Christmas #1

This year's Christmas is very unique for us because we will be in Hawaii with the basketball team, returning on the 26th. Because of this, David and I decided to exchange gifts this weekend rather than traveling with gifts or waiting until we got home.

As we thought about Drake's first Christmas, we discussed what, if anything we should get him. In the end, we decided that we would just put money in his bank account and not give him a gift to open. Our thinking is that 1) he is not going to remember if he got a gift or not, and 2) he will get plenty of other gifts from family. As people have asked me what we got Drake and I have told them our plan, some have totally agreed with me while other have criticized me for this decision. After opening gifts on Saturday and seeing his excitement over paper, a box, and the id card that came in David's wallet, I think, for us, this was the right decision. He helped us open presents and loved it, would then crawl away and play for a few minutes, and then come back.

Trying to open the outdoor table and chairs from David's parents. No more camping chairs on the front porch!

Tiger Wonderland

Each year, the Clemson Men's Basketball Team hosts a community service event called Tiger Wonderland. This is an evening with children from disadvantaged homes have the opportunity to hang out with the basketball players, eat dinner, and then Santa arrives with gifts for all of the kids. It is a great event and this year was expanded so the Women's Team participated as well. Rather than the normal 20 kids that have participated, this year, 35 were able to come and share in the festivities.

All of the basketball staff are invited to attend the event as well with their families. We just stand to the side as the kids are doing their crafts with the players and eating dinner. When the kids start to open their gifts, I usually walk around and share in their pure joy! This year, one of the girls asked me if their parents had to pay for all of the gifts? I told her, no, Santa brought them and pointed him out to her. She was just amazed!

Some pictures of Drake that evening. I knew Santa would be there, so I just planned to take his picture there and avoid lines and paying for a picture.

Not a fan of the Tiger Cub that evening

Did ok with Santa

10 Months!

Drake, you turned 10 months old yesterday, December 11th. I know I say this every month, but I can't believe that you are already 10 months old! Just two more months and you will be a year; how is that possible?

New Tiger hat from Ritamay. It just came in the mail but you wore it yesterday and everyone we saw commented on it!

You have a great appetite and I have not once seen you turn down food. I really think you could keep eating at every meal if I continued to offer you more. You are a pretty good self-feeder, although I still have to help you some. I have realized that when you feed yourself, the meal can last a good hour and you might still not be finished, so I help you along some. We are going to work on you using a spoon and sippy cup more this month. Yogurt is one of your favorite foods (not the Trader Joe's version) and lately you have really been enjoying blueberries. You still nurse in the morning and at night and then get one milk bottle a day and one formula bottle a day (although today, we had enough for 2 milk bottles!).

You really love to dance. Currently, your favorite dancing music is to the "bumpy bumpy" song on your Einstein's Learning Playground and any commercial jingle. Almost all commericals jingles get your attention and you start dancing. When you hear the "bumpy bumpy" song, you stop what you are doing, smile, and start dancing.

This was my rocking chair was I was little (looks like it needs to be dusted!)

Lately you have been twurling your hair a little when you are sleepy. I have also noticed that when you are trying to go to sleep, you either wiggle your feet or rub them together, somthing that I do as well.

You love to be on the move. If you are awake, you want to be on the floor playing or crawling somewhere. You are starting to get really fast with your crawl and have learned to open cabinets...time for you to put the locks on those!

You are a pretty good sleeper, although I think you could still improve in that area. You have been taking pretty good naps for us in the morning and after lunch. You go to bed around 8:00, but I have to rock you to sleep most nights. Some nights you sleep all the way through, others, you wake up sometime between 12:00 and 5:00. You go right back to sleep when we come yo get you, but let's try and start making it all the way through the night, ok?

You now are working on your third tooth. The top right tooth started to come in on Friday, December 9th. I'm sure the other top tooth is close behind, although it has not started to come through yet.  

The rest of the month is going to be very busy! This week you'll attend your first community service event with the basketball team. We leave on Monday night to go to Hawaii for basketball and Christmas and then we go staraight to New Orleans. I just can't wait to see what this travel will do your your schedule!

We love you so much little buddy!