Bountiful December Blessings

Wow. It's been a crazy month. Bella and I welcomed December by flying up to Denver to participate in the Distribution Center work for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. It was freezing cold in Denver but we stayed warm inside the warehouse working our shift on the line. It was awesome to chat with other volunteers who had traveled from all over the states to participate in this worthy cause. We all stayed at the same great hotel, a Hilton Garden Inn, and thus had more time to get to know each other over breakfast and dinner. On December 9 I received a call from D saying she felt that the baby had dropped and she was feeling some early labor stuff going on. I arranged to get out to San Diego the next morning. Indeed I made it there in time as her labor was of the slow and go variety with starts and stops over the next 11 days. On Monday, December 21, the labor really picked up its pace. The older sibs were quickly shuttled to a friend's house and we caravaned to the birth center across the bridge. I was given the privilege of assisting D with her breathing for all of 9 minutes before Baby H was born into his Papa's hands in the early afternoon just 15 minutes after we parked the cars. N and D also allowed me the privilege of cutting H's cord as he was soothed in D's warm arms. So much for D's plans of a slow, relaxed water birth! I don't think anyone's complaining though. Turns out I stayed in Coronado just short of 3 glorious weeks. I am so blessed to have family to love upon and by whom I am loved. All of my kids were able to congregate in Coronado except for Steph. We did miss her. Our time together was certainly sweet. These are a few of my favorite things:
Witnessing the birth of H
Sweet smelling, just bathed, pajama-ed kids ready for bed
Soft, soft, sweet newborn skin
Big laughter from the family as we played Scattergories
Walking along the beach every morning
Playing in the sand with the kids
Walking to the library and spending time searching for books with each of the kids individually
Walking to Panera each day for a fresh loaf of bread
Walking to the Hotel Del at night with the kids to watch the ice skating on the beach
Enjoying all the Christmas lights all over the island
Spending Christmas day with Aaron and Nancy and their family up in Carlsbad
Enjoying prime rib and salmon Christmas dinner at Aaron and Nancy's
Baking cookies with L
Spending time with Charles and Quynh
Hugging in the love of the grand kids
Smelling in memories of each grand child
"Window shopping" at Nordstrom's with L
Eating "nicks" at night
Cooking, cooking, cooking
Making oatmeal each morning and watching the kids gobble it up
Watching L dance her little heart out at her dance recital
Watching C tumble his little heart out at gymnastics
Looking into those big brown eyes of L and into C's big hazel eyes
Being able to help my daughter in law in so many ways
Spending Christmas with all my loved ones (except for Steph :(
Attending worship with Nicholas and Danielle
Attending Christmas eve candlelight service
Having H actually smile and grin repeatedly at me (never saw a newborn give real grins before)
Fun a the San Diego zoo before H is born
Going to the Puppet Theater at Balboa Park with the kids
Holding hands around the dinner table as we pray in turn and listening to the honest, innocent prayers of the little ones
Going to the movies with my sons