New Year

Our new year has been very busy so far. Ross was very fortunate and able to find a nursing job in this tough job market. He is working at the County hospital in Stockton. It is a commute for him but we couldn't be picky right now. He started 2 weeks ago and I really have missed having him at home. It made it a lot easier to work full time when I knew someone was always home with Marcus. Plus he did most everything around the house. So now we are juggling our two schedules and what to do with Marcus when both of us have to work. So far it has worked out but I am finding that there is never enough time in the day anymore. I am lucky that I have a boss who is so flexible with my schedule. It is going to be a little crazy around here until we get into a routine but I am grateful that Ross is able to work and get experience so eventually he can find the job he really wants.

I have also learned that things don't always work out the way we want them to but it has also reminded me to count my blessings more. There is so much that we have been blessed with despite frustrations we face.

Marcus is growing and thriving. I just love my little boy. Being a mom has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is already 20 months old today. He is saying new words everyday and loves to make us happy. He has been in a clingy stage lately and getting him adjusted to nursery has been hard. He loves Thomas the Train and "choo choos" as he calls them. He loves cars, trucks, airplanes, fire trucks- you get the picture. He loves to go on walks and play at the park and especially gets excited when there are other little kids around. He loves to read books and color. We go to music class and also a gym class once a week. He can't do most things they show him in gym class but he loves to try anyway and just run around. Today he walked up the stairs for the first time by himself. I wouldn't have let him if I knew he was going to walk but he was almost upstairs before I noticed. He keeps us busy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We enjoyed the holidays and loved having Amanda and Matthew here to visit plus my other aunts, uncles and cousins. Marcus thought opening presents was the greatest thing and his facial expressions were so cute. He loves anything that has to do with Jesus so he was constantly wanting to play with my nativities. He didn't like Santa at all so we didn't bother with that. He has it right though- Jesus is the real meaning of Christmas. We spent time with family and took him on a train ride through Niles Canyon. The train was all lit up with lights and he was so excited when the train first pulled up. I think the best part of the trip for him was playing with Grandpa and Amanda though. We also went to Monterey for a couple of days to enjoy the Aquarium and time by the ocean. It was a nice little getaway. Hopefully we will make it up to the snow next month.

That is a basic wrap up of what we have been up to. I am not very patient with loading pictures and posting them on the blog. I need to figure out a way to organize my pictures so they will be forever saved. I did start making a digital scrapbook for Marcus. I am not creative but I am doing the best I can. So I'll tell Ross to post pictures at a later date.