Happy New Year!

It is so hard to believe that 2008 is hours away from being over. This past year has been exciting mostly because we started it off with a 4 month old. Becoming a mommy has been such a blessing and I thank God everyday that he has chosen me to be one. Another exciting event was Charlie getting a new job. That was an answered prayer for sure. Being able to have him home in the evenings and on the weekends has been so wonderful. This year has been a huge challenge and filled with struggles for a lot of people. Although, I have been affected a little, I am so thankful to be where I am at right now and I am truly blessed with everything I do have. I just continue to pray that it does turn around and we can all pull through whatever issues each one of us has going on.

So this is the time that we all decide what our resolutions are going to be and if you are like me, I never keep them. I have decided to call them goals for 2009. My list probably could go on and on but just to name a few of my goals are 1) spend less and save more, 2) exercise and eat healthier and most importantly, 3) to continue developing a closer relationship with God.

I am looking forward to what God has in stored for me in 2009 and I know that with him, he will lead me through any obstacle that comes my way. I remember when I was young and in church the pastor would say "GOD IS GOOD" and the congregation would say "ALL THE TIME". And that is the truth.

To everyone, I pray that you have a safe and wonderful Happy New Year! See ya next year.

Doctor Lookadoo says...

22 lbs, 3 oz and 32 3/4 inches
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Mr. Cohen is growing just right. He has been above average in his percentile but has now started to slow down some. Yesterday, we went to the doctor for what should have been his 15 month check up. Cohen seemed to handle it better than the last visit. He was a little impatient in the room and just didn't seem to understand why I wouldn't open the door to leave. I had to entertain him after the nurse measured and weighed as we waited on the Doctor to arrive. We played with toys, sang, read a book about 10 times, searched for items in the picture on the wall(which he pointed out several items after showing him the first time, a mommy was proud) and even did a little dance around the room. The doctor shows up and like the last time, Cohen did not like be messed with. Cried out a few times. Then of course, we still had to deal with the shots. And cried out some more and if you a are mommy, you really hate seeing that. The sweet nurse brought him two little toys as a peace offering. Overall the visit went well and my little boy is growing just fine.

Sweet Kayla turns 1

On December 27th, my cousin Derrik and his wife Michelle's little girl turned the Big One! Friends and Family gathered at their home to celebrate. We enjoyed watching her open her gifts, eat her cake and run around with all the other little ones. Thanks Derrik and Michelle for including us on this special day for your little girl.

Looks like she liked that gift!

Making Music!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Appears the cake was good!

Loves his Grandma!

Christmas is coming to an end

It happens. Every year. The anticipation of this big day and just like that it is over. And it seems as I keep getting older, this time just goes by even faster than the one before. But having said that, it is still exciting and such a wonderful time. And now, having my own family, it is fun making new memories.

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We traveled all of 10 minutes over to my in-loves to celebrate with GG's side of the family, the Alexanders from Charlotte and the Alexanders from Columbia (with the exception of Julie living in Greenville). This year, we were missing some of the family as they were celebrating with their other loved ones. That being Craig, Tricia and Hamilton Howard and Monty, Lindsay and Charlie Alexander. We truly missed you guys and look forward to spending next Christmas with you.

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Instead of the traditional Christmas dinner, GG fixes lasagna, salad and garlic toast, along with lots of sweet goodies. And it is yummy. We all sat around and chatted, played some Guitar Hero and then all the kiddos opened their gifts. Thank you all for the wonderful gifts for Cohen.

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So Christmas has ended and now we have to get back to the real world. Take down the tree and put away all the decorations, find places for all the toys Cohen received and now we can look forward to a new year. I pray that everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their families and God continues to bless you.

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I leave you with some pictures from our Gibson/Alexander Christmas!

Thanks Tricia, Craig and Hamilton for the gift!

Santa came....

So maybe I could have gotten away with just boxes for Cohen this year but it was really hard resisting from purchasing anything and everything for him. What can I say, Cohen was a good boy this year! Battling a cold this week, Cohen wasn't the happiest kid on Christmas morning. We managed to get upstairs and once he saw the toys, things started to change a little. He went straight to the bouncing pony and it didn't take him long to figure out what it did. Something that I am sure he will enjoy, it hooks up to the TV and has three different learning stages. For right now, he can bounce and different things such as animals pop up on the screen while playing music.

Shortly after, GG and Pops stopped by to see what all Cohen had received. He really got excited to show the toys off.

We would finish the morning off with some juice and yummy ham biscuits prepared by GG. After resting a while, we got ready to head over to GG's house for Christmas time with the Alexanders....

My Santa was good....

.... to me this year. I had mentioned back in October that I had received my Christmas present this year, the rug, but was sure that my sweet hubby would have a gift under the tree for me to unwrap. Well, that sweet hubby had a few gifts for me. I guess the rug was forgotten come shopping time in December. After a late evening over at the Gibsons and putting Cohen to bed, mommy and daddy decided to go ahead and open their gifts. To my surprise, my Santa got me a Nintendo DSS, along with some great games. Super Mario, Arcade games and Brain Age (which I really needed, lol). I was really excited but my Santa was really smart because I think he is going to enjoy it as much as I will. I also received some well needed socks, a perfect pair of pajamas and scarf set. Charlie's Santa was good to him too. He received Guitar Hero - World Tour game (which I enjoy playing as well), steering wheel for the PS3 and the one thing he really wanted, a golf bag.

It's a Gibson Christmas

Christmas Eve night, we headed over to my in-loves to celebrate. I was excited because at 8 o'clock, A Christmas Story marathon would begin. Every year, we put it on that channel and watch bits and pieces through out the evening. Charlie and I continue watching it when we get home. Just love that classic. After croissant sandwiches and finger foods (the chicken lettuce wraps courtesy of my brother-in-love, Chef Clint, were terrific), we exchanged gifts. Cohen did participate in the unwrapping; however, he seemed to only pull a little piece at a time so it took a little while to get to the gift. He had fun trying to help everyone open their gifts too. Like always, it is such a joy to hang out with the Gibson family and we are so blessed to have each one of them in our lives.

Cohen admiring his Uncle Clint.

How exciting? Elmo!!

Checking him out. Too Cute.

Oh boy, what is this?

Helping GG .

Looks like Daddy is going to play golf!

Aunt Kimberly and Uncle Clint loving the dinnerware.

Pretty P.B. Christmas bowls from GG & Pops

Pops checking out his gift card from Uncle Clark