2007 Durham Christmas

Saturday we celebrated with Jason's side of the family for their annual Christmas party. I was running on 3 hours of sleep, but we all had a nice time. It is always great to see family and catch up on what everyone is up to. Once again, I lost the Durham quilt in the Chinese Christmas game that Nan Durham makes every year, but one of these years, I will get one!!

Here is a family picture. Jason never smiles for a picture, so I think it looks good!!

Christmas 2007

Bryce unwrapping some of his gifts



Today was a great day. It truly was in the Christmas spirit, and we were surrounded by family. I love that part of the holidays. Tomorrow the fun continues as we go and see Jason's side of the family. So our celebration is far from over.

Bryce made out like a bandit--to say the least. For the most part, his cache consisted primarily of trains, art supplies, and remote controlled cars, trucks, and machinery. His favorite of the latter being the remote controlled forklift he asked Santa for all along.

At 0030 last night, Bryce woke me up to inform me that he saw Santa's blinking sleigh lights flying over the house. He immediately went to sleep after that news bulletin. I had to put that in print, or I might forget it a few years down the line. He is so cute sometimes.

Here are a few pics from today.

Bryce and Jason checking out the Thomas and Percy Carnival set.

Bryce playing with his Darth Vader mini-laptop. This is a little too advanced for him right now, but he will be able to use it soon!!


Finally, here is Bryce holding Breckin at Nana's house. Bryce has his glasses on in this pic. I will post more of him in glasses soon--I have to make him stop smiling funny first.

Hands on

Breckin finally came home Tuesday and Bryce was finally able to meet his cousin. He was so excited to see him for the first time. Bryce was even more excited to HOLD him for the first time. Here are 2 pictures of the boys together at last.

Look alikes

Here is a comparison of Bryce and Breckin (in that order) as newborns. Can you tell they are cousins???!!! Yeah, I think so....

Apparently, Breckin was so comfortable he slept through his whole photo session! He should be home tomorrow. YEAH!!!!!! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all for everything.

Meeting Santa Claus

Saturday December 8th my Mom and Dad took Bryce to have breakfast with Santa Claus. As he gets older, he definately gets better at the picture taking with a fat, bearded man in a red suit. I don't know if that should worry me yet or not??
Anyway, here is that photo. I think Santa has weird eyes, but the photo is cute.

Out of the mouths of babes

Bryce's vocabulary is definitely expanding and I am quite impressed at his usage. We were driving Friday in the car, and I put on my sunglasses. I turned around when we were at a stop light and asked him how I looked. He paused from drinking from his straw, looked at me, and proceeded to tell me without skipping a beat, "Ridiculous". After which he calmly began drinking again--I on the other hand burst out laughing!! I can't believe the things that he is coming up with. He is soooo funny.
He has also become a super hero of sorts. He has POWER in him and he has to drink his special power water to keep the power in him. Funny that the "power water" comes from the sink in the downstairs bathroom. He is definitely interested in the super hero cartoons. His favorites being Superman, Batman, and the animated hero Krypto the super dog!!!

What's new??

You may be asking what is new with the Durham family?? Well, let me fill you in on everything since my last post.

On Thursday November 29th, my nephew Breckin Matthew Dorwart was brought into the world. His mom wasn't feeling so well, so he was only 34 1/2 weeks old, and he had a VERY rough start. I am happy to report though, that he is doing MUCH better. He is still in the NICU but was moved to the feeders/growers side and will hopefully be home in the next few weeks. For being early though, he was a big guy. He weighed 5 pounds 6.9 ounces and is 18 3/4 inches long.

Here's my brother Adam (Daddy)with Breckin.


Breckin with his cute little hat that his great grandmother made him. All of the tubes are out except the little feeding tube under the tape.


Bryce had his 6 month cardiology follow up last week. He is 41 inches tall and weighes 34 pounds. He was started on a pill medication instead of the liquid we have used since birth. I was IMPRESSED with how well he took it this past Monday. I thought for sure I would have to put it in pudding or something, but he said "I don't want my pill in pudding, Mom" He took it like a little champ!!!

His preschool does vision screenings, and his came back in October that he needed a professional eye exam. I just thought that Bryce got tired of the screen, and made up letters or something. Monday we had our eye appt, and it turns out there really is a problem. Bryce's left eye is not growing as quickly as his right. Basically, it means that if it continues to go uncorrected he will develop a "lazy eye" on the left. SO.......we went to pick out his glasses last night. He choose a really cute pair from the 7 or so pairs I picked out first. He kept picking adult sized glasses saying, "Mom, this will make my eye bigger." I tried to explain that it is the lens that makes the eye bigger, but he still hasn't quite gotten the idea. For now he seems excited about the glasses....we'll see what happens when they finally come in?!!?

We are getting ready for Christmas and his preschool is having a little program next Wednesday. I asked him last night what they were going to do and he said, "I can't tell you Mom. It is a secret." I asked Bryce why he told Nana then what we got her for Christmas because that was a secret too. His reply? "Well, she asked!"
He makes me laugh out loud sometimes. So..I guess I'll just have to wait and see what they do in their program. I'll be sure to take my camera and post some of the pics.

That's about all fow now. I'll post some pics soon--we have cookie baking that we are doing with my Mom this Tuesday and then his program on Wednesday. Everyone stay safe and warm until next time!