December 29!

Here we are, just a few weeks away from the due date. Jaime is seeing the OB every week now and they have told her they won't stop labor, should it occur. YAY! We are getting so very close now. Jackson is growing like a weed. We had our final ultrasound last week and he has assumed the position: head down and ready to go. Jaime is not dilated yet, but her cervix is "soft" according to the doctor... its is a good sign. He looks amazing on ultrasound, moving and kicking and a good case of the hiccups... which is a great sign for developing lungs. Jeff, Jake and I are so very excited. Jake is talking about what a great "babe magnet" Jackson will be for him and its likely true.

We are really proud of Jake. He has completed his first semester of college, taking 19 units. He changed his major to industrial engineering and plans to attend either Texas A&M or LSU in Baton Rouge. Likely, LSU is topping the list.

We had an amazing Christmas and holiday season. We are so blessed and fortunate and we all feel so loved with each other. We went to Mom & Dad's on Christmas Eve, having Jeff's sister Jaime and her wife, Alysha, and my brother Mike join us for a great traditional dinner with the Honeybaked Ham and Swedish Meatballs... Love the meatballs. Mom & Dad joined us on Christmas morning and Mike was our guest for the holiday as well for some present opening, monkey bread and a huge breakfast... Jeff made his Belgian Waffles, YUM! It was festive and family oriented. We had a great time and then said goodbye as Mom & Dad headed to CA to see the other kids and grand kids.

Last night was so awesome. We went to my Aunt Verla's house and spent time with all five of her kids, their spouses, and their kids for a great big family dinner. Aunt Verla said it was the first time all her children had been together in three years. What a blessing to be part of this miraculous celebration. It was so great spending time with the cousins I was raised with and so close to... really my second family. We had great food and conversation and we all laughed at the kids and their chows and talents.... too much fun! I need to upload some of the photos we took. The kids were so fun: listening to Ethan play his Christmas recital piece on the piano and then Matthew graced up with some modern tunes on it as well. There were hand stands and head stands and flips... Lauren is certainly great at those head stands whil I think it was lil Jacob (since we have Big Jake) who was walking across the den on his hands! Allison, Kate and Lauren gave us a show with lots of giggles and watching little Madelyn get sleepy made my heart flutter... what a doll! The noise volume still never reached a Ferguson-level gathering... I mean there were less than 1/2 the number of kids last night than we had in our cousins group... 20 cousins on the Ferguson side... of which I must admit to being the oldest! YIKES!

It was still so much fun. I have so many awesome and dear memories of these cousins in particular... they were with my during all those formitive years... through every holidy, Sunday church, family dinners, my auntie babysitting me... I have so much love and respect for each of the Hodges and their new families, too. What a nice sense of family to be together! I am indeed grateful for their relationships, both old and new!

Signing off now... its time to prepare the house for company and get tomorrow's family dinner shopped and planned for! Merry Christmas 2008!