It's a Wonderful Life

Well, it's the week of Christmas, my first Christmas as a Mommy. It is amazing how you think and see things differently after becoming a mom. You realize family and friends (friends can sometimes be more like family than ever!) are the MOST important thing. I realized that anyone who loves my son, I will love them forever. I realized that petty things are a waste of my time and to enjoy every moment. I also realized how to be a good friend and that you yourself have to be happy to be happy in all relationships, whether romantic, friendships, or work. I feel like I have an internal happiness, which has made my relationships stronger. I look back over this year and although not everything was perfect, I think everything happens for a reason. I look at my family and friends and feel so blessed and happy. Now to savor every moment of the rest of 2009, my sons 1st year!

I really feel like I have enjoyed every moment of this holiday season with my family and friends. From dinners with my girlfriends, to family lunches, to baking cookies with Jack and my mom, to decorating and wrapping presents with my husband. 

I am, of course, also working hard planning Jack's birthday. Of all the parties and events I have done, this is by far the most important, and the most fun! 

I am looking forward to the rest of the two weeks. Two family Christmas, holiday parties and dinners with girlfriends, Jack's 1st birthday party, and NYE night with our best friends.

Visiting Daddy at the track

So December in Houston is warm for half the time. Perfect weather for Kenny to hit the track. Jack and I came out to see Daddy in action!

Jack and his Daddy

Jack THINKS he's ready!

Jack and I sporting the shades

Go Daddy!

My baby boy, getting so big!

Jack loved the track. He had so much fun playing and running in the grass! And he loved watching his dad on the track, especially when he watched him from up high on the deck. Sometimes I love the nice warm days in December (OK I LOVE the warm days!) Happy Holidays!

Work Hard, Play Hard

I had my Staff Christmas party the second week in December. It was a lot of fun. I feel so blessed to be at the school I am at and work with the people I work with. I really feel like fate brought me to this place. From before I even met anyone to today, I have felt that warm, family love. It really is a work experience I have never had before and I feel so lucky. I have made some really close, amazing friends and we sure do know how to have a good time! Work hard, Play hard!

Just some of the wonderful people I work with

My bestie teaching partner Lisa

Meeting Santa

Kenny and I were in charge of planning our neighborhood Christmas party. We were lucky enough to get Santa to come! Jack got to sit on Santa's lap for the 1st time.....and no crying!

I think he knew something was up though.....

Do you like the background? Kenny and I did it! I loved it!

Jack had a blast at the party!

I can feed myself!

Yesterday Jack fed himself with a spoon for the first time! I CAN NOT believe how big he is getting. He would feed himself, then hand me the spoon to put more food on. SO CUTE. I got a little on video.

Jack also drank from a straw last weekend. The first time he got too much water. Then he figured it out. Of course the boy in him came out and he figured out how to blow bubbles. Some times he drinks, some times he blows bubbles! Here is a picture from the day he learned how to drink from a straw:

This month Jack will be a year old. It really does seem like just yesterday! He has been walking for a month now and tries to run! He started making circles yesterday also. He wakes up every single morning happy and when we pick him up, he looks at us and says, "yea?". Like he is saying, "Wake up time?". SO FUNNY! Every morning!

Jack is still into books and can turn the pages. He will sit and let you read to him for a long time. He isn't into baths too much anymore so those are quick! He has started playing with trucks. EVERYTHING is a truck! He turned his walking toys into big trucks, pushing them around all day.

Jack also likes to show off his strength now. He picks up everything. His walking push toy? Picks it up from the sides. Hilarious. We started working on handing us objects and he is getting really good at it. When we get home from work and we take our shoes off he goes and gets one, brings it to us, goes and gets the next one, and hands that one to us. Pretty much anything that he knows he can't have comes to us now. Such a nice little picker upper! 

We are still making Jack's food, mostly because he has no teeth yet! One day!

Here is the video of my little angel! Kenny and I thank GOD every day for this beautiful little boy!

Jack's 1st Christmas Tree!!!!

The day after Thanksgiving it is a Freeman Family tradition that we pick out our Christmas Tree and decorate our home. We had the BEST day together!  Jack was such a big help and he even let Mommy sneak a kiss under the mistletoe!

Picking out his tree. He likes this one!

Checking out his first tree with Daddy

First official Family Christmas photo!

Jack hanging his first ornament!

Daddy ALWAYS puts to star on!

Jack loves kisses from Mommy!

Jack's 1st Thanksgiving

Jack had a fun 1st Thanksgiving. He was our little turkey (literally!).

My "Turkey" Meatballs!

Jack playing with his first leaf! OF COURSE I saved it!

Our little Turkey!

My beautiful Family!

Marry got married!

My best friend got married on November 20th. It was a beautiful wedding! As Matron-of-Honor I was busy all weekend, but loved every minute of it. Here are some highlights...

With the bride watching Matthew's band debut in Houston

Rehearsal- Bride and Bridesmaids

Spilled red wine on my dress right before practice!

The night before slumber party! Mary opening some "bride" gifts!

Morning of! We woke up bright and early!

Champagne toast to the bride!

Cutting the cake

The bridal party table

With my handsome husband!

Dinner with Lacey before she left. Mexican of course!

Gorgeous wedding, gorgeous couple! Glad I made it through the speech! Congrats GUSKIS! xxoo

Walkin' Machine!

We have been so busy lately! My best friend Mary gets married this weekend so I have been engulfing myself in my Matron-of-Honor duties. Jack took up walking, I am the Social Committee Chair for our neighborhood so Kenny and I have been planning our Christmas party, AND I have taken up Pilates (LOVE it!). 

Kenny has been taking more, and more projects at work and still on the bike!

Jack is a total walker now! The first video is the first time he walked, which was a week ago. The rest were taken tonight, second is Jack seeing his favorite PJs then Jack walking and playing with Daddy. I am so proud of my little man! Not even 11 months old yet...now if only he would get a tooth or two!

School Time

I love, love, love my teaching partner and new close friend! We have so much fun together. Here are some of the most recent school highlights!

Dressed as Sarah from Sarah, Plain and Tall. We surprised the kids when we read them the chapter where Sarah arrives from Maine. Thanks for the jumpers mom!

Thanks kiddos, I agree!

With meteorologist Anthony Yanez

Dressed for our field trip. We were totally matching and I PROMISE, we didn't plan it!

Little Hobby

Decorating my home is my MOST favorite thing to do. I want my family to feel the seasons when they walk in the door...must be something I got from my Mommy!

Formal Table-Halloween

Pumpkins out front

Front Door

Formal Table-Thanksgiving

Formal Table-Thanksgiving

Can not wait until Christmas Decorating time!

Family

I just spent the most wonderful weekend with my family and close friends. Kenny took me on an old-fashioned date (where the man asks the woman, dinner and a movie-that kind of thing) and it was wonderful. Last week was horrible, I am still unsure of what is going on with me health wise and I think I have been avoiding wanting to find out. What if it is something serious? Scary.
But after this week and this weekend I realized that I need to take care of myself for my family. I can't continue to take chances. And I realized that the people you can count on, are going to be people you can always count on. I realized that anyone who loves my son loves me and Kenny. And I realized how amazing my husband is.
I also saw first hand, how good friends ARE family and to me the word family means a lot.

I am really looking forward to the holiday season, to Jack having his first Thanksgiving and his first Christmas. And of course Jack's first birthday.

I hope everyone is feeling blessed and if not, look around and see how blessed you are! Sometimes we need that!
xoxo

Our Lobster!

It was Jack's first Halloween and we had a blast. We went over to my moms to join Jack's cousins, aunts, and uncles trick-or-treating. 

Here are some of his costume pictures we had taken

Jack getting dressed at home

Jack bored waiting for everyone to get moving!

Jack and Mommy ready to trick-or-treat

All the kiddos

Our Family....(By the way, last minute found the wings and halo. Threw it on and asked Kenny if I looked like an angel. His reply? "You look like a mom who threw together a last minute costume" Hey, BINGO! hahah)

It was such a fun evening with family. I am totally geared up and ready to start the holiday season! Much love to everyone! 

Kenny and Tamara

GO TEX!

Jack went to his first football game. Crazy I know, we live in Texas and have an Uncle who plays football, but hey, we have been a little busy! Jack loved playing with all the little kids and of course watching his Uncle Tex (Austin) play some football for homecoming weekend!

Future Homecoming King and Queen:

Go Uncle Tex!

Friday Night Lights

Jack and Mommy watching the game

Jack is by birth a HUGE Steelers fan. Before the game Sunday morning we shared some nice conversation on the back porch while Mommy and Daddy drank their coffee.

Jack is excited about the upcoming game

His "Oh Mommy, you're so silly" face

Contemplating who will win

I don't know if I have mentioned this but Jack is a HUGE Mickey Mouse fan. He got some new jammies and wanted to show them off!