7 years-my tribute to us!

We celebrated 7 years a few months ago (Okay, so half a year....whatever).  Here's my "gift" to Derek.

7 Years of Us.

What I Love About Cole (today)

there are countless reasons why i love this child. here are some of today's biggies:

his sensitivity,

 that he lives inside of his imagination,

 that he loves to entertain his sister,

 and his funny, silly, animated personality

i am so incredibly lucky to get to be his mom.

Friday Feeling

Friday's are wonderful.

Totally.

Some Fridays find me feeling excited.
Sometimes I feel exhausted.
This Friday I felt overwhelmingly grateful. 

...it might have something to do with this...

self portrait @ 28 weeks pregnant

...this pregnancy has me all emotional...mostly positive emotions, but you know how us preggers' can be!

Another trigger of my extreme gratitude on this particular Friday was due to this....

No, nothing new.  Old song.  (But I finally have the "new techonology" of using my ipod in my car, which means great playlists.  -Thank You, D!!)  The song makes me think of all that I have, feel, and CAN do!

And, then there is my job that leaves me time to think about gratitude.  I love the freedom I have during the day.  Granted, it's needed as my job often times leaves me drained.  It's so nice to have time to myself and time to rejuvenate!

So, really I have listed the "triggers" for my gratitude - - low and behold, they are also things I am grateful for!  Among many,  many others!  I count myself a lucky girl....

...and someone tell me how it got to be Sunday evening already!

New Year

Whew!  2010 - What a year! 

For a brief recap of the ups and downs....

April 2010 - We put our house on the market.

 4 days later, it was under contract.

May 2010 - We closed on our home...

  ...and moved in with Na & G.

Memorial Day Weekend - we moved into our new home.

June 11, 2010 - We got the news of Oma's diagnosis.

September 4, 2010 - We lost Oma.

Holidays 2010 - Bittersweet.  We are so blessed, yet it has been hard to adjust to a new life without Derek's mom, Ed's wife, Cole's Oma, etc.

There were many more unmentioned ups, but looking at these major, life-changing events makes me tired! I hope for a whole lot *less* in 2011.  Not sure that we'll get too much less though!  Baby will arrive within a few months and we will have lots of adjusting to do - - either way, I look forward to embarking on our new family life with my family by my side!

As for resolutions, I need to focus on small things that are realistic.  Having a new baby and a three year old will prove challenging I am sure.  So, I want to focus on a few things....

- eating more veggies and serving more veggies to the family.

- practicing more patience with Cole.  Realizing that however challenging he can be, I only get one chance to spend his childhood with him.  I want to show him all of the love that I have for him.

- exercising a few times each week.  

So far in 2011, we're off to a good start.  Derek, Phoebe, and I have all worked out....yes, Phoebe - she had her first round on the treadmill!  Homegirl's birthday is fast approaching!  14 years will look good on her!

Wishing all a wonderful 2011!  Here's to health & family - the things that I have learned most about in 2010.

L, L, & L

Legos, Lattes, and Little Einsteins make for a nice, slow Saturday morning.

Chalk & Bubbles

Front Yard Fun: Chalk & Bubbles!!

So handsome

He and his daddy both look extraordinarily cute in this hat.

I am smitten with both of them.

Merry, Merry! -Christmas 2009

This was my first Christmas morning at home in my memorable life. It was everything I hoped for. Cole enjoyed the mystery of Santa...

This was the first Christmas Cole really got into.  Cole, you are such a big boy these days.  You are more of a buddy than my baby!  You are so much fun.  I enjoyed this Christmas as a parent more than any I had as a child I think!  I love you, Monkey!

Your big present this year was a Geotrax train set.  Daddy helped you set it up and you have practically run the batteries out by keeping it running all.the.time!  You love it.  Daddy is ready to build on your set with more goodies.

Thanks for making my Christmas magical, Cole.  As you and I regularly say these days, "you're the best!"

a perfect Sunday afternoon in December

Christmas with the Hood Family 2009

 

Goreville is really far.  Anna is even further (139.04 miles - OUCH!)  You are always a trooper, Cole!  Thanks be to your DVD player and movies!

A visit to PaPa Hood at the Anna Veterans Nursing Home.

  Food Fun: FONDUE!

The kids enjoyed one another's company and the fondue.  

Grandma's game: Pay It Forward!
We were asked to preform a random act of kindness/good deed and tell that story as we gathered.  There were many categories and we voted on the "best" stories.  Bottom line, we all won as we got to practice kindness!

So Thankful

We were home, just the three of us, celebrating Thanksgiving today. So relaxing and easy to focus on all that we have to be grateful for!

I am grateful for....

...a meal that requires days of preparation and glorious anticipation

...a boy who thinks the world of his daddy


...silliness


...Derek's turkey TLC


...technology


...love


...my marriage


...vino


...good cookin'


...carbs!


...wilingness...


...to try new things...


...with gusto!


...leftovers


...sweets


...comfy pants


...help with the dishes


...a dishwasher


...naps


...dogs, and dog winks


...ads!


...snuggles

...a home where we can make a mess and relax!

We've gone MAD...

...for the Macklind Avenue Deli, that is.... It is a wonderful and fun place to spend a summer afternoon!
it's really a good time for all. Join us!