Happy Thanksgiving

Well, we really celebrated our Thanksgiving on Sunday with a few other families but since today is the "real" day....
We really lucked out this year. We were invited to do Thanksgiving at a friends home and all I had to make was the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (it did not turn out using the european ingredients that were available to me. totally sad.), an appitizer of veggies and cheeses, and a non-pie dessert (i made some sugar cookies and homemade frosting). So, as you can see, all the hard stuff was made by other people. They made the turkey (it was amazing) and homemade rolls (you can't have Thanksgiving without them) not to mention, they made some super yummy pies too. All in all, it was a great day! Even James chowed down on the carrots and celery that were cooked with the turkey. He thought they were so yummy and every time we didn't get them on his tray fast enough, he would bounce up and down in the high chair and start making his little noises to let us know to hurry it up. It was hand over fist eating for him. I am a bit sad that we are the only ones (on both sides of the family) that are not going to be home for Thanksgiving this year but then we haven't been home for about 5 years so I should be used to it by now. I'm not. I think next year I will try to go home right before Thanksgiving and then come back right after New Years. That way I can get all the big holidays in one extended vacation. And I will get to do some Black Friday shopping. This will be the first time I miss it.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays cuz it is all about family to me. It is the one holiday that anyone that is American or is in America can get into. It crosses religions and cultures and everything else that other holidays don't seem able to do. It is all about being Thankfull and being with your family. Who doesn't have at least 1 think to be thankful for? I know I have lots. Too many to list. So, let me wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Can't wait to see those of you who will be in Utah during Christmas time. Well, I will actually be there from Dec. 14th till Jan. 23rd, so if you will be there during that time, lets get together!
Oh, and James is doing a bit better today. We took him to the doctor this morning just to make sure he was all good and they said that he just has a really nasty cold. Darn cold season! It did snow here last weekend...

Sad Bimmy News

Well, it has finally happened. Bimmy is totally sick. Well, we all are. Brian even stayed home from work yesterday. This is the first time he has actually been sick. I don't count little runny noses which he has had 3 of those already.
This time counts cuz he is really acting sick. He took 3 long naps today and went to bed at like 5:40 pm. Yesterday, he went to bed at the same time and didn't get up for the day till 7:40 this morning. Yes, he is officially sick. He has a mega runny nose and a cough. And worst of all, he has a little Bimmy fever. His cheeks got all pink and rosy and he really just wanted to snuggle all day long. Luckily for me, he hasn't been too cranky, mostly just way tired and he really didn't have much energy at all today. Needless to say, today is his least smiley day (since he started smiling). He even fell asleep in my arms (that NEVER happens) this afternoon at the start of his 3rd nap. I feel so sad and I have been doing everything I can think of to make him more comfortable. I gave him a nice lukewarm bath and I gave him lots of water and offered as much food as he would eat. Here is a pic of him sleeping this afternoon. I took his clothes off on purpose so he wouldn't be too hot and get overheated. That is what "What to Expect the First Year" said to do. I also tried some of my less "conventional" methods. Yes, I broke out my homeopathic home kit and gave him some fever remedie. I also mixed a bunch of Juice Plus in with his cereal and upped his dosage of probiotics, all in an effort to boost his little immune system. Hopefully, he will be back to his normal, happy, Bimmy self soon.
On the bright side, despite his boogers and cough, he has had no breathing troubles. So I am counting my blessings. Boogers and coughs are annoying but breathing problems are another, way bigger, problem. I will keep you posted on his speedy, hopefully, recovery. If he isn't doing better tomorrow, I will take him to the equivalent of the Insta Care here. Apparently, pediatricians don't do sick visits. They just have you take them to the Emergency Care Clinics. Weird hu? At least it doesn't cost us any more than the doctor visit would. Switzerland does some things a bit different. Not bad, just different.

Happy Birthday James!

Saturday, November 15, 2008, was Bimmy's birthday! Yes, 1 year ago (at 2:43 p.m. Central time) he was born. I can't believe it has been a whole year. I'm not sure what to say about it. We didn't even get dressed for the day. It was so fun. We just kinda sat around and chilled all day. Here he is opening his presents from one of his Gramma's that arrived just on time for his birthday. He loved all his present from everyone. Thanks so much!
I made him his first cake (read first sugar ever). It was a carrot cake made with as much organic ingredients as I could find. And olive oil instead of regular oil. He mostly made an enormous mess with it but he sure had fun doing it. Before. (No, there was no frosting. I'm not that nice of a mommy. He didn't seem to miss it).
During.After. Most of it was just flung joyously to the floor. Then we spent the rest of the day doing more nothing. It was a great 1st birthday for Bimmy! Here are a few pics of him from the last couple weeks. ( Since my last post). Enjoy.
Here he is playing in our "backyard". There were tons of leaves and at first he didn't dare move through them. Then he got over it and started playing.Here he is uncleaning his room that I just cleaned. It is really one of his favorite past times. He just loves to pull the books onto the floor and revel in the mess he has made. He sits right in the middle of it and just shuffles things around till they are perfect.Here he is playing at the park. Notice the dirty mouth? Yes, he insists on tasting everything. It totally grosses me out but I'm getting over it.Here he is showing off his newest ability to immitate on demand. Sorry it is sideways. That is Brian's fault.

We can't wait to see what the next year will hold for him...stay tuned to find out...
Oh and for those of you who wonder if James ever stops smiling. (I get asked that a lot). Yes sometimes he does stop smiling. Here he is about 10 seconds after he got up on Sunday morning.And here he is about 3 seconds later. What can I say? He is just a ham. He loves to cheese it up like his momma. Thanks, Aunt Karen, for the great birthday jammies! I love them!

Muddy Little Bimmy

Can you guess what I did today while the weather wasn't too frigid or rainy? That's right! I played at the park. On the ground. In the mud. I ate grass, mud, wood chips, rocks and had some water to wash it all down. It was super fun! I love the park!

Happy Bloggerversary to us!

It has officially been 1 year since we started this blog in honor of James impending arrival. I can't believe how fast it has gone and yet I am excited to see what the next year brings as well. So, 1 year and 74 posts ago (including this one) this whole thing started. Hope it hasn't been too boring for y'all.

Random things that have happened in the last year (not in any particular order).

1. James was born. This was totally the most important event.

2. We moved to Switzerland.

3. Brian was promoted to manager at work.

4. Becky turned 30!

5. James more than doubled in size. (Good thing it wasn't me).

6. James got 7 teeth.

7. Becky had her first hospital stay and surgery (when James was born) of her life.

8. Brian has tried tomatoes more than once in Switzerland. (This is pretty much unheard of as tomatoes are the "forbidden fruit" according to him).

9. Brian has also eaten "raw" meat here. (This is a major step for him as well).

10. Becky speaks less than Brian at church. (That is cuz I can't speak French well yet. I will be making up for lost time soon).

11. We actually had home teachers show up at our house once. (Kinda weird. What are you supposed to do with them? I haven't really had home teachers come since living with my parents in Bountiful).

12. Becky has learned how to function without a car using public transportation. Not happily but she is dealing.

13. Becky went back to college to finish her degree.

14. We had our first visitor here in Geneva! Thanks, Geoff, for visiting! This is a hint for the rest of you.

15. We got our first "care package" from home. Thanks, Mom, we loved everything you sent. This is also a hint for the rest of you!

16. We inspired lots of family and friends to start blogs of their own so we can keep in touch with them better and see what's happening in their lives. Including Brian's entire family (even Tra la la la la) and one of Becky's sisters.

That is all. We can't wait to see what happens in the next year...