I struggled in the days leading up to Christmas. A new wave of anxiety, brought on by I don’t know what. I just couldn’t get my mind to the Christmas-y place I longed for it to be. Especially for my girls.
But after a few nights of early bedtime (Sophie STILL isn’t sleeping through), a hot bath or two, a glass of champagne (thanks to my friend Erin) and my fair share of chocolate, the vice-grip on my chest loosened up. Just in time for Christmas Eve. Thank goodness.
Snuggled on the couch with Marc that night for our yearly viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” gifts wrapped and under the tree, the final items crossed off my list, it hit me. Peace. I swear I could feel it in my toes.
And so began a truly magical Christmas.
Behold the plate of cookies Lily made for Santa. She was especially ecstatic to see the crumbs on Christmas morning.
And I quote: “He brought it!” “Santa brought it for me!” “Eeeeeeeeee!!!”
Sophie woke after Lily, and when Marc brought her into the living room, all rosy cheeks and Fraggle Rock hair, she dive-bombed into Lily’s pile of gifts and wrapping paper. A total free-for-all.
And she wanted to be wherever big sister was, doing whatever big sister was doing, every single minute.
Moments like this just stop me in my tracks. There is already so much love between these two. I know the fighting will come … but still … there will always be love.
Three cheers for the self-timer! I think this is my favorite family portrait so far.
I hope your holiday celebration was just lovely. Happy new year!
Spotted: sitting(!) baby, waving to Santa during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Hungary for Turkey, my parents, our Christmas tree, busy in the kitchen
Missing: my lovely mother- and sister-in-law with whom we had a wonderful time on Friday (because I was too sick and pitiful to dig my camera out of my bag), and the Deputy, who helped me make a ton of sweets today (but would kill me for publishing the only photo I took of her making a face by the stove)
Do you ever play that game … “one year/month/day ago at this exact moment, I was (insert memory here)”?
I do it all the time. Especially on special occasions.
Every year on Lily’s birthday I pause at exactly 11:20 a.m. to reflect on the amazing moment of her birth.
And today.
Exactly seven years ago right now, I was cutting a rug at my wedding reception at a country club in a beautiful little town along the North Carolina coast. Huge grin plastered across my face, tattered wedding dress train slung over my arm, squeezing the hand of my new husband.
I got lucky. I married one of the good ones.
(In fact, he’s upstairs right now consoling a fussy Sophie.)
And I can honestly say that I’m as happy today as I was in that blissful moment seven years ago.
The teller of stories, the assembler of toys, the tickler supreme.
The chicken nugget chef, the bottle-clad dad, the king of midnight feedings.
The dropper-offer, the picker-upper.
The maker of ponytails, pb & j’s, Lite Brite masterpieces, Dora hair-dos.
The creator of happy memories, living-room football plays, baby speak.
A whistle always on his lips. So much love in his heart.
The fisherman, the IT geek, the devoted father, the caring husband.
The nurturer, the peaceful soul, the hippie.
My grandparents’ farm is a little slice of heaven. Complete with astonishing views of rolling hills, a menagerie of animals, a red barn and a living room so cozy I almost always fall asleep on the couch.
Not to mention my Nana, who names the animals after the kids and sings The Twelve Days of Christmas with her own special flair.
For our family, the farm is …
being so happy you just can’t help running with your arms up in the air
catching up with family over a glass of sweet tea or a plate of barbecue
riding a big green tractor
rolling in the grass
talking to the burros
gathering on the porch
feeding the goats
hanging out with cousins
eating until your pants pop
playing bocci on the lawn
breathing fresh, crisp air
picking grapes, raspberries, blackberries
rocking back and forth and back and forth
listening to the animals talk to each other
smiling
laughing
relaxing
For us, the farm is love.
(Hurricane Irene kept Marc at work during our most recent visit to the farm. How we missed him!)
These two can’t get enough of each other. The first thing Lily wants to do when she wakes up? Go see Sophie. And the only person who can coax a smile out of Sophie at ANY time? Lily.
From the History Channel documentary that I can’t take my eyes off of: “There are times in our lives that are life-changing, where your life will never be the same, and this certainly appears to be one of them.” Indeed.
I can’t write this without crying. Just a few days after this photo was taken, my friend Hope (bottom right) went into labor at 21 weeks pregnant. Twin girls were born. Abigail was stillborn. And little Zaria, who survived the NICU for just more than a month, left this world on Sunday morning. The emergency [...]
I shot this phone video sideways by accident. And when I tried to correct it, I made it worse. But still. It’s worth watching, just for Sophie’s big smile at the very end. Happy Friday. And happy weekend! Those of you in Irene’s path, stay safe. And don’t forget to put together your hurricane kits. [...]
And I quote: “He brought it!” “Santa brought it for me!” “Eeeeeeeeee!!!”
Sophie woke after Lily, and when Marc brought her into the living room, all rosy cheeks and Fraggle Rock hair, she dive-bombed into Lily’s pile of gifts and wrapping paper. A total free-for-all.
And she wanted to be wherever big sister was, doing whatever big sister was doing, every single minute.
Moments like this just stop me in my tracks. There is already so much love between these two. I know the fighting will come … but still … there will always be love.
Three cheers for the self-timer! I think this is my favorite family portrait so far.
