DM Xmas '09

Well we missed the big storm. Got out of NJ in time and only about 1 hour delay in Chicago to get to IA. We were so freaking happy about that. We overpacked in case we have to stay the night in an airport, so we were ready, but not willing to do it if need be. Good thing it was not needed!

An uneventful travel story really. Gwen was great, hardly slept. Jason had gotten food poisoning the day before we left so that was not fun and he slept more than all of us on the way there, but he needed it. We had just taken the sucky (pcaifier) away from Gwen for good the week of the 18th of Dec. and she was doing awesome. Not asking for it, sleeping without it, perfect. UNTIL I had to bring it on the flight with us...they say you need them sucking on something during take off and landing and I didn't really know what else would work so I brought it. She saw it, addiction started instantly. Ugh. We let her have it to calm her down for that week we were back, but the same night we got home, we took it away again and are happy to say she is 100% sucky free (again)!

Xmas in DM was awesome. We had a great time and Gwen really enjoyed all of her cousins and family members. She was much more open to others this time reaching out for them, going away from us to be with them, even got babysat by JJ, her auntie and Laurie her cousin! She loved it! We got A LOT of clothes, which is axactly what we needed for her. Now she does not look like she is wearing highwaters all the time, lol. Some fun toys and one of her most favorite gifts of all was a baby doll and a Spiderman doll, lol!

She definitely enjoyed the cookies, but didn't really eat much food while we were there which was odd to us. We have never had to deal with the whole "picky eater" thing and were worried she was going to become one. She even didn't eat much at all for about 1 week after coming back to NJ...but she is back on track now, lol. Good to go. Man I would hate to have to deal with a picky eater...annoying and we only had it for like 2 weeks!

Anyways, there was a lot of snow in DM and it was cold there. I honestly didn't think I would ever have forgotten how cold it gets in IA, but I did. Nothing like what Sioux City felt like, but wow. More on that part later. Jason's mom and dad drove us half way to go see my parents on Sunday (they met us to go the other half of the way a day later than planned) because of the weather in Sioux City, but they dealt with the winds and snow for us on Sunday and that meant a lot.

Here is a montage of Xmas in Des Moines. If you want to see the images bigger, just click on the actual picture and it will come up in a new window at a larger size.