One Week

New Years is knocking on the door as Brock's first week comes to a close. His was a week that included many visitors, holidays, and sleepless nights. Having survived the first week we look forward to many more weeks of memories (even the sleepless nights)

Day 1 - Christmas Eve

Day 2 - Christmas Day

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7 - New Years Eve

Pro Puzzler

It may not make the guiness book of world records but Parker would be making Uncle Bart happy with his puzzle skills.

My Uncle Bart every year at Christmas time would put together a puzzle. Whenever we would see him for Christmas or New Years he could be found piecing together a 500 or 1000 piece puzzle. Occasionally family members would join in but impatience would get the best of them. Parker would have loved Uncle Bart as he has discovered a love for puzzles. He will sit at the computer for hours putting together church puzzles. Out of curiosity I decided to time him. Results varied but his best (without help but with plenty of distractions) was 1 min 53 seconds on a Joseph Smith puzzle with 20 pieces. Not to be outdone I made an attempt to best his time and came up with a time of 1 min 12 seconds (no distractions but plenty of limitations).

A puzzle he put together for Christmas

Where does he get it from? Perhaps there is a little Uncle Bart in him, but other than that is a puzzle that we haven't pieced together quite yet!

"Da Baby"

Our fears of Parker eating, smothering, wrestling the baby so far have been replaced with constant requests of wanting to hold the baby. Every chance he gets he comes to us with pleading eyes and says, "I want to hold da babee". And of course who can deny such a request that melts the heart? After making sure he is clean we sit him on the couch and the smothering begins, smothering with kisses that is.

It's only been a week so far and maybe Parker is just letting Brock get settled in before he goes for the attack, but for now we are a happy, healthy, family of two boys.

Snow Bro's

It wasn't a white Christmas, but the white stuff came a few days after Christmas. We didn't waste any time taking advantage of this late Christmas present. After getting bundled up in our "Christmas Story" best we ventured out into the winter wonderland and utilized our creative juices to create "Snow Bro's" in honor of Parker's new little "bro".

Christmas

Christmas 2010 wasn't a typical Christmas. Santa didn'teven arrive until 9:30AM, there was no "Grinch" to carve the roast beast (because leftovers replaced the roast beast!). Presents weren't open until about two in the afternoon. The dreaming of a white Christmas was just that as sunny skies chased the dreams away. Santa didn't even get his cookies and milk.

Though not typical, may I venture to say that it was ideal. It wasn't because my mom brewed up some mean "wassail" and it wasn't even because we took a drive and looked at Christmas lights. Not even the opening of pajamas on Christmas Eve createdthis "ideal Christmas". What made this Christmas "ideal" was that time was spent with family. Having Melissa's family join my parents for Christmas breakfast and spending Christmas Eve dinner at the Pollastro's.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

"Home" for the holidays took on a whole new meaning this Christmas. Though Melissa loved the repeats of "The Christmas Story" and the "gourmet cooking" of the hospital, "home" was where she wanted to be and "home" is where we were for Christmas. It didn't matter that Santa delivered at 9 AM or that Santa went cookieless the night before. In fact many of the "traditions" of Christmas were modified or missed. But this didn't seem to matter. What seemed to matter was that we were "home" as a family. And sothis Christmas we truly understood what Bing Crosby was singing when he said, "for the holidays it is home sweet home".

Getting ready to leave the hospital

Home sweet home

Brothers

Though Parker still thinks his baby brothers name is "Baby Buzz", Parker loves his little brother and spent much of Christmas giving him kisses and wanting to hold him (maybe this is because he thinks he really is buzz?!). Parker was disappointed though when he discovered that "he doesn't speak". There is a lot of work that needs to be done between these "brothers" but so far so good.

Adore

It is no wonder that shepherds and wise men came to "adore" the Savior who was born that Christmas morn. Likewise many came to "adore" the new "precious present" that joined the Esplin family. Fortunately Grandma and Grandpa Esplin left the joys of Disneyworld to arrive a day before and Grandma and Grandpa Pollastro returned from the "California magic kingdom" arriving home just hours before as well. The early hour and last minute Christmas shopping were abandoned to "adore" "Baby Buzz" (thanks Parker) and "Baby Brock"

First in line was Grandpa Carl

Aunt Brittany can't get enough of Brock

Grandchild number 6 for the Pollastro's

Dustin came but used the "no touch" approach for now.

Grandchild #15 for Grandma and Grandpa Esplin

Parker adores "Baby Buzz"

And so the "adoration" begins!