2009 - In Review

2009 is almost over! Only 2 days left!! I, for one, am pretty happy that 2009 is saying goodbye. I am ready for a new chapter to begin with 2010!!

You know me, I love a good theme...and I like a good list. So I am going to give you my top five themes of 2009!!!

1. Sickness - OMG!!! Let's start with the bad!! 2009 was our year for everyone being down and dirty sick. Starting with Rocco's RSV to Bryan's multiple staph infections to Jillian's multiple ear infections and bladder infections to my staph encounter, this just wasn't the healthiest year for us!! 2010 is going to be different, I just know it!

2. Change - We went from a family of three to a family of four!! Rocco Harrison started out the year with a bang and hasn't slowed down. Now that he is walking, he is in to everything!! It has been quite an adjustment for me and Miss Jillian to share the attention. I thought there were times that Jillian was going to lose her mind at the thought of sharing her Mommy with this new creature but we somehow got through it. And they say, what does not kill us makes us stronger!! Right??? With Rocco's new mobility, the two of them are playing more and more together and it makes me smile. Well, maybe not "play together" but Rocco is more able to do what Jillian instructs him to do!!

January 17, 2009

December 24, 2009



Bryan started the year as a FedEx man and ended it as an HEB man. I am very happy with the change but Bryan is still adjusting. His hours are so much more family friendly which is the most important thing to me. Plus, can you beat the discount we are now getting on our groceries??

With the whole two kids situation and a full-time job, my hair went bye-bye in 2009. Really, I do not see a reappearance in store for 2010. I love it short and I think the style is here to stay. I have too much, waaaaaay too much going on, for me to worry with my hair.

3. Diapers - 2009 brought a whole new meaning to this word. For 6 months, we were diapering two children and it was really hard!! How do moms of multiples do it?? Every time I would change Rocco, I would turn around and have to change Jillian and vice versa. There were baby accidents and there were toddler accidents. At times, I felt surrounded by poop and pee. Every trip to the store included a purchase of diapers.





4. Twilight/Glee - Is this really a theme?? Hey, this is my list! If you haven't checked these out, then you are missing out. I am a tv watcher and a music listener. I used to be a reader. BUT for quite some time, I have been checked out. Nothing interested me!! NOTHING!! But in 2009, I was inspired to read ALL 4 books of the Twilight series and loved all of them!! I also started watching the TV show (on Fox) Glee. I LOVE IT!! It is so fun, smart, sassy, quirky, sweet, etc. I can't wait for Wed. nights. Also, the soundtrack (vol 1 and vol 2) are totally awesome!!! I get up in the morning and I want to listen to the music to get my blood pumping for the day!




5. Family - This year, Mom retired from school and Dad retired from full-time daycare service. Jillian and Roc now go to school M,W,F and get Grammie and Poppy time on T and Th. Everybody seems pretty happy with this setup.



Finally, the year is ending and the new year is beginning with a bang!!! My sister and Bryan's brother are getting hitched on Saturday. What a fun way to start the year! (Pictures will follow of the prettiest matron of honor, hottest (newly slim) groomsman, sweetest flower girl and most adorable baby boy in a tux that you have EVER seen!!)



Happy 2010!!! I'll catch ya'll in the new year!!

Christmas Morning

We had my family over Christmas morning to help us celebrate. Jillian got up at 6:30 but we had told everyone to come over at 7:30, so she patiently (well, not so patiently) waited an hour to see if Santa had come.

This is what she saw!!!

And the stockings!!

She was so excited!! She jumped right in and opened the books that Santa had left....one book for each letter of her name and for Rocco too!!

Some help from Aunt Mashure!

Santa gave Jillian and Rocco tricycles. Both of them LOVE the trikes!!!

The grown-ups got presents too!!

Christmas morning was so much fun!! It was the first time we hosted everyone to our house for Christmas and it turned out great!!

Christmas Eve

Daddy got off early from work on Christmas Eve, so we met Bryan's family at church. Then after church, we went over to Bryan's parents' house, ate dinner and then opened presents!!!

The fam looking GOOD!! (People keep commenting about Bryan's weight.....Yes, since working for HEB, Bryan has lost 25 lbs. He is looking fantastic!!)

Jillian got dress up clothes from Aunt Lisa and Uncle Matt.

She got a shopping cart from Grandma and Papa Cheese. You can see who really liked that present!!!

Katie helped Rocco open up some presents!!

and Ashlie helped him too!!


We rushed home so that the kids could go to sleep before Santa got to our house!!

Getting Ready for Christmas

We have been sooo busy around here!!

Earlier this week, we took the fam down to the river and celebrated Christmas with a little Mexican food!! The lights are so beautiful and the food was delicious!!

Yesterday, Jillian made some fantastic sugar cookies with Grammie! She just loves baking and cooking. However, Jillian was not her usual happy self. She has been quite cranky and whiny.

Off to the Dr. we went for what I thought was another UTI infection.....we discovered that while she does have a UTI, she ALSO has double ear infections. I am officially done with 2009. We have celebrated every major holiday with an illness.

She is on antibiotics now and feeling better but really, bring on 2010!!!!

I hope everybody has a wonderful Christmas!!! Jillian is so excited that Santa is coming tonight!!! She can't stop talking about it!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Jillian's Christmas Past

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Ta-Da!! Christmas 2009

11 months - the pics

Finally got the 11 months old pics done! Gotta love a boy in argyle!! The Christmas tree did not survive the photo shoot but that is a small price to pay for those big smiles!!!

11 months

Oh where, oh where is the time going? One more month and Rocco will be 1? Why did God make the baby-ness of a child so short?

Rocco continues to be the sweetest thing. He always has a smile. He gives the best slobbery kisses with his mouth wide open. He really never cries or fusses unless he is sick or it is past his 7:00 bedtime.

He is eating us out of the house. He is really growing out of the jarred baby food and wants to eat what we are eating. He loves green beans (like Miss J), peas, apples (he and J can eat a whole one in one sitting), chicken, carrots, potatoes, pancakes, yogurt (all kinds), noodles, and on and on. BUT even with all of this eating, he has really slimmed down. No longer the chunky monkey, all of his moving around has made him a lean machine.

Right now, he takes about 5 or 6 steps at a time. If it is farther than that, then he reverts to crawling.

I have been watching for more teeth in the predictable places. Silly Mommy!! I was not looking for two molars to pop through but would explain the massive amount of drool coming out of his mouth. Now he is up to 9 teeth – 6 on top and 3 on bottom.

Finally, his sounds have exploded. He is babbling all of the time. He still says Dada but now makes an –il sound for Jillian, the di- sound for diapers. He can also very clearly say “apple.” I know I don’t speak baby but I feel he says “Ba-Ba” instead of Mama. Where is the m sound? We haven’t heard it yet.

Yesterday, we took him to the Dr. because he was wheezing and coughing, but the Dr. diagnosed him with a double ear infection so he is not feeling great this week.

I have not taken his picture yet but I will leave you with his favorite activity.

That’s right, folks. He likes to organize our refrigerator. I’m glad somebody does!!