Holiday Highlights

This year's holiday highlights included:

Getting to spend more time with Daddy.

Visiting my family in Rocklin


These amazing Christmas cookies



Finally getting to spend some quality time with Alex after his 2 year mission

Visiting my Grandma Jean...isn't she the cutest?

Playing with Carson

And I made these!

Hilarious. Maybe you had to be there?

Sick.

Hope you had a jolly Christmas. Bubs and I got sick on the Eve of Christmas Eve. We took him to the E.R. in the middle of the night last night after he started choking on phlegm, gagged, and covered me head to toe in vomit. I got a shower, he got a bath, and we were off to the hospital. He smiled and flirted with the nurses despite having a fever. That's my boy. So charming, just like Daddy.

I would write more, but I'm busy being sick, and taking care of a barfing baby boy. Oh, the joys of motherhood. He's so worth it though. Seriously.

Bubba and the Vac

I came home from work today, inspired to be superwife, and decided to do some light cleaning. After clearing some toys and furniture, I got out The PowerForce Bissell. It turned on with a loud roar, and my poor little guy started screaming like a busty woman in a horror film. A look of terror in his eyes, he quickly headed for under the crib. You laugh, but it was one of the saddest, most heart-breaking moments I have ever witnessed. I turned off the vacuum, and picked up my poor little boy. He clung to me like never before, and was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

What is a mother to do? I can't leave my house unvacuumed, but I shouldn't be scarring my offspring either. I brought Bubba to the vacuum and explained, "The vacuum is good. It helps Mama's floor get clean." I grabbed his hand and had him softly touch the handle. He calmed down a little, so with him still in my arms, I turned on the vac again. He clung to me tighter and tighter, but no screaming this time. It wasn't easy to vacuum with a 25+ baby in my arm, but, being the supermom that I am, I got the job done.

I put Bubba down on the floor, as I put the vac away. Silence. I have never seen him so quiet in my life. He just sat there on the floor staring at the Bissell, nervously. After several minutes, he reached out, smacked that vac, then crawled away. Take that, PowerForce Bissell! And Bubba was back in the game.

Oh, it is Love

He loves the ladies.

Sleeping with a paficier...YES!

What Bubs thinks you do in a crib.

Is this a naughty face?

All decked for church.

Snuggles with Daddy.

What a stud. Seriously.

What I wake up to every morning--fabulous bedhead.

As most of you know, my husband is The Coach Anthony Matthews. He is currently the Head Basketball Coach for the McNair Lady Eagles, which makes me the equivalent to a single mom who happens to be married. Husband is gone from about 6:30 am to at least 9:30 pm. Of course, it is my number one life's complaint, but I make the best of it. Why does he have to be so charming and majestic? I just can't help but miss him.

This weekend, I was forced to participate in a tournament he put on at the school. To fund raise, I hustled people for their hard earned cash at the door. And about that door, each time it was opened, gusts of stormy wind encompassed my body to the bone. And practically everyone had a reason that they shouldn't have to pay. It's a fundraiser, for goodness sake. "But I'm a team mom." "I'm the assistant to the assistant coach." "I'm the water boy." None of which exist for high school basketball teams.

Bubba loved the tournament. Anthony's players spoil him with attention. They are super loud girls, and Bubba loves loud people. He's already a loud little boy. He clapped, screamed, and screeched with crowd. Unfortunately, he claps, screams, and screeches during Sacrament Meeting too. Don't worry we're working on teaching him there's a time and a place.

I am pretty pleased with Bubba this week. It's been more than difficult to start him on solid foods. He just loves that mama milk. What can I say? I make it good. I can't help it. I am proud to announce that Bubs has added quite a few new foods to his repertoire. He prefers vegetables to fruits. (Where did this child come from?)

And a proud accomplishment on my part; I somehow managed to get Bubba to use a pacifier during a nap! He's been using my milk buckets to pacify himself for far too long now, which may explain the chunkiness. It's okay, because he's my adorable blob of love, but I would like to eventually end our family sleepovers and have him snooze in his own crib. Husband and I could use the alone time.

What I Learned About My Cup

This week has definitely taken a turn for the better. After talking to a friend, I realize that I just need to be more positive. The old saying seems to say it best. I need to stop looking at the glass half empty and start looking at the glass half full. After thinking of all my blessings, I came to a realization that my cup runneth over. Is runneth a word? Who cares? Anyway...

Here are a few things that made me smile during the last couple of days:

• Bubba laughing so hard he got the hiccups
• The Husband dancing in his birthday suit (sorry, a picture will not be included for this one)
• Phone calls "just to say I love you"
• Slobbery kisses (from Bubba, not the Husband)
• FHE=me and Anthony trying to sing Primary songs
• Bubba in a basket.
• Bubba teething on everything, including a trunk.

My Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

So, basically the last three days have been some of the worst of my life! Today was awful and I have hopes that tomorrow will be better. As I'm loathing in self-pity, Bubba continues to make me smile, even if I don't feel like smiling. He is always happy. I love that, and I hope it never changes.