December is here!

I can't believe there are only 16 days until Christmas!

I still have quite a few family members to buy presents for. Tom, his mom, Tristan & I went to a few stores this past Sunday and I was able to buy most of the kids' presents then. I have most of the adults left. Of course, this year will be have even fewer presents because of the economy. Also, because Tom and I decided that I will not be returning to work!

We figured with the cost of daycare (~$1300 in Raleigh), gas (~$150/mo.), lunch, etc., I would basically be bringing home nothing! If I need to work, it will most likely be part-time somewhere or if I miraculously found a work from home job. I definitely don't mind being frugal if that means I get to stay home with my son & not miss a moment of his firsts.

Tristan is definitely smiling more. It is so so cute. He also has this cute little laugh. He does it, but it is still pretty rare. He is getting better at holding his head steady. I think within the next month he will be good to go & we should be able to sit him in his bumbo seat.

As you may already know, he's a fighter when it comes to sleep. The past few days he's been pretty good about sleeping, but I think yesterday (& seems like today) we are back to fighting being put down to sleep. At night it seems he's atleast sleeping no less than 3-4 hour stretches as opposed to 2 hour stretches.

He has his 2 month check-up this coming Monday. I'm not looking forward to it because he will be getting 3 or 4 shots at the same time. I heard how hard it is to see your child get them & be upset, but man does it really tug your heartstrings seeing them hurt.

We got our Christmas tree on Monday night & decorated it. Now it definitely feels like Christmas season! We still need to put out the rest of our outside decorations. I also need to find time to bake Christmas cookies for family & Tom's coworkers.

The furbabies are doing well. Boots spends more time inside as of late since the weather is much cooler.

We are having more problems with Ava though. Before we had Tristan she had an issue with men (we think she was abused before we adopted her), but it seems to be worse now that Tristan is here. She seems to be extra aggressive & protective of all of us. It stresses me out and I always worry when we have company over. She has nipped both my dad & Tom's dad within like a week of each other. Not good!! Time to call the Dog Whisperer!

Grandma MaryAnn is here! She met Tristan for the first time on Saturday & we saw her again on Monday. I wish Grandpa Sheldon could have met him, but I like to think he's Tristan's guardian angel now.

Well, I need to tend to the babe. Write more later!