FiringBlindly.com

-1-

The last time I did this was in September.  I thought I'd give it another try.  Why can't I get my numbers centered?  They are centered when I write this, but once I publish it, they are all left-aligned.

-2-

My heart breaks for the people of Haiti.  We don't watch much television that isn't recorded on our DVR and we don't get a newspaper, so I'm not usually very up to date on current events.  I've been reading coverage of the disaster in Haiti, though, and I wish there was more we could do to help the families who have lost so many of their loved ones.  It sure makes my problems seem tiny and insignificant.

-3-

Reese and Mara are both sick again, but I think we see a light at the end of the tunnel this morning.  Reese has been running fevers of 102+ since Monday evening.  She tested positive for the flu on Tuesday morning - Category A, which includes H1N1.  It could be H1N1, but it could be a different strain.  Both girls are on Tamiflu.  Mara already had the flu just before Christmas, but they put her on it just in case this is a different strain.  She's developed a little cough, but she's no where near as sick as poor Reese is.  We went back and forth about whether to get the H1N1 vaccine.  When we finally decided to get it, the pediatrician's office was out of it.  I won't think twice next flu season.  We've been sick off and on here for a month.  It stinks.

-4-

We've been watching so many cartoons because of our illnesses.  Yo Gabba Gabba is the craziest show I have ever seen.  I don't understand it at all.  Lazy Town is also crazy.  Karl thinks it is like a train wreck...we can't turn it off when it is on.  It is so weird.

-5-

My friend Jenny and I took our big girls to see The Princess and the Frog last weekend.  It was super cute and Reese had a great time.

-6-

My family is considering going on an Alaskan Cruise this summer.  I am so excited.  I really hope we can make it happen.

-7-

We had hoped to go to San Antonio today to witness the adoption finalization hearing for some friends and their beautiful little boy, Christian.  Fevers kept us from going, though.  We've known these friends for a long time and it seemed like they were waiting for a baby forever.  Now it seems like Christian has been here forever.  We're so sad we can't be there today. 

For more quick takes, check out Conversion Diary.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  We drove to Colorado to visit Karl's family for a week.  We were nervous about how Mara would do in the car since she isn't a huge fan of her car seat, but she did great!  We had a fabulous time in Colorado.  We left Mara with Grandma and Aunt Andrea while Karl, Reese and I drove to Vail with Uncle Ross and Grandpa.  Karl, Ross and Grandpa went skiing while Reese and I shopped.  We met them afterward for snow tubing.  We had a blast!   Unfortunately, we don't have any tubing pictures because it was impossible to carry a camera around with all of our other gear.  The look on Reese's face the first time down the mountain was priceless.  I thought she surely wouldn't want to try again, but she did!  We went down 4 times.  The girls enjoyed playing in the snow at Aunt Andrea's house.  Karl and Ross helped Reese build a snow fort and she enjoyed making snow angels.  We went to mass at Our Lady of the Pines on Christmas Eve and then had dinner at Grandpa's house afterward.  We had Christmas Day lunch at Aunt Andrea's house and enjoyed a lot of time with family.  Check out our pictures .

From December 2009

From December 2009

We spent New Year's with my family in San Antonio and had a belated Christmas celebration with them.  The girls didn't last until midnight.  In fact, I fell asleep on the couch at 11:30.  I woke up at midnight for 5 minutes to say, "Happy New Year" to everyone.  Reese stayed with my parents for a few days by herself afterward and had a great time.  It was the longest we've ever been away from her.  We missed her, but it was nice to spend some alone time with Mara.  Pictures from the DeCock Christmas to come...

Now, we're back in the swing of things and trying to get back into a routine at home.  We're looking forward to a great 2010!  

So, Reese just randomly asked me, "How do I know you're really my mommy?"  To which I replied, "Well, Reese, let me show you."  So I opened up the February 2007 folder of pictures and started to show her pictures of the day she was born.  Then I said, "See, you were in my tummy and then you were out.  That's how you know that I'm your mommy."  I was not prepared for what came next..."How did I get out?"  Uhhh..."The doctor took you out."  "Out of your mouth?" she said.  "No, not out of my mouth...out of my tummy."  "Ok," she said.   Phew!

Finally, we have some Halloween pictures.  Reese chose her own costume for the first time.  She wanted to be a bumble bee and we found the cutest costume.  Nannie found the black and yellow striped tights which made the outfit.  Mara was supposed to be an octopus.  Reese wore the octopus costume when she was 8 months old.  I didn't think to try the costume on Mara ahead of time.  I figured it would surely fit because she was 11 months old.  It was so big, we couldn't even keep it on her.  I knew Reese was a chunky baby, but I don't realize just how chunky until I look back at her pictures now.  Anyway, Aunt Dawn let us borrow Bennett's snail costume at the last minute and she looked adorable.  We were in San Antonio, so we went trick or treating in Uncle Matt & Aunt Jenna's neighborhood.  It was a great time.  Enjoy the pictures .

From October 2009

From October 2009