Oh, Christmas Tree!

We put our christmas tree up on Thanksgiving weekend but this year we put up an artificial tree (GASP!!!! - unheard of from where I'm from!) instead of our cut-it-down-ourselves-fresh-from-the-tree-farm tree. We will travel to Michigan every other year for Christmas so we thought that an artificial tree would be good for those years. We will still enjoy the tradition of cutting down our own the years we celebrate in Austin. I have to admit that the artificial tree was a lot easier than the fresh tree... man, that thing has lights on it already! All I had to do was put the branches where I wanted them and decorate it. No mess. No watering. No dropping needles! Nice.

Blaine loves it - he calls it his "Christmas Lights".

Here is our faker-than-fake, but lovely, tree (and silly dogs):

Kole is King

We have all been anticipating Kole's death for some time now. He's going to be 17 this summer - I mean, seriously, how much longer can he possibly live?! I will miss him so much when he is gone but until then, he remains King and I love him to pieces. The King's bed was worn out so he got a new one. I had to coax him with treats to get him off this thing and outside for a potty break. Geez.

Here is Blaine giving Tug's rear-end a good amount of lovin' (yuck!)

Daddy's Photo Shoot

Daddy and Blaine had fun in the front yard today. It was a beautiful spring day - high 70's and not a cloud in the sky. I went out to run some errands and three of my boys had some fun with the camera. The other boy (Kole) was sound asleep in the house.

And on we go into another work week...

I cannot think of a clever title today

Tug has been begging me to take his picture and give him some "blog-time" so here is his silly face.

My back has really been hurting. I have never had back pain and never want it again. My back went out twice on Thursday and normally I am very flexible but at this point I cannot bend over and touch my toes because my lower back is so tight. When I was bent over (on Thursday), the pain became so intense that my legs just collapsed. Blaine started laughing because he thought Mommy was playing... but Mommy was definitely not playing. I have iced it and put the heating pad on it and David has rubbed it... but nothing is helping. There are these two lima-bean sized "floaties" back there - I guess this is excess lactic acid or something - and they feel weird and gross and bottom line - it's a huge pain in my a... back!

I hope to be better soon so I can get out exercising again. We have a wedding to go to in a few weeks and the dress I want to wear requires that I lose a few pounds. I am crossing my fingers :)

News Flash: Austin Boy named Genius!

"Blaine - where is the Dog?"
"Blaine, arms up"

Here, our genius (well, at least on his way to genius) boy looks for Tug when we say "dog" and raises his arms up high when we say "arms up". Pretty cool. He also started clapping this morning - but will only put his hands together once or twice... but hey, who's counting! :) David claims he knows "water" too - but I haven't confirmed that fact. He's soaking up information like a sponge now. We continue to use "Your Baby Can Read" - a reading program that Papa Gay saw on an infomercial last month. We are really impressed with it. Good work, Blaine. Now, "where's Mommy?"

A Busy Week

Hey... how can I get up there!!??

Blaine eating Keith's manuscript. He loves it that much!

I think Blaine has been watching Tug tooooo much!

Yes, Blaine does have a Mom - the proof is above :)

It has been a very busy week here in the Lyon household. My good friend Erin, whom I worked with and lived with in college (actually we've been friends for 11 years!) is here on business and is staying with us. She and her fiance, Matt, are getting married in a few weeks in Michigan. She leaves tomorrow and then we have another crew of family and friends arriving. Blaine's cold has subsided, but he has given it to Mommy. My throat is hurting (as if I am swallowing razor blades, yikes!) and that's about it, but I don't like it. Blaine continues to amaze us with his growth. He is so active -always on the go, never naps (not good for me), and is so darn cute! (Oh, did I say that :)

Turning Two and Flying Solo

Tug - 6 weeks old

Hey, what's going on over there?

Blaine deep in thought.

The wonder of a child-priceless.

A few things going on here today. First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUG! Tug turns 2 today - he's grown up so much (and what that means is he's a LOT more calm than he was last year at this time.) Daddy David has went to the Gulf Coast, more specifically Nederland and Port Arthur, to help with the Hurricane relief efforts. He has went with a group from our church. They'll stay with a host church on the coast where they will being doing dirty, dangerous work: cleaning out toxic mud from homes (where it was 5 feet deep), tearing out sheet rock, cutting up fallen trees, etc... People, businesses, and the environment there have been devastated and they need a lot of prayers and assistance. I was glad that David could go, but a bit sad that I could not go as well--we did service work with the communities in and around Jarrell, TX after Hurricane Katrina and Rita and I enjoyed helping. Moreover, I will miss him this weekend and Blaine will surely miss his Daddy time, since the weekends are when these two guys have all the fun. Tonight Blaine and I went to Toys R Us and bought some clothes for fall plus his first football, basketball, and baseball. We'll have some fun with those in the coming years. Also, there is a lizard in the house!!! Normally David takes care of these things (because I HATE lizards and creepy crawly things) but since he's not here, Tug, Kole, Blaine and I have to take care of it. Well, Tug found it and pointed it out for me, and then Blaine and Kole watched as I put a cup over it, slide a piece of paper underneath and now I am bracing myself to pick it all up and put it back outside. Wish me luck! It's late now, I just watched the Presidential Debate and am now tired. It's time for bed!

Happy Sleepy Boy

A few pictures of our precious boy... words aren't needed today.

Resembling Santa this year...

I (Jessica) am getting more and more reluctant to send pictures of myself because I can't see my toes anymore and putting shoes on has become a task that I dread :) However, my changing body and the growing baby are quite a miracle so I am learning to appreciate and love my new form. Monday marks (officially) the start of my third trimester. I now have a belly support to alleviate some of the back pain, but when putting it on feel as if I should be getting for work at Walmart or Home Depot! The nursery is painted and we have our crib and changing table. The only decorations are a few stuffed Lions... but at least we are started in there. Not much else to report. Thank you all for your prayers and support - they certainly help us along...