Of A Different Spirit

Caleb had himself a very stuffy Christmas in Atlanta this year. Our Christmas Eve was spent running around the metro Atlanta area trying to find a place to get care for our red eyed, stuffy nosed, slobbery, grumpy little prince. My sister, Mindie, recommended a place and it REALLY paid off. If you are ever in the Atlanta area and are in need of a pediatrician, go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, they are wonderful! Anyway, he received medicine and a blue bunny. Keith and I also got a little something too – relief that he would be back to our smiley Caleb soon, which, as all you parents out there know is a precious gift. So, shortly after midnight we started the first of many medication sessions (dubbed “torture sessions” by my family because he screams so much). By the way, the little angel sleeping in the picture above is Avery. He decided that he was tired, so he took a pillow from off of the couch, put it on the floor, and went to sleep. So cute!

After our Christmas Eve journey we were able to enjoy merry, noisy Christmas. It was so great to have everyone (17 in all) crowded into one house for a couple of days. I love being in a noisy,crowded house during the holidays. It just makes for a merrier Christmas! On Christmas morning the living room was transformed into a sea of wrapping paper and toys. It was a priceless moment as I looked around and saw the people I had once known as the kids swimming in the Wrapping Paper Sea holding cameras, reading instructions, and introducing their own little swimmers to traditions and magical Christmas moments. I now see mothers and fathers who that are building Christmas memories with their own kids and the two generations before getting to watch – it was beautiful.

Caleb was able to spend a lot of time with his Hill cousins while we were there, which was so much fun. He met his cousin Maddison for the first time. She is a beautiful little girl that can melt anyone’s heart. I know she has claimed both her mom’s and dad’s heart. Evan and Avery were loads of fun, as usual. Laycie and Torrie are great entertainers for all the younger cousins which is a big help – they are both so sweet and are growing up entirely too fast! I think Gramma, Nana, and Twodaddy were in heaven with everyone there and so many kids to laugh and play with.

You can really see how sick Caleb was in the picture above. This is after two doses of antibiotics! He was pitiful!

We also had some early Christmases here in Lakeland. Keith and I celebrated a sweet little Christmas with him on the Sunday before, so that we could reduce the amount of items we needed to pack, which was such a good decision. He was happy to wear his Santa hat while he and his daddy ripped into his gifts. Afterward, he munched on some cinnamon twists while Keith put his Little People play set together. The morning was topped off with a trip to church to be encouraged in God’s love. Can you ask for a more perfect Christmas celebration?
Later, we enjoyed dinner and exchanged gifts at his grandma and granddaddy’s house. He was also able to spend time with Mema, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jessica, and cousin “Thrasher.” Caleb had so much fun with his new cell phone and blocks.

Thanks to everyone for all of Caleb’s gifts! He loves and plays with all of them. The bath toys he received this year were especially nice for me because they have made bath time a little less…trying. Our little home is now filled with toys. I have had to divide them up between the living room and his room because they don’t all fit in one room. Before Caleb came, this was one aspect of motherhood I wasn’t excited about. I was thinking about this yesterday as I was trying to figure out the best arrangement for his little treasures and I realized I don’t mind it at all. I don’t see it as clutter, but rather signs that a little mind is being developed. That he dreams, learns, and imagines here and that I certainly don’t mind cleaning up after that. Of course, one day soon he will be one cleaning up after a day full of learning.

Having a child to share this precious holiday with makes everything so much more special. I get as excited about giving him his gifts as I used to get about my own gifts as a kid. Keith and I return to our own childhood as we share our Christmas traditions with him. This year, what I have loved the most is reading this story of Jesus’ birth to him. Although I know that he probably doesn’t understand much of what I am talking about, I feel that I am planting little seeds of God’s love that will one day grow into a place under which he can find refuge, peace, and strength. Of course, that is something that I get to do every day, not just at Christmas, which is one of my greatest joys as a mother.

The New Year came will more smiles than Christmas. The runny nose and achy ears were all gone and he was completely back to normal. We had a quiet New Year’s Eve celebration here, which was nice. Although I have enjoyed the trips we have taken this holiday season, it was nice to just sit and relax without having to figure out if I had packed everything we needed. My only regret is that we missed the Kelso gathering in Tallahassee, but we decided that it would be best to stay at home and recoup from our travels. Maybe we can make it next year.

We are looking forward to a fun and happy 2010! I can’t wait to see what it holds for Caleb!