Christmas Eve

Today has been a pretty good day considering Brody's in so much pain. He took a couple short naps and I'm guessing the shot helped because tonight he was in a relatively good mood.  We were very thankful for that!

It was great to Skype with my sister!  She's in Japan and since they are over a half day ahead of us she was already having Christmas.  It was fun chatting with her and watching her open the gifts we sent to her.  Brody was so happy and smiley and showed her his new trick:  when asked to say her name, Liz, he flicks his tongue in and out of his mouth like a lizard (since he now knows that animal "sound"...).  How ironic since her friends in high school called her "Lizard"! =)  (Obviously Liz sounds like lizard, so I see his connection, but it's still amusing!)  Liz got a big kick out of that!  He surprised me because he stood and watched her for quite awhile as she opened gifts.  So thankful for technology and the ability to see/talk to her even though she's halfway around the world!!  It's especially nice now that I have a son! =)

He always likes watching the video on Skype!

Wish this had been a better picture....wasn't quite sure what Dave was doing.  Maybe next time she calls we can get another picture like this, only a cute one!

Waving "bye" to his Auntie Liz!

We were definitely blessed by family/friends this year!  Look at all those gifts!!  (And surprisingly only about half were for Brody!)

Brody loved playing by the tree since we put it up so today was no different!

Last year we started a tradition of opening all our gifts from family on Christmas Eve, and "Santa" gifts on Christmas morning.  I was sad to have to forego the tradition we had growing up of only opening one gift on Christmas Eve, but I actually kind of like the one Dave had as a child.  Two days of gift opening instead of one! =)

Brody had fun helping Daddy "distribute" the presents.  We have always put our gifts in piles and then take turns opening them.  This year it was especially helpful so that Brody could open all his at once since he has a much shorter attention span than we do!  We just opened our presents after he went to bed since he wouldn't care about that anyway.... =)

Handing out the gifts!  He's such a GREAT little helper!!!!!

Wow, lots of piles! =)  Brody is surprised by all his presents! =)

Brody and his gifts....

Time to open them!!! He had a lot of fun tearing the paper this time.  At his birthday he really didn't know what to do, but he knows now! =)  This gift was from Dave's sister and his family.... it was a very cute OU windsuit!!! =)  Do they know us or what??

Here are just a few of the many gifts he received....THANK YOU, EVERYONE for such nice things and for thinking of Brody!!!!  We are so appreciative you love Brody as much as we do! =)

I love all his expressions as he opens the gifts and sees what they are!

My mom gave him a wall hanging that you can put pictures in so he can point at them and touch it--it's hung at his level.  LOVED the idea so I asked Mom to get it for him...didn't realize she was going to fill up one side with pictures of him and her throughout the last year or so.  I was actually amazed how many pictures they had together since she only gets to come every other month! =)

My mom painted him a picture of Noah's Ark for his bathroom...it was so cute!!  Who knew paint-by-numbers were actually pretty when you finish them??  Mom used to paint them when she was younger, and I tried but always got bored of painting so many spaces the same color so mine were never finished.....

 

"B" ornament from my Aunt Nancy

Adorable Pirate PJ's and UNC socks from my Aunt Nancy...he loves socks! =)

OU football player ornament from his Granny and Grandpa....perfect! =)

 

This is what we saw when we took away his gifts after he had a little time to play with or look at them....it was getting late so we weren't able to just let him play as long as he wanted to!  Throwing fits is one of his "new" things in the last couple months!

from my best friend, Jennifer and Brody's "cousin" Cameron.  It was perfect because he has the Scout dog already and anything that makes noise is always a hit!  He cried a lot when this one was taken away! =)

Cute Osh Kosh overalls outfit from my Aunt Debbie

This book from my Aunt Debbie was a HUGE hit!!  It makes noises of vehicles when the flaps are lifted.....he's really into cars as much as animals right now!

A dog backpack from his GG...he loves dogs! =)

Checking out the Optimus Prime shirt from my brother and his girlfriend, Faith.  They gave him lots of cute clothes!!

We hope you have a very merry, Christmas with your family!!!  Remember Jesus's gift to YOU this season...not just His MANY, MANY blessings, but ultimately his SACRIFICE because He loves you SO VERY MUCH!