Small Things. Great Love.: 2011...A time of change!

I'd like to claim we're all rested up and ready to hit the new year running, but we're actually pretty exhausted from the past few weeks!!

We started our holidays on December 17th with a drive to Dallas. Matthew got off work early so we could get to Dallas in time to celebrate Shannon's birthday with dinner at Hibiscus. We arrived in time for dinner and had a great time celebrating with Shannon, Kevin, Nelson, & Brenda. Then we headed back to Shannon & Kevin's house for the weekend. We had a great time shopping and looking at the Christmas lights in Highland Park! We celebrated Shannon's birthday again on Saturday evening when Kevin made a delicious chocolate cake with Shannon's new mixer. Saturday night, we had "Christmas with the Powells" and opened presents with them. Matthew also enjoyed helping his dad and Kevin set up the train set around the Christmas tree (a Powell family tradition). On Sunday, we headed to the Gaylord Texan to enjoy their Christmas decorations and to spend time with Brenda's daughter & grandsons. I must say...Christmas is beautiful in Dallas!!

On Monday, we packed up again and headed to Athens. While we were on our way, we learned that my cousin's flight from Belgium had been cancelled and rescheduled because of the snow in London. We were disappointed, but hopeful because they were planning to leave on Tuesday and still make it to Athens to spend Christmas day with us.

When we got to Athens, we met Madeline, Darryl, & Caleb. We enjoyed relaxing and just being together! Dad, Matthew, & Darryl went to play golf on Tuesday morning (in shorts!!!), while the gals did a little shopping. Our Grandma Joan also joined us in Athens on Wednesday to spend time with her grandchildren & great-grandchildren...I love my Grandma!! Matthew also was able to go to his favorite antique store ever in Frankston, TX called "Pandora's Box". We spent a couple of hours sifting through old cast iron beds, cast iron tubs, salvaged doors, and train carts...Matthew was in heaven!! We also made our traditional family trip to "The Land of Lights" in Athens...it's always a crowd pleaser and Caleb had a blast!! We also took Caleb to see Santa...which you will see below did not go so well!! :-)

Christmas Eve, we went to Mass and came home to welcome my Uncle Scott & Aunt Suzy to spend Christmas with us. We woke up on Christmas morning and did stockings and presents with Caleb...He was in such a good mood and he LOVED the tissue paper!! Our little Liam gave his cousin Caleb a truck for Christmas. Matthew was so generous to me and gave me lots of stuff for the kitchen and some night clothes to wear in the hospital with Liam. Then we worked to get Christmas dinner ready...It turned out to be a yummy meal of crawfish enchiladas, turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, broccoli, and pie...DELICIOUS!!

Unfortunately, we did get to see my cousin, Julie, and her family on Christmas day because her flight was delayed AGAIN because the snow still had not melted. She wasn't due in until 2pm on Christmas day in Houston. We were so disappointed, but it ended up being OK because they all came from Houston on Sunday for us to have lunch with them before we all had to head for home. It was SO great to see Julie, her boyfriend, Val, my Uncle Tom & Aunt Maria, and my cousin Carl!! Our time was short, but we really had a wonderful time seeing them.

Matthew and I also got a crash course in what it's going to be like to be parents with my precious nephew Caleb!! We loved spending mornings with him while Madeline & Darryl slept in...Matthew even changed his first diaper!! Caleb is such an funny kid who really has a personality now at 10 months old. I had a blast feeding him, playing with him, and just interacting with him. Matthew and I are both excited to have our own little baby boy to play with soon!!

We came home Sunday night, unpacked, and Matthew went back to work Monday morning. On Tuesday night, my mom, dad, & sister came to stay with us so that my dad and Matthew could go to the Oklahoma State bowl game here in San Antonio. On Wednesday I took Mom, Dad, & Becca down to the Central Market so Becca could get some sushi supplies and we did a little shopping. Then we met my dad's friend downtown at The Cove for dinner before the guys headed down to the Alamodome for the game. My family headed back home early Thursday morning.

Matthew had off from work on Friday so we had three blissful days together! We didn't do alot because I wasn't feeling well, but it was wonderful after all the craziness just to sit at home and watch movies and spend time together. We had a quiet New Year's celebration with sparkling apple juice toasts at midnight...and then straight to bed!!

On the baby front, we are hitting 30 weeks this week and we're starting our childbirth classes tonight. I saw my doctor right after Christmas and she said that she wouldn't change a thing! So things seem to be right on track...only 10 weeks to go!! I had to gestational diabetes test at the doctor's appointment last week. I found out the results today and I was also very worried about barfing up the yucky sugar stuff...however, everything turned out just fine! I've been fighting off a cold since just before Christmas and I think I'm finally turning the corner. I've also been having some aches and pains...I tell Matthew that I'm turning into an old woman before my time!! Otherwise, things are going great!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas & a Happy New Year!! Enjoy the pictures!!

Love,
Courtney