Christmas 2008

Wow!! What an exciting and fun filled Christmas we had this year. James just turned 2 and was all into presents this year!! He got the knack of tearing open paper to see what it revealed underneath. :). he just didn't understand not all presents were for him.

We ended up making a quick visit to AL to visit family before heading back to GA. We did Christmas in Huntsville with Shawn's family and then headed to the Shoals to do it with my family. It was VERY tiresome and probably not something we will try again but visiting family was nice. Shawn and I actually got a few hours alone and it was SO nice!!! Just to eat a dinner where I didn't feel like I had to woof it down before my son got irrate. James got some great gifts from the family.

Then on Christmas Eve morning we headed back to GA. My sister, Andrea, came back withus to do Christmas with James. She adores James so it was nice. James put out cookies and milk for Santa Claus and then headed to bed. He was out like a light by 9:30. Santa came and placed his train table under the tree. On Christmas Day James woke up and was so excited tos ee that Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk!! Then off to open more presents. He didn't notice the train table until the very end...how he missed it I am not sure :). But he LOVED it. Shawn and I exchanged gifts after and I think we both were thrilled with what we each got. I think the biggest present was being together this year as a family. Hard to believe that we will be a family of 4 this time next year.

Then after James naptime we went to our good friends home, Misty and Bart for a fondue dinner. We weren't quite sure what we were in for but it was AWESOME. Well the little I got to eat b/c james had his normal meltdown and acted up. Definitely something Shawn and I want to do again. YUMMY. Misty and Bart are such wonderful hostess and we are blessed to have met them while here in GA. It made the night go by so fast due to the great company.

This was a great year filled with many memories. From Shawn returning safely home, to moving to GA, to the Holidays, and finding out we are expecting our other blessing in August. I just pray for sanity and patience for this 2nd child. I love being a mommy more than anything but it is definitely the hardest job ever! We know that 2009 has many more wonderful memories to add to our collection.

Holidays 2008

Wow this year has truly flown by. Between Shawn coming home and moving it has been a whirlwind. We have enjoyed spending the holidays together this year as a family. For Thanksgiving my grandfather, my mom, and us spent it at our home in GA. It was a nice time and a relaxing time. I enjoy not having to travel at the holidays because it is always so hectic. James enjoyed playing with Buster and grandpa. That boy can talk anybody's head off (he gets that from his daddy's side-hehe). I find myself telling him he doesn't have to talk all the time!! He asks questions and then answers them himself...silly kid. Ok sorry for side track.

Then for Christmas we went to some of our friends home here in GA and made Gingerbread houses. James enjoyed sampling the candy. We have been fortunate enough to meet some new friends here, Bart and Misty. They are wonderful. Although they don't have kids themselves yet hopefully soon they will. They enjoy being around James and James feels the same with them. Then we have visited Santa three times (got one good pic out of it) and went with another set of friends to view this great display of lights in town. It was massive. We rode a hayride around to view them all. Then James played on their play area and we roasted smores. Although it was like 72 degrees that dday it was still fun.

We are looking forward to spending Christmas in our home in GA and then traveling home to spend some time with family. James ended up getting pneumonia so we couldn't go home ahead of time like we planned. He is doing fine just gets tired easily and has to have breathing treatments pretty often. If the ER doctor would have diagnosed it correctly on Tuesday I wouldn't have gone back on Friday to be told it was pneumonia as I suspected. That is a whole other blog :).

I am thankful for my family and for our soldiers who sacrifice their lives so that we can spend this time together. This time last year Shawn was thousands of miles away and part of my heart felt missing. This year James is old enough to enjoy Christmas and we are trying to teach him the meaning behind Christmas...not just presents.

We also found out that we will be expecting Baby Dalrymple #2 in August!! This will be our last baby for sure. I am very nervous about having 2 and just how well I will do but too late now ;). We hope to move to AL once our time is done in GA but it all depends on our house situation in NC. I do not want to move back there knowing I will be having another baby and will want my mom's help and breaks :). But maybe having Shawn home this time will be a lot more helpful.

Merry Christmas to everyone!