sneak peek

See this little cutie?

Well, she now has her own bedroom. Sort of. It will be her bedroom and will double as a playroom for both the kids. That little pumpkin is still sleeping in our room, and probably will continue to do so for the next several months, but then we'll move her up to her own room. I'll share the details and lots of photos of the new space in my next post. This little home improvement project has long been in the works...can't wait to share! Here's a sneak peek...

miles' thanksgiving list

Miles and I worked on a thanksgiving project this month - 25 days of gratitude. We made a "thanksgiving tree" out of foam and decorative paper. Miles would say one thing he was thankful for each day. I'd write it on one of the 25 leaves we cut out and we'd "hang" it on the tree. We had several discussions about what it means to be thankful for something, but I think what it translated to in his mind was a list of things that he likes. So, I present to you Miles' list of the 25 things he is most thankful for this year...

1. toys
2. artwork
3. mommy
4. our house
5. lydia
6. a warm jacket
7. food
8. daddy
9. buildings
10. himself (miles)
11. water (that comes out of our faucet)
12. table and chairs
13. grandpa hector
14. felix
15. the trash can
16. stop signs
17. the oven
18. cousins
19. windows
20. room decor (the decals on his bedroom wall)
21. the rocking chair
22. rocks in our backyard
23. the mazda (my car)
24. chocolate milk
25. his classmates at school

And although Lydia isn't old enough to tell us what she's grateful for, I guess that her top five are (in order of importance)...

1. her swing
2. her thumb
3. milk
4. brother miles
5. those silly people that cart her around everyday (mom and dad)

Happy thanksgiving everyone! Here's to the start of a merry and joyful holiday season!

happy birthday, miles!

Dearest Miles,

Today you are three years old. I started writing a long, very wordy birthday letter to you, but then realized that what I'd really like to say to you today, my sweet boy, is this:

• You have, so far, been my greatest teacher - thank you. So many of my strengths and weaknesses have become crystal clear to me through the process of parenting you. You make me want to always try to do better, to be more engaged and more present in the moment. Hopefully, you'll benefit from all of this growing and learning that we're doing together.
• I need to remember that even though you are a growing-up boy, you are still so young and need a lot from your mom and dad. I look at you now as a big brother and my expectations of you have shifted slightly. I promise to try very hard to meet you where you are and not get frustrated if (heaven forbid) you act like a three year old.
• And finally, you are loved beyond measure. You light up my life. As you say "You like me mommy". Yes, baby boy, I like you. In fact, I love you very, very much. Happy birthday.

3 months

Our little girl is 3 months old. I remember turning a corner with Miles around the time he was this age and it's happening with Lydia as well. Sleeping and eating is a bit more routine, so I'm better rested and feeling like I'm coming out of that newborn haze. I've even had time to work on some projects around the house (like setting  up a nursery and playroom!) that I'll talk more about in another post. Even though I don't go back to work until after the holidays, I'm starting to prepare now - building up a frozen milk supply, meeting briefly with co-workers to discuss projects, and making sure we've got everything lined up for Lydia's childcare. She'll be attending the same school as Miles and will be in their infant room. We'll visit with the teachers closer to January and spend some with them before I have to go back to work. It will be interesting to see if it will be easier or more difficult to leave a baby and go back to work the second time around. We were lucky with Miles in that my mother-in-law watched him for a year before he started daycare, so I'm a bit nervous about Lydia going straight into a childcare center setting, but this time I know the teachers, know the school, and the community of parents there. So I'm more comfortable with it than when Miles transitioned. I'm so glad that I took an extra couple of months of maternity leave with Lydia. Now that I'm no longer in that post-partum fog, I can enjoy our time together even more.

Just like Miles, Lydia refuses to take a pacifier. Evidently when I'm not available, her thumb is an acceptable substitute.

 

 

 

 

 

snow

First snow, and a substantial one at that. A snow day at home...candles lit, cookies baking, holiday music playing, napping, time spent in the kitchen, and of course, some play time outside.

 

 

brother & sister

It's no easy task taking decent photos of a newborn and a toddler, together. I pretty much gave up after a few tries right after Lydia was born. But, in a rare moment of calmness, Miles hopped up on the bed where I was talking to Lydia and started talking to her too. Now, the fact that Miles was interacting with her isn't unusual, he wants to be wherever she is, all the time, but this time was different in that his arms and legs weren't flailing about causing chaos like they usually do. And, oh, how she loves staring at her big brother. She smiles for him like no one else. These photos capture the essence of them together right now, each in different stages, each interested in and loving one another in their own way.

 

 

not just for kids

I've never been a huge fan of Halloween, but I think after this year, I may have a little more ghoulish spirit in me. This was the first year Miles went trick-or-treating and watching him get dressed up in his costume and head out the door with a look of delight on his face was just about the cutest thing ever. After he had collected his goodies, he kept saying "those people were so nice to me, they gave me candy". Imagine the look on his face when I told him he would get to do this every year!

a real birthday train ride

We celebrated a few birthdays in October. For David's birthday, we took a train ride in rural Wisconsin. Miles loved climbing aboard, hearing the train whistle and looking out at the cornfields through the large windows. It really was a gift for our little guy, but a great way to spend a day together as well.

Miles and Lydia's great grandmother flew into town for some birthday fun. A family dinner, poppyseed and red velvet cakes were all part of the celebration.