Rivers of Thankfulness

Monday, January 7, 2013

Snuggle Nest Moments.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 7

Snuggle Nest Moments

Tobin sleeps in between us in something called the snuggle nest. It's perfect for us, because we like to keep our babies close by, and the snuggle nest makes it safe to keep Tobin in bed with us. It's perfect for breastfeeding, or popping his pacifier back in his mouth if he needs it during the night. And it's perfect for watching him sleep. We got the snuggle nest when we first had Adelyn. She loved it. She refused to sleep in her bassinet.

So, Matt and I were laying in bed last night, staring at Tobin in the snuggle nest, and Matt said, "we really do have the most beautiful, sweet children." We talked about how Addy is just so sweet and beautiful. And how Tobin is just the sweetest, most happy little guy. While we were laying there, watching Tobin sleep and suck the imaginary pacifier in his mouth (he had dropped his paci, but was still sucking like it was there), I felt very proud. And very blessed.

Checking out a new playground in a neighboring neighborhood.

Tobin sleeping while we were at the new playground.

Happy girl.

Wanted to go down the slide with Dada.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

It'll cure what ails ya...

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 6

It'll cure what ails ya...

   Two things: chicken pot pie, and bonnie butter cake with not one, but two types of frosting--chocolate, and peanut butter. That is the meal that my Dad brought over for our family today. Patty is still recovering from giving birth to Sophia, and as we ate our lovely meal tonight, the phrase we used to describe how great it tastes was, "It'll cure what ails ya!" Seriously, who wouldn't feel better after eating my Dad's homemade chicken pot pie, and cake?

     Another thing that will cure what ails ya: time spent with people you love and who love you. I've had a whole weekend of family. Matt's family yesterday, mine today... How do people who live far away from their families survive? I can't live without the people I love and treasure most.

     It'll cure what ails ya...

A train!

Cake and ice cream.

Omi and the babies.

Princess Adelyn.

Ballet shoes and high heels! With jeans. This girl knows fashion!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Celebrating Steph

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 5

Celebrating Steph

Today is January 5th. Stephanie's birthday was December 9th. It was a very belated celebration. Poor December babies. :( But, it was such a fun little party. And, I love our family tradition of telling the birthday person why we love them. I loved hearing Mario's affirmation to Steph tonight. He said that he still wakes up every morning, and has to pinch himself, because he just can't believe he is married to such an amazing woman. I love hearing men proclaim their love for their woman. So romantic.

So happy to be able to celebrate Stephanie tonight. She is an amazing, strong woman, and such a sweet person. I'm so thankful I have a sister like her.

Ahhhh! Stop taking my picture!

Way too close, Adelyn...but look at those blue eyes! So beautiful!

Addy was very excited and happy to be able to put the candles on Aunt Stephie's cake! Notice where she put them. All in one corner. How cute is she? :)

That's Addy's, "I'm about to get cake and ice cream," face.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Family Naps

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 4

Family Naps

I love taking naps with my kids. It is just so peaceful. This is what we do: I walk Roxy quickly, then we all go upstairs. I change Adelyn's diaper, then Tobin's diaper. Then we all get into bed. Roxy at the foot of the bed. Addy lays on Matt's side. And she watches one episode of Little Bear, while I nurse Tobin. When Tobin is asleep, he goes into his snuggle nest in the middle of the bed. Usually, by the time Tobin is asleep, Little Bear is over. Then I go over to Matt's side of the bed with Addy, and snuggle with her until she's asleep. But to get her to go to sleep, I have to scratch her back. If I stop, she immediately asks me to, "scratch your back!" When she's asleep, I go back over to my side of the bed, and before I take a nap (if I choose to nap that day), I look at my bed. Filled up with sleeping babies and a sweet dog, and seriously, the peace in that room is so real...I feel like I could touch it, or smell it. It is as if the feeling of peace becomes something I can reach out and grab. So thankful for moments like those with my loves.

Sophia was a baker today...see her baker's hat?

Adelyn likes to get really close to the camera.

So does Casey boy.

Sophia says, everything is a-okay!

Don't judge. I know it's January 4th...but our tree is still up, (ugh), and we were doing some Christmas pics...Tobin had had enough by this point! Adelyn was all smiles!

Adelyn trying to shush Tobin.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

A hug, a kiss, and a cuddle.

Project 365 * 2 --Day 3

A hug, a kiss, and a cuddle.

Adelyn needs three things multiple times throughout each day. A hug, a kiss, and a cuddle. She will run up to me or Matt whenever she is feeling needy, and tell us, "I mead a hug." Arms outstretched. We give her a hug. Then she needs a kiss. And then, a cuddle. When she cuddles, she kind of burrows into your neck, and makes a "cuddle" noise. It goes something like this, "Mmmmmmm," or "Ohhhhhhhhh." Matt is at the firehouse, working 24 hours, and when he called to say goodnight, Adelyn gave him a hug, a kiss, and a cuddle over the phone.

Our home is overflowing with love. I love it! And I love Adelyn who decided that hugs and kisses just weren't enough.

Family nap time. This was right after I woke up. Family nap times are the most peaceful naps EVER!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Tobin's Laugh

Project 365 * 2 --Day 2

Tobin's Laugh

I was having a bad day today. Matt and I had been snippy with each other, I had a list of a zillion projects I wanted to get done, and none of them got done. In fact...it was a pretty unproductive day. I hate feeling unproductive. I was feeling very uptight by Tobin's bath time, and as I undressed him, lost in thought about the things I had not accomplished today, he started smiling at me. Big smiles. Huge, gummy smiles. Oh. I love Tobin's smile. It made me feel better, instantly. And then he started laughing. I was smiling back at him, and talking with him, tickling him a bit...and he laughed. It was a sweet and precious moment. Today is the first time I've heard him laugh.

Unproductive? I made my sweet boy laugh for the first time tonight. That's really all the productivity I need for one day.

Tobin just waking up from a breastmilk induced nap.

Adelyn on her new bike! First time riding it outside, actually.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Resolutions and Projects. Sophia.

Resolutions and Projects

     2013. Wow.

     When I was in school, I never thought of the new year as January 1st. For me, the new year was whenever school started. To me, September was the start of the new year. Not January. Maybe that is why this new year really has seemed to inspire me more than any new year ever really has. Because I'm not in school. I'm a stay at home mama. And sometimes the days and weeks seem to mesh together without any real definition between them. I keep thinking about the phrase, new year. Blank slate. Another year's worth of time on which to write your life. Pretty exciting.

     2012 was good to us. Our sweet son, Tobin Solomon, was born. He is the most amazing, sweet, handsome, smiley, bundle of joy. His smile could melt ice. I say that about Adelyn, too. I have the most beautiful children. I'm so very, very blessed.

     I've been thinking about resolutions for some time now. And I've narrowed them down to these:

1. I want to be more nurturing when someone I love is sick. I am a complete germaphobe. So when someone is sick, I am not the most nurturing, kind, or patient person to be around. And I feel really bad about that. Especially when my family is sick. When my loved ones are sick, instead of being kind and loving, and helping them, I act like they have the black plague. For real. It makes me sad that I act that way. So, this year, if someone is sick, I am going to be kind, and loving, and nurturing. And patient. Especially with snotty noses. I despise snotty noses. But, not this year. This year, bring on the snot. I will wipe it away with loving kindness.

2. Being thankful for the blessings I have in my life saved me in more ways than I can count. I am a better person, wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend when I take time every day to write about the good things. The sweet stuff in life. If you aren't looking for it, those moments slip by. And the amazing thing is this: when you are looking for them...there are so many. More than you can count sometimes. I cannot let this year slip by without recording my blessings. So, for the next 365 days, there will be 365 blog posts. 365 blessings. 365 special moments. 365 posts of thankfulness.

3. Along with my 365 posts of thankfulness will be 365 pictures. Well, I guess more like 730 pictures. I want to take at least one picture a day of both Adelyn and Tobin. I will post their pictures along with my post of thankfulness. What better way to complement my posts of thanksgiving than with pictures of my dear babies. And to be honest...there will probably be way more than 730 pictures. Because Casey and Sophia are like my children too...and if I have pictures of them for that day...I will post those as well.

4. I want to learn how to knit, or crochet, or make a patchwork quilt. Really, I want to learn to quilt. I want to have something I can give my kids, and my niece and nephew. Something made out of special pieces of their childhood. Something that they can curl up under, and feel safe and protected and loved and cared about. In a perfect world, I would learn how to do all three of these, but if I had to choose one...I want to learn to quilt.

5. I want to learn how to play an instrument. Piano or guitar. I don't have to be a concert pianist or Dave Matthews by the end of 2013, but I at least want to be taking active steps every couple of days towards learning how to play.

     Going to be a pretty busy year. So...

Project 365 * 2 - Day 1

   Sophia. I am thankful for sweet Sophia. She is my new niece. And she is the most amazing, beautiful little girl. I am so thankful she came into this world without any complication. And that my amazing doctor, Dr. Bowers, got to deliver her. How sweet that she delivered both Tobin and Sophia! She's amazing! My sister and I love her. And I am so beyond happy that my sister is home with her new baby girl. Tonight, Patty told me about a sweet moment that happened between Casey and Sophia. Casey was meeting Sophia for the first time today. He looked at her, and said, "I like your flowers." She had flowers on her shirt. How sweet is he? He said something similar to Tobin a few weeks ago. Tobin was wearing a shirt with cars on it, and he leaned over, and said, "I like your cars. Cool cars." Love him. Love Sophia. Love my family so much.