Oh Happy Day!

Yesterday was the day of Alec's scheduled pre-op cardiac catheterization and MRI. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. Within a half hour of checking in, they were pre-medicating Alec with sedation to prepare him for intubation and general anesthesia. We were overwhelmed, but he was a trooper. Braver than I even thought possible. We sat impatiently in the waiting area, trying to keep distracted as best we could. This wasn't our first rodeo, so we knew what to expect, but let me tell you, it never gets easier. After about an hour, Alec's nurse came and gave us an update. He was still in MRI. Not even halfway done, but at least one hour down. Another hour passed and his nurse came out again, but this time she called us back to meet with the doctor. His physician informed us that the views of his heart obtained in MRI were thorough enough for the surgery team. He would not need any further information; therefore, the cardiac catheterization was not necessary. It was the most blissful news, music to our ears! Within a half hour, we were able to see our little bug again. He was just waking up from anesthesia and he woke up peacefully. We were further educated on the surgery to come and, soon enough, Alec was discharged. We were home by noon and we spent the rest of the early afternoon lounging and resting from our eventful morning. As the evening approached, we were all in need of a little change of scenery, so we decided to take a little trip to Longwood Gardens. We brought along our actual camera and were able to capture some twilight photos of our family.

Yesterday had potential to be a really rough day for all of us, but thankfully the best case scenario occurred. To say we feel blessed is an understatement! One less test, one less hour under anesthesia, one less battle to fight. We are feeling pretty relieved over here! Although the days to come are sure to be challenging, I know there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. I know in my heart of hearts that my little boy is going to come out on top of all this. He is going to be stronger, healthier, and happier. In the end, it will all be worth it.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours

This holiday season has not been calm, but it surely has been oh so very bright! 

We spent the Eve with my family at our house this year. The night was full. All thirty of us ate filet and crab bisque. We drank wine and sang Christmas carols. There was no shortage of gifts, the kids made out like bandits once again.  It was a bit exhausting, but in the best way possible. My extended family has so many wonderful holiday traditions and I was so excited to share them all with my own children. 

Christmas day was so thrilling. Watching Alec's eyes as he surveyed all his gifts under the tree from Santa was everything I imagined. He was over the moon. "I be a good boy, I get presents from Santa!" The rest of the day was spent with my husband's family. Alec and Wes are the only grandchildren on this side, so needless to say, they get smothered with love and attention. (Which they don't mind one bit.) The Drakes are incredibly generous to not only the children, but to Kiel and I as well. They are thoughtful, wonderful gift givers, and we all walked away from Christmas day very pleased and grateful. 

I am sad to see the Christmas holiday pass, but I am beyond ready to slow down a bit. I want to soak up every last bit of my maternity leave.  It's hard to believe I only have about two weeks left at home. Although I only work two nights a week, those twelve hour all-nighters do take a toll on me and my husband. I am nervous to leave my little one, as I have been handling all of the night feedings myself. Wes loves his mama, probably because of the milk, but I'll take what I can get. Alec has been regressing a bit in the sleep department, so I already know the nights without me at home will be long. The boys are growing so quickly. It's amazing how fast time flies. It feels like just yesterday that Alec was placed in my arms for the very first time. Now I am a mother of two, my littlest being nearly seven weeks old. How did that happen?! 

And how is it nearly 2016?! I am working on some resolutions. Nothing too intense, I want to make sure my goals are attainable. Most of all, I want to live in the present. I want to live simply and with intention. That's my main focus for the new year. These are the days, or so I'm told, and they go by so quickly. 

So Happy New Year to all you amazing people who visit us here on this little site. Come and visit us anytime. As life gets a bit more chaotic,  I hope to maintain Good Morning Beautiful, as it's really been a wonderful place for me to share my family, interests, and general thoughts on life. I know I will look back on all of this and cherish all that I have documented here. 

Baby Prep

Nursery. Nearly complete, needing a few minor touches here and there. Tour coming soon.

Name. Got it, love it, yet saving to share until the his big arrival.

Pump. Ordered and should be arriving any day. I am excited to give breastfeeding another shot. The first go-round came with lots of challenges. From latching initially, to dozing during his midnight feeds... Al could just never seem to nurse long enough to fill his little belly. He was tearful, I was tearful, and so the unfortunate double breast-pump was our solution. It did the job, but it was more of a hassle than anything else. I was bottle feeding, pumping, washing bottles, repeat... it was three times the work and eventually, after about 5 months, I tuckered out. My supply dwindled during his recovery, mostly due to stress, but also because I headed back to work, which was an additional stressor. Towards my final month of nursing, I did breastfeed him some during the day here and there, and my comfort level did grow quite a bit. I started to kind of love and look forward to those quiet, special moments of bonding with my boy. I really pray this next time comes easily to both me and my littlest one. I know now not to put too much pressure on myself. I know to focus on his hunger cues as opposed to the clock. I know about 'cluster feeding' in the evening and how to prepare for it. I know that breastfeeding is beautiful and to not be overly modest about such a normal and natural thing. I'm ready to give it another go.

Hospital Bag. It's packed and ready to roll. Just the essentials.
For Mom - a button down pj set, slippers,  flip-flops (for showering), two nursing tanks, new (large, cotton) black undies, leggings, a loose tunic or two, and my go-to prenatal vitamins.
For Dad- comfy sweats, slippers, chargers, iPad, camera, and snacks.
For the Babe - a going home outfit, hat included (newborn and 3 months, just in case he's a chub), swaddles, a boppy pillow for nursing, pacifiers, and a soft blanket for the ride home.

Big Brother. Well, I'm not sure if he's fully prepared, but it's safe to say we have made a solid effort to prep Alec for this huge life change as much as possible. We've read about five books about becoming a big brother (at least 15 times each). We've taught him the importance of being mommy and daddy's big helper once baby arrives. We've purchased at least three new 'big bro' tees for him to rock when he visits his new little brother at the hospital. We have lined up my parents to watch him overnight for a couple days or so. They will be staying at our house, with the goal being to disrupt his routine as minimally as possible. We have put together a special big brother kit, consisting of some new toys, movies, games, and snacks to keep him occupied while we are away. I realize that no matter what we do to plan for our new babe's arrival, it will no doubt be a large adjustment for Alec. But I figure every effort to make the transition just that more gentle is worth it.

Baby Gear. Fortunately, because it's our second, and because it's a boy, we have most of what we need. We have the swing, the rock'n'play, and the pack'n'play. We have a play mat, a bumbo seat, and about a hundred swaddles, velcro included. We have bins upon bins of clothes that will hopefully translate into the appropriate season. We have three different baby carriers, an infant car seat with two bases, and three different single strollers. But although we have a ton of things baby, there were a few new things we needed to invest in.

A double stroller, we chose this one, currently on sale at Babies'r'us for only $239.99 (which is actually a stellar price). I was initially interested in this one, but after reading a ton of reviews and an actual test drive at the store, I was super happy with our choice.

A bassinet. I actually didn't have to purchase a bassinet, as my sister had one that she was willing to lend. I'm sure some folks don't think this item is incredibly essential, but to me it is, and I'll tell you why. Alec slept in the rock'n'play for his first few months of life. Because that darn piece of baby gear is so dang cozy, we literally had to wean him out of it. The crib transition was incredibly challenging, involving a wedge, a fleece blanket, AND a towel roll. Excessive I know, but it was about survival. Sooo, in an effort to avoid all the extra hassle, the bassinet is going to be my initial go-to.

An additional crib. We chose this one, super basic, but all we should need for the first six months or so. I just didn't feel like Alec was ready to go into a toddler bed. He has been sleeping so well in his crib, I figure, why disrupt the routine right before a huge life adjustment. So we will attempt the crib weaning, as well as, potting training after the hustle bustle of the holiday season. Hey, if all is well, why rock the boat?! At least that's my motto.

Some fresh pacifiers and a few bottles. I didn't go to town when purchasing these two items, because I remember going through lot of trial and error before we found the go-to pacifier and bottle that worked for Alec. Every kid is different, so I didn't want to limit baby number two to what worked for baby number one. I'll let him decide what he likes best, and take it from there.

A sound machine. A must in my book, especially now that we have two children. These handy little devices drown out just about every noise, and allow for a restful night's sleep, even when chaos is potentially brewing in another room of your home. That noisy trash truck, not a concern. Putting away dishes during nap time, no problemo. I also love the projector feature on this particular model. We didn't use it initially, but now gazing at the stars has become part of our nightly routine with Alec.

Anyways, that's the extent of our baby prep. I've done some intense cleaning, rearranging, and organizing as well. And at this stage in the game, I am feeling more than ready to welcome our new little babe into our home. I pray that labor comes easily. I pray that Alec adjusts well. I pray that God gives me the strength and patience to handle two little ones on my own each day. Wish me luck! And a huge shout out to all you moms out there doing your best to make it work each and everyday. Motherhood is quite possibly the most rewarding, yet challenging, adventure that I have taken on in my lifetime that is for sure.

I am so ready to experience this cuteness all over again. Bring on that baby smell, those snuggly warm naps, and milk comas galore. 

R&R

Dear Ocean,

Thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty…

all at once.

If you follow me on insta you probably already know that we were away all last week. We spent a full seven days at the Jersey shore, Avalon to be exact, and it was every bit as glorious as I'd hoped it would be. We were fortunate enough to have some seriously beautiful weather, and so therefore, we hit the beach just about every single day. Alec was such a little water bug and it made me so full of joy to see his love for the ocean. Watching him play and run on the beach with his cousins reminded me so much of my own childhood summers. 

Our trip was full of adventure. Lots of morning beach play, outdoor showers, afternoon siestas, and evening ice cream dates. We spent a day in Cape May, checking out all the historic sites. We even made not one, but two, trips to the county zoo. (Which was actually amazing, and FREE. Can't beat that.) We visited Morey's Pier one evening, in Wildwood, and Alec was in awe of all the rides and bustling activity. We beach hopped over to Sea Isle City for a day in the sun with family and friends. Our time away was nothing short of amazing and filled with some much needed R&R. I feel so grateful  to have had this time together with my boys. So many wonderful memories were made that I will cherish for years to come.  

Anyways, get ready for picture overload. And these are just a few of the many photos I captured on the big cam while we were away. 

 Thanks for visiting! I hope your summer has gotten off to a great start as well. Hooray for sunshine and time spent by the sea.

Here and Now

It's hard to believe that in less than two weeks (12 days exactly but who's counting) we will be heading in for our little one's anatomy scan. I am overwhelmed with both excitement and angst when I think about this upcoming day. April 12th, 2013 we found out that Alec was a little boy, but at that same appointment, the doctor also discovered his heart defect. A beautiful moment overshadowed by devastating news. Possibly the best and worst moments of my life within a few short minutes of one another. I am incredibly anxious to know the sex of our new little bundle but I am even more anxious to know that they are forming properly within the womb. Although, to us, our Alec is absolutely perfect in every way, I hate knowing that he has had and will continue to deal with more than any child should. I pray every night that he will remain strong and continue to thrive as he has. I pray that our unborn child doesn't face the same struggles that he has faced. I thank God every day for the good fortune that we have been blessed with thus far. June 15th can't possibly come soon enough. 

I am currently 17 weeks pregnant. I am feeling strong and better than I have in months. This summer has gotten off to a fantastic start, and I can already tell it is going to be one for the books. We have hit the beach almost every weekend since mid-May and Alec has loved every second. The weather has been perfect, with exception of this week, and I couldn't be more grateful for all the time we've been able to spend outdoors. We've been soaking up long weekends together as a little family of three, knowing that the dynamic will drastically change come fall. I am hoping for many more 'feel-good' days and lots of summer adventures to come. 

Whoaaa Baby

Well, if you follow me on social media you probably already know... the cat's outta the bag, WE ARE EXPECTING again! A new little addition due in Mid-November. My little hiatus from this here blog can be ever explained by my overwhelming exhaustion and countless bouts of excruciating heartburn. But alas… we are hitting week 14 and things are looking up over here. My energy levels are improving  (slightly) and I have learned to avoid most of the foods that make me feel like my chest is on fire.

As most avid readers know, as previously stated in this post, this little babe was NOT part of the 2015 plan. We had originally decided to hold off on expanding our little family until Alec was through his next stage heart surgery. But as it turns out, I am learning that (once again) I have absolutely no control and that God has his own interesting plan for us. So although very surprised (shocked is more like it), we are incredibly excited to be expanding our little brood.

This go-round has been a bit more difficult for me. For starters, I wasn't really expecting it, so I wasn't mentally prepared for the side affects of growing another human. I swear I have never been this tired in my life. I doze off nearly everyday during Alec's afternoon nap. I am incredibly unproductive, I'd even go out on a limb to say that I have just been plain lazy (which is very out of character for me). I haven't ingested a salad in weeks, and lucky charms have become a staple in my diet. I'm not proud of it… but to be honest, I don't really care. I'm just trying to survive. Dramatic, I know, but any Mom of more than one can probably relate.

So I haven't been feeling fantastic. And I don't know if it's my hormones or what, but this time just hasn't felt quite the same as the first time. I am still in the slightly chubby phase of pregnancy, and I just can't get comfortable in my own skin lately and that's something I'm not super used to. Despite not loving my current look, I am really doing my best to soak all this up. This is a blessing. What is happening inside me is pretty out-of-this-world amazing and I am super lucky to be able to do this again. I am focusing hard on the one-on-one time I have with Alec, knowing that this will only last a few months longer. I am napping whenever possible, knowing that naps will be few and far between with two little ones. And I am enjoying trips to the local creamery once or so a week, and I'm not holding back, because who knows when I'll be able to eat ice cream again guiltlessly.

All this change is so exciting, and so (sort of) scary. To imagine loving another little human as much as I love Alec is just crazy to me. But it's funny, I already feel my heart making more room. There is no experience in life that I have ever loved more than being a mama. Sure it has it's challenges, but it's the best darn job there ever was and I am beyond pumped to experience it all over again. I will keep you all posted on how things are going. On June 15th, we have our second trimester screening. This appointment is super special because not only do we get see that our baby is healthy and perfect, but we also get to find out the gender. Right now, my bet is a little lady, but I change my mind daily so who knows. Please keep baby Drake in your thoughts and prayers as he/she continues to grow and thanks to all for the well wishes and support.

Snow Daze

Today marked Alec's first official snow day! He knows the word 'snow' but had only ever experienced it from the window. This afternoon, we bundled him up, (Next year, we're going to have to invest in some appropriate snow pants and gloves) and trekked out into the backyard. Kiel introduced him to snowballs and sledding, ya know, typical boy stuff. And he and I took a scenic stroll along the line of woods behind our home. Alec was a total skeptic… he didn't have any desire to roll around in that powdery white stuff (And to be honest, neither did I. It's frigid out there!) Either way, it was a fun moment that I am sure to remember and cherish. I so look forward to all of his 'firsts'. It's so amazing to experience life all over again through my little one's eyes. Parenting has it's challenges, but I wouldn't trade any of it for world. 

Plans

Kiel and I had been talking of plans to visit Florida as a family for quite some time. After all, our last trip down south was pretty incredible, view here. We thought that we could possibly get cardiac clearance from Alec's cardiologist at his last appointment in January, but unfortunately, we thought wrong. Very wrong. No clearance to fly with our little bug and lots of talk of procedures and surgeries instead. The docs offered us some guidance, in regards to family planning, and the ultimate decision that was made was to hold off on any future kiddos until we are through the thick of it. With all that being said, we are focusing on the positive and taking this next year or so to focus on other things instead.

We've decided to do some traveling in the year ahead, some as a family, some as a couple, and some on our own. Although we can't go too far, we are planning many road trips as a family. We always manage to visit the Delaware Beaches at least a handful of times in the summer and I'd love to throw a possible camping trip into the mix. Kiel and I have both wanted to take short, little getaways of our own, but their haven't been too many opportunities to do so with all that's been going on. Plus, until now, we just didn't feel ready to leave our little guys for more than one or two nights. I would love, love, love to get out to California to visit my college bestie. And Kiel has been wanting to take a boys trip down south to enjoy the sunshine and hit a few rounds of gold with his buddies. Hopefully, this year we can stammer up the courage to make these plans actually come to fruition.

As far as a couple getaway goes, I've been doing my research and I keep going back to the same place over and over. It's a long shot, but I've been dying to get out to the West Coast, Oregon specifically. If we can make it work financially and if we can convince my parents to watch Alec while we're gone, I would love to spend three days in the city (Portland specifically) and three days on the coast (Cannon Beach has seemed most appealing). I've read so many amazing things about both locations and airbnb offers quite a few affordable, aesthetically pleasing accommodations.

Portland seems like an incredible place to visit. Tons of amazing local coffee roasters and gourmet donut shops (two of my favorite things). Great vintage shopping and curbside food trucks galore. Eclectic bars, a buzzing music scene, and plenty of flea markets. I have so much on my to-do list, I don't really know if three days is enough! I expect our time in the city to be busy and tiring, which is okay by me. But I do feel as though we deserve some time to relax, as well... that's when we head to the coast. Only an hour and a half drive from the city, Cannon Beach seems like the most ideal spot to spend a couple lazy days together. The pictures I've seen are just breath-taking. The weather is a bit cool, which would probably be a nice break for us come August on the East coast. Our mornings could be spent hiking through Ecola State Park or cruising on bikes along the coastline. Evenings could be spent at home, cooking meals, drinking wine, and just spending quality time together, 1:1.

I really pray we can make this work, and if not this exactly, something along these lines. Do you have any suggestions overall? Places you've visited that you really enjoyed? Or semi-local family getaways that you'd recommend? All or any advice welcome! I think 2015 is going to be an adventurous year, and I look forward to each and every bit of it.

Snapshots: Our Holiday at Home

The hustle bustle of the holiday season has come to a close and although it saddens me to take down all the Christmas decor, I am sort of excited for the next few slow winter months. Kiel and I hosted back to back holiday parties, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We both have rather large families, so both days we served a full-course sit-down dinner to twenty-some people. Part of me wonders what the heck I was thinking, but fortunately, despite a few minor outbursts on my end, things turned out pretty darn lovely. It was such a cool experience to host Christmas in our new home with everyone we love by our sides. Alec had an absolute ball, and being that we were in our own home, things were much easier for us, especially bedtime (No lugging around bulky pack'n'plays and late-night carseat transfers). And not to mention, our home is baby proof approved so we didn't have to worry about Alec getting into every little thing (Sixteen months is a very adventurous age!). So, despite the chaos, the pros heavily outweighed the cons, and I think we'll just get wild and do it all again next holiday season.

Because of my nursing career, I unfortunately have to work a few holidays a year. I was very grateful to have off Christmas this year, but was super sad to miss smooching my boys at midnight when the ball dropped on New Year's Eve. Kiel and I did manage to FaceTime one another as the countdown dropped to one. We gave each other a cheesy air kiss and said our "I love you's" so not all of NYE was completely lost. Cheers to a wonderful holiday season and to an exciting new year.

Merry Christmas - Love The Drakes

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cheers to another miraculous season! All is truly merry and bright around here and I thank you all for sharing in our joy.

1. A French Press. My man has become a serious coffee lover over the last few years, especially since having a little one. Sleep is minimal at times and a good cup of coffee can really make or break your day. A few gents I work with swear by the french press and after trying a cup,  I am a believer. 

2. Urban Outfitters Pic Pod Mount. "Panoramic pics are cool, but they're kinda hard to get right...until now! The Panoramic Pic Pod Mount works with your panorama-compatible smartphone to create the perfect panoramic image. Just attach to your phone, wind up the pod, put it on the included tripod (or on any flat surface) and let it do its thing. The result is a optimum-quality panoramic image." With the amazing picture quality of smart phones these days, this mount could really come in handy, especially for travel. 

3. J.Crew Camp Socks. My husband is in love. He wears these bad boys all winter long. Great quality for a relatively good price, you can't beat it. 

4. A Nixon Watch. My man always rocks a watch. He has a pretty serious collection that has accumulated over the years, a watch for every occasion. He has at least three Nixon watches, all of which he and I both love. So classic looking, and a great quality product. 

5. A Good Read. Almost any man can appreciate a good by Stephen King and this one was on the best seller list in 2014.

6. Boots. Kiel and I don't have lots of extra money laying around for Christmas, but we each agreed that we were both in dire need of some boots this holiday season. I obviously picked out this pair, and he went with the pair linked above. Boots are such an everyday wardrobe staple. 

7. Slippers. I got this pair for Kiel two years ago for Christmas and I don't think he's gone a single day without wearing them yet. He is obsessed. He even wears them in the summer months. It's insane.

8. The Cone. 'The cone is the first music player that thinks. It listens to your requests, picks up on your habits, and learns your tastes to create the perfect soundtrack for any mood or moment'. Who wouldn't love this for Christmas?

How Could I Forget?

As I sit here, during Alec's nap time, and make lists and lists of presents to buy for family and friends for Christmas, I started to realize that I have totally bypassed another very special holiday all together! Maybe it's because I have to work Thanksgiving this year, or maybe it's because I want to stay ahead of the rest to avoid mall crowds at the end of December… but either way I have decided to pump the breaks just a tad and refocus my energy on next week's holiday of thanks. 

As I reflect back on this passing year, I become overwhelmed with joy just thinking of all the amazing things that I am so very thankful for. It has been one of the best, and most challenging, years of my life. As many of you readers probably know, our son, Alec, has a very serious heart condition. He was diagnosed in utero at just nineteen weeks. Last November, only two months after his arrival, Alec had major open heart surgery. It was the absolute scariest time of my life. Nothing will ever be as difficult as the moment I walked my boy to the operating room doors. We held him, and kissed him, and then as he rolled away, Kiel and I held each other as tears rolled down our faces. I swear the stress of that moment alone has taken years off my life...BUT with great faith in our medical team and God, the support of our family and friends, and Alec's amazing strength, we got through it. Our babe has thrived like we never imagined, and with that I am eternally grateful. Not only has he gotten stronger, but so has my marriage and the bond we share with our supportive family and friends.

'Thankful' doesn't really begin to describe how I feel about this passing year. It's hard to believe that so much has changed in just a little over 12 months. We are now parents to a beautiful, strong boy. We settled into a new home, which we could never have done without the help of my parents and grandfather. We celebrated our boy's first birthday, which was an amazing milestone after all he's been through. My sister-in-law set us up with a 'Go Fund Me' account and with the generous donations from family and friends we were able to pay off all of Alec's medical bills and create a savings account for future procedure/surgery costs. A close girlfriend of mine organized a heart walk team in honor of Alec and an amazing group of family, friends, and co-workers walked to support the cause in 2014 and 2015. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child and I swear I don't know where I'd be without my incredible village of supporters out there. So so so many truly awesome things happened over this past year or so and I am grateful beyond words. I feel so incredibly loved which is really all you need in this world. I only hope that this upcoming year is just as fabulous as the last. Thank you for reading. xo -L

image courtesy of nestofposies.com

Transition

ONE > TWO.

Why did no one tell me this!?! Or maybe people did, but I was too exhausted to remember. All I know is that my little babe is napping once a day now. And to most new moms that probably sounds like the worst thing ever, but rest assured, it is not. It is sooo NOT. It's amazing actually. Because although he is only taking one nap… it's a solid two to three hour nap. Imagine what you can do with that much time… and all at once! No more cramming my entire adult life into one, one hour nap. I can actually sit down during nap time and not feel guilty for once.

Not only is the one LONG nap fantastic because I have time to actually do things, but because he is actually worn out and ready for a nap when the time comes to take one. Also, bedtime is no longer a struggle because as said before, he is actually tuckered out and truly ready to rest. Just the other night, he literally grabbed his lovey, walked up to me with his arms up in the air, and said "nigh nigh mama". It was the most amazing thing. Now we make a little routine of it.. nigh nigh dada, nigh nigh mama, nigh nigh doggie.. and so forth. I can't even take the cuteness. I am seriously loving the one nap transition. Our days are running much smoother now that we have an agreeable routine.

*Side Note. Kiel was away for three days last week. He had a work conference in Baltimore and it was just me and little bug for three days straight. My husband's time away was difficult. We reaaally missed him, probably me even more than Al. Alec was actually incredibly good, like unbelievably good. But regardless of how amazing our little one can be, come 6 pm, (most nights) I am ready for a little break and really eager to see Kiel walk through that door. There is something to be said for the little team we have created over the last year. When it comes to parenting, we have developed a nice little system that allows both of us some "me" time throughout the day.  My husband is a truly awesome partner, and such an amazing, hands-on papa to our boy. I am very verrry lucky and what I truly realized while he was away, is that I am so glad that I don't have to do this whole parenting thing alone. SERIOUS props to all the single parents out there. You are amazing. I don't know how you do it.

Why yes! We did dance to Christmas music all afternoon one day. Kiel often proclaims that I 'jump the gun' on things… and so what, maybe I do. But damn it felt good to bust out the ole Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby Christmas tunes while Dada was away. Judge me all you want folks, but I am soaking up every ounce of this holiday season!