Thanksgiving in Salem & The Polar Express

We went to Salem for Thanksgiving weekend.  It felt like we hadn't been down there in forever.  It was so nice to get to see everyone for the holiday season and spend some good time with them!  We left home Thanksgiving morning and got down there early noon.  We stopped by Mammaw Huff's nursing home to say hello first and then headed in to the country.  We had fun relaxing and just playing from Thursday until Saturday night.  Then Saturday night, we headed to French Lick, Indiana to do the Polar Express experience.  It was the coolest thing ever!  It was pouring down rain, but it didn't bother us too much.  As soon as we got there, we hopped on our train, grabbed a couple seats near each other and then let the fun happen all around us.  The station master punched the kids' tickets, the elves sang songs, we had hot cocoa and Christmas cookies and then Santa even came on the train to visit everyone!  They read the story "The Polar Express" over the speaker and the kids had a ball.  I definitely want to do this again!  Teri and I talked about even possibly staying the night down there at the hotel that night next year.  How much fun!

While we were down there, I started to feel kind of sick.  I ended up having to go to bed early on Thanksgiving night.  By Saturday, I was on the upswing though.  By Sunday morning, Blair and Teri felt horrible, Bobby was throwing up, and so was Ayla.  We decided to get the heck out of town in hopes of making it home before Ayla might get sick again.....not so much.  She ended up throwing up all over herself in her car seat two more times.  I had hoped to get up the tree and decorations when we got home, but instead I spent my evening doing laundry, and Ayla earned herself a ticket to stay home from daycare, and spend some extra time with Fancy.  :-)  Overall, a very lovely weekend though!

Apparently Bub likes persimmon pudding!

Sometimes her bad attitude can look so darn cute

Naked girls eating pizza before we head to the Polar Express

Look at their excitement

So sad that the Santa picture came out blurry

Visiting Mamaw Mary

On our way down to Salem for Thanksgiving, we stopped to visit Mamaw Mary.  She was so happy to see the kids and they loved playing on her walker.  I never see Mary happier and more joyful than when she is bouncing babies on her lap!

The Bub Gets Tubes

Our sweet boy had hit 4 ear infections within 2 months and so I made the executive decision to schedule surgery for tubes in his ears.  Ayla has done so well with her tubes since her surgery, that I am hoping he does the same.  The poor boy just is always so congested and had trouble breathing as it is when he gets sick.  I wanted to do whatever we could to take care of him as quickly as possible.  So we met with Dr. Fang and he was schedule for tubes the following week.  He took it like and champ.  They said he went into the operating room a little bit scared, but he bucked up and handled himself well.  The surgery went great and they let Blair and me come hold him as soon as he woke up.  He cried all the way home and then slept most of the day.  But I'm just so glad he's got them.  Now we can wave "Bye-Bye" to those blasted ear infections once and for all!....we hope!

Jasper is 11 Months Old

Well Bub has had some real changes within the past month!  Mr Bub:

• Weighs 20 pounds, 5 ounces and is a little over 26 inches long
• Had his 4th ear infection, so he underwent surgery to have tubes inserted in both ears (he took it like a champ too!  Dr. Feng said that when the nurse carried him into the surgery room, he saw tons of nurses with blue scrubs and caps on.  His little lip poked out at a moment of scared weakness, and then he bucked up and took it like a big boy.  They were so impressed with how brave he was)
• Can stand on his own until he realizes that he's standing on his own....and at that point chooses to sit down
• Says "dog", "ball", "baba", "dada", and I'm pretty sure he is starting to say "ayla"
• Loves to wave hi and bye
• Can tell you MORE and ALL DONE in sign language
• Is getting very opinionated lately!  If he is unhappy about something, he arch his back and throw himself backward in a fussing attempt
• Likes to throw his football, and I swear he says "Go!"
• Is getting quite an arm on himself!  He might be a little Peyton Manning if his daddy has anything to do with it
• Is such a ticklish little boy!  And when he starts his belly giggle, it's infectious!
• Has officially cut 3 teeth and there are plenty more coming!
• Has now entered the world of rashes and yeast infections...they are completely horrible.  It seems as though after he got his first infection on the medication called Augmentin, the infection has truly never gone away
• Protests getting put in his car seat on most days
• Can do an incredible impression of a barking dog
• Has basically made the decision that he doesn't want to nurse anymore....I'm devastated...It's on a lucky day that he will nurse from me in the mornings and that's about it....such a sad Mommy Moment
• Is still such a lively little baby - People everywhere always mention what a happy boy he seems to be....yes...we are truly lucky to have Mr. Japper in our lives!  We love you Bub!!!