"Last of the Christmas Pics"

We celebrated with my family on the 28th, when my sister and her family came in town. They actually arrived on the 26th, but my brother in law had to fly to LA for a business trip and we wanted to wait until he was able to be with us. Elijah Brooks was able to spend some good, quality time with his cousins and the 3 of them together had a great time playing together. My mom outdid herself with food preparation and we were all so thankful for her hard work and for making our time together so special. Even as an adult, I love going "home" for Christmas - the smells, the sights, and the sounds of home will always be so special. Both my mom and my dad have their own way of making Christmas so special and both are so unique. My family decided a few months ago to do something alittle different this year for each other's gifts. We still let the children have their Christmas and let them open gifts, but Jay and I, my parents, and my sister and her husband all chose a family or a ministry to donate to in honor of each other this year rather than the traditional gift giving. It was really a special time (though kind of crazy with kids running around), while each of us shared with one another what "gift" was chosen in each other's honor. Each one was so unique and obviously God-ordained, as we listened to each other's stories of why a particular family or ministry was chosen. I loved doing this! It took the focus off of ourselves and forced us to look beyond our own lives and wants/desires.

Below are some pictures from the Patterson Family Christmas!


Bradford (28 months), Wyatt (5), and Elijah Brooks (25 months)






EB got a new Buzz Lightyear costume from my sister and a John Deere excavator (otherwise known as, "Buh Witeyear", and "excamator". I love this picture of him in his costume and my niece in a tutu over her pj's.


New scooter and helmet from his grandparents


Running through the leaves


Bouncing with Bebe


At the Zoo Lights


Being silly


Taking in the sights on the train


As we were leaving, EB kept jumping up and down saying, "I want ride camel mommy". I thought there was no way that my son would ride a camel, but he was quite insistent on it. We decided to buy a ticket and if he changed his mind, we would just give our ticket to someone else or just deal with the loss of $5. Much to our surprise, he climbed up the steps and hopped right on that camel with his Daddy! Goes to show you just never know what they will do. As he was getting off the camel and walking down the steps, he turned around unprompted and told the guy who was walking the camel, "Thank you so much man"! He talked about it the rest of the night.

"Christmas Pics Part 2"

Christmas Eve was spent with my grandparents (Mom's parents), at their home in the country. We spent the majority of the day there, eating lunch, catching up with family, and letting EB run around the open fields and "drive" the John Deere mower with Jay - always a highlight. He napped in his pack n' play over there, which was really a nice treat for us because we were able to visit with everyone and enjoy sitting down for lunch. I wasn't sure if he would nap over there, but was so thankful that he did, and so cooperatively. We had to be at church at 4:30 for our Christmas Eve service, which was a really lovely service. There were no "frills" to the service and nothing fancy - it was just simple and beautiful and Christ was central. I appreciated that so much. After the service, we took a few pictures in the sanctuary as a family because we realized that we have not had 1 family picture taken this entire season. Afterwards, my parents came back to our house for some heavy appetizers. I really wanted to do something special for my parents - my mom is always the one who is cooking and doing so much for the family, so I wanted to have a turn to bless her instead. After EB went to bed, we enjoyed sitting at the table together eating and just reflecting on the season. Jay built a fire and did a short devotional around the table for the 4 of us which was a really special time. We were planning on singing Christmas carols around the piano, but were afraid to wake EB. Jay and my Dad enjoyed putting together EB's new train table and we were all looking forward to his reaction the next morning.

Speaking of the next morning, it was absolutely precious. EB is really beginning to understand what is going on this year and has been enjoying saying, "Merry Christmas" to everyone he meets. When I was tucking him in on Christmas Eve, I laid him in his bed, kissed him, told him I loved him, and turned around to walk out of the room. I was almost out of his room about to close his door when I heard his sweet little voice in the dark say, "Merry Christmas mommy". I turned into a puddle right there in the hallway. I said, "Merry Christmas darling", and closed his door and cried. I have waited so long to have a baby say that to me on Christmas Eve. It was just so precious - maybe I am just sentimental when it comes to stuff like this, but waiting a long time for a child, and then waiting for them to say something so precious to you..., well, it was just a big deal to me.

Anyway, the next morning, I went upstairs to get him out of his crib and once again was greeted with a hearty, "Merry Christmas mommy"! Love that kid. He walked down the stairs and into the living room and saw his new Thomas the Train table all set up. He didn't say a word, but made a huge, audible gasp - and then smiled from ear to ear. He was truly shocked and ecstatic about it. It was the best reaction we could have gotten from him - he was thrilled. From that point on, every present he opened was coupled with a huge, audible gasp - followed by smiles and, "WOOK Mommy"!

For the first few hours of the morning, it was just the 3 of us. About 10:00, my grandparents and parents came over for brunch. I really enjoyed preparing it for everyone. This was the first time that I had been responsible for an actual meal on Christmas, but wanted to do something special for everyone. They stayed until noon and then we went to visit my other grandmother who is in assisted living. EB certainly brought many smiles to alot of people who otherwise might not have anyone wish them a Merry Christmas. He walked up to total strangers there, and wished them a Merry Christmas without us prompting him at all. He would follow someone and say it to them until they would turn around and acknowledge it. We enjoyed our time with Grandmom very much, and EB even took her some cookies that he made. He took one out of the bag and put it in her mouth! He stood next to her bed and didn't take his eye off of her until she at the whole thing! I have no idea if she really wanted the cookie, but she was so sweet to eat it and act like she did! Once we left there, we went home and it was just the 3 of us for the rest of the afternoon and evening. It was the most relaxing, low-key Christmas day I have had in a very long time. I don't remember when the actual day has been so restful. It was perfect, and couldn't have been any better.


My grandparents - aren't they so precious?




Christmas morning brunch






Pointing to the rest of the family over Skype (they were all in SC for Christmas)


Reading a new book with daddy next to his new sleeping bag




New big boy underwear, found in his stocking


"Woody" harmonica from his stocking


He is really digging deep


Checking out his new trains and tracks


We saw this face alot - you can almost hear the gasp


Chilling out in the front of the church after the service


Attempt at a family picture


Take 50......


Mom and Dad at my house after the Christmas Eve service


Jay and E-Daddy setting up the train table

"Christmas Pictures part 1"

Here are a few pictures from the weeks leading up to Christmas.


Decorating a Christmas tree cake with friends at his playgroup


Eating the Christmas tree cake :)


Enjoying being a boy running around outside


Decorating a gingerbread house with mommy at home


And tasting it of course :)


E-Daddy, cousin Bradford, Bebe and Elijah Brooks on their way to have breakfast with Santa!


Everyone holding hands - love this picture




He is not too sure about this Santa. He didn't mind the one at the mall, but was pretty tentative about this one.


Decorating cookies - he has had enough sugar this month to last him the next 5 years. Kind of makes me ill when I think about it too long!


Sweet cousins


Daddy and his boy before a family Christmas dinner


And mommy and her sweet boy.

"Christmas Thoughts 2010"

(Not our tree, but too beautiful not to post)!

It is so hard to believe that we are yet again at the most wonderful time of the year - the birth of our Savior. I cannot say that it has been a restful month by any means, nor a month without some stress, but I can say that it has been truly meaningful. I always fear that in the midst of parties, activities, and music events, that I will get to the end and will have somehow missed Christ. But, He is always faithful in allowing me to see Him, and seems to always slow me down in my tracks in order to sit at His feet and rest in Him. He has used ALOT of sickness in my little family to slow us all down - and I do not think that it is at all coincidental. God is always purposeful in His plans. I confess I was not happy about stopping, nor having to miss most of the Christmas music this year, but I do not question His plans. As I sit here on the 26th, I reflect back on the month and see how our family very easily could have run ourselves into the ground with the amount of "stuff" we were doing - all good things - but time consuming and exhausting nonetheless. Because of sickness, EB, Jay, and myself were all able to get the rest that we needed, and didn't even know we needed. We had 12 Christmas parties on the calendar to attend for church and community groups, 4 major musical events, and who only knows how many cookie bakes and craft parties that EB was to attend. We made it to about 3/4ths of the events (which is still alot), but because of sickness we were able to stay home and rest. Jay and my grandfather drove down to the country a few weeks ago to chop firewood, so the evenings that we were unable to get out, Jay built a fire each night and we stayed home on the couch. Some of those evenings, we would pile in the car with EB already in his PJ's and drive around looking at the lights. We have had Christmas music playing throughout the house since December 1 and it has been so worshipful and uplifting and has helped point us to Christ. We have been talking to Elijah Brooks in great detail this year about the real meaning of Christmas and it has been a precious time for us as a family. He has been walking around every day singing, "Happy Birthday to JE-SUHS'!

I have been reflecting this season on some of the paradoxes of Christ's birth. God came to us so that we could come to Him. He was born during the nighttime to bring light to us. He was born
during the winter time - a time which usually signifies death and lifelessness - to bring life to us.
He did for me what I could never do for myself, all because He loves me. That is astounding. I was also struck at one point, while having so much sickness around me, that God traded the glories of Heaven to take on flesh..., "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" John 1:14. I was thinking about the brokenness of the human body and was once again moved in my spirit to think that God traded it all for this. He came to heal broken bodies, broken spirits, and a broken world.

I am thankful to have been slowed down this season. At the time I was quite sad, but God is purposeful in all that He does. This was his purpose for me this season. I am thankful to have come to the end of the season and not have missed Christ. He was faithful to have shown me Himself and faithful to have done for me what I never could have done for myself. He came to me and then pursued me to come to Him - not because of anything that I have done, but because He is who He says He is.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross". Colossians 1:15-19

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"My baby.....,

My baby is not a baby anymore - it's official. I have known it was coming for quite some time, but honestly didn't think it would happen this quickly. I wasn't ready, but he was. Since we were home-bound last week for most of the week, I decided to get serious about potty training. I thought there is no time like the present, it was freezing outside, and I was half sick myself and couldn't be distracted by the phone (I had laryngitis so I couldn't talk anyway), and EB had been using the potty consistently for several months. He had even filled up a sticker "potty chart" about a month ago. I have been watching him closely for a few months and he has been showing me every sign that he was getting close to being ready. He was telling me he needed to go, he was controlling his bladder, I noticed I was changing fewer and fewer diapers during a day, he loved to sit on potty etc...... Someone told me not to wait until I was ready, but to do it when EB was ready. If I didn't do that, then in 6 months when I might be ready, he wouldn't be. I needed to seize the opportunity that was at hand. In my mind I thought this was too early - and, this is my first time doing this so I was still trying to get a game plan of how this was all going to happen. I know for many of my friends this was the most dreaded part of parenthood so I was braced for a really bumpy ride. By God's grace, I stayed completely calm and low key about the whole thing (contrary to my personality - I am a worrier). I am also a strategic planner by nature and need to know that things are going to work out according to a certain plan that I have come up with. Even though that thinking causes alot of unnecessary stress for me, for some reason it gives me security and comfort - though it is a false sense of security. Doesn't Scripture say, "man plans his course, but it is the Lord who directs his steps"?

Anyway, I did something last Wednesday (6 days ago), that completely goes against my "planner nature". I took an approach that I honestly never thought I would ever do, but I was just following my child's lead on this. On Wednesday morning when he woke up and I was getting him out of his wet diaper from the night, I said out loud, "Today you are a big boy! Today you are going to wear big boy underwear and no more diapers except for sleeping"! I was shocked that those words came out of my mouth, because I had not planned to say them that day. But they did come out of my mouth, and he heard them - which meant as a good mommy, I had to keep my promise!! So 6 days ago, we went "cold turkey", skipping pull-ups and went straight to big boy underwear (he had already been taken to the store to choose his very own). He chose Buzz Lightyear, Thomas the Train, and Bob the Builder. He was really excited about wearing them and did not want to get them wet. In my head I was thinking, I am either really brave or REALLY stupid and this could completely backfire on me.

I am so very happy to report that after 48 hours of being home-bound, being taken to the potty every 15 minutes, drinking lots of water and juice, and loading up on chocolate for potty treats, he is officially potty trained (tee tee and poopy), exactly 1 month past his 2nd birthday!!!! It's been a week now, and I still kind of feel like this is surreal. But, he's got it and we are just going with it now. As I think back over the week, I am marveling that never once was he stressed about the whole thing, nor was I. It was as natural a thing as I have ever seen. It just kind of happened. There is nothing "magical" that I did as a mother - Lord knows it was not me. I was just in tune to my child and watched him give me the signs. The bottom line was that he was just ready. Simple as that.

It seems like as soon as your child reaches a milestone, there is another one just waiting around the corner to be tackled. I guess our next hurdle will be losing the pacifier for sleep - he's already lost it for daytime use, and then transitioning to a big boy bed.

But for now, I think I am just going to enjoy the moment and not think about what comes next.

"Random Post - Random Pics"

I don't have that much to say tonight - could be because I have the worst case of laryngitis I have ever had in my life! Oh yes, just in time for Christmas music and solos. It is what it is. Poor ole' EB caught a nasty flu virus over Thanksgiving and just as he was getting over it, I caught the tail end of his. Mine never developed into anything other than a sore throat, cough, and this wicked laryngitis. Truly, a singer's nightmare. I know the voice, and I know what to do and what not to do. I know what "tricks" work and what do not. Well, this one has me stumped. It is clearly out of my control and no amount of "vocal knowledge" is getting me over it. I have 48 hours before I am supposed to sing - we'll see what happens. As a singer, I actually get somewhat depressed when this happens. Singing truly brings me such joy and when I can't do it, it's like a part of me dies inside. As my very wise father said to me, "Erin, just submit and be joyful. Whatever God is doing is far more important than the music itself. Just trust Him and be joyful". Dad, I love you so much and appreciate your words of wisdom more than you know.

So, since I can't talk to my husband tonight and I am sure that I get on his nerves running my mouth, I thought I would post some random pictures from the last few weeks of EB. When will we have a family photo of the 3 of us? I have no idea. But for now, here is our big boy.


The day we went to see Santa. He LOVED him. No fear at all. Hopped right up there and said, "Hi Santa".


Such innocence :)




He is quite serious about his music these days - he was attempting to play, "Twink Twink".


Okay, hilarious. We went to a Veteran's Day parade downtown last month. My grandfather was actually in the parade. As we were waiting by the gate to see my Grandfather, this group of Marine veterans asked if EB would go sit on their "float" (pretty sure it was a trailer). I really thought there is no way that he would do it. Well, I handed him over the gate to the nice elderly man named, "Mr. Don" and surprisingly he went over and sat on some guy's knee and waved to me! Not sure if this should make me happy or concern me.


He has no idea how blessed he is to be waving that flag. One day he will.


I know my mom (who is her chapter's DAR Regent) was so proud to see him waving his flag!


Conversation went like this:
EB: "Hey Duck! Want go church wif me, then Chik-chik-lay"?
Duck: silence
EB: "Hey Duck! Hey Duck! Want go church and play wif toys"?
Duck: silence
This continued for quite some time. Precious nonetheless.


Love, love, love this boy.