A Change of Plans

As most know, we have been planning for a while to build a house-we've owned our lot for 15 months, bought floor plans and picked a builder. All we were doing was waiting for spring so we could break ground. But...over the past little while we have been doing some thinking and have decided to make a change--WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!

It's been a big decision to decide not to build, but ultimately we think it is the best. Financially it is smarter, it puts us in a house 9 months sooner and we will be in a neighborhood that will have more kids for the boys to play with.

It's a great house-2 story with a Craftsman-style finish. We are having them finish the basement so it is 60 days until we close. March 8th it is ours and we couldn't be more excited!

Our new house!

CHRISTMAS!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Robbie is at an age that he is finally starting to understand some of it (and of course loves opening presents) and it was a such a blessing to have Sam to celebrate with too.  With so much family living in town we celebrated Christmas over 3 days--my children are spoiled.

Christmas Eve Eve

Rob's sister Jenna (Aunt Sissy) was scheduled to work Christmas Eve and Christmas so we did Christmas with Rob's parents and siblings the day before Christmas Eve.  After we all got off work we went to Bob and Kath's and had dinner, then opened gifts.  It was fun to have Sam and Hanna's first Christmas.  Robbie was hysterical because he loved any toy, but anytime he opened a box with clothes in it he'd say "That's not mine."  It was too funny.

My two cuties!

 

Hanna, Robbie and Sam

All the Herr Boys

Nanie, Papa and the Boys

Christmas Eve
Rob had to work Christmas Eve, so during the day the boys and I went to my parents.  That evening we went to Rob's Aunt Karla's house to celebrate with Kathy's family.  That afternoon Sam had gotten really fussy.  He'd been kinda snotty for a couple of days and I was guessing we were getting an ear infection.  Just after we got to Karla's I decided to take him to Urgent Care and I was right.  It was no fun to miss the start of the party, but we made it in and out of Urgent Care pretty quick and I was happy to get him started on an antibiotic-he was a whole new baby by the next morning.

We had another great evening with wonderful food and our annual white elephant gift exchange.

Robbie and Uncle Joe playing with a truck

Aunt Kar and Baby Sam--the best pic I have of his sweater

Daddy and Sam

I love how much they already love each other!

Christmas Day
We were so lucky this year to have a relaxing morning at home.  We've not really had the chance to do that yet, so it was great to watch the boys open gifts and Robbie have the chance to play with his toys for a while.  After Sam's morning nap we went to my parents and spent the day with them and my brother.  It was a relaxing day with great food and good wine.

Pics from Christmas morning:
I'm a mean Mom and take a picture of the kids right when they are waking up Christmas morning--I love the sleepy excitement.

In front of the tree in their Christmas PJs

Robbie opening gifts

Playing with his train set

Don't ask me how I don't have a single picture of Sam opening a gift on his first Christmas-terrible Mom!


Pics from Christmas afternoon:

With Grandma (Nana) and Gramps

A family pic

My whole family

Sam playing his new piano

 My brother, Kyle, got Robbie a goal that came with a soccer ball, hockey sticks and lacrosse nets.  It was a nice enough day that the boys got out and played with it.  Robbie loved it!

Finishing the day with some chocolate pie!

Katie Came to Town!

Sam's Godmother is my cousin Katie, who is currently living in Norway for her job.  Because of this she was not able to be at his baptism, and hadn't yet met him.  She was in the States for the Holiday's and we were lucky enough that she and her brother Tim came to KC (from St. Louis) for an evening to see us.  It was a short visit, but it was wonderful to see her and I was so glad she and Sam finally got to meet!

Katie and Sam

She brought the boys Christmas gifts-some Duplos for Robbie and the cutest Norwegian sweater for Sam.  Sam rocked the sweater on Christmas Eve and looked adorable.  I however neglected to get a good picture of it-oh well, next time.

SIX Months Old!

Baby Sam turned 6 months old this week.  That officially makes him closer to 1 than to being a newborn.  I'm not sure I can handle 2 toddlers...I better start preparing myself for that because it will be here before I know it.

Sam had his 6-month visit on Friday; he weighed in at 18lbs 1.5oz and measured 26.75 inches long.  I always joke about how big he is, but he is actually only in the 60th percentile for length and weight--I think it is just the darn cheeks that make him look so big!  His pediatrician said everything looked great.  He wasn't too concerned that he hasn't rolled over, since he is progressing in everything else.  He did comment that it is likely "his size" that is holding him back from being able to roll--poor baby.  He also said that if we have another ear infection in the foreseeable future we will end up with tubes.  His last ear infection took 2 different oral antibiotics and 2 shots to clear--that is not a good sign for what is too come.  I'd hate to see that happen, but I also would hate to see him suffer with each ear infection as he did with this most recent one--it took 3 weeks to get it clear.

Sam is growing so much.  He has begun to sit some unsupported-only for about 30 seconds or so, but its a start.  He talks non-stop and everyday interacts with us more.  He has really started to use his hands and arms.  He has also started to give some of the best, most slobbery kisses.

I can not have a post about the past month without mentioning the biggie--Sam's circumcision.  He had his circ done a week ago Friday and is healing nicely.  The surgery went off without a hitch and the aftermath has not been bad at all.  By far the worst part was the nerves leading up to it.

Waiting for surgery

The morning of surgery we arrived at the hospital about an hour and half before start time.  They got him checked in and took his vitals.  We then met with an OR nurse who told us about recovery, followed by the anesthesiologist that told us how he would be put under and cared for during surgery and of course risks, finally we met with the surgeon again (he was still not friendly, but better).  After seeing all of his care team one of the absolute worse moments as a mom came--I had to give them my baby.  I, of course, cried and Sam, of course, smiled--I love that little boy!  Surgery only last about 45 minutes and he was in recovery for about the same--all in all he was only away from us for about 2 hours.  The OR/recovery nurse said he did great and didn't cry once.  We were on our way home about 20 minutes later.  They gave him a spinal block to help with the immediate pain, so he really didn't seem to bothered by it until the next day.  Overall, I think we only had about a day or two that he was fussy from it.  The swelling has gone down and things are looking pretty "normal" down there.  I am so happy for this to be past us.  Thanks to everyone one who called, texted and sent Facebook messages to check on him-he is a loved little boy.

A couple other pictures:

All smiles

Tummy time-playing with the toy Robbie bought him for a get well gift

Love this face!

Robbie's Christmas Program

Yesterday, Robbie's school held a Christmas Program in which each class sang a couple of songs.  It was probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen.  Robbie's class sang "I'm a Little Snowman" and "Jingle Bells."  Brandi, one of his teachers, told me I had to have him there, because he was one of the loudest singers.  I was very impressed, he seemed to know all of the words and even sang along to some of the songs other classes sang.  We may have the next Justin Bieber on our hands!

Here is "I'm a Little Snowman"

There are 2 boys that Robbie always mentions when I ask about his friends--Owen and Aaron.  Owen is to the left of the screen in the green plaid and Aaron is in the navy and red striped sweater next to Robbie.  This was a super cute song; I had never heard it.

Its a little hard to hear, but the words were:
I'm a little snowman, round and fat
Here are my buttons, here is my hat
When it gets hot I melt away
But I'll be back again some day


And "Jingle Bells"

A Fresh Start

There seems to be a theme to our life over the past 6 months-CHANGE.  In staying with that theme, we are both changing jobs this week (why spread it out, we like things as difficult as possible).

Rob started at CVS on Monday.  He liked Price Chopper (where he had been for the past 3.5 years), but the schedule was less than ideal.  He closed 3 nights a week and worked every other weekend.  While you know, as a pharmacist, you will be working hours like that it became a lot after the addition of the second kid.  CVS offered a better schedule, better pay and more vacation-win, win, win!  His first 2 days have gone well, but I think he is a little overwhelmed with new people and a new computer system.  I have no doubt he will catch on quick.

I start with Aetna Rx Home Delivery tomorrow. I have been at KU for 8 years-I started as a 3rd year pharmacy student.  I have cherished my time there and have learned so much, but ultimately decided it was time to move on and take a new challenge.  It is a full-time position (I've been part-time for the past 2 years), so I am a little nervous about that, but it is a very flexible schedule with limited nights and weekends, so I think it will be fine.  Aetna is a mail order pharmacy, so it will be very different than what I have been doing.  I am excited and nervous for the change.  Its weird to think that things I do everyday I won't need to know any more and things I learned in school I will probably have to relearn.  More than anything I will miss the people I worked with everyday at KU-they are a wonderful group of people that I truly enjoyed seeing each day.

All of this change has been stressful, but I have learned one thing--Change is Good.  We don't grow or learn without it.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  As always, it was super busy, but we saw pretty much our whole family so it was worth it.  A run down of our weekend:

Thursday

We spent Thanksgiving Day with Rob's family, at my in-laws.  This was our first Thanksgiving with his family (previous years we have spent it with my Dad's family), I know they were excited to have us there (actually, to have the boys there, but I like to pretend people like to see Rob and I).  Rob's aunts, uncles and cousins were at dinner, so there were nearly 30 of us.  We had a fabulous feast and then rounded out the evening with some serious games of Left-Right-Center and Pass the Trash.

Some of Rob's cousins feasting

Robbie outside with the big boys

One of these days we WILL get a good pic of the 3 of them

Sam and Hanna playing-so fun to see them finally start to interact

Each year my Aunt Susan makes homemade rolls for Thanksgiving and since we weren't going to be there to enjoy them, I took my first go at them.  Overall, they turned out well-I was quite proud of myself.

Robbie helping me with rolls

Friday

Friday morning we took the long trek to St. James to visit my Dad's family.  It is one of the only times of the year I get to see some of his family that lives in Ohio, so I didn't want to miss seeing them.  Also, my Grandma Hutcheson turned 92! on Thursday, so we wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday.  Friday evening we had dinner with everyone and Saturday morning my Grandma took us all to the town diner for breakfast.

Robbie had a great time on this trip to St. James.  My cousin Nathan has a 4 year old daughter, Ella, that he had a blast playing with.  On Friday evening, they literally ran circles around my cousin's house for 25 minutes--they had so much fun, I was exhausted from watching.

Playing Aunt Susan's piano 

Robbie sitting at the kid table at breakfast

The boys with "Nana-Great"-my Grandma

Saturday

Saturday after breakfast we headed to Jefferson City for the annual McVey Family Christmas.  My mom is one of 8 kids, so they have always done Christmas as a family on a weekend other than Christmas.  It is always so wonderful to see all of my aunts, uncles and cousins.  I feel so blessed to come from such a big family with such a wonderful tradition. 

Robbie making crafts that my Grandma brought for the kids

Late Saturday evening we headed home so we could have all of Sunday to recover and get some things done.  It was a great weekend filled with family.  I am such a lucky woman--I have a supportive and loving husband, 2 amazing boys and a wonderful family.  There is so much to be thankful for and I could not ask for more.

The 3 most wonderful men in my life