In peace

Choirs of angels are singing as Aunt Phillis joins the lucky in heaven. Jim's aunt passed away today in Tampa, after collapsing at the airport on their way home to Detroit. Please pray for healing and comfort for Uncle Ed and Cousin Kristen as they mourn the loss of wife and mother...and also for the Fleming family as they deal with the loss of sister and friend.

Christmas Letter 2009

Merry Christmas to our family and friends!

It is hard to believe that another year has come to an end! It seems like just yesterday I was sitting at the computer, struggling to breathe, writing our letter for 2008! What a wonderful year it has been, with joyous changes for the Florida Flemings.

At 5:12 pm on January 6, 2009, Ian James Fleming made it safely into the world, weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. It has been a wonderful year of watching our little man grow, from smiling, to rolling, to sitting, to running around. Yes, I said running! Ian took is first steps at 9 months and has been going ever since! Needless to say, it is not quiet in our house anymore! During the week, Ian goes to “school” and is thriving! While we would love to keep him home, we think this is the best place for him to be. He is learning to socialize and has made many friends.

Jim continues to work for Publix. In May, we got the wonderful news that he had been promoted to Assistant Deli Manager. He is still working at a Publix in Bonita Springs, which makes day care drop-offs and lunch drop-ins easier. After figuring out the learning curve, he is growing in his management skills and hopes to move up to manager in a few years. Jim continues to be active at church, recently being nominated for Education Chair. He hopes to help grow the Sunday school and youth program into a nice group. He does have his work cut out for him!

Amanda is still working at NCH’s Bonita Outpatient Rehab Center as a physical therapist and program leader. After an amazing 12 weeks of maternity leave, she reluctantly returned to work, stepping into the busiest summer she’s ever experienced! She recently was blessed with the added responsibility of supervising the 10 customer service representatives at the various outpatient clinics. Most days, things go well, but some days she wonders about what she’s gotten herself into! Whenever she can find that elusive “spare time,” Amanda enjoys singing in the church choir and spending as much time with her two boys as possible.

Our two dogs, Jubilee and Shakespeare, have handled the new addition quite well. Jubilee enjoys mothering him, often trying to finish the bath we obviously forgot to give him. She is not too thrilled with the fact that Ian is now mobile, but has quickly learned to get out of the way of grasping fingers. Shakespeare is excited that someone will play with him and drop lots of food on the floor. He has taken up permanent residence under Ian’s high chair.

While we admit we are not the best at keeping in touch with our family and friends, please know that you are always in our hearts and prayers. We hope that this year, each and every one of you feel the warmth and love that comes from the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas!

The Florida Flemings

Jimandafleming.blogspot.com

Philippians 1:3

Little Drummer Boy

Friday night was such a fun night! The Christmas program was so cute! Ian's group started out the program and Ian led the way down the aisle. The other babies were either carried or pushed in a stroller, but Ian walked down with a drum strapped to him and a jingle bell in his hand. The "awes" were so loud and everyone watched the babies. Ian was the perfect drummer boy.

It made me a little sad thinking about it. I know Ian loves his teacher, Ms. Yazmin. She's been very good to us, and we're only going to be in her class for another 3 weeks. I'm not ready for him to move up to the one-year old room. I'm not ready for him to be one! My little boy is growing up so fast!

Christmas Program

We're going to Ian's first Christmas program on Friday. Jim and I were talking on Saturday, and Jim made a comment that before we had Ian, he was dreading all of the programs and recitals and things that we would now have to go to as parents. He vividly remembers dreading going to his sisters dance recitals, and was not looking forward to sitting through them with his own kids.

But, WE ARE SO EXCITED! We can't wait for Friday, so we can watch our little boy in the program! The "Baby Bungalow" group will start the program, with the "Little Drummer Boy." My son gets to be the little drummer boy! (Mainly because he's the only one in his class that can walk, but still.) We plan on taking lots of pictures, and being "those parents" with the video camera! Check back later for the details!

PS...my son is no longer a crawler. He is a full-time walking boy!

So much to be thankful for...

I am thankful for my wonderful, handsome, awesome husband.

I am thankful that I have a sweet, loving, HEALTHY baby boy.
I am thankful that I have a mother that is my role model.
I am thankful that I have a wonderful relationship with my older brother.
I am thankful I have sisters that I truly call my own.
I am thankful I have loving in-loves that raised a good, Christan man.
I am thankful that I know my daddy is in Heaven.
I am thankful that I have friends that understand even if we don't talk, I still love them.
I am thankful that I have a job that I love most days.
I am thankful that all of my needs and most of my wants are continuously met.

And above all...
I am thankful that I am a child of God, perfect because of his sacrafice on the cross.

Nubbins!

Finally, after nearly 11 months of being toothless, Ian came home from school on Wednesday with the start of two teeth. And, of course he couldn't be normal about them. Usually, the first teeth that come it are the bottom two front teeth, and then the top two front teeth. Ian decided that all he wanted for Thanksgiving was his two top front teeth. The left one is just peaking through and the right one is just behind it. Hopefully they'll be completely out soon. He isn't showing any signs of discomfort with them, he's just extra drooly. (We didn't know that was even possible!)

So, enjoy the picture. And yes, Ian is screaming in the picture because he doesn't like to show them off!

Colorado Trip

On November 11, Jim, Ian and I hopped a plane to Colorado to see Neena. Ian did pretty well on the two flights from Florida to Colorado, pretty much sleeping the entire time. We got in pretty late Wednesday night and spent some time talking with Neena before bed.

Neena had to work the next day, so I got up early to take her to work. Jim, Ian and I then went to the grocery store to buy some bread making supplies and other things. Jim tried so hard to make potato bread, but wasn't able to successfully adjust for the altitude. (However, we secretly think it was Neena's oven that was the true culprit.)

Friday, Neena took the whole day off to play with us. We went to the park for Ian's first trip. He wasn't too sure about the slides, but had a blast on the swings. It was a pretty day out, but very windy. Baby drool and wind do not work well together on poor baby cheeks. We did go out to dinner with some of my mom's friends from work. They are very nice, and I'm glad she has them.

Saturday was not very nice. It was cold, windy and sleety. However, we powered through and did some all-important shopping.

We woke up Sunday morning to about an inch of snow. Ian wasn't sure what to think of this strange white stuff, and tried to shake it off his hands when Daddy stuck them in it. We braved church and then went out for breakfast.

Monday, we just hung around the house until we had to leave for the airport. Neena took a half a day off from work, so she got to get some last minute cuddles in before we left.













I need to take this time to express my frustration with security at the airport, specifically the Colorado Springs airport. It took us 40 minutes to get through security. The same diaper bag (with the same items) that was perfectly fine leaving Ft. Myers (and Detroit, for that matter) was completely torn apart in Colorado Springs. They wanted to toss my diaper cream, my teething gel, my hand sanitizer and the baby Tylenol all because they weren't in the plastic bag, despite the fact that on the security web page, this is stated as not necessary. They even made us take Ian's bib off when we went through the metal detector. Jim was allowed to wear his hat, but a baby bib needed to come off. Also, they did not say a single thing about the baby Tylenol that was in my purse. It was just so frustrating because no airport is the same. One thing might be completely fine one place, and cause a huge deal the next place. I told the security person this, and she (rudely) stated that it's a national policy and every airport was exactly the same. I laughed and said that wasn't true. Oh well, we made it through and had no problems the rest of the way home.

Okay, off my soap box.... Overall, we had a wonderful, if not too short, time in Colorado. Thankfully, Neena will be in Florida soon for Ian's first Christmas! We can't wait!