The one about Christmas 2011

Where did the time go?  One minute I’m watching the stack of presents grow under the tree and waiting oh so impatiently for Christmas, the next minute I’m surrounded by the shreds of paper and crushed cardboard boxes.  I knew this month would go fast. December always does.  I don’t think there is an actual month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I mean, sure the calendar makes it appear that way, but we all know that it’s a big conspiracy.

Reed was spoiled for Christmas, not surprisingly.  He has too many people that want to put a smile on his face- so of course the UPS man made several trips to our house in the last few weeks.  Lucky for us, Reed didn’t remember what the shiny wrapped packages meant.  He’d forgotten since his birthday was four months ago, that beneath the bright paper and tape was something meant to entertain him and drive us crazy.

Since Christmas was on a Sunday, it felt like a 4 day holiday.  Friday night we did a Christmas light bike ride around Nicols Hills.  We bundled up in hats, mittens, scarves, and heavy coats.  We made a warm rice pack for Reed’s lap, a thermos of hot cocoa and hauled our bikes down to the meeting place near Mike’s office.  Chesapeake does amazing lights throughout their campus.  Wrapping every branch of every tree.  It’s beautiful, and a tradition for families all over the city to drive through the area to watch the trees twinkle.  Reed rode snug and warm in his trailer to the Starbucks on May & 63^rd where we all parked stopped for cocoa and pastries.  Reed, the life of the party, made it a point to mingle the crowd and get plenty of approving smiles.  
The ride back was a little more chilly as it was getting later, but we passed some extravagant Christmas light displays on the way!  The morning of Christmas eve, we all opened one gift.  The normal family tradition is to open them on Christmas eve-eve, but we figured it was Saturday morning and we could use the amusement. Reed opened his new table and chair set that Grandma and Grandpa Franklin sent.  Mike assembled it and Reed has loved it ever since. He knows it’s his own space to sit and have his snacks or read his books. He loves being a big boy.

Mike bought me a portable Bluetooth Bose speaker so I can play great sounding music from my iphone or ipod.  I have Pandora premium on my phone, so we streamed one of the Christmas channels the whole rest of the day.  Mike opened a long sleeved Orbea team bike jersey that I got him to match his new road bike. He wore it on his 50 mile ride that afternoon.

Christmas morning was pretty sweet.  It took Reed hours – literally hours, to open presents.  He was very distracted by each gift he opened and most of the time just wandered off into the pantry to find a snack or go climb on a chair.  He was spoiled with so many great gifts, as were both Mike and I.  One thing I thought was really special is that both sets of Reed's grandparents sent a record-able story book!  It took me by surprise - how special that Reed can now sit down with a book and hear his grandmas read to him.  I thought for sure they must have talked to each other about it- but nope, it turned out to be a coincidence!  Mike's mom sent a "Cars" storybook that she read to him and my mom sent one about the story of Christmas.

Reed also got the dancing, singing, drumming Elmo that has fascinated him at the store for weeks.  Thanks to his Uncle Coy and Cory- he can now torture the toy in his own home. 
I only wish I had taken more pictures on Christmas day.  We started out really good- taking a bunch, but then we put the camera down and didn't end up taking very many after all.  Reed looked so cute dressed up for church- he always does.

We headed to Cassie and Keith’s to share Christmas lunch with their family before church service at 3pm and on the way home Reed’s mood took a dramatic swing.

We spent the afternoon trying to comfort him and just knew something was wrong. He cried and writhed in pain but we didn’t know what was wrong. We tried giving him a bath as a distraction but he slumped against me and fell asleep.  On the way out of the tub and into the towel in Mike’s arms he started vomiting. This was the first time Reed has ever been sick to his tummy. He’s had sinus infections and colds- but never this.  It was so sad to see him exhaust himself emptying everything in his belly.  
The rest of the evening he spent sleeping it off and when he woke at 9:30pm he was happy as a hippo looking around at all his toys and wanting to play.  But, we brushed his teeth and put him to bed.  The next morning our resilient little man popped up like nothing had ever happened.

I hate not knowing what made him sick- was it something he ate? Was it a bug he picked up? I guess we’ll never know, but I’m so thankful that he kicked it so quickly!