Its Been Awhile!

whoops...well here is a brief update:

stinker's buddy benner turned 1

stinker went from 'army crawling' to actual crawling after getting a chiropractic adjustment - man is he cruising! he loves pulling himself up on our furniture and using our fingers to walk around the apartment. he has taken a special interest in our kitchen garbage can - he walks right over to it and lifts his foot to stomp on the lid lifter thing.

we have been spending time with 'uncle bob' a lot lately LOVE him :)

stinker has 2 teeth on (center bottom) and used them to attempt to eat his crib

what else, what else....

i guess that's all i can think of for now!

shadow puppets and toe crawling

this past week stinker discovered his shadow! it was so fun to watch him wave his hand wildly to watch his shadow wave back :)

he also has been gripping the carpet with his fingers and putting his butt up in the air and inching forward on his toes - we have tried to show him how to use his knees but that just doesnt seem to be his style. and of course he still jumps in his jumper but sometimes he tires himself out....

Happy New Year

I look forward to many things this upcoming year......

....Stinker turning 1!.......getting more involved at our church and giving monthly for the first time to the FAITH PROMISE campaign....Speedy being trained in for a promotion....flying home for Christmas and reconnecting with old friends and family....trying not to drink pop and drinking more water....another year living by the beach....becoming more patient....growing in grace and the knowledge of GOD....investing in deepening our friendships out here...

Stinker's Baptism

On Sunday December 26th, Stinker received the sacrament of baptism in front of our spiritual/church family and our physical family. It was a beautiful day! Stinker was loving being in front of everyone and soaked up Pastor David's attention. He was giggling and babbling away to the delight of Speedy and I. I even received a phone call from one of the elders and a couple offhanded comments from other members who said it was the 'best baptism of 2010' hahaha.

Truly ALL baptisms are the best and special in their own way. Each one I have witnessed always taps a spiritual soft spot in my heart that results in making me tear up.

McKenzie Christmas

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with the McKenzie side of the family by driving around looking at lights, decorating gingerbread cookies, playing games, watching movies, and going for walks.

Ever since I can remember we have always had these Christmas traditions:

> We each get to open ONE present before attending Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

> Go to church

> Eat hors d'oeuvres while opening the rest of the presents

> Wake up Christmas morning to open our stockings

> Go see a movie in the movie theater - Stinker slept in my arms through the WHOLE thing!

> Share a Christmas meal

On Christmas Eve Stinker tried solid food, on the menu....organic avocado! Jury is out about just how much he has actually swallowed but he seems to like it.

We just said "adios" to my parents this morning but Stinker is scheduled for some 'Auntie Snack' time for the next few afternoons this week :)

Merry Christmas Friends!

Gallagher Christmas

(Got my par-tay clothes on!)

Last night we celebrated Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Gallagher and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Jefts. They came over for Christmas cookies and Holiday drinks. I made Gingerbread Bars (Great Grandma's favorite), and Grandma Gallagher made a variety of Christmas cookies. We had Peppermint Hot Coco, Pear Cinnamon Cider (Great Grandpa's new favorite!), decaf coffee, and Vanilla Cinnamon hot tea to choose from.

Stinker is really into sucking on tags of blankets, toys, whatever has a tag! Each gift he opened he went right for the tags :) A couple evenings a week Speedy and I sit outside to roast marshmallows on our grill and make smores...we can't wait to use our gift.

We opened gifts and chatted over the drinks and dessert while listening to Christmas music, it was a cozy evening!

First All-Nighter With a Sick Baby

I has experienced a motherhood rite of passage, being woken up multiple times throughout the night by my sick baby. During the day he was sneezing, eyes watering, coughing, the works. But at night his poor little nose was all stuffed up so when he went to suck on his pacifier he couldn't breath well so he would wake up and cry :(

I woke up so many times last night at one point I was certain it was 5:30am and thinking that I should just go pump his bottle for the next day (while I was up so that I could go back to sleep and not try to wake up just before him) but when I checked a clock it was only 12:30am!

I have to admit I kinda liked taking care of and being woke up all night...it just reminded me how helpless he still is and that made me think of the sermon we just heard the Sunday before about how you can only truly love someone when you know and have experienced the love of Christ. So yes, Stinker it is a pleasure to love you more than I love sleep because in a small way, it is a reflection of the love I have experienced through my heavenly father.