First White Christmas!

As many of you DFW-ites and Wichitans experienced, we had a white Christmas this year! Jameston does not yet realize just how lucky he is that his very first Christmas was snow-filled and how rare that is in Texas, but we'll be sure to tell him in the future. To celebrate, we drove an exhausting 9 hours to Brady, north of Austin, on the eve of Christmas.

We were planning to leave early Christmas morning, but with the horrendous blizzard-like weather that hit Wichita Falls, where my mom, sister and brother were planning on leaving from, we cancelled my side's Christmas festivities so that we could leave for the Austin area before it got too bad on the roads. Well, we were wrong in our estimation, because despite leaving only an hour after the really cold weather hit Dallas, the roads were already in bad shape. We drove anywhere from 10-40 mph during the 250 mile, white-knuckle drive. We saw plenty of over overturned trucks (semis included) and cars in ditches that we were so thankful we made the trip safely.

And Jameston was a traveling trooper! He "talked" and played, ate three bottles, and slept off and on during the trip...he's an experienced traveler these days with about 47 road-trip hours under his belt with visits to Austin (times two), Lubbock/Plainview, San Angelo and Wichita Falls! Here he is, all tuckered out, around midnight on Christmas Eve...ready for bed!

About 55 of us gathered at the Heart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady for Christmas festivities this year. It was a big turnout even though not everyone was able to make it. The two days were filled with fellowship, fun games, yummy food as always (with the annual Danish delicatessens), and great memories!!Christmas day started with Jameston playing with his second cousin, Ashlyn, whom he met back in October in Austin. She's an absolute doll! And JW was able to meet many of his relatives! Here he is with his Great Aunt Melanie, and another second cousin, Luke. Relaxin' on Great Uncle Larry, who is a towering 6'5" (give or take an inch or two)! Jameston enjoyed the view! And fast asleep in cousin Holly's arms... And sleepy-eyed with cousin Brent (who was one of the five guy cousins who grew a mustache for the gathering :) And asleep again on cousin Leah, who is expecting a boy in April :) As with all Turnbough gatherings, there was lots of dominoes and card-playing going on. And baby Jameston was right in the thick of it! Here he is wanting to get in on Daddy's hand of 42: Pondering their next move... Dad, let me help you! Letting mom hold him before Christmas night activities: meeting Santa for the first time, and taking pictures with his cousins! Sitting in Granny's lap, along with his cousin Layne, 4 1/2 months old A bunch of cousins on the floor! The Turnbough crew has welcomed five babies since May. Here is a shot of four of them (we just missed Brady, 6+ months old, who was with the family Christmas Eve before we arrived :(

Clockwise from top: Luke, 6 1/2 months; Jameston, 3 months; Ashlyn, 2 months; and Layne, 4 1/2 monthsLuke directing the babies! Santa (Uncle Lonnie) and the babies in their coordinating Christmas onesies! Posing with the big cousins (L to R): Kalyn, Lauren, Landon, Ethan, Autumn, and Nathan (in front) Gigi and her grandchildren posing with their children (and baby belly, in Leah's case :) Jameston got lots of practice unwrapping this year...We would hold the gift in front of him, let him grasp the paper, and then we would pull or turn the box so the paper would tear. His hand/eye coordination, although getting better, is not THAT good yet! Orajel...thanks, Aunt Melanie Reed! With all the drooling and slobbering he's doing lately, this may come in handy sooner than we think! Gigi opening her gifts...she is such a wonderful person and deserves being showered with gifts! Cousins checking in on each other...Layne and Jameston. They just stared at each other at first, and then they held hands...awww! And then Luke joined in on the fun!We packed up and headed out from Brady and went to Spicewood/Lake Travis to Brett's parents' house. Here is baby J in his "Baby's First Christmas" hooded onesie! "Sitting" in front of the tree at Granny and Papa's Opening an awesome gift from cousins Riley and Ruby Thank you, he loves it!Riley and Ruby opening a few gifts The whole crew (minus Aunt, Kayla): Brett, me and Jameston; Bryn, Jared and little Layne; Cade, Jessica, Riley and Ruby

We hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas! With a little one this year, it was more special than ever for us. And we know that it's going to keep getting better and better!

Merry Christmas from the Winters' Family!

In honor of the Climate Conference in Copenhagen (but mainly due to our hectic schedules and our desire to cut corners and save money) we are GOING GREEN (and red) and sending out a Christmas e-card via our blog and email!

Jameston "met" Santa at the Galleria for the first time two weekends ago. Well, he didn't really get to meet him...he was very awake and amazed by all the lights leading up to the big guy. About five minutes before his first Christmas picture debut, our little one fell asleep! I did not want to risk a public meltdown by waking him up to see this stranger with a big, white beard. So, we let him sleep, and everyone in line cracked up at how he slept through the photos and while being passed back and forth between us and jolly old Saint Nick. He woke up about 10 minutes later!

This year we are especially mindful of just how blessed we are, and we have God to thank for all the blessings that have come our way.

We hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

3 months old and recent happenings

I am WAY behind on blogging, which I guess can be expected for this time of year. So, please don't mind me, because I am going to include a lot of recent events in this post :) Our little one turned three-months-old yesterday! My how the past months have flown by...

He is growing like a weed!

This last month, Jameston has experienced many firsts...

His first visit with Santa Clause: the professional pic is to come, along with the quite funny story that goes with it!

His first Bumbo seat experience: this has gotten better for him the last couple of times we've put him in it. But this picture from the first time says it all!

He's getting better at holding his head up and does quite well sitting up while being supported.

His first Texas Tech game: Tech vs. TCU, December 8th. He (sporting some ear plugs thanks to Lindi!) cheered the Red Raiders on to a victory, putting them at 9-0.

He was enamored with our friends Lindi and Steven, and the bright lights and loud crowd, too.

His first birthday party: Jameston attended the 1st birthday festivities of his future playmate, Camden.

What a cutie!

His first visit to Texas Tech and Lubbock: We accompanied my mom and sister, Maggie, there for her tour of campus. We were happy the weather was in the 50's and 60's while we were there, and not in the teens like the week before. Here we are in front of the seal!

We were fortunate enough to stay with Memaw & Pappy in Plainview one night. They are the best! Jameston had fun catching up with them on what's gone on since Thanksgiving :)

Mom and Maggie, in front of Soapsuds

We have captured some cute shots of our little fella...we think he is enamored with the shininess of the camera. Or maybe he's just so used to seeing it already!

We had a little sports-themed photo shoot after church. Here he is posing with all the sporting goods Dad could find. I think he has a, "You really want me to play ALL of these sports?" look on his face...

A not-so worried look on his face now... He's in such a great mood in the mornings!

New this month: DROOLING. Lots and lots of drooling! Like father, like son. I sat him down one morning to get ready for work, and he kept on snoozing. Can you see the resemblance?!

Feel bad for the little guy (he was asleep), but we had to take a picture. We have since bought better-fitting caps!

He still LOVES his bouncer! And he has started to grab for the rings. I think we may have a lefty on our hands. Like mother, like son? Only time will tell :)Oh, and he loves to "talk" and sing!

Also, Jameston has upgraded from the pacifier to his hands! From inspecting them to sucking on them to reaching for things with his new found appendages, it is fun to watch! His first try at dress-up, thanks to Daddy! We have a feeling, with four girls cousins, he's gonna have to get used to playing dress-up!Here he is telling Dad who's boss after bath time...and after the dress-up charades :) What a fun month it's been! Stay tuned for the Winters' Christmas card!

A Winters' Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we loaded up and headed out to San Angelo for several days. Brett's cousin Brittany and her husband Clint (and their two boys, Gage and Ian :) were such wonderful hosts, as we got to stay in their beautiful new home.

Winters' guys...Brett, his dad with Jameston, and Cade

We drove to San Angelo on Wednesday afternoon, and I must say that Jameston did great on the drive! Brett and I took turns sitting in the back with him (we were successful at keeping him awake during some of the drive, since he likes to sleep in his car seat, so that we didn't get our days/nights mixed up again).

Here he is getting a nap in after Thanksgiving dinner...

Below: four generations

Will Ed, Willis, Brett, and Jameston Winters

Memaw and baby J just chattin' it up during their very first visit...

Jameston was a fan of Memaw, but then again, everyone is!

One of JW's favorite spots is in Granny's lap

Riley proudly displaying her tower of blocks

And holding her cousin's hand

Flashing the 'Horns sign (turn your head Tech fans :)

during the Texas vs. A&M game

We had alumni from both schools present,

but this grandson knows Papa is a Longhorn :)

Good morning, Gage and Riley!Cousins and second cousins (missing Gage, who was napping) siting for a photo shoot!

Riley, Jameston, Ian, and RubyJameston, 10 weeks, and Ian, 6 weeks

What fun it will be to see these two boys grow up together!

With his third long road trip under his belt, Jameston is now a well-traveled little boy! We have another test next week when we will head out to Lubbock with my mom and sister, Maggie. Oh the joys of traveling with a little one...

And when we returned to Dallas, we had fun decorating for Christmas. Five stockings (L to R) for Marlie, Brett, Jameston, Me, and Boomer :) We need a wider mantle!

We got a real tree this year...a six-foot, 20-year-old Scotch Pine from Michigan.

Brett and I love the smell, Jameston loves the lights, and the dogs love the needles!

Also, we headed to the Tech vs. Baylor game at the new Cowboys stadium on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Brett's parents and my mom watched all four grandkids. It was Brett's and my first "date" since Jameston arrived. We had a great time!

The sis-in-laws (after work, a false alarm with our home security, and feeding the babies) did not arrive at the game until about 30 minutes before kick-off...just enough time to enjoy some grilled goods :)

Bryn, Jessica, and Me

Brothers manning the grill

Cade, Brett, and Jared

Cowboys stadium...72,000+ fansBrett was not a happy camper until the second half of the game...Get your guns up!Leaving the game...Phew, so glad we won!

With five new babies born since May on the Turnbough side and one on the way who may arrive any day now on the Stewart side, we cannot wait to see everyone at Christmas!

Profound parenting revelations: Part I

Just twelve weeks into this parenting thing and I feel like I've learned more than ever. Well, maybe not EVER...but these are the things I've realized thus far (albeit trivial to some, they are profound revelations in my eyes :)

• Each day is a surprise! No matter what took place the day before and although we might think, "Nothing can top that," we quickly realize not so fast! I am constantly learning new things about Jameston, my husband of three plus years, and myself. It is an adventure I would not want to trade for anything else in this world!
• We are now morning people...WAY-early morning people. This was not a difficult transition for me because I have always been of the "early bird catches the worm" mindset, especially in grad school (well, I guess I was a night-owl then, too...maybe my "thrive on five" sleep motto those three years better prepared me for the lack of and interrupted sleep I am getting these days!). And on that same note, we do not mind going to bed now at say 8 or 9 o'clock at night! Gotta catch those Z's when you can and "sleep when the baby sleeps!"
• Bodily functions of the burping and pooping and spitting-up kind are not as repulsive to me as they used to be. AND, I have been known to call or email Brett when our son finally goes #2 after a dry spell! Like I said, revelations :) A separate post on this eye-opener is to come, I promise!
• For those of you who have asked, I am not quite back at my pre-pregnancy weight. I still have about 10 pounds to go, and I DON'T CARE. Like I've heard many women say before, your body is just shaped differently after pregnancy. Mark my words, if I can never fit into those cute jeans again and HAVE to go shopping for an entirely new wardrobe, Jameston is totally worth ever extra pound I hold on to:)
• Oh, and alarm clocks are a thing of the past. So, time and schedules would fall into this category, too. We learned real quickly that Jameston set our schedule and called the shots in the beginning on what would get done that day. I would say that just recently, right before I started back to work, he began getting into somewhat of a routine (what impeccable timing he has, huh?). So, we have more recently been able to go places and plan for things without having that looming question of, "Is he going to get hungry or sleepy or fussy while we are there?" So nice...but I've been told that just when you think you've got your child figured out, they go and change it up on you. So this "routine" we are in may be short-lived!
• Books on child-rearing (and sleep schedules and breastfeeding and so on) are helpful, but they should not be taken as law. Don't get me wrong, I love getting advice (keep it coming!) and talking with fellow mommies and friends/family who have little ones, but I'm not going to beat myself up for things that may be viewed as against the grain. I think as new parents you just need to trust your instincts, not get lost in the literature, and enjoy every minute of it!
• Most importantly (and definitely most sappy), I have discovered an inner strength in my soul and love in my heart that I never knew I had room for. And I think I can speak for Brett on that one, too, although he might consider that a not so macho thing to say :) But it's the truth!
  The joys (and surprises!) of parenting seem to be never-ending, all the while keeping us on our toes, so I'm sure this will be an ongoing post. Please stay tuned...