Simple Moments v.4

I try to document the little things in my family's life, in addition to the major events.  I like to think I do a decent job of this, but I appreciate reminders to keep me watching for little moments to photograph.  I was happy when I looked through this week's photos - I love some of these moments.

Kisses for sister.

A girl can't have too many headbands, right?

Most exciting moment of the day: riding a chair down the hallway.

Sleeping Beauty.  Headband by Little Luxuries.

He insisted on sitting at the table with us and using his own spoon.

All by himself...be still my heart.

This last photo needs a little more description.  I told Lincoln we were going to brush his teeth and set him on the bathroom counter.  He turned on the sink and chattered "bruh, bruh, bruh" until I handed him the brush - then he ran it under the water himself and stuck it in his mouth.  He pretty much just sucked all the water off the brush (repeatedly), but I'd say we are making strides toward independence.

What simple moments are you celebrating this week?

Adelaide: 1 Month Old (yes, I'm posting late)

1 Month Old!

Addie was one month old on December 18.  I was smack in the middle of Christmas preparations and managed to fail to get these photos posted - but I know that in a year, I will regret it if I skip the very first month update!

Milestones: I don't know the exact date this started, but you have just recently learned how to smile at us!  Every single smile is beyond precious and makes my heart happy.

Loves: Snuggling, nursing, her swing, her rock 'n play.

Hates: Binkies and her carseat.  Also not a fan of having headbands over her eyes (common since most of them are still too big for her).

Weight/Height: The last time she was measured (December 11 - before this one month post should have been written), she was already 9 pounds 10 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long.  That's up quite a bit from her birth weight of 8 pounds 7 ounces and birth length of 20 inches!  She is growing, growing, growing!  I am so happy that you are a little nursing champ.

We love you, Adelaide Rose and are so happy that you are a part of our family!

Hello 2013.

I've seen a lot of bloggers posting lists of their most popular posts in 2012, and recaps of their family's year.  I haven't been consistent enough at blogging for the first idea - but a recap I can do.

This year has been a challenge for us.  Andrew's job situation changed four times between January and November.  This was a pretty unexpected set of changes and it threw us for a loop for awhile.  We're so grateful that he is now (finally) in a job that he is really enjoying.  It is a true blessing.

In February, we celebrated Lincoln's first birthday.  Looking through photos from this event makes me cry.  I cannot believe how much he has grown and changed since then.  I thought he was all grown up on his first birthday and now I can see he was a teeny tiny baby back then.  What on earth will I do when he's 18?

This spring, we learned that Baby #2 was on the way.  Thus began months of all-day morning sickness and Winnie the Pooh marathons.  In June we found out that it would be a princess joining our family.  So excited!

We traveled to New England for my little brother's wedding in mid-July.  This was Lincoln's first plane trip.  The flight to Boston went unimaginably well.  The flight home was imaginably awful.  The time in between was spent doing wedding festivities (Lincoln and I were both in the bridal party), hanging out with old friends, visiting the beach, and spending a day in Boston.  Lincoln alternated between the stroller and the Ergo carrier during this adventure.

Paul Revere's house in Boston.

The fall passed very slowly for me as I was growing more and more enormously pregnant.  We spent a lot of time having playdates and inventing new ways to entertain ourselves without mommy having to exert much effort.

Lincoln dressed as Link from the Legend of Zelda for Halloween.

I taught two semesters of drama classes (totaling 7 plays) this year.  I am hoping to have another session of classes in the spring, but have not figured out any logistics yet.  Coordinating this drama program with one baby was crazy...it might be insanity now.

In November, our sweet Adelaide Rose arrived!  Her arrival was insanely fast and my recovery has been a lot harder than I anticipated, due to my delivery complications.  She is the sweetest baby - she hardly ever cries and has just started smiling at us recently.  Lincoln calls her "baby" and gives her about twenty kisses daily.  Melts my heart.  She's been with us for six weeks now and things are starting to normalize a little bit.  Well - whatever normal means.  :)

And, we survived the holiday season with two kids under age two!

I'm not going to lie when I say I am glad we have reached the end of 2012.  There were a few weeks/months that I thought it might go on forever.  I am excited for a new year with new possibilities....and new memories to make with my precious little family.  Can't wait to see what lies ahead for all of us!

Wordless Wednesday: Tiny Fashionista

Resolved

Probably my resolutions should involve
not staying up until midnight EVERY
night (as evidenced by the super great
dark circles under my eyes 24/7...
and cleaning my mirror.
Without weekly baby bump photos,
I don't remember that cleaning is
a necessary part of my life.

I don't do well with resolutions, really.  I honestly have no idea if I even made any last year.

2013 has arrived, so maybe I should have made some goals by this point.  I've just been a little busy changing diapers, washing baby clothes, and cleaning up giant toddler messes.  Oh, and snuggling.  There's a lot of snuggling around here.

I like to participate in Ali Edwards' One Little Word challenge - but honestly I haven't come up with a perfect word for 2013.  It turns out that while you're busy taking care of tiny babies, you don't worry so much about the big picture.  My life is kind of about survival right now.

So, I'm thinking out loud here.  Instead of definite resolutions...  here are a few words I would like to dwell on in the coming year.

Joy.  I am surprised often that even though I have desperately craved this life of mommyhood for most of my life, there are days when I am overwhelmed, frustrated, and just plain spent.  It's hard to see them sometimes, but even when my days seem endless, there are so many beautiful little moments in each one.  I need to make a conscious effort to pay attention to those moments more than the stressful ones.

Faith.  I won't lie.  2012 was long and hard for us, with one disappointment after another, for a really long time.  And it shook me.  I want 2013 to be better - and if it is not, I want it to make me stronger in my faith this time instead.

Create.  I did better with this last year; I have a fair number of projects that were completed - even while I was pregnant.  Hoping that I am able to cross a lot of things off my to-do list this year, and I have a really huge dream to open an Etsy shop before long.  We'll see what happens!  I think this word can cover a broad range of things...  in addition to my sewing/scrapbooking persuasion, I need to be more creative (and consistent) with my meal planning. 

Music.  I'm throwing this one in just for fun.  I want to make sure we are singing and having dance parties regularly.  I want to put my ten years of piano lessons to use and actually play every now and then, before my fingers forget everything I know.  This means I can no longer use the piano as a catch-all and must keep it clear - so that I can play whenever I want.

Relax.  I need to stop stressing out about everything.  It's not a big deal if the house is a wreck.  It's not the end of the world if we eat takeout five nights in a week (though it might be the end of our financial security).  My kids are really little and need me to be focused on them, not the stuff.  If I can stop worrying about things that don't really matter, I'm guessing our home will be more peaceful and we will all be happier for it.

This may not be a complete list of all my hopes for 2013, but it's a start at least.  Since I have shared these thoughts here, maybe I will be more likely to follow through, right?

Do you have any goals or resolutions for the new year?