WARNING!
Extremely cute baby ahead!

If this doesn't melt your heart, I don't really know what will. I felt as though I couldn't get close enough to him after he smiled like that at me. This little booger wasn't ready for bed last night, so he came and hung out with mom and dad and had some playtime. He can almost sit up!

Family Time

Last night was our potluck dinner at the community center. Dad came home from slaying the dragons and we bundled up the kids, loaded ourselves into the car and headed down for some great food. Mom brought corn caserole. It was gone in a flash. There was ham and turkey. All the sides were available too. The CC was decorated really pretty. Santa was outside but it was a bit too cold. After dinner we "strolled" down the paths and looked at Christmas lights and all the luminaries (real candles!) around the park. I'd say there are about 1000 of them: So pretty!. One street, a cul-de-sac, was all lit up except for one house. Hmmm. I told Carey maybe they don't celebrate Christmas. Anyway it was fun. We even saw one house that had their For Sale sign lit with lights. Now that's dedication! Porter fell asleep while Abbey stared at her over-so-protective parents. Family time. Nice. (No, Porter does not have on blush. His little cheeks just lit up like Rudolphs nose!) And there's my sweet, awesome husband. I love my family.

Flashback Friday
I remember us trucking up to Seton NICU every morning. It was as though the kids lived there and not at home. It was a weird feeling, but we found silver linings in those times. I got to heal and Porter and Abigail developed a really nice routine as far as feeding and sleep goes. They were used to noises in the NICU, so when they came home we didn't have to tip toe. Carey came to see the kids every night after work. I know he was so tired, but seeing the kids made his days. He would try to get by there at lunch if he was able to. When he showed up, our family was complete at the end of the day. And that's what counts.
Pic 1: Abbey safe and warm in dad's arms. That hat in no way fits her head today :(
Pic 2: Porter snuggled in his baby "cart." The pacifier......so big back then!

Last Year's Ornament......"Parents-to-Be"

Porter and Abigail's First Christmas Ornaments

Porter-Pie!
Mom and Porter getting ready to go to the store.
Porter being a sweet boy for mom. Of course Porter can roll over both ways. He gets very excited when he sees dad. He grabs onto a small bottle and can hold it by himself. (Sigh: He's growing up on me!!)

Good things DO come is small packages!
Look at what a little ham Abbey is. If she's not being serious-face....she's grinning. She makes me so happy when she smiles those big smiles. Abbey can roll over both ways. We find her in her crib sideways sometimes. She's very gentle. You almost have to take her hand and touch it to the Christmas tree.

Peek a boo!

Flashback Friday
Pic 1. Porter in NICU fast asleep
Pic 2. Carey giving Abigail a bubble bath in the NICU. That tub is about 12 inches by 6 inches!
(I'll post old pics on Fridays)

Before Abbey's bath and in front of the tree.

Father and Daughter
If you leap awake
In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second
You can't remember where you are
Just open your window
And follow your memory upstream
To the meadow in the mountain
Where we counted every falling star
I believe a light that shines on you
Will shine on you forever
And though I cant guarantee
There's nothing scary hiding under your bed
I'm gonna stand guard like a postcard
At the Golden Retriever
And never leave till I leave you
With a sweet dream in your bed

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two wooo
There could never be a father who loved
His daughter more than I love you
Trust your intuition
It's just like goin fishin'
You cast your line and hope you get a bite
You don't need to waste your time
Worryin' about the market place
Trying to help the human race
Strugglin to survive its harshest hour -Paul Simon
http://www.paulsimon.com/player.php