him to a regular doctor visit since he was 2 months, but I took him in a couple of weeks ago just after he turned 4 months because we'd both been sick and I was concerned about his cough (overreacting paranoid new mother, I know) (and that was quite the run-on sentence). So they took his weight but nothing else, and he was 17 lb. 4 oz. with just a diaper that I'd put on him 20 minutes before, but he hadn't been eating well because he'd had a sore throat (or at least I think he did because I did).

Development stuff: If we help him into a sitting position he can balance for several seconds, and he is close to rolling from back to front. Such a big boy! And sweet as can be.

And he just woke up to eat, so must end this post. Good night.

Christmas

This year for Christmas we flew out to NC to visit both sides of our family. Since our parents only live about an hour from each other, we were able to see everyone. I didn't really take many pictures (I know, I'm a failure... I don't have a single picture of him with either of his grandmas or any of his uncles and aunts except Joni...I'm terrible. I don't know how that happened.) but here are a few of those I did take. Sorry that a lot of them are blurry.

Husband's parents have a swing! Yay!

Showing his colors.

Husband's parents also have this jumper thing. Jeric's feet didn't quite touch the floor, but he still loving playing in it.

With Husband's dad. Jeric moves too much to get a good picture sometimes.

This is Husband's mom's mom, Jeric's great-grandma.

Jeric and his great-grandparents. Husband looks a lot like Papaw, I think.

Sleeping at his other great-grandma's Christmas Eve family party.

A few people at my grandma's family party.

Starting to wake up.

Four generations.

Jeric's first Christmas morning. He looks so excited, doesn't he?

Still sleeping.

Playing with cousin Kieralee.

Jeric and Aunt Joni.

I think this picture looks remarkably familiar. Go here, it's the 4th picture down.

:)

Playing with Grandpa.

Also, I was going to write a big post about stuff, but I don't have time right now, Jeric needs me. Do that soon!

Cassie's pictures

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my aunt took pictures for us while we were in Arizona for Thanksgiving. Her blog post about those pictures can be found here. There are some really good ones! She did a great job.

New(ish) Pictures. And no words.

Recent goings-on in numbered-list format

1. We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving this year to visit my mom's side of the family. We stayed with my grandparents and were able to spend time with all of my mom's brothers and families. Some highlights of the trip:

1.     Sunny weather with temperatures in the 70s. Although, it did feel just wrong to go see the Christmas lights at the Mesa temple while wearing flip flops and short sleeves.

2.     Delicious food.

3.     An actual date without the baby! We went to the movies and Brad and Cassie (and everyone else :) ) kept the baby and he did great! Apparently...I hope they weren't lying to me :) Anyways, they ROCK as babysitters. And as family.

4.     Cassie takes beautiful pictures, so we did a couple of photo-shoots. While Husband was out golfing the day after Thanksgiving, we did a baby-only shoot, but Mama ended up in a couple of pictures :), and the next day we did a family shoot with the help of Cara, who also ROCKS.

5.     Husband would definitely want me to include the above-mentioned golfing on the list of highlights.

6.     I got to DRIVE. And it was fantastic. Some of you might know that I very much enjoy driving. I find it incredibly relaxing. And Jeric did great except for a while on the way down. That wasn't so fun, but he was good for the rest of the trip. Husband sat in the back with him about half of the trip down and almost the whole way home, which seemed to help. Besides, it gave Husband more leg room. (We have a small car.)

7.     Laundry that I didn't have to pay for because I used my grandma's machines.

8.     I just feel like this list should have eight items because I like the number eight. For a really long and complicated and ridiculous explanation of why (and explanations of some of my other quirks), click here (it's number 3 on the list).

2. While rereading this list I realized I skipped #2, somehow, and I'd rather write this than think of something else to talk about or renumber everything. Plus, this keeps the big list at 8 items, as well.

3. Several of you probably saw this on my facebook status, but I realized the other day that it doesn't even matter if I go to school anymore, ever. I could totally blow off everything that's left and still graduate, my grades are high enough that it wouldn't matter. I won't do it, obviously (it's the perfectionist in me), but I was very happy. Speaking of school, I have a couple of papers to edit, a reflection paper to write, and two tests. This has got to be the least stressful end of a semester ever.

4. So that my sweet, wonderful, hard-working husband does not have to attend school full-time and work full-time like he has been doing (and it's been rough), I have recently started a new job, in addition to full-time mommy. Call me/us crazy, but we are optimistic that it will work out.

5. Sad but true story: This morning when I was almost ready for church, Jeric spit up in my hair. A LOT. So I had to take another shower and was consequently quite late for church. [Sidenote: Also, it snowed several inches during the night, so that made me even later.] And this evening, HE DID IT AGAIN. Oh, the joys :)

6. After church today we went to the singles' ward's Break the Fast (I don't feel like explaining it but basically it's like a pot luck or a buffet meal...). It was a chili cook-off. This is the second time they've had a chili cook-off during the time that we have been serving in the ward. This time it was MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE, seeing as how I'm not currently 10 weeks pregnant and sick like I was last time.

7. I made these cookies from Brittany's dessert blog today and they were delicious. I may have eaten entirely too many.

8. More updates soon!