Build A Bear - January 2012

I had read that a girl with a daughter diagnosed with Trisomy 18 (similar to Trisomy 13) had taken their son to Build A Bear to make a bear to go to heaven with his sister.  I liked the idea of making a bear, but didn't want to use it to go to heaven with our Landon, since we still had hope that he might survive.  I didn't want to have the boys thinking their brother was going to die.  But we thought instead, we would have them make a bear each to give to Landon when he is born.  We told them that if Landon was too sick to stay here on earth, and had to go back to heaven, then they would have the bears to remember their brother by.  They LOVED Build A Bear.  They picked the bears and then when it was time to put the heart and stuff it into the bear, they had to make a wish.  Jacob's wish was that Landon wouldn't be sick anymore.  Cooper's wish was he said, I love you Landon.  They both whispered it to the heart and stuffed it into the bear.  

 They had to prep the heart and make it strong for Landon.  So she had them wiggle their arms, legs, etc to strengthen those parts of the bears' body to make it strong.  

 Kissing and making a wish with the heart

 Stuffing the bear

 Sewing the bear

 Stuffing the Bear

 Brushing the bears

Jake picked a karate outfit with all sorts of different colored belts.  He's been taking karate so he thought this bear fitting.  Cooper picked some overalls and when we went to put the overalls on Cooper's bear, he got so mad.  He kept trying to put the overalls on himself and thought we were buying him overalls, not the bear.  Needless to say, the bear hasn't really been clothed at all since we got him.  It was a great experience and we are glad we took them to make bears for Landon.  

January 2012

My friend, Katie, that I grew up with in California, lives here in Denver with her family now.  We get together often and it is so much fun.  She gets me.  It's nice to have friends that know you, the real you.  Her brother-in-law works for the Pepsi center and gets free tickets to events.  The Nuggets were playing one night and they got us tickets.  We sat about 1/2 way up, great seats.  It was a lot of fun.  

Wesley's stocking stuffer that he requested.   A solid milk chocolate Hershey's kiss 

 Jake with his friend over.  They were getting the bad guys

 I love when they get along.  On this particular day,  I believe Cooper was sad and wanted Jake to hold him.  So sweet.

 Do I look cute?  I bought the shirt and leggings at Gap and wore them out of the store because they were so comfy.  

 We took the boys to the National Western Stock Show.  It was fun.  We got to see the Muttin' Bustin where young kids ride on sheep.  Jake is begging to do it for next year.  We went to the petting zoo.  A goat went after my scarf. And this llama is huge behind the boys.  

 riding the ponies.  Jake's was named Dolly

 Dr. Pepper the pony

 We took a picnic lunch up to Welsey's office one day.  

 

Christmas 2011

It's funny because I took Jake and Cooper to see Santa at the mall and while there, Jake asked if it was the real Santa.  He's only 4 so I wondered why he'd question his validity.  He said he'd ask Santa if he was the real one.  He forgot to ask.  Then at his preschool program, Santa came and visited.  On the phone Jacob told me that it was the real Santa because this Santa had a watch on and Santa doesn't wear watches.  Then at a friend's house, Santa came.  I knew Jake would try to see if it was the real Santa so I told him before hand that if he thought it wasn't the real Santa, not to make the other kids feel bad.  Santa showed up and Jake let me know afterward the it wasn't the real Santa because he was wearing hiking boots, not real black boots.  How on earth he wonders if he is real is beyond me.  In my opinion though, it will be much easier once he knows the truth so that I don't have to keep it a big secret every year because I'm terrible at it. 

 Although cooper was excited Santa came, he kept his distance. 

 Peppermint sticks in oranges, yum!

 Sugar cookies...ugh, I was glad when that part was over.  I hate baking.

 Christmas Eve - pajamas they opened up from Lita and grandaddy.  We read the nativity and used a nativity set to act it out.  We ate yummy food, played christmas bingo, sang songs and just relaxed.  This was our first Christmas at home, and our first Christmas without family.  

 In my family, we always go see a movie on Christmas Day.  This year we went after Christmas that next week. We decided for a 9 am showing of Chipwrecked.  We were in the last row (for Jake) and only joined by one other family.  We (the boys) are early risers so 9am movie showings are ideal for us!  Cooper sat through the entire movie.  We liked it.  

 We decided to go to the museum one day.  We got there and it was packed.  Overflowing with people, parking started going into the zoo parking next door.  We knew that we wanted to avoid the museum so we opted for the zoo.  Since I have such bad sciatic problems this pregnancy and so much pressure, I can't be up for very long.  We had to get a wheelchair at the zoo.  It was weird.   

Check out the polar bear so close to the window.  

 The wheelchair became  a ride for the boys on the way out.  That made it slightly less embarrassing but overall, I didn't like it.   

Mid-December 2011

So Wesley works from home and his headquarters for work is in California.  Since he has been with the company, we've never attended the end of the year Christmas parties.  Either they have given us some money to go out on our own, we've done the work party with the co-workers here in Denver.  But this year they invited workers out of California along with a guest.  Wes and I were bummed because for the first time, we got invited but with the complications of the pregnancy, we knew that wouldn't be an option.  But after talking to our OB and our high risk specialist, they told us that at that point in the pregnancy, we would be fine traveling.  Dr Galan, the high risk specialist told us that we should go and enjoy our holidays.  So that we did.  We flew Wesley's mom in to watch the boys and we were off to San Francisco. We stayed with Felecia for 2 of the days.  The first night was Wesley's birthday.  We made wedge salads and had wings with Henry Weinheirts root beer.  He received hostess cupcakes and a fruit by the foot cake.  

Wes still had to go into the office Thursday and Friday so Felecia and I stayed home with her kids and hung out.  I was able to nap and relax.  It was really nice.  On Friday night, the work party was at the Dolce Hayes Mansion.  Beautiful place.  We stayed the night there.  Here's my hair from that night.  I wore those cute heels (made me super tall, like 5'6" or so...I'm 5'2" so that's a big deal for me).  I wore a cute maternity dress.  So sad I didn't take a picture of us that evening.  I think we looked handsome.  The evening had good food, play gambling, prizes and dancing.  I made Wes dance one song, poor guy hated every minute.  Of course the photographer came out taking pictures as soon as we got on the floor.  Wesley kept hiding from the camera the whole song.  Oh and there were only 2 other couples on the floor so it was hard for him to hide.  The play gambling was fun.  We stuck to blackjack and didn't do too bad.  

 On Saturday, we took our time getting ready and then met up with some friends for lunch.  Julie, Kim and Sheila.  It was a blast.  I don't know if I have laughed as hard as I did during that lunch in a long time.  What fun girls.  

 So Felecia has 2 girls.  Natalie just turned 2 and Emily was born in September.  Natalie liked me at first but as soon as she saw Wes, she decided she didn't like me much anymore.  And Emily, the easiest baby ever, hated me.  She cried EVERY time I held her.  As you can see below, she had no problem with Wes.  I wasn't offended or anything (maybe a little) but thought it was funny that they didn't take to liking me much. 

 I miss San Francisco so much.  Of course we had to make a trip there.  We went to Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Ghiradelli Square, Boudin Bakery.  It was all so fun.  This is Wes and I in front of the big tree.  We ate dinner at Boudin Bakery.  It was great sourdough pizza.  Yum.  

 Wes craved the street crab and got some.  It looked really good!

 Ghiradelli Square

 Chocolate - Mmmm

 The Bay

 I don't have a real bucket list, but one thing on my list of things I want to do before I die is to fly first class.  In Denver, the chances of being upgraded is slim.  We got extra leg room on the way out and thankfully on the way home, we were bumped up to first class.  I was giddy!  So fun!  

 While we were gone, sadly we missed Jake's preschool program.  My mother-in-law got some good pictures though.  Look at our cute little soldier on the right.