Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Around the house


Fun with the new camera...










Motherhood is glamorous

It is tiring being a working mom--this is proof that I can fall asleep just about anywhere! Ah, the joys of the breast pump...

This is something I never imagined myself doing... and I do it all the time!

Rockford Christmas

The Sunday after Christmas, we headed up to Rockford for the extended Fowle family Christmas celebration at Tom and Clem's house. Everyone contributed a dish for a yummy afternoon meal, and then we all opened presents from Grandma Fowle. With four little ones, it was a much more rowdy present opening extravaganza than in past years--next year will be really crazy when Nathan and Avery will be joining Alex and Kaden in running around!

Kaden and Alex were the present distributors, with a little help from Mike.

This box was originally intended to hold discarded wrapping paper. Instead, Nathan spent a good portion of the afternoon playing in it! :)


Andy and Christyna

Great photo of little Kaden--what a sweetie he is!

Grandma opening presents

Nathan helping Grandma Nancy


Alex was pretty disappointed when Grandma got a picture frame instead of a cool toy. :)

We decided it would be fun to get a photo of all the little kids--they did not agree! Below are the best photos of the bunch!




Merry Christmas from the Fowles!!!

Beautiful ring

For Christmas, my amazingly talented sister-in-law Joanna made me a stunningly beautiful ring. Not only do I love the setting and the hammered band, but the stone is blue topaz, Nathan's birth stone! Perfection!! Check out Joanna's website for her business, Ach Ach Liebling.



Ear infection and deeply rooted memories

So we have arrived at the milestone of Nathan's first ear infection. Yesterday N and I drove to Chelsea for a delightful lunch at The Common Grill with Gillian. It was really great to catch up with her, and she was very tolerant of my very busy lunch companion (there was much gathering of napkins, toys, pieces of bread, etc from the floor). One of the things I love about my friendship with G is that even when we don't see each other often, we fall right into easy conversation--the mark of a true friend!

On the way home from lunch, Nathan took a nice nap in the car. While he was sleeping I noticed that his cheeks looked really flushed, and when we got home and I took him out of his carseat and realized that he was definitely feverish. The thermometer confirmed with a reading of 101.4. After a phone consultation with Nancy and the pediatrician's office, we went in for an appointment. Sure enough, Nathan has an infection in his right ear, and his temp had gone up to 102.6. I'm so glad we took him in!

When we got home and I opened up his amoxicillin to give to him, I was instantly flooded with memories from childhood! One glance at the color and whiff of the scent, and I could tell you exactly how that medicine tastes! It's so funny how stuff like that is lodged deep in the memory banks--I had no conscious recollection of taking amoxicillin until I saw and smelled it!

I'm happy to report that N is feeling much better today. He's on nap number two, and his fever has come down greatly. I am thankful for modern medicine!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Day at the Fowle House

Around lunchtime we headed over to Dan and Nancy's for Christmas celebration number three (life is good!). We spent a few hours relaxing and hanging out, while Stu and Erin were braving the holiday roads on their way from Erin's family's home outside of Detroit. When the newlyweds arrived we opened presents and then had a big feast for dinner. All in all it was a very relaxing day, full of family and food and fun.

Grandpa and Nathan

I love this picture of Nancy

Uncle Jordan, Nathan and the Christmas tree

Nathan and Uncle Jord had a lot of fun together the whole time Jordan was home for Christmas. Nathan's going to be bummed when Jord heads back to Colorado.




Zeke opening his Christmas present--a new ball!

Proof that I was there. :)

Millie and Jordan

Stu

Nathan showing Aunt Erin the Dr. Seuss book she got him for his birthday.

Mmmm... some fancy ice wine that Dan and Nancy got up in Leelanau to celebrate the holiday.

Enjoying a glass of wine.

Nathan unwrapping the new hot rod from Uncle Stuart and Aunt Erin.

He loved making the horn beep!


Nathan talking on Jordan's iPhone.

Christmas Morning at Home

We had a lovely and lowkey Christmas morning at home, just the three of us. After breakfast we headed for the tree, and opened up the presents from Santa. :)

Being forced to pose with Mommy for a Christmas morning picture.

Deuce examining his gift from Santa--a new chicken-flavored Nylabone!

Nathan knew immediately how to use the vacuum cleaner (he certainly did not inherit that trait from me!)

Todd opening his gift.

Sweet boy in Christmas pajamas under the tree.

My new cargo net! Now my groceries won't go sliding all over the back of the wagon!

Opening the gift from Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Lewis--meeting Corduroy the bear.

Giving Corduroy a big hug!

Being forced to pose with Daddy for a Christmas morning picture--N was done with the picture taking getting in the way of all his playing!