Come and Gone

(Top to bottom: in hospital, one day old; at home, one week old; first day at home, one day old)

Well, yesterday was Carson's first birthday. It came like a steam roller and passed like a speeding train. He was adorable in the morning, dancing in his crib when I sang happy birthday to him. However, when we picked him up, he was crabby! Our house quickly filled with ten relatives and he didn't want to be a part of it. He hated the cake, hated his dirty hands, hated opening gifts, hated not being able to play rock band with daddy and his uncles, and hated going to bed late. Seems like a typical first birthday to me. After the commotion subsided, the three of us cuddled on the couch while I softly cried. I miss my family. I hate working and missing my little guy grow up. I am eagerly anticipating the summer when I can be a stay-at-home-mom. Thank God for that part of my job!!

(Below: All pics were taken the week or so before his birthday. What a change, in one short year!)

Big Birthday Quickly Approaching!

Well, this is it. Carson will be one on Tuesday! I can't believe it. Time has never flown by this rapidly. The last year has been a whirlwind. I feel like I was just pregnant. Now I have this increasingly independent boy with a crazy, fun personality. Here are some pics to bring you up to speed. Enjoy :) I love this little guy. Hopefully he will like his HUGE party.

Happy V Day!

So for Valentines this year, my hubby and I made a decision not to spend any money. With a HUGE window bill coming due in a couple of months, we are in a crunch to save. No money, no gifts. So, being an elementary teacher, I made a sparkley card when my kids were doing a project. I put glitter and sequins all over it. It was a corney little reminder that I was thinking of him. So strange that it was our 11th Valentines Day together, though.

When I woke up I gave him the card to get nothing in return. No card. Not anywhere in the house. I was broken. Oh well, maybe later. I hoped.

Later I put Carson in the car. I went to sit down in the drivers seat, and noticed a small orage envelope that said "Play Me". It was a cd. I put the cd in excitedly, He DIDN'T forget me! I was thrilled. Then I started weeping as the voice of my husband came out of all the speakers. He was talking to me with our song playing in the background, most certainly created from his music program. He said things I don't hear often, which made me cry even harder. So much for my fresh make-up. After his sweet exclamation of love for me, he played songs that I love!

Honestly, it was the best gift I have ever gotten from him! I like this not spending money thing. Next year, I will have to do something more than making a glamorous card :) That man, never ceases to suprise me.

Happy Valentines Day! I hope yours is as wonderful as mine!

Slowing Down to Take a Breath

Well, I think I am starting to adjust to the speed of things in my life right now. Teaching in the after school program started this week, and I actually really enjoy it. The kids (grades 3-5) are wonderful! It is a nice break from my normal classroom routine. Us special ed teachers are often on our own little island. If you know one, reach out to them, LOL>
The other thing in my life right now is that my son, our first and (currently) only child is about to turn one--in less than three weeks to be exact. I am planning this party for him that he will never remember, but that people who don't get invited to will be pissed about. That is the issue when you have a large family and huge friend group. So this party for my one-year-old, which is kind of starting to resemble a wedding reception, will be the death of me. I have made the invites, all by hand with a friend, but have yet to mail them. Anyone know if you can actually mail a card with an actual crayon on the front of it? LOL. What did I get myself into?
I am seriously enjoying these four day weeks. We have another snow day today, and I think it has helped me to slow down and just be in the moment. Enjoying time with my son--except when he is hitting me because he doesn't want to nap. I am really looking forward to next weekend--mid winter break!! Greg and I are going to come up with something romantic to do :) Hopefully!

B-E-A-T!!

Man, I feel like I can't catch my breath or keep my head above water lately. I came down with bronchitis two weeks ago. Shortly after that, Carson started screaming through the night. It ended up being another ear infection for him. However, a week later and he still isn't sleeping through the night. Now he is making it until 530-6am which is better than 3am until 6am. I am going for my Masters now, which is one night a week. I am also taking on some extra work after school. I will be teaching 4th and 5th graders ELA for one hour, three days a week. I look forward to the extra money to pay off a large window bill, but I feel like I am being pulled in a million different directions. I feel like I can't ever just relax with my son, I have even less time with my husband. What is suffering most is my work at home. NO such thing as a clean house, clean clothes, or clean dishes. Even more, no such thing as a home-cooked meal. I just don't understand how my mom did it, and how moms everyday do it. I feel like I am failing my family. Does it make me horrible that I have a messy house, my mom helped me out by doing the dishes, and we eat out everyday? I feel like a terrible person because of it, but I don't think that I should. I feel trapped inside my schedule. With no time for anything. Any thoughts? Advice? I know I look forward to summer when the schedule is a little more clear. Hopefully then my house will be clean and my family with have fresh, home-cooked food. Who knows, though...I think I suck at this parenting, wife, full-time worker, overtime worker, student thing.

My handsome men

I love the blessings that God has given me!! Especially my little man, Carson, and my hubby Greg. We just have so much fun together, and I see Greg growing into an amazing father. I have just been so happy lately because of their impact on my life. That's all. Another cutesie post :)

Marriage

Vacation was nice, because my hubby, Greg, was off the whole time with me. At first I was nervous, typically when we spend that much time together we fight like cats and dogs. However, this break was different. We spent a lot of time together as a family, however we did a few things with each other and our friends and were able to leave Carson at a grandparents house. It was really nice to kind of rekindle. We spent late nights cuddled on the couch watching some terrible people in prison, people doing stupid things, etc. We had a couple nights with our friends and a night out. It was just nice to put our relationship first for a change. I always missed Carson boy, but really enjoyed our time together. We needed this! We needed a chance to reconnect. It just reminded me of how much I really love that man. Now, I just need to remember that the next time he annoys me :)

The pics aren't from this vacation, but they are very recent. Come to think of it, we have had a lot of opportunities to be together lately (Nov-recent). I love it!

Where to begin?

So much has happened in this little time I cherished as my vacation...Christmas, time with family and friends, time as a little DeGlopper family, mom time, date time, and New Years. I have a ridiculous amount of pictures from that little time too. Maybe I will break it up and give your eyes a break!

The most unexpected aspect of my vacation was that Carson started walking. He started out Topsy-turvy one week and now is solidly standing, balancing, and taking upwards of 10 consecutive steps.



I finally realized one Sunday at church that God hadn't turned his back on me. For some reason I was so afraid of this, and kind of continue to be. Probably because I don't try. I don't pursue him. I don't communicate. I don't try. I always fail. I just thought one day that I didn't feel him around. I figured he had given up. All I could think of was the verse about hard hearts. The most refreshing thing this Christmas was the reminder of Jesus' love and his promise. I needed it. I was so down. I really had just figured I was doomed. I deserve it. But who doesn't? We all sin, we all fall short. I can't do anything to deserve anything except death. Thankfully, I don't have to do anything. God already has. So with that in mind, my break was better than ever. I made an effort to pray more, to avoid situations I knew would end up bad, and to TRY and control myself. However, even if I don't. Even if I screw up yet again, God forgives. Thank you Jesus for Grace!

So with that reminder and with Carson's undying love and enthusiasm this Christmas was the best ever!

The Santa Dilemma

So it is pretty obvious that the American Christmas and the Christain Christmas are in direct opposition. One embraces the spend all, charge all, spoil all belief. The other embraces the non-consumerist point of view. One credits Santa Claus. One credits Jesus. I know that many Christian families celebrate both aspects of Christmas, but our family is having a difficult time figuring out where our family will fall on that continuum.
Do I throw away all the 'traditional American' view of Christmas. Do we not do Santa? Do we not buy gifts? I am not so convinced.
This year, Carson is too young to know the difference, but next year he will be able to better comprehend what our ideals/traditions are surrounding Christmas. I enjoy giving gifts. I enjoy getting together with family. I love going to church on Christmas Eve. These are all things we hold dear. Like the Nativity story. Like baby Jesus. These are all things he will be exposed to the most. I am sure, he will hear about Santa too. However, none of his gifts will be from Santa. His behavior won't depend on "Santa watching". He is going to get his picture on Santa's lap. Probably see a few classic Santa films--like Rudolph or the Grinch. And probably sing a few Santa songs. Although he will be exposed to Santa and this idea of Christmas, I hope he realizes what is most important about our celebration of this date, the birth of the Lord.
So many people are so passionate about their view of Christmas. They will ream you a new one about not teaching about Santa. Or about allowing your child to believe in Santa. I don't care. This is how I feel. For me and our family, Christ will be the center of Christmas.

Thanksgiving to Recent

We had a great third annual Thanksgiving at our house again. Carson looked at the ads with Dad and our friend Andy. Then he tried every food on the table, and practically gagged on everything (texture issues). Finally we played friendly games with each other. Well, the Battle of the Sexes wasn't so friendly. :) It was a great time to bring both families together and celebrate all God's Blessings in our lives.








Thanksgiving weekend the girls went shopping and a big group of us went Friday night. Of course, Greg spotted the number one item on his list and me being so nice, bought it for him. The game Rock Band is so much fun. A bunch of our friends some over and played until 230am!! Good thing Carson was at Grandmas! After that, we started decorating for Christmas and even Carson was loving it, calling out "OOH< OOHHH!" for everything new that lit up. It has been a fun week!

Big boy!!

Things are going along at a dizzying pace! Carson will be 9 months old next week. His third tooth is about to pop in. He is a few falls away from walking. Life is crazy and is throwing us curve balls right now, but I know we can deal with the changes!!

Carson's First Halloween

Carson was such a trooper on Halloween, he didn't even mind his costume. He actually played into his role of a little Dragon and was growling at passing trick-or-treaters. We didn't take him around, the candy wouldn't have been for him anyway. We just set up a trunk along side our family and friends at church and passed candy out to little costumed kiddos. It was a fun night! Carson did great!

October Fun

This past weekend we attended a Halloween Party (carson stayed over night at grandmas). We had a blast with our good friends. I was Vema, Greg was Shaggy, and our friends were Fred and Daphne. Hopefully some pics of Carson in his costume will be coming soon.
With the nice weather, Carson has been able to get outside and play in the leaves, he loved it!!