Christmas at the Brewers

Our first leg of Christmas was at Brent's parent's house... we had lots to celebrate this Christmas with his family:
Luke's First Road trip!

Making Sugar Cookies for Santa (well, more for Brent... Jamie took 1/3 of the batch to her boyfriend WHO DOESN'T EVEN LIKE SWEETS, so Debbie made Brent another double batch to ice):

Brent making stripes on the trees:

Brent and I had a date night to see Handel's Messiah at the Houston Symphony-- it was beautiful... it chronicles the life of Christ from birth to death using scripture from old and new testaments- a choir and soloists accompanied the symphony- it was a very moving performance.

Granddaddy and Grandma babysat for us:

Brothers and their puppies:

A visit to Houston would not be complete without a trip to LUPE TORTILLAS! We also got to meet Jamie's boyfriend, Chad. Dinner was followed by the largest card game of Hand and Foot ever played! 10 people total. Somehow, Debbie and I ended up sitting next to Chad, so we got to ask all of our questions :) We really like him and love the way Jamie lights up around him.

Christmas Eve Service:

Chris and Christy right before HE PROPOSED!!! Our family is enlarging and we are thrilled he has found such a sweet, tenderhearted lady to share his life with. She fits in this family perfectly!

After proposal... the look of love!

Granddaddy reading Luke his first Christmas story on Christmas Eve:

Jamie closing the night out with a traditional reading from "Twas the Night Before Christmas":

Christmas at our House

It seems like Christmas came so fast this year... we have been enjoying the season and the decorations... here is what our house looked like this year:

Luke Meets Santa Claus

Week 7

Lots of fun this week:
- Luke has discovered the mobile that hangs over his bed and loves to watch it go round and round
- He has started watching the lights and movement in his rain forest bouncer (before now, he would just go to sleep)
- I was feeding him with a towel rapped around my wet hair and he thought it was so funny looking-- he kept looking up at the towel with the cutest grin on his face... I would love to know what he was thinking
- Luke recognises his voice- he will let out a loud (and happy) "ahhhh" on his play mat

Dare I admit this?

Our nightly routiene is down to a science... Luke wakes up to eat around 12:30 am and I usually feed him and go right back to bed, loosing as little sleep as possible. Last night, however, I woke up extreamly hungry, so headed sleepily toward the kitchen... as I scarffed down half of a muffin (leaning over the kitchen sink so I wouldn't leave crumbs), I thought "This must be what it feels like to be a binge eater!" Not satisfied with my half muffin, I went back to the refrigerator for something else... fruit in a cup! That worked... so back to the sink I went to polish off the fruit-- all of this taking about 1 minute, tops. Back to bed I went laughing to myself with a satisfied belly!

How do I love thee...

Let me count the ways!

1. I got out of the shower and heard Brent reading to Luke in the living room... this is what I saw when I rounded the corner:

This book "Guess How Much I Love You" has so much meaning to us because when we were in the hospital, a nurse gave it to us in a diaper bag and Brent would take it with us to the nursery to read to Luke at our feedings every three hours when Luke was having light therapy. I would nurse Luke with tears in my eyes as Brent would read to our sweet boy. It was the only way at the time we knew how to comfort our baby when we could hold him for those precious 30 minutes that he was not under lights.

2. When Brent gets home from work every night, he gives me a kiss and goes strait for Luke. They exchange smiles and lovies and it is so fun to watch:

3. Even though Luke has been our biggest priority, Brent still makes Allie feel loved:

Out and About

When Sarah and I were both pregnant, we looked forward to my maternity leave and said we would have SO MUCH time to hang out and run around with our babies... well, that didn't really happen with the holidays upon us, trying to keep her 3 year old on a normal schedule, me learning how to be a mom (and get a shower before noon!)... needless to say, the play dates just haven't happened. Well, we finally had one and it was a hoot. The boys sat in their swings and gruntted at each other pretty much the whole time that they weren't napping.

Weeks 5 & 6

Here are the ways Luke is changing this week:
- He is smiling! We don't think these are fluke smiles anymore-- he smiles when we blow on his belly, when you talk in a high voice (Leah Hunt found this out :), after he is fed and full (this indicates that in about 2 minutes later, we can put him in bed and he is out).
- He is growing! We moved from the infant sling in his bathtub to the tub tub-- he sits in water now and really likes bath time; we took the infant padding out of his car seat (tear), his arms are long like daddy's and don't fit some of his newborn clothes anymore.
- He is vocal! The coo's have begun and they are so sweet. We can also distinguish his cry's (I had always heard this and never understood "different" cries). The 'feed me' cry is pouty with an occasional "Uh-huh" in there, the 'I am wet' is an all out wail, and the 'hold me' cry is a whimper. We don't have many other cries... he is a really good baby.
- We had our first 6 hour sleeping stretch last night- I think is was a fluke, we will see tonight, but it was GLORIOUS!

Pictures from this week:

Proud Parents:

B35 Sunday School babies (our Treat twins were not there, so pretend there are 2 more in the line-up :):

Granna spends the night:

Meeting Great Aunts and Honey visits:

Meeting Cousin, Lindsay:

I think we have "Crossed Over"

Somewhere, there is a line delineating fancy free "young adult" and "adult". I think we have found that line and possibly crossed it... what do you think?!!!

-- When Connor, the 16 year old popcorn guy, at the movie theater saw Brent's Death Cab for Cutie t-shirt and asked if we were going to their upcoming concert to which he said, "No, but we went a few months ago". Connor asked if we liked it and I started telling him that I was pregnant when we went and I just wanted to sit at the concert but all of the teenagers were standing up in front of us-- I think I crossed us over on that one :)

-- When our daily conversations discuss poopy diapers in some form or fashion

-- When we get IN from a date by 8:30

-- When mom tells us to go back out for coffee and I decline (Again all me on that cross over)

-- When we go to a department store and look for "our section" and don't know what "our section" is anymore

-- When I put off my pedicures but insist on Luke's manicures (this is mainly so he doesn't claw his eyes out though...)

-- When I don't get carded for buying NyQuil at Walmart... seriously?!!!

-- When we trade in Allie for Luke, poor thing:

Happy Thanksgiving!

We went over to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving... I think this year was the best food yet! Lindsay and Dean fried the turkey-- Paula Dean would be so proud! And all of the sides were yummy twists to old favorites- from the chipotle sweet potatoes to the roasted rosemary corn- we were stuffed!
Happy Host and Hostess:

Proud Parents:

Great Grandmother:

Cousins:

Granna and Pops:

Allie gets turkey too!

Our Shantung Maple tree made it's debut too- it will be completely red in a few more days!

Packing it on!

Our little Luke is getting bigger! Our trip to his pediatrician told us he is 7 pounds 11 ounces-- up from last week's 6 pounds 15 ounces! He really wants to eat from 5:00 at night to bedtime-- Last night, Brent asked me if I feed Luke during the day in the middle of one of Luke's feeding frenzies... you wouldn't think so!

1 Month

Luke is 1 month old this week, which just happens to be Thanksgiving-- we enter this week with full hearts, giving thanks for our little one!

Luke, you entered our lives at the proper time. You have changed our lives in such a wonderful way and we look forward to all that is to come. You are teaching me so much~

1. Patience- you are making me slow down and enjoy the little moments I usually fly through or take for granted- like visiting Daddy at work to take him out to lunch or welcoming when the seasons change from summer to fall to winter. At 2 am after an hour and a half of feeding you, you are teaching me to stay calm and be your mom first-- you challenge me to give you my best, no matter the hour or circumstance. It is my hope that you never get left overs from my day and that you always feel loved and safe in your home.
2. Listening- you are showing me how to really listen when someone talks. Your eyes show me you are focusing on whatever silly thing I am telling you as if you are hanging on every word, no matter how insignificant. You are teaching me to listen more closely to what people say to not miss a lesson or opportunity.
3. Unconditional love- Since you arrived, this instant, indescribable love for you has been our biggest joy! I hope you know we will always be your biggest fans- dreaming big with you, praying hard for you, and providing all we can for you. You remind us that God is doing the same for us, His children, to promote us, teach us, lead us, humble us, challenge us. We hope to imitate His love with you too, Luke.
4. Dependence- Your dependence on us to meet your every need is intense. It is a rewarding feeling to fill up your bottomless pit stomach before bedtime, rock you to sleep, watch you relax during bath time, and bundle you up for a cold night's sleep. We don't take your dependence on us lightly and know you need us to work with all our hearts at our jobs to provide for your needs now and in the future when your needs change as you grow. You encourage me to look at each new day as a new opportunity.

~We know this is just the beginning to many great lessons we will learn and many fun times ahead for our family. We thank God for you and pray his continued blessings over you and our family.

Pictures from this week:
Luke's first play date with Drew Carpenter, his elder by 5 days:

Proud Papas:

All the kiddos:

Getting crazy!

Luke's first tummy time:

(lasted about 1 minute!)

Sweet boy- waking up stretches:

Meeting Daddy at the office and taking him to lunch:

Luke's Visitors - Ginny and Kalli (due Christmas Day!). Tiffany and Sarah S., we forgot to snap a picture when you were here... next time :)