This is how we spent Christmas Eve! I felt bad for Jon after almost 2 hours of trying to put it together; so I helped him finish it. We have officially been inducted into parenthood!
Christmas morning we took her into her playroom and she was so surprised!
Loves, loves it! I knew she would like it because a friend has this exact kitchen and Allie loved playing with it at her house!
She had to open every door and look at everything. She has been playing with it all the time and it is wonderful because she will entertain herself for a LONG time and I can get things done. It's also fun playing with her and seeing all the fun things she does! She will put everything in one appliance and then take it all out and put it in another one! She makes food for her baby and even puts things back right where they belong!
I got her a pink pots/pans set and if you look closely, you can see that she is feeding Elmo!
I didn't cook anything this year! The only thing I did was help Jon with some stuffing. Everyone else brought stuff and Jon cooked! Jon roasted a turkey, my mom made a rib eye roast, and Jon's mom made a ham!!! My dad even made deviled eggs! Plus everyone made sides and dessert! It was all sooooo yummy! Thank you to everyone for making this so much easier on me this year!
I got her this new stroller awhile back that was supposed to be for Christmas, but I couldn't wait and I gave it to her early! It has room for 4 babies to fit in it and if you look closely you can see that she has it full! She is such the little mommy!
Amanda and Julia checking out Allie's new toys! She even got the wooden high chair from Nana and Pops
Proof that my dad is loosing his hair! :O)
More presents... My parents got her the "Your Baby Can Read" program that is advertised on TV and so far she loves it and seems like she will pick it up pretty easily. She remembers EVERYTHING and is very intuitive.
This is a doll that talks and has all these fun accessories for her that she interacts with. Allie LOVES this SOOOOOOOOOOO much. My brother's family got her this and she is is heaven!
Already knew what to do!
This cracks us up! She was waiting for us to take her toy out of the wrapper! Not quite lady like, but really funny!
wooden pizza that has Velcro pieces- lot s of fun!
She was coloring with my dad
Amanda and Robyn- they really look alike now!
This is our little ham! We had so much fun with Allie this Christmas! We are so thankful for her and she really is a joy to have! I am also so grateful for my family and friends who
made this Christmas a little easier on us and for the special memories. I realized that I didn't take many pictures and I didn't get any of Jon, myself and Allie together... Or of family for that matter! I did get a lot of Allie though!
Below is our Christmas letter that I sent out this year.
Family and Friends,
This year has been filled with unexpected JOY and unexpected PAIN, of celebrating LIFE and of grieving DEATH, of LOVING our sweet little girl and of MISSING our dear little boys.
God has blessed us and God has taken away from us. God has stretched us and God has broken us.
This year at Christmas, I can’t help but think of how the first Christmas felt for Mary and Joseph. When I really stop and think about the circumstances facing the birth of Jesus, I realize that Mary must have lost family and friendships; as very few would believe her about how she became pregnant! And Joseph must have faced ridicule for going through with the marriage to Mary from his family and friends. They must have become outcasts in their own little town.
Maybe God sent them away from family when Jesus was to be born so that Mary didn’t have to face the comments of others and the loneliness of not having her baby being welcomed into this world.
Mary must have questioned God’s purpose for choosing her and for putting her through such shame of getting pregnant out of wedlock. She must have wondered if His promises were really true! She must have wondered what good could come from bringing such heartache upon her and her family. Why God would choose to bring His son into a situation that caused so much pain for his earthly parents is beyond me…
The heavens were celebrating the birth, but I find it hard to believe that Mary was. She was well aware of the implications this would bring upon her and her family. She must have been scared and must have wondered how she was going to be able to do all that was being required of her and Joseph.
But God did send the shepherds right away and the wise men later to reassure them of His promises and His goodness. Was it enough? Was their faith tested during those first couple of years?
We also have so many questions about why God would choose us? Why would He allow such hurt in our lives? Why doesn’t He show us the bigger picture? And why would He choose to bring Glory to Himself through our pain?
It is with a heavy heart that we approach Christmas this year. Having Michael and Jake leave this world so abruptly was not in our plans, even though we know they are in a better place. The pain and empty arms are still with us here on earth. However, unlike Mary and Joseph, we have been surrounded by family and friends who love us and support us. We have had “strangers” come and help us through the hard times and bring us gifts of comfort and of hope. Jon and I have to cling to God’s promises and we have to believe that what He chose to do was not only for our good, but for the good of many others-even if we don’t see it for many years to come.
On a much happier note; Allie is truly a blessing to us! She brings so many smiles to our faces and such joy to our hearts! In the past year, she has learned so many new things! Her favorite things right now are: dogs (especially Ralph), Elmo, her babies and all baby related items, playgrounds, buses, airplanes, balls, bubbles, books, painting, dancing, making others laugh, bath time, going on adventures, riding a bike with Jon, her blanket and her binkie!
At 22 months old, she already has her Daddy wrapped around her finger and she is the apple of his eye! Every Dad needs a little girl! It is so fun seeing Jon playing with her and making her laugh. She gets so excited when she sees him walk to the back door and I know it melts Jon’s heart when she screams “Dada, DADA!!!!!” She keeps us on our toes as she is a ball of energy wanting to explore the world around her! She has Jon’s love of adventure and for adventurous foods, and my love of schedules and independent spirit!
I found this poem in our MEND (Mommies enduring neonatal death) newsletter and it brought tears to my eyes. I have to believe that our babies are in heaven with Jesus right now-if I don’t, then my faith is useless! I also have to believe that they are LOVING it there and their life is PERFECT in heaven.
This is what I imagine our boys saying to us right now:
“We see the countless CHRISTMAS TREES
around the world below
with tiny lights like HEAVEN‘S STARS
reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so SPECTACULAR -
please wipe away that tear
for we are spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST
this year.
We hear the many CHRISTMAS SONGS
that people hold so dear
but the SOUND OF MUSIC
can‘t compare with the
CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.
We have no words to tell you of the JOY their voices bring
for it is beyond description
to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.
We know HOW MUCH YOU MISS US,
we see the pain inside your heart
for we are spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST
this year.
We wish we could tell you of the SPLENDOR and
the PEACE here in this place
Can you just imagine
CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SAVIOR
face to face
We‘ll ask Him to LIFT YOUR SPIRIT
as we tell Him of your love
so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your HEARTS BE JOYFUL
and let your SPIRIT SING
for we are spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN
and we are
walking WITH THE KING!”
May you be blessed this Christmas season as you are a blessing to others.
Much love,
Jon, Tiffany, Allie
&
Michael and Jake
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