Christmas Cookies

One of my favorite things about Christmas are the cookies.  My mom always makes a ton of the best Christmas cookies. So much, in fact, that our dining room table looks like a Christmas cookie buffet each year.  One of my favorite Christmas cookies when I was a kid were the sugar cookies that we were allowed to decorate.  My mom bought every kind and color of sprinkles you can imagine and set us loose.  This year, I decided Nate would enjoy decorating sugar cookies.  Jason declared it to be simultaneously the best and worst idea I've ever had.  Nate had a blast.  I don't know that I've ever seen him laugh so hard.  Unfortunately, our house was covered in a thin layer of sprinkles for several days.

Cookie making is very serious work!

Can you see the sprinkles on his hands?  That was just the beginning.

Nate's cookies.  Who wants one?

A mother's job...

is to brag about her children, right?  This has been a big week for Nate, so I have a couple of things to brag about.

Nate can count to ten!  The other day we were driving and from the backseat heard, "seven...eight...nine...ten...yay!"  Jason and I looked at each other in shock and then started counting from one.  Nate joined right in.  Genius, I tell ya!

Even more exciting...this morning, Nate went pee pee in the potty!  And I missed it...sort of.  During breakfast, Nate asked to go potty.  I took him upstairs, got him undressed, he sat on his potty and we waited.  Then he said "all done", asked for toilet paper and got up.  This is always the routine.  This time, though, there was pee pee in there.  I didn't see it or hear it happen, but it did because there it was.  We had a big celebration!

Ok, I'm done.  For now.

I helped you. That's awesome!

A couple of nights ago I was cleaning up after dinner.  Nate picked up his napkin and put it in the trash can.  He turned, looked at me and said, "I helped you.  That's awesome!"

That is awesome!

Of course, it sounded like "I hep you.  Das awesome!"  Still pretty awesome!

Where'd he get that red hair?

It's the number one question we are asked.  I estimate we hear some version of this question at least 3 times a week, probably more.  In my head I go through my list of answers I'd love to give (what are you insinuating? - actually, the red gene is a variation of the blond gene - the milkman - your momma, etc).  Instead, I smile sweetly and reply some version of the following, "Well, my sister's a red head.  He looks more like her kid than he looks like mine."

The resemblance is pretty amazing.  Even more than that, though, are some of their other non-physical similarities.

•  They both hate white socks.  When Brittany was younger, she had the most impressive collection of funky socks.  I don't think she even owned white socks.  Nate always protests white socks.  His red socks are his favorite.
• When Brittany was about 8, she figured out it was much more effective to shout "Susan Robinson", rather than "mom" when she wanted to get our mom's attention in public.  Nate has started calling Jason, "Jason".  We're working on that one.
• Neither of them are fans of tomatoes, but both like ketchup.  I don't know if Brittany still likes ketchup (I know she still HATES tomatoes), but I distinctly remember a meal when she was about 4 during which she dipped her carrots in ketchup.  Anyone who reads this blog knows how much Nate loves ketchup.
• They both have wispies...short, stubborn hairs along their hairline that stick straight out.  The first time I was allowed to babysit Brittany alone, she decided to cut off her wispies.  The results were not good - she cut a two square inch section of her hair on both sides of her head straight to the scalp.  Hopefully, Nate doesn't get any ideas.
• They are both silly, smart and sometimes stubborn.  And I love em!

P.S. - Happy Birthday Aunt Brittany!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving at the Hadavi household.  Jason's mom flew in from El Paso, two of Jason's cousins (Paul and Missy) drove up from San Antonio and a couple of our friends came over.  We had lots of food and great company.  Thanksgiving culminated with an intense game of Monopoly...a Portugal family tradition.  Jason was the first player eliminated followed closely by Paul, which was probably the best Thanksgiving gift Missy could receive.  She eventually won and rubbed it in their faces.

Nate playing his own version of 52 card pickup.

Rusty is supervising.

Nate especially enjoyed the pumpkin pie.  Here he is enjoying a slice...and yes, that is ketchup.  I've told you before...he eats ketchup on everything!

The only dark spot during Thanksgiving was the Great Pecan Pie Debacle of 2009.  My plan was to bake two pies Wednesday night...a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie.  The pumpkin pie went smoothly.  The pecan pie was another story.  About 15 minutes into baking it, I pulled it out to cover the edges with foil (so they wouldn't burn).  As I was putting the pie back in the oven, it sort of slipped, flipped over and landed on the bottom of the oven.  It looked like this:

It was a MESS to clean up...all that Karo Syrup and melted brown sugar.  It was in every crevice.  It took a couple of hours to fully clean the oven.  Or so I thought. The next morning, I turned on the oven to resume baking and more pecan pie oozed out.

Other than that little hiccup, Thanksgiving 2009 was a success.  We have so much to be thankful for.  We hope you all had a Great Thanksgiving too!

bravery

This time last year Nate was pretty sick. He developed a urinary track infection that the doctors suspect got into his bloodstream, but could never confirm that because they couldn’t get a decent blood culture. For 10 days, his temperature fluctuated from 95 to 105 degrees and his white blood cell count was at 35,000 (normal is about 3,000). We were in either the doctor’s office or the ER all but two or three of those days. His pediatrician decided not to admit him to the hospital because he was eating, and we instead took him in for daily antibiotic injections. We spent one night waking him up every two hours to make sure he was still responsive. It was the longest, scariest night of my life. Not only did our pediatrician give us his personal cell phone number (not the number for the service), but he called us at 2:00 am just to check on Nate. During that time, Nate had catheters, blood work, ultra sounds, and a VCUG.

I was recently cleaning out my e-mail box and came across some e-mails I sent during that time. Just re-reading the e-mails brought back all of the emotions I felt. At the time it was happening, I think I held it together pretty well…I had to be brave…that’s what mothers do. As I kept reading, I cried. It was hands down the most terrifying experience of my life.

We know several families with children who face serious medical conditions. Reliving the 10 days that I dealt with Nate’s illness made me really think about the parents of those kids. I am inspired by them. Their bravery, faith and perseverance leaves me speechless.

Breakfast of Champions

This was Nate's breakfast this morning:

1. Waffle with Boysenberry Fruit Spread

2. Bacon

3. Peach Yogurt

4. Ketchup and Mustard

You might think the ketchup and mustard was for his bacon. Nope, it was for his waffle. This child eats ketchup and mustard on everything...I mean EVERYTHING!