new year's mish-mash

Letting go :: Saying goodbye to 2008

Boy, have we come a long way. 2008 was filled with many blessings and some challenges. Our focus this past year has definitely been on our own little family - the joy, the obstacles we've encountered, the inevitable learning curve that comes with first-time parenthood. What an adventure it has been. As I think about starting a new year, I feel a tad wiser and a lot more confident. But, letting go of 2008 means letting go of my baby boy, even if just a little bit.

Welcoming the new :: 2009

New Year's Eve found us celebrating at one of my favorite local Vietnamese restaurants. Just a simple meal with those most important to me to mark the end of one significant year and the beginning of another.

Followed by a bottle of irresistable dessert wine

And some time for reflecting on the past and planning for the future. David and I have some fairly hefty goals, both personal and professional,that we'd like to meet in the next couple of years. Graduate school for him, adding living space to our home, and a few other big ones that we've got in our sights.

And, we look forward to welcoming my sister-in-law's baby to the family this spring. Which means knitting yet another baby gift - a blanket this time. And speaking of knitting, I hope to keep creativity central to our family and how we parent Miles next year and in years to come. I hope that this desire to create, strengthened since becoming a mother, continues to bring me joy and release in the future.

Happy New Year to you and yours! May 2009 bring plenty of love, joy, and laughter to your home!

outtakes

We've been meaning to take Miles to the Minnesota Children's Museum for several months, but never really got it together enough to go as a family until today. We had a great time. Miles was happy, talkative, and moving around the entire time. But, for some reason, I captured a lot of the off beat, more serious moments from our outing. Thought I'd share the outtakes with you all...

I think this photo is hilarious. Miles looks like he's in a photograph from the turn of the century. Even babies weren't allowed to smile back then. It was all business, no monkeying around thank you very much. We have a lot of fish toys at home. Even a fish mobile in Miles' room. But this was the first time he laid eyes on the real thing. He loved it!

togetherness

Having this week off from work, spending time with Miles and my family has been really and truly wonderful. I feel like I've been able to see so many of Miles' tiny everyday accomplishments - the ones that I sometimes miss. From his newfound interest in playing with (teasing) Felix to watching him army crawl and walk with his push toy all over the house. Not to mention all of the super sloppy face kisses I've been receiving lately, although that is probably due to all of the teeth that he's sprouting. I am loving every second of the time I am spending with my family this holiday season, sloppy kisses, little toddler tantrums and all.

feeding felix

Miles now has discovered how to make sure felix is by his side at all times...

new toy from santa

wishing you a merry winter's eve

The presents are wrapped and under the tree, including a wooden sled for Miles. We've enjoyed holiday gatherings with friends and family and are anticipating a joyous Christmas Day.

Hoping your holiday is filled with the warmth of cozy friendships

the merriment of snow-watching

and happiness pure and simple

happy holidays

Things that are making me happy these days:

Snow, and more snow :: Especially beautiful and enjoyable when you don't have to travel or be somewhere on a lazy Saturday morning. And even better if your husband takes the rambunctious dog out for a trot, too. Rosemary butter cookies :: Baking (and eating) my very favorite kind of cookie is always a holiday tradition that I look forward to. And giving them as a gift is even better. I stumbled upon this recipe while browsing wedding magazines several years ago. Work :: Yes, things are on an upswing at work (despite the budget crisis that could mean government layoffs - but I'm not thinking about that right now). I'm taking most of the next two weeks off from work (my mother-in-law/our child care provider will be in Puerto Rico over the holidays), so I'm looking forward to a break from the office. But, once I do return after the holidays, things will be quite busy, which I like. We're hosting a conference for a year long project we've been coordinating and I have two presentations coming up - one local and one in Washington D.C.

This guy :: of course. I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas with Miles. Even though this is not his first Christmas, he was much too young and we were much too sleep deprived to enjoy last year's holiday season.

We'll likely be very busy over the next week or so, enjoying having my mom here, spending time with family, and visiting with friends, so I'll probably be taking a short break from blogging. Here's to a warm and joyful holiday with family and friends!

the few, the proud, the frozen

Typically, a post about weather would be quite boring. But, I think a little ditty on Minnesota winter weather deserves a post. After all, when we talk about Minnesota winters, we are talking about life on the frozen tundra: bone-chilling temperatures, heavy snow, and the crazy people who choose to put up with it for 6 months out of the year.

The past couple of weeks have had me questioning my decision to move back here, to the land of the few, the proud, and the frozen (a sweet little motto used around these parts to describe a winter running race, but I think it applies quite well to our State's population as a whole). We've been bombarded with below freezing temperatures, many snowfalls, sleet, and ice. For the past week we've been waking up to temperatures hovering around negative 15 degrees, with the daily highs reaching a balmy negative 5 or so. Hello, folks, that is cold, even for this Minnesotan.

Poor Miles has to put up with the bundling and unbundling of about 5 layers everytime we go outside. He has so many clothes on, I can't even find his arms or hands once he's in his cocoon. He's like a tiny precious jewel wrapped in a giant mess of fleece and puffer jacket and all I can see are his eyes and the tears streaming from them as he protests the whole winter dressing routine. I would take a picture of the bundled boy, but it's just so heartbreaking to see him in that amount of distress. I can't bring myself to do it.

I am happy to say that my snowtires - the ones that we put on a little over a week ago after a minor fender bender woke us up to the reality of another season of winter driving - are working like a charm. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how fancy your tires are, or whether you have 4-wheel, all wheel drive, or all terrain whatever, nothing is a match for black ice. So, when we received frozen rain on Monday (during a 12 hour warm-up) that turned into black ice, and then received several inches of snow on top of that, it made for a messy commute. After yet another snowfall this evening, it took me two hours to get home after work. It usually is a 45 minute round trip to go pick up Miles and then head home again.

Why do I live here again? Oh yeah, I remind myself of the goodness of being around family, the quality of life here in the Twin Cities that, in my opinion, is unmatched anywhere else, and yes, that after the madness of rush hour is over, when all is quiet, when the snow is still falling in big fat, fluffy, fabulous flakes that glitter in the glow of christmas lights lining the city streets, and you notice, while out for a quick trip to the grocery, that you do in fact, live in a land that resembles a beautiful wintry scene straight out of a snowglobe. That is reason enough.

ordinary thoughts

Today, I am mindful of ordinary, everyday thoughts.

I am thankful for the time that I have away from work to spend with Miles. I realize how important this has been over the past year, and grateful for this time we've had together. All this, as I anticipate my return to a full time work schedule in January.

I am amazed at the changes I see in my little boy from day-to-day. How he is expressing himself, learning new words and new skills. How he can be so serious one moment and overcome with silliness the next. How he takes in the world around him. How he has anchored our little family.

I am relieved after meeting with Miles' doctor yesterday for his one year visit. I am grateful for having found a health care provider who encourages David and I to be partners in Miles' health care and takes the time to answer my usual long list of questions. He's over the ear infection, is very healthy, and has successfully charmed the doctor to no end. Our tall(ish) and very skinny boy now weighs in at just under 20 lbs (6th percentile - yes, that is a 6, as in one less than 7) and is 30 inches long (59th percentile). We discussed his movement and have decided to wait and see how things go between now and his next visit. Although he's making progress, the doctor says he does have a delay in gross motor skills and that she'd be happy to refer him for some physical therapy. However, she's not convinced that he needs this just yet. So we'll wait.

I am happily awaiting my mom's arrival to her new home. In one week, she'll be here. A photo - for you, mom - of your new fence.

a tree and a truck

A tree and a truck. They have nothing to do with each other. But I couldn't think of an appropriate title for a post that pairs two random and unconnected things together, other than to call them what they are. So there you have it.

Last weekend...a little holiday decorating.

And the smell of cold snow and sap on a freshly cut tree.

And a couple of photos of one of Miles' new "things"...getting a ride in the Tonka truck. Our guy is so little he can fit in the back of the dump truck. He enjoys the rides around the house, courtesy of daddy. In his mind, it makes quite a nice chair as well.

we work hard

As employees of the state, we work hard. No, really, we do. So busy and laborious are our days, that we often have to find ways to relieve the stress. To release the tension.

And so we do things like this.

At midday. During our lunch hour. With our colleagues.

We go ice skating.

Don't you?

Well, it is free. And only a four block walk from our downtown office. Who could resist the chance to do some fancy footwork on ice with your co-workers? I'm impressed with myself. I only fell once.

a cold winter's day

Miles and I stayed close to home today. With him still in the process of getting over his ear infection, and with outside temperatures in the 20s (in the 10s with windchill), other than running a couple of errands, we had a low-key day at the casa.

Our weekend plans include chopping down and lugging home our christmas tree , as well as some holiday decorating around the house. I was feeling quite christmas-y today, so I decided to get a jump start on decorating. I made paper garland to decorate a few bare spots in the house, hung up some of our existing decorations, all while listening to the newest addition to our holiday music collection. And for dinner...something warm and comforting...a spinach and cheese quiche. Yum. With Miles already in bed, I'm off now (mug of hot cocoa in hand) to join my sweet husband and dog, who are already curled up, sleeping soundly on the couch. I could go for a christmas movie right about now.

time stops

This week has been a challenge, to say the least. We've been to the doctor twice this week. On Monday the doctor confirmed that Miles had an ear infection, and then when the meds didn't seem to be working, his fever persisted and he seemed to be feeling worse, we made a second visit to the doctor's office on Wednesday. A switch in medication and Miles seemed to perk right up overnight. Yesterday he was doing much better - finally eating and drinking again. Yet I woke this morning to an extremely fussy baby who cried from the moment he woke up until putting him down for his morning nap. Ugh! Poor kid. And whatever progress he was making with crawling has completely stopped. We are in a time warp - we're lucky to make it through the day just making sure that his basic needs are met. I've been a little freaked out about the not eating thing - the kid can't afford to lose any weight, as small as he is - but his appetite seems to be getting better. And whatever progress we were making with weaning went right out the window as well. He's been waking so frequently at night that we just had him sleep in our bed this week - which means unlimited access to nursing. And he took full advantage of this. I think it was the only thing that made him feel better. So, I'm pretty sure he's on the mend, although now I'm dealing with the explosive poops that come as a result of the antibiotics. Please wish us luck and keep Miles in your thoughts for a speedy recovery.