Quiet Christmas Eve

This Christmas has been a special one for me for sure.  Of course they are always special when you have your family around you and get to spend Christmas morning with your kids, but this year has been unique for me with the arrival of Christopher.  The shock of his gender was a crazy this to get used to, but I know that him being a boy is no mistake for sure.  I'm sure the many reasons will manifest themselves in years to come, but for right now it is just offering me a powerful reminder of the meaning of Christmas.  I have so enjoyed the (rare) quiet nights in our house when all the kids are sleeping when I could just sit in the living room by the light of the Christmas tree, holding my newborn infant son and contemplating Mary's feelings of holding her newborn infant son on the first Christmas.  Thinking about his place in our family and what his life will bring and how much I love him and wondering of the sacrifice that His mother would be making some day.  Did she know what his life would be like as she held him in her arms?  Possibly knowing how his life would end and hoping his short life would not go by so fast, just as our own children's lives fly by before our eyes?  Did she hold him tight hoping to make time stand still and just enjoy those quiet moments?  I can't imagine having to suffer any of my children to the fate she had to, she is a far better woman than I will ever be.  I hope I never forget these feelings as I will never have a Christmas like this again.

My little Christmas miracle, in the stocking he came to me in the hospital in, under the Christmas tree.

My sweet little Christmas baby

Darling Baby

I just can't help but take pictures of my little boy all the time!  He's so cute!  Plus I know that my future self will never be sad that I have so many, I'm not sad about the quantity of pictures I have with my other kids except that there aren't enough!

Sleeping

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case I know it's true.  I think these pictures bear testimony to the eternal exhaustion that is parenthood.

I hesitated to put this picture on seeing as it is completely flattering with my double chins and all, but it shows that apparently we are all feeling the effects of having a new baby in the house.  On a side note, Madelynn was the one who brought the chip bag in.  Not that I didn't help myself, but I usually don't fall asleep with food on my.  Usually.

I just think this picture is so sweet!  I couldn't help but share it with the world!   Ben is also incredibly tired these days seeing as this super dad gets up at night with the baby as well, so I can (maybe) get some sleep too.  I'm spoiled!

Gingerbread House

I knew that we were having our baby soon so I picked up a gingerbread house from Costco to assemble for a quick family home evening project.  It worked out great since it was pre assembled so I didn't have to put it together because I'm incredibly exhausted on my first day home with Christopher.  Although into family activities, decorating gingerbread houses is really more my thing than Ben's so he held the baby and took pictures while I applied frosting and helped the kids put candy on it.  We had a really fun time and the kids are already dying to break it apart and eat it, hope they can wait a few weeks!

Madelynn was more into eating the decorations than anything

Our motley crew. Alex, Nicholas, me, Madelynn, and Daniel.

Welcome Christopher!!

This morning at 11:31 we welcomed Christopher Marlon Kent to our Family!!  He was 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and 20 inches long.  We were not expecting a little boy, be we are so glad to have him!  I'm still processing the fact that he's a boy.  It's not a bad thing, just a surprise.  The doctor knew we didn't know what he was, so when he came out, he covered him up with a towel so we could have a grand revealing.  When he pulled that towel off, I almost fell off the table in shock!  I just keep telling myself, "it's a boy.  It's a boy.  Really a boy?  Wow, a boy!  Holy cow, a boy!" over and over again.  I'll get used to it in a little bit, I'm sure, but I've never been this shocked since... well... never!  He's so cute though, I just love him!!  I was worried the kids would be in for a shock as well since they all wanted a sister, but they have accepted him as one of their own already and can't get enough of holding him.  I love to see them hold and love their new brother!

Skin on skin time with mommy.  It's my favorite!!

Sleepy boy

Sweet little boy with his eyes open

Snuggling with mommy.

I also want to mention, just for memory's sake, that this morning was a lunar eclipse.  Kind of a cool thing that happened the morning of our little boy's birth.

Last Pregnant picture!!

This is officially the last picture that will ever be taken of me during this pregnancy!!  Baby, here you come!!

Christmas Skull

Okay, back story:  Once upon a time, Ben and Jamie were young teenagers who were in love.  Jamie would often hang out at Ben's house and they spent all their free time together.  One day, as Ben and Jamie drove up to Ben's house, Ben voiced his dislove of a cow skull his father had put in the front yard as a decoration.  This got Jamie thinking.  Being the selfless giver that she was, she decided to do a favor for Ben so one night, when she was leaving his house, she hauled the ugly (heavy!!) cow head to the trunk of her car and drove away.  The next day, an excited Jamie and Ben hung out.  Again.  As usual.  She pulled him to her car and popped the trunk to reveal to him her surprise and Ben laughed and laughed about it.  Jamie thought she had done a good thing.  It wasn't long before Ben's dad discovered his cow skull was gone and was very sad about it.  Ben started to feel guilty.  Jamie felt bad.  One day while Jamie was at Ben's house, Ben decided he needed to give the cow skull back to his dad, but instead of just getting it out of Jamie's trunk and giving it back, Ben took his dad to Jamie's car and popped the trunk to reveal the skull.  Ben's dad was not happy with Jamie and Jamie felt stupid about what she had done.  Ever since then, Ben and Jamie still think the cow head is kind of silly, but realize Ben's dad loves it so they leave it alone and just talk about it sometimes.  The end.  Fast forward to the present.  The other day, Angie was at our house and the story of the cow skull came up.  Can't remember why.  And then we talked about the skull.  I made a comment about how if the cow skull was going to be out there, we should dress it up for holidays since Ben' parents don't really decorate for any holidays but Christmas.  We all agreed that this was a great idea.  So on her way home, Angie picked up a Santa hat for the skull.  The next day while we were at Ben's parent's house, she gave it to me and I proceeded to adorn the skull with the hat.   Everyone thought it was pretty funny!  I'm hoping to remember this and dress it up as more holidays come around.  I think it may need bunny ears and a Halloween mask or something later.

A close up of the Christmas cow skull.  He needs a name, any ideas?

Merry Christmas from the Kents!  There, I just found their next Christmas card!