The Dotsons

After Christmas morning at home, we headed over to my sister's house in Pearland. For the past few years, we've all been meeting up at my aunt and uncle's house in League City. However, since this was our first Christmas without Josh, we decided it would be better not to do exactly what we've been doing b/c it would just remind us of his absence even more. Maybe that sounds silly, but I think it was good for us. We even changed it up with the food and had Mexican food. There were tears but also laughter. I think we all tried to enjoy our time together just as Josh would want us to do. It helps that there are three kids in the family, too...they keep things light-hearted. We all missed Josh so much, though. This was our first Christmas without him in 24 years. Even when he was in the Army, he made it home for Christmas...even the year he was deployed to Iraq - he had his R&R over Christmas and was home with us that year. Life is just not the same without him.

We told my family about our pregnancy the same way we told Rhett's family. I was convinced that my family would catch on right away, but I was wrong! Jackie was the first to notice Caleb's "big brother" shirt but it probably took 5 or more minutes before she noticed...even though Caleb was right in the center of everyone! My family is excited about our addition and it will be fun to add another cousin to my side of the family.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our day. Somehow, I missed getting a pictures of Kyle, Jackie, and Bill but they were there!

There is a story behind this gift (a book about Tom Landry and a VHS transferred to DVD of the Dallas Cowboys' 1987 Christmas Special). Somehow my family found out that Rhett did not know who Tom Landry was when we were together at Thanksgiving. This almost got him disowned, LOL. (my family was crazy about the Cowboys back when Landry was the coach...we watched that Christmas special every year after we got it, LOL). Anyway, they all gave him this book and DVD so he can get to know Tom Landry and the Cowboys a little better! We watched the DVD and remembered many of the lyrics still after all these years!

I got a new camera lens for Christmas, so Luke modeled for me a little. (it is a 50mm f/1.4 which results in the blurred out background)

And this is the ornament I bought to hang on our tree in memory of Josh...

We had a fun Christmas morning in the Dotson house. Santa brought Caleb lots of cool new toys! He got a play kitchen, red wagon, tool set, ride-on toy, new books, and a tent/tunnel playset.

























*another tradition in the Dotson house that we did not do growing up....wrapped gifts from Santa. our Santa did not wrap his gifts. he left each kid a stack of gifts that were assembled and just sitting out in the open. we had to compromise and leave some things unwrapped! it makes sense anyway b/c we would have had to wrap the "big" things in their boxes and then put them together before Caleb could enjoy them.

We spent Christmas Eve this year with Rhett's family in Magnolia. His parents were in (from Lousiana, where they are still currently living), his sister and her boyfriend were there, and his brother and family flew in from North Carolina. We went over in the morning and spent the whole day there. Instead of the traditional Christmas meal, we grilled burgers at one of their neighborhood parks. It was a little chilly, but otherwise nice weather (until that night when it started raining cats and dogs!). Their subdivision has a lake and several parks so it's nice to have that nearby. After we ate an early dinner at the park, we went back to the house and opened gifts.

When I met Rhett and we started dating and spending holidays with each other's families, it quickly became evident that we each do Christmas very differently. It's been a point of discussion ever since...Rhett thinking his family's way is the best and me thinking mine is the best. Now that we have our own family, we are attempting to blend the various traditions...but it is still somewhat of a challenge. I'm bringing this up b/c one of Rhett's family's traditions at Christmas is for each person to open a gift one at a time, so that everyone is watching as each gift is opened...and you just go around and take turns. In my family, it was more of a free-for-all...so I do not like this "taking turns/one at a time" method. Well, with two small children involved, there is no such thing as waiting your turn...so it was just a free-for-all this year in the Dotson house...and it was great! ha! I think I realize why we always did it like that now...b/c we've always had at least one young child around. ANYWAY....

Rhett's parents got Caleb and Cal (2.5 years old) a joint gift...a motorized John Deere Gator to ride at their house. At first, Cal was unsure of it and would not get in it once he saw that it moved (Holly says he's not much of a risk-taker). Caleb loved sitting in the seat right from the start. He loved it even more once he figured out that it moved! Rhett made it "go" for him for a little while then somehow, we convinced Cal to get in it. Once he figured out for himself that it wasn't so scary, he actually started driving it...and Caleb loved being his passenger (he is too small to reach the gas pedal). It will be a fun toy for the boys for years to come, and something special to play with at Mimi and G-Dad's house.

As you will see in the pictures below, we decided to put Caleb in a "Big Brother" shirt to share our exciting news with the family. Travis and Holly noticed almost immediately but did not say anything outloud (they gave us a look so we knew they saw). Caleb was turned away from Megan and Mark (her boyfriend) so I think they could not really see the shirt. However, he was facing right towards Rhett's mom and dad and they never noticed! Rhett handed Caleb to his mom and said "here's your present." to her. She said "oh, thanks" jokingly, but still did not catch on. Finally, Rhett said "read his shirt" so she did. She said "big brother" and then Rhett said "yes, big brother"...then she said it again..."big brother"...and again, Rhett said "yes, big brother"...and finally she got it and said "OH, BIG BROTHER!" It was pretty funny. Maybe you had to be there?

We had a nice time with Rhett's family and have to admit...it was nice not to have to drive to Baton Rouge! :)

our sweet boy is growing up too fast!

We will have a 2-year-old!

I have no idea what that's going to be like, but unless he undergoes an extreme personality change....I'm still gonna be one busy lady! He's an active little boy who likes to explore (aka: get into everything) so I can only imagine how much more active he will be 7 months from now. Doesn't he have the sweetest little face, though? :)

AND, I guess I should mention one other thing....




We will also have a newborn! (or at least an almost newborn)





(this ultrasound photo is at 7 weeks 1 day - not 8w5d like it says)

Yep, we are expecting baby #2! Caleb will be getting a new baby brother or sister for his 2nd birthday! Caleb's birthday is 8/14/09 and this baby's due date is 8/16/11! We are overjoyed! (and maybe a little nervous...or maybe that's just me!) :)

*and I just realized that the very first ultrasound we had with Caleb was exactly 2 years to the date that we had this one....12/29/08!

I am way behind on blogging so this is my first post out of a few that I have yet to post for the end of 2010! I don't have much to say in this post other than I turned 30 on December 2nd. Wow! 30?! Really?! Where has time gone? In my mind, I still feel like I'm in my early 20's. It's hard to believe that I've been out of HS for almost 12 years now, completed college and pharmacy school, gotten married, worked for 3 years and now I've been at stay-at-home mom for about a year and a half. Wow. Seriously....wasn't I just in high school? Not that I would go back, it's just crazy how these years have flown by and I am now 30. I am blessed, though....beyond measure and way more than I deserve. Here's to the next 30 years! (and more, hopefully)

Just a few pictures to share...

with my 2 boys on my birthday



We had a few friends over for dinner to help celebrate. Rhett had been working day and night to perfect "happy birthday" on Caleb's guitar. Here he is serenading me...



hitting the high note, LOL



yummy cookie cake!