Thankfully we were able to get an appointment and got some “miracle drops” for him. I call them miracle drops because 24 hours later he looked like this…

Still a little swollen (same crazy hair), but so much better!! And no, putting drops in a 7 month old’s eyes 3 times a day for 7 days isn’t nearly as horrible as I expected! He’s a trooper!!

The 2nd picture was also Logan’s 1st peas. Ever since Macy gagged when we gave her peas as a baby, I always have my camera ready for a similar response. The boys have both loved peas from the first bite, so, unfortunately, they haven’t given me the same Kodak moment as their sister.

Our family was running through the 2nd round of a respiratory virus around Steven’s birthday, so we kept things simple and had grandparents over for pizza and cake.

I saw a version of this cake on pinterest and knew I had to try it for my little truck lover.

The inside was supposed to have one more stripe, but I was nervous about pulling it off so I decided to go with 3.  Next time I’ll try 4 so the stripes will be more even.

Steven loved it when we sang “Happy Birthday”.

He even eats cake like a boy (I don’t think Macy’s ever gotten that messy eating cake).  In this picture he was actually licking the cake off his fingers.

Ready to open presents!

Macy was more than willing to help.

Now Steven can work with his tools like Daddy.

Doug gave both kids their first t-ball lesson.

Logan had bronchitis and a double ear infection, but he still had fun at the party.

Happy birthday Steven!  I can’t wait to see how much you grow over the next year.  I am truly blessed to be your mommy!!

I think Steven was impressed too.

When I was a baby someone made me a fabric candy cane (it was probably my mom or her mom…I’ll have to ask later) to chew on…hence “chew cane”.  I was 7 months old on my first Christmas, so it was the perfect drooly age for me to hold something soft and chew on it.  My mom held on to the chew cane and got it out (and washed it) for when we went to Mississippi for Macy’s first Christmas.  Since Macy and my birthday are only 1 day apart, she was also at the perfect age for the chew cane.  It completely grossed Doug out that our daughter was chewing on the same chew cane that had I had chewed on as a baby, but she loved it.

While we were there my brother commented about Macy chewing on “his” chew cane…he had to be corrected.  My parents had moved into their new house for Steven’s first Christmas and the chew cane was packed in a box that was still at their old house, so it didn’t make another appearance until this Christmas.  Logan got a chance to try the chew cane…and he was a fan.

The moral of this story is that, in our family, we don’t pass down jewels or china…we pass down chew canes.

and she sorts through them and announces the winner.  The winner gets unwrap the box and keep whatever’s inside…and the $50.  This year there were actually 3 winners (obviously the clues were a little more helpful this year than they usually are)…StephAnie, Uncle John, and Doug!

Doug did a great job snapping pictures while I helped the kids open gifts.  Logan loves his sweet Aunt Steph!

Our usual family photographer.

Steven tries to turn everything into a vehicle.

Grams is definitely a gift to our family!

It was great to celebrate Christmas with our Mississippi family!!!

We had a delicious birthday cake for breakfast (and note to self: if you put candles in monkey bread when it comes out of the oven, your candles will melt.  Letting it cool usually helps.)

After breakfast, Omie and Pop Pop came over for the kids to open their gifts.

Steven got an airplane to ride on…thus beginning his obsession with airplanes.

After the kids opened their gifts, we all went to Brian and Louisa’s house for lunch and more gift opening.

Macy got ALL of the Strawberry Shortcake dolls…a 3 year old girl’s version of diamonds.

Beau showed off his cool new bike.

It was a great day with family celebrating the birth of our Lord!!

I’m not sure what got a hold of me, but I had an overwhelming desire to make homemade sugar cookies this year for Christmas.  Maybe it was that I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do my usual bakefest of neighbor/teacher goodies and there’s something that runs deep in my veins that forces me to bake at least once at Christmas…maybe it’s that (while I’m getting better…the 12 step program is helping) I still feel an overwhelming desire to recreate the Donna Reid show with my family…whatever it is, I HAD to make homemade sugar cookies this year…so I did.  And to my surprise, they were incredibly easy (I was expecting cookie cutter nightmares) and pretty darn tasty!  Adios Pillsbury!

(I have no idea why Macy and Steven wore matching shirts that day.  I promise they usually don’t!)

These are the cookies that Macy decorated.