Little joys

Andrew and I have both been very busy at work lately. It's pretty much a marathon until the end of May. However, we were able to squeeze in 3, yep that's right...THREE date nights this week! We did the Fleet Feet Pub Run Wednesday night, used a 20% off coupon and gift card to Local 463 Thursday night, and sent Addie to spend the night with Nonny and Big Friday night. I missed my little girl but really enjoyed 1 on 1 time with the hubby. Addie is so easy to take places, we don't do "date nights" very often. She usually just tags along. I have to admit, it was pretty nice!

I just loved this picture of Addie. She is getting to be a big girl but still loves that paci, being rocked and a bottle! No shame...

Favorite things...slamming the car door, getting out to check the gas, slamming the gas door, and repeating the process over and over.

Andrew might kill me for posting this. His Pop gave him a riding lawn mower. You would have thought he got a million dollars...

I can think of 10,000 things I should be doing...BUT Charlie, Addie and I are inside napping while Andrew is tackling the yard. Ha!

happiness

On a beautiful February day...we swam!

Communication

Sometimes in this journey called life, we forget how to communicate. We forget to share with each other, to talk about the little things, and focus on the positive. If I am honest, I don't like small talk. I can do without the "how are you's" or the meaningless greetings. I am more of a deep conversation person. In my daily interactions, I fight hard against seeming stand-offish. It's not that at all! I just am not a surface level person. My family and close friends know me. They know when I want to talk, want to be by myself, when I am being stubborn, etc. Sometimes I wonder if Andrew knows these things or if he is just trying to change me, ha!

Getting back on track now, Andrew and I pass each other some days and forget how to maintain a relationship. We get so wrapped up in getting somewhere, making bottles, bathing Addie, or whatever it is that we do. A wise man, John Evans, once told us that life is much easier by yourself. But why would you want to be by yourself? Although it is sometimes hard, I would not trade one day. Without struggles and challenges, my life would be meaningless.

You are not alone in this

The title of this post is a lyric from "Timshel" by Mumford and Sons. Here is a link to the song. It won't let me add it to my playlist, but you should listen to it. It has spoken to me today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl-VCHzS1So

After a good lunch and fun play date with the cousins, we got some pretty devastating news. My sister in law lost her baby. She was about 13 weeks along. We rushed over to keep the boys and love on them while they were at the hospital. My heart just breaks. We have all gotten used to the idea of another little one running around...they weren't going to find out the sex but we were all sure it was going to be a girl. Last night and today we have held Addie closer than ever. I can't imagine moving forward but you do. Somehow you do. We all do.

God's plan is not always easy but we have to remember it's His plan. Here are some pictures and videos of all of us yesterday.

Henry pounding his pizza

Say cheeseAre we done yet?

Ok, no more

The boys being silly

All 3 running/crawling around

Giggling boys

Addie's birthday

Addie's first birthday has come and gone. I was a little bit sad Friday because she was asleep when I left for school. All day long I was getting texts wishing her a happy birthday and I had not even gotten to tell her myself. It seems like the whole day went on that way. I rushed home and she was napping. I had to go to the store before Alec's basketball game so I woke her up and rushed around, went the game, ate dinner...rush, rush rush! When we finally got home around 8:45, Andrew and I sang "Happy Birthday" to her and enjoyed her for a little while before bed.

Although none of Andrew's family was able to come to her party, we had a good time with my family. It was small, laid back and perfect.

Now we are left with a one year old! The next year brings a whole new learning experience for both of us.

Birthday party morning... this is what she looked like when she woke up.

Aunt Kris and I helped open all of her presents first.

Patiently waiting

Birthday hat (courtesy of Etsy)

Not quite sure what to do

Not a fan of cake

Starting to get into it

Smearing it all over

Mom, Granny (mom's mom), Nannie (dad's mom), Addie and I

Family pic

After her birthday party, we went to watch Alec beat Prep for the Division I Championship. She cheered the entire game! Yay, Uncle Al!

12 days to go

My baby will be one in 12 days!!

She is pulling up completely on everything, everywhere. Her latest thing is trying to stand up in the middle of the floor without holding onto anything. I must admit, it's entertaining because she sticks her booty in the air and presses her hands and feet on the floor. Pushing the walker is also one of her favorite things to do.

You can barely see this picture but it's of Andrew and Addie cuddling in our bed. She has only slept in the bed with us twice but it is so fun to wake up to Addie giving me kisses! (I am aware that we should not have started this...ha!)

Showing off all 8 of her teeth

Playing hide and seek through her sippy cup

Living the life

She still LOVES her bottle. I guess that's the next thing to go :(

Typical that she doesn't want Charlie to have HER toy

Standing up to get the remote

Pushing her walker

The next post will probably be her little birthday party!

Perspective

This time last year I was starting to pack for the trip to the hospital, type an "it's time" email and wrap my head around becoming a parent. As I watch everyone preparing for the same adventure, I just get so excited for them. There are no words to describe the feeling that you get when the nurses place your child in your arms for the first time. It's just a feeling that no one can prepare you for. No matter how many times you have run it through your mind...it's different than you could ever imagine. I remember it vividly.

I cannot believe that Addie will be one in 16 days! It has been an exciting journey.

I have gotten very comfortable with one child. It's not that I only want one child. We have both come to the realization as to how lucky we are to be able to drop her off with my parents, take her to a basketball game, go to dinner, etc. It's easy with one child. Throw another one in the mix and it complicates things. I'm just nowhere near ready for that. It may take a couple (to a few) years to prepare for that. Instead of worrying about "what's next" we are going to enjoy the present. Who knows what the future holds.

Here is a funny video of our two girls: