Life Lately in January

I realized today that Amy will be a month old in just a few days.  Somehow it seems like yesterday I was giving birth and an eternity too.  We've been living a very quiet life here.  We stay home followed by staying home with an occasional frosty run thrown in.

 I've been thinking back to when Leo was born.  It's all a bit of a blur, but I do remember that it was hard.  So many new things to learn, to worry about.  I was so tired.  This time is different.  I'm still working on how to address the needs of two children as well as my own but I think we are coming along (even if I don't put on makeup until about 3:00 every day).

Amy is a sweet, content baby.  She eats and she sleeps, a lot.  She is a calm little soul who likes to flex her feet all the time. We feel so lucky to have this sweet little person in our family.

And now, some pictures of life lately and about 15 pictures of Amy.  We just love her.

Our outing to Hardware Ranch.  We all needed some fresh air and sunshine.

What our life really looks like.

Leo and Heber heading to church.  Leo recently moved into senior nursery.  Big deal.

Visiting dad's work. 

A New Bed, A New Phase

Yesterday was a big day for Leo.  We went out and purchased a twin bed.  For weeks he's had to have a pillow in his crib and has been acting ready to be in a bed.

When we got it all set up, Leo was thrilled.  He's been jumping and saying "my bed" all evening.  I can't believe that he is grown up enough to have his own big bed. 

It brings me back to when I got my "big girl" bed.  It was a white canopy bed.  My sisters and I all got the same style and I thought they were the most beautiful beds I had ever seen.  My mom put together a rainbow bedspread and ruffled cover for the canopy.  I spent many happy nights looking up at the colors.

It's these milestones that seem to come so quickly.  All of the sudden little Leo is a full fledged little boy and all the baby is gone. 

First night was a bit rougher than expected.  Made us laugh.

Life at Home..

We've been home from the hospital for several days now.  It seems like life is coming back to a new routine.  Heb has been home helping as I've been recovering.  The thing about having a new baby is that it is beautiful and wonderful and then messy and emotional and hard all at the same time.

There is so much change that we are dealing with that it's all kind of a whirlwind.  I've made Heber promise me that we will not move right before having our next baby.  I am putting my foot down at doing it twice. 

And yet in it all, it's so joyful.  I feel so grateful.  Amy is a sweet baby.  She sleeps well.   Leo has been very soft and kind thus far.  We are settling in to life with two.

As a side, did I tell you that Heber surprised me with a new camera for Christmas?  (Of course not, because I haven't gotten around to writing about Christmas).  It was one of the nice DSLR ones with a lens.  I am loving it.  I have not been that surprised in a long time.  I don't think I expected to ever be the owner of such a nice camera. 

Little sister was sad and Leo shared his most beloved puppy to cheer her up.

Um...when did Leo become a little boy.  He seems so grown up.

A pretty accurate picture of our life.  Leo, Amy, messy pantry and Cheezit letter crackers (Leo's favorite thing).

Lots of projects going on at our house.  Leo calls it painting finger.

Our New Year Surprise

Our view from the hospital

 Our sweet baby Amy was born this week.  She arrived at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.  We can't believe that she is so little.  I'm going to have to go out and buy newborn clothes because we honestly didn't believe we would ever have a baby quite this small after our 9 pound Leo.

We named her Amy Lois.  We've had a name picked out for months and when it came right down to it, it just wasn't the right one for her.  Amy came up just a few days ago and we both loved it.  Amy means beloved (which she truly is) and friend (which friends are really important to Heber and I).  It is, like my best friend Amy said, a friendly, happy name.  Lois is after my grandmother.  

She arrived 2 weeks early.  We are all doing well and finally home from the hospital.  Leo seems to like her thus far.  We are all just so thrilled that she is here with us. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to head home from the hospital

 

2013 Year in Review

2013 is officially over.  It was quite the year.  I think I've had some of the happiest times of my life this year mostly because of simple things.  I have settled into motherhood and I love being a mom to Leo and find a lot of fulfillment.  I love that I've found hobbies to be excited about.  It's been a year of overcoming some old bad habits and succeeding in ways I just didn't anticipate (like exercising, who knew I could do it consistently?). 

It's also been a rough one with lots of morning sickness and a major move.  I don't think I anticipated that it would be so hard to leave Virginia.  There were definite reasons why we left but it was incredibly hard.  I liked my life there.  I liked me there. 

Leo in the moving truck

To ring in the new year, we wrote down our favorite memory of 2013.  What are the odds that Heber and I would write the exact same thing?  We both wrote down that our favorite was to get pizza and go to Huntsman Park.  It was something we started doing almost every week.  We'd eat our pizza and watch Leo joyfully play at the park.  Shouldn't my favorite be some big memory like Outer Banks?  No, just simple.

Leo at Huntsman Park

I've been sorting through pictures recently and I've been flooded with so many memories of this past year.  It was a good one.  Rough but so good too. 

At Halloween.

Pumpkin Festival with his best bud, Zach

At our neighborhood park.

 

In dad's glasses, shoes, and work badge.  All ready to head to work.  It's twice as funny because his outfit looks just like what Heber wears everyday.

Making discoveries at Hidden Pond Nature Center.

Outer Banks

 

National Botanical Gardens.  Love that place.

The Tidal Basin at cherry blossom time.

National Kite Festival

 

Some of my fish from the glass studio.  I learned so much this year!

Down at one of our regular haunts, Occoquan

Eastern Market

My favorite picture of the year, Leo helping me make cookies.