Trip to the CHRISTMAS Tree Farm

Having a kiddo makes all the holiday stuff so much more fun. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas. I love it!

And just because I want to make sure that Alex has only the BEST first Christmas tree experience (because of course he'll remember every moment at 4 months old), I asked Jerry to do research online to find a tree farm with all the "must haves." You know, the right kind of tree (Frasier firs for us), the right beverages (hot cocoa or hot apple cider), and the right kind of entertainment (what else but a hayride). Jerry found Joe's Trees. Joe's Trees did not disappoint.

This tree farm was near Blacksburg, and the drive through the mountains to get there was really beautiful. I'm telling you - some of these people had the most incredible views of the rolling hills and mountainsides from their front porches. It was breathtaking. Too bad I didn't snap any photos of that.

But here are some photos of the tree farm.



And the hayride. That's right - not a tractor-pulled hayride, but a real horse-drawn hayride.


Thank goodness Noni made Alex a special sweater because he needed it today. And he needed his "spectacular" bear hat. Not only because it was chilly, but because it gave him a couple of extra inches on the growth stick - and Jerry keeps hoping that Alex is going to be tall. (Are you getting that wish, Santa?)


It didn't take us long to find our tree. Make that, trees. Yep, I decided that Mirabelle needed one tree for the inside and one for the front porch. Here we are with the "inside" tree, which has made our house smell like a national forest. I smile just thinking about it.


When we went to pay for our tree, Jerry told the lady, "Merry Christmas." She replied, "Merry Christmas to you, too. You know, we only sell CHRISTMAS trees around here. Not 'holiday trees.' Christmas trees. " I must admit, people are bold in professing their belief in Christmas here. In Dallas, it seemed like people were more apt to say "Happy Holidays" than "Merry Christmas." I find it refreshing to be in Christmas Country.



We start decorating tomorrow. I can't wait to put a little Merry Christmas into Mirabelle. =)

Thanksgiving at The Homestead

This was our first Thanksgiving to spend without family. Rather than stay at home and cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal for two people, I thought it would be more fun for us to go away.

On Wednesday we headed to Hot Springs, Virginia, to stay at a resort called The Homestead.

Wednesday evening we bundled up for a Holiday Hayride where we got to see Christmas lights and have smores and hot chocolate.

On Thursday, we got dressed up and went to their Thanksgiving brunch.


It was DELICIOUS! Turkey, roast beef, bacon wrapped pork loin, fresh shrimp, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, green bean casserole, homemade rolls, fresh asparagus, deviled eggs, red velvet cake, eggnog cookies, cranberry and white chocolate chip cookies - oh my goodness I was stuffed. And yes, I had some of all of those things! And check out this bread table! This was just the bread table! I would have snapped photos of the other food tables, but people were starting to look at me funny.

The resort was all decked out for the holidays. There were Christmas trees, lights, gingerbread houses, an ice skating rink, magic shows, movies, you name it.




Although this place was packed full of fun, poor little Alex wasn't feeling all that great. (We think his teeth are trying to come in.) His face in these pictures pretty much sums up how he felt all day.


Despite Alex not feeling well, we had a good time. At least as good of a time as you can have without family on a holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!

Conversation Between Friends

Mr. Bear: "Alex, where did you get your hat?"

Alex: "I don't know."

Alex: "I think my mommy got it from over there."

Mr. Bear: "Well, it's quite spectacular."

Alex: "Thank you. I think so, too!"

Smiles

Remodel mudroom. Check.

One more project completed in this old house.

Before

During

After

There's Nothing Sweeter...

...than this baby boy.


His chocolate brown eyes just melt my heart. Especially when they gaze into mine for long stretches of time when I feed him his bottle. Those eyes tell quiet stories - the ones he's saved just for me at that moment in time.

He blesses my soul. Especially when he's tired, and he nestles his head on my chest - facing my right shoulder so that he can suck the tiny little thumb on his left hand. I hold him with one arm under his bottom, and I cradle his head with my other hand. And give him kiss after kiss after kiss on top of that little noggin.

His laugh is like sunshine. You hear it, and it just washes away every bit of bad day you may have had before that moment.

I hope his heart feels how much he is loved. Funny, I bet God is saying that very same thing about each of us right now.

A Little Bit of Happy

Yesterday I found a package from my mom on the front porch. Inside was this little gem.

Isn't it lovely? My mom said these were the colors of happy. And she thought I needed some happy. So she made this for me. Isn't that so sweet? Thank you mom. I LOVE it!

Mirabelle Updates

Last week we felt the effects of Hurricane Ida. After three days of non-stop rain, we woke up one morning to find our basement leaking with water from everywhere.


Luckily most of it dried out by the end of the day after the rain started to clear. I'm not sure who we need to call, but we've got to have somebody come look at our walls and do some repair work.

Speaking of repair work, we've been tackling the mudroom. We've hired our neighbor to come and patch up cracks, fill holes, replace the flooring, paint the walls and - my favorite - add a beadboard ceiling. Here's a sneak peak. I'll have the final photos later this week when he's finished.

We also had him paint the door to our basement. I am such a fan of black doors. Don't ask my why. I just think they look so crisp next to the white trim.


In this hallway, Jerry also built the wainscoting a few months ago. Do you remember this space before?

It's come a long way! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing progress in Mirabelle.

The Reading Mother

The Reading Mother

I had a Mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a Mother who read to me.

-Strickland Gillilan

Sammy and Alex - Four Months

Four months.

Three months.

Two months.

One month.

Eleven days.

Four months! Where does the time go? I can't believe how much he's changed - how much he's doing these days. In the last couple of weeks, Alex has picked up all kinds of new tricks.

He laughs.

He constantly chomps on his fists.

He's found his voice. So he talks. And yells. A lot.

He drools like a leaky faucet.

He rolls over.

He lifts his head up really well.


He's sleeping on his stomach because he rolls over in his bed at night.

And, funny enough, do you remember when he would always be hiding behind the placenta whenever we went to get sonogram pictures of him?

Well, he must like to cuddle up to things because every time we go in to check on him in his crib, he is always nestled up to the side of it. We scoot him away; he scoots himself back. He likes being cozy.

He sucks his thumb and actually prefers it to the paci. Which is why we've also stopped swaddling him at night.

He made some progress and started sleeping through the night. But now he's regressed and has been getting up once a night, usually around 4a. I'm ready for him to go back to 6a. Any prayers in this area are much appreciated.

And in the last couple of days, he's been cranky. I don't know if he's teething or in a growth spurt or what, but he seems to need lots of attention. He doesn't entertain himself like he used to. If we put him down to play, he'll only do it for a few minutes at a time before he starts fussing. I can't tell if he's frustrated, hungry, in pain... Poor little guy. I miss my happy Alex.