Thanksgiving

My baby is growing up.  He has been sleeping in his own room for the last few nights.  I think we are all sleeping a little bit better, but I still miss him at night.  We make up for it by snuggling in the mornings.  I love that he loves to snuggle so much.  I am his snuggle person, and daddy is his comedian.  He thinks Joseph is so funny.  Joseph gets much better laughs out of him than I do.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think more and more about my Ethan and Jacob.  This time last year was hard on Joseph and I.  I will never forget driving from Quantico to Franklinton for Thanksgiving.  We were planning on stopping to see their headstone, which had been delivered since we had been home last.  I held back tears the entire ride home, only to lose them all when I saw that headstone with my babies names on it.  No mother should ever have to spend her Thanksgiving in a graveyard.  Sadly, I do.  

I miss our boys.  It is amazing how many people think that Blake "fixes" everything.  Blake doesn't replace our loss, and I would never expect him to.  I often look at Blake and think about how much he lost, without even knowing it.  He lost two big brothers.  He lost playmates, rivals, and possibly best friends.  Watching Blake grow up makes me think so much about what should be, and it also makes me cherish every second.

So, this Thanksgiving will also start with a visit to Ethan and Jacob.  We will put red bows up for them again for the holidays, and we will remember all that we have to be thankful for.  Like I said last year, even in the hardest of times we always have something to be thankful for.  Last year, it was survival (physically and emotionally).... this year it is survival, and our precious Blake.        

Blake's Weekly Pictures

Snuggling with my daddy.

Mommy is so funny!

Happy to be with my daddy.

They were sad that Joseph had to go to work.  He is such a daddy's boy.

How much longer until the game starts Daddy???

The pre-game show is getting old.

We tried to get a picture of Bailey and Blake.... as you can see, it went well

Blake Playing

 Blake has recently discovered that his play mat isn't so bad.  He still hates being on his tummy in it, but now he likes to beat up the toys.  Another new thing he has figured out is kicking.  Every time he gets excited, he kicks his little legs.  So here is another video

Sick Baby

Poor Blake has been sick.  He got a cold, which turned into the beginning of pneumonia.  Thankfully, I took him to the doctor early.  He has been on antibiotics, but it was a rough few days.  He is back to his normal, smiley self now.  I don't have a ton of pictures, since he was sick most of the week.  Poor guy was not in the mood for pictures.  

Everything else is going well.  Joseph starts his school next week.  We are hoping it will be pretty easy for him, since he has been doing on the job training since July.  The good news is that he is missing a few training events with his unit, and he won't have to leave.  Staying home is always a nice thing.  

So.... here are our weekly pictures.  Enjoy my happy little man :) 

Our little State fan!

Football time!

They match!

Hanging out in a moose outfit....

Nap time with Daddy.

Nothing is funnier than sunglasses, a hoodie, a bouncer.... and momma

Man this is funny!

So happy to be feeling better

Don't you want to just snuggle this baby??

 

Blake's First Beach Trip

We decided that Blake lives WAY too close to the beach to have never been there.  We took a short trip to Topsail Island on Saturday to show him the ocean.  He isn't a huge fan of bathtime, so I figured he would hate the beach.  I don't think he hated it, but it wasn't as fun as the pumpkin farm! He kept looking around with an irritated look on his face.  Here are the pictures~  

 

Maybe if I sleep through this, I will be back home when I wake up.

Ugh! Too much water!

Getting his toes in the sand (it was too cold to take his socks off)

I'm not too sure about this

Final decision.... not a fan of sand

Thank goodness I am out of that sand!

"Why are we here again?"

Yum!! Bottle on the beach!

Lets go home!