The Spirit of Christmas

This made me cry. During this time of year, we often get so wrapped up in the commercial and material part of Christmas. Even though that's part of the fun, we tend to forget that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course it's fun to decorate and give and get presents and think about Santa. But Jesus is the reason for the season. "Wise men still seek him." We should be as the wise men, and always seek him. I hope that during this season, we can all remember Jesus and that he is the true meaning of Christmas, and may we always have the Spirit of Christmas.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Jaxson is Here!

Our little nephew has arrived!!! Jaxson Evan Thomas was born on December 8 at 12:38 AM. 8 lbs 6 oz and 19 3/4 inches long! Cameron and I are so excited and proud to be an aunt and uncle and thrilled that Ammon has and is a cousin! We are so happy for Brooke and Justin! Congratulations little Thomas Family, we love you!

Isn't he cute?!

Christmas Pictures!

The other day I got Ammon all dressed up so I could take some Christmas photos and choose one for our card this year. I have to say, my baby makes a pretty adorable Santa. This first picture is my absolute favorite, I can't get over how cute he is here!

Christmas card photo :)

He was pretty tired and fussy, but I managed to get some great pictures.

Smile!

Thomas Family Christmas Tree, 2010

We also had our first snow of the season on Saturday. Ammon wasn't sure what to think of the snow, he just stared at it. He loved touching it and seeing something new for the first time. When we moved to Virginia, we were sad at the possibility of not getting very much snow during the winter(boy was that a shock last year when we got over 2 feet right before Christmas!) but we are so glad that we get some decent snowfall so that Ammon can experience that.

Love this one :)

Six Years!

On December 4th, Cameron and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary of being together. What an amazing six years it's been! Full of ups and downs and so much happiness. We've been married for two of those years and had our amazing little boy. I am so lucky to be with such a wonderful man, who makes me so happy, who am so happy to walk through life with.

I'm Thankful

29. I'm thankful that we made it home safely from North Carolina. I'm thankful that Ammon was really good (for the most part) and that the ride went smoothly. I'm thankful for the time that Ammon and I got to spend with my mom and that my mom got to enjoy her grandbaby :)



30. I have SO much to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, they are my greatest blessing and they mean everything to me. I'm thankful for a loving, caring, supportive husband and a happy, healthy son. I'm thankful for Cameron's job. I'm thankful for clothing, food on the table, a warm place to live, a car, and a bed to sleep in, essentials that we often take for granted, that some people don't have. I'm thankful for the holiday season and for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his sacrifice for us.

Even though November is over, there's no reason to not be thankful everyday. I hope we can all continue to be in the spirit of Thanksgiving, and especially at at this time of year, compassionate and charitable to others.

8 months

27. Ammon turned 8 months old today! Today I am SO thankful for my adorable, sweet, amazing, beautiful, fun, happy little boy! He is truly our little miracle and we are so happy that he is part of our family. We could not have asked for anything more. We are so blessed to be parents to this little baby and we love him more than words can say. He brings us so much joy and we are so amazed by him every single day. We love watching him grow and learn new things. My favorite thing is his laugh, he has the cutest laugh, and when he laughs, we can't help but laugh right along with him. Sometimes we aren't able to continue doing what we're doing that makes him laugh because we're laughing too hard. We are so proud of our little man and we are so grateful every day to have him.

28. I'm thankful that I was able to find a high chair for a decent price. The one we had just wasn't cutting it, and Ammon clearly was not comfortable in it. My mom found one and I love it. Ammon is so much more comfortable in it and it makes meal time SO much easier.

Ammon's First Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving! Cameron came Wednesday night and we spent the day with my mom and step-dad. We had an amazing dinner, watched the parade and the football game (Patriots won!). Ammon had his first taste of turkey and he loved it! He ate almost everything that we had, mashed and sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and of course, turkey. He was pretty stuffed like the rest of us, but he still got a taste of the pumpkin pie and the apple pie...obviously he loved it!

I saw the shirt that he has on in the pictures and I just HAD to get it, it is SO cute!

23. Thankful that I got to spend the day shopping with my mom.

24. Thankful that Cameron was able to come for Thanksgiving. He brought me to NC and had to go back home to work and get ready for Black Friday, but I'm so glad we got to spend Thanksgiving Day with him.

25. Thankful for my wonderful family. I'm thankful for my mom and brothers. I'm thankful for a wonderful husband who loves me and for a healthy, happy little boy.

26. Today I'm thankful that I did not get up early to go Black Friday shopping. I'm thankful that Cameron got home safely and that so far his day is going well.

Thankful For...

16. NICU, March of Dimes, a healthy baby boy...see previous post

17. Mom2Mom. Earlier this year, two of my friends started a weekly girls night that we call Mom2Mom, and we get together every week and talk about being moms and wives and what's going on in our lives. It's so nice to be able to take a break and have girl time with friends and just talk and have good conversations, which, as a mom, is not someting I do very often. I'm so grateful to my friends for starting it and for keeping it going. I look forward to it every week and I love the friendships that I have and that we've grown closer together. So many of us were pregnant and due around the same time when we started and it has been so great to watch our babies grow and learn new things and interact with each other.

18. Beautiful weather. We have had some amazing weather lately. Crisp cool air, breezy and sunny. Perfect for being outside.

19. That Cameron came home at 5:00 instead of 7:00 today. I love it when he comes home early. It means he gets to spend more time with us!

20. That so many of my friends are having babies! Had a great time at a baby shower for my friend Elizabeth!

21. That we were able to go to NC and that we had a safe trip...and that Ammon slept/was good almost the whole time!

22. That Cameron made it home safely (he dropped me off in NC and had to go back to work today :( but he will be back for Thanksgiving) and being able to spend the day with Ammon and Mom :)

Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room in Your Heart

Today my font is purple in support of Prematurity Awareness Day. Today, I am so grateful for the NICU and for all the amazing nurses there who worked so hard around the clock taking care of my little miracle, and all of the other tiny babies who were born early. I'm grateful for all the prayers that were said for our family. I am so grateful to have a beautiful, healthy baby, who was able to come home without any problems or special equipment. I'm grateful for The March of Dimes and for everything they do to support preemies and their families. Today I donated to the March of Dimes and I'm wearing purple in support of today and in honor of my son. Ammon is my greatest blessing, my pride and joy, and he brings so much happiness to my life. I love you, my sweet little boy! 3/27/10

543,000 babies born too soon each year, some so small they struggle to survive

1,487 each day

62 each hour

1 each minute

fight for babies

Halloween, Birthday and #15

This year for Halloween we dressed Ammon up as a hotdog, and Cam and I made t-shirts that said ketchup and mustard. He looked so cute! The cutest little hotdog I've ever seen!

I turned 22 this year on November 2nd. We went to North Carolina. My mom made apple dumplings and I got to spend the day with Cam and Ammon. That night my mom and step-dad watched Ammon while Cameron and I went out. We did a little shopping and had dinner at P.F. Changs, which was SO good. It was a good day.

Today I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be a stay at home mom. Even though society doesn't value stay at home moms and a lot of people don't understand that it's hard work, I can't imagine doing anything else. I couldn't imagine trusting someone other than my husband with Ammon all day. Even though some days are more challenging than others and I feel like I just don't have the energy to get through the day, there is nothing more rewarding than being with my son and seeing him learn new things. It's so important to me to be able to stay at home and raise my son, and I am so glad that it's important to Cameron too. Being a stay at home mom is the best, and I would never give it up for anything.

Gratefuls

This month, I noticed a lot of my friends have been posting on their blogs and on Facebook what they're grateful, being that Thanksgiving is this month. I have so much to be grateful for every day and I have been meaning to blog about it and just haven't found the time, so I'm going to catch up.

1. I'm grateful for for our new car and that we were able to find one that fit our budget.

2. I'm grateful that I was able to celebrate my birthday with my family, and that my mom and step-dad babysat while Cameron and I got to have a night out by ourselves.

3. I'm grateful that my husband has a good job and that he is willing to work so hard for our little family.

4. I'm grateful for my first nephew due in December and that my sister-in-law is having a healthy pregnancy.

5. I'm grateful for my mom and for the example that she is to me and for everything she does for me.

6. I'm grateful that our good friends Brett and Shandra welcomed their beautiful baby boy Wyatt into the world, that it was a successful delivery and that mommy and baby are healthy and everyone is happy.

7. I'm grateful for my little family. They bring me so much joy every day and I love them so much.

8. I'm grateful for the changing of the seasons and for the beautiful leaves we've seen this fall.

9. I'm grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the country and for the beautiful mountain views that I'm able to see every day.

10. I'm grateful for the gospel in my life and for the knowledge that Jesus Christ is my savior and that He lives.

11. I'm grateful for those who have served and those who now serve and protect this country. I'm grateful for the sacrifice of them and their families so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.

12. I'm grateful to live so close to a church building and to be in a wonderful ward full of people who have shown our family so much love and support.

13. I'm grateful that my family is healthy and happy.

Today: #14- I'm grateful that I was able to spend the day with my family. Sunday is Cameron's day off and I was so happy that today we were able to relax and have fun together. We took Ammon to the park for the first time today. The weather was beautiful and then we came home and had a great dinner together, and Ammon ate spaghetti for the first time, and LOVED it!

What is Important, and What is Not

"Never let a problem to be solved, become more important than a person to be loved."- Thomas S. Monson

I recently watched a Mormon Messages video called "What Matter's Most". President Monson talked about how important it is that we always show the ones we love how much we do love them, and to never assume that they just know. He quoted William Shakespeare, who said, "They do not love that do not show their love." I believe that to be so true. How would anyone know that they are loved if they are not shown love?

Sometimes I get so caught up in things that need to get done and sometimes I don't realize that devoting my attention and energy to Ammon and playing with him is more important than anything else I may need or want to do. He brightens my day, especially when he smiles and giggles, and I could spend all day laughing and playing with him. When Cameron gets home, being with him and talking about our days is more important sitting in front of the computer or tv. He makes me so happy and there is no one that I would rather be with.

At he end of the day, the most important things are my husband and my son. I love them so much, they are everything to me and I want to try my best every day to show them how much I love them so that they always know.

Create

I absolutely love this video. Elder Utchdorf is my favorite, and I always look forward to listening to his talks at conference. We are all blessed with the gift of creation...like Elder Utchdorf says, we were put on this earth by an incredibly creative Heavenly Father...how could he create us and not give us the ability to create? I am so grateful for this gift and the always present opportunity to be creative.

Leave something for me

That's what Cameron says if he's going to be at work all day and the apartment needs to be cleaned. Even though he's busy at work, he's willing to still help out when he gets home, even though it's been a long day. I am so grateful for a husband who works so hard at his job to provide for our family and is still willing to come home and help out around the house. Thank you for all you do Cameron, I love you! You're the best!

Two Years

I can't believe it's been two years since I kneeled at the altar in the Boston temple across from my wonderful husband, where we were sealed for time and all eternity. It has been a crazy, fun, amazing two years. In that time we've moved, worked, gone to school, and had our first baby, who is our greatest blessing. I love my husband so much. He is a good man, an amazing father, he works hard, he's fun to be with, he's sweet, he can always make me laugh and he always knows what to say. I am so grateful that he is a worthy priesthood holder and I couldn't ask for a better man to be my husband and a father to my son. I've always known that I would marry him. He is my best friend, my eternal companion, and I'm so glad we chose each other.

Happy Anniversary Cameron! I love you!

6 Months!

Ammon is 6 months old! He turned 6 months almost 2 weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to blogging about it. I can not believe I have a 6 month old! Time has gone by so fast, and I can't believe how much my little boy has changed! He is getting SO big and he is doing so much more now. He can roll over from tummy to back and back to tummy, and he can lift up his head while on his tummy...and really well too! He can sit supported and in the Bumbo, now we're working on sitting on his own. He's constantly talking and smiling and interacting with us, and he LOVES to suck on his hands. He's eating solid foods now, and he LOVES squash and bananas. I love my little man SO much and I can't believe how much he has grown, I wish he could stay little forever!

6 month stats:

Weight- 13 lbs 6.5 oz

Length- 24.5 inches

Head- 17 inches

6 months old!

Here are some more pictures of Ammon and some of our fall adventures!

Reflection

On Sunday, Ammon and I made the trip to North Carolina to spend a few days with my mom. Today, while Ammon was napping and my mom was upstairs, I was by myself downstairs, and except for the static from the monitor and the hum of the computer, it was quiet. It's not often I experience quiet like that, because when I'm home, there's always a noise, like the TV, the dishwasher, the washer and dryer, Ammon...you get it. And then I heard the birds. These birds were making such beautiful noises, and I listened and thought, how blessed I am, that I have the ability to hear that. How blessed am I, that I have been given so much, and yet, I often take those blessings for granted. I'm not perfect, and I complain about what I don't have and what I wish I had and how maybe I would be happier if I had more. Well, that's almost always not the case. It's what we do have that makes us happy if we learn to have gratitude for what we do have, and to stop thinking about what we don't have. I don't have a lot of money, a big house, an expensive car or a fancy wardrobe. But I do have a loving, caring husband who provides for us, a healthy, happy baby boy, a wonderful family, I'm healthy, I have what I need, and I have the gospel in my life. I am so blessed and I am so grateful for everything I have, and I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for trusting me to take care of one of His children. I am so grateful for the eternal partnership I have with God in taking care of my son. Being a mother and a wife is my greatest joy, and I can honestly say that right now, I am happy.

Anniversary Shadow Box

Our anniversary is next month, so I made an anniversary shadow box. I got the idea from a blog called Love Actually, and there is a link to it on my blog list. I thought it was so cute, and there are so many different ways to make them and so many different things you can put in them. I have plans to make a couple more for other people...I've been really busy lately with projects for Ammon and friends and their babies...who knows, maybe I'll start making and selling stuff!

Never A Dull Moment

I love my husband :)

Rolling Over

Family Photos

When we went to Maine, we had some family photos taken by my friend Ashley (she has her own business, Ashley Erin Photography and she is AMAZING, I definitely highly recommend her if you need pictures taken). The pictures came out great, we love them and we love Ashley! Here are my favorites from the shoot, enjoy!