'Twas the Night Before Christmas

and the traditions continued...

we laughed, we cried... we fed reindeer, and we attempted to sleep.

and to all a good night.

Caroling, Cuddles, and Santa

I love Christmas-time. I love how it makes things seem brighter, and warm. I love caroling with the Girl Scouts...

And when Madelyn got to bring Mr. Cuddles home from school.

I don't love... Hatchimals. This is the Cabbage Patch of this generation. The elusive- toy must have. Why oh why do they keep playing the commercials if they don't have enough! Ha!

You are Three

You are three.

For three years you have brought me joy, laughter, and your smile. I remember waiting for you to arrive. When I think back to that, I realize I had no idea what wonder was about to enter my world. My heart is literally yours.

You are soft, and smell like home. You laugh at all my jokes, and try and take away any tears.

You scream. You yell when you don’t get your way… and everyone swears you will be a CEO one day. There is no way you can take orders.

You are smart. You figure out things that amaze me. You understand the context of a situation before your father sometimes does. Ha.

You are brave. You fly off the couch like you have a parachute strapped to your back. You even enter your sister’s room when she is in a tantrum.

You make me feel safe. I know parents are always that for their children. But, sweet baby boy you are that for me too. If I have a bad day, there is something very special about cuddling with you before you fall asleep that reminds me… everything is ok.

You are strong. You help whenever you can, and throw like a professional. Organized sports are… so far… not your thing though.

You love your sister just as a brother should. You stick up for her, and you remind her too… that it is ok. Even if she is going in for the hundredth hug, and you didn’t really want the first one.

You are funny. Like really funny. You tell the best jokes, accompanied by the best sounds. You call chocolate powder- pirate ships and we have no idea why.

You are three.

(Just a cute photo I snapped as I was sitting on the couch.)

Snowstorms and Birthdays

I guess you have to anticipate that if you have a December birthday... you may also have a snowstorm birthday. When your mom, and your auntie Chrissy, and your Nana and Papa run around making cakes, and casseroles, and cheese trays... and dad helps as mom ridiculously cleans the house. Sometimes just by walking behind you and telling you to stop making a mess. That it may just be too snowy. But, you are turning 3. And everyone just wants to celebrate the awesome little guy you are. So, even if mom and dad ate their share of birthday cake x3, and Nana and Papa had to shovel to get out the front door, they all came to celebrate you.

So it snowed. A lot. But, again you are 3... and it was perfect. You loved being sung Happy Birthday. You blew out every candle. And your cousin Robert drove all the way from Boston to give you a Thomas train.

Then when mom thought we were getting tired... way before bed... we piled in the car for Chuckie-E-Cheese. 

And just like that... you are three.

December Blessings

Whoa. It is mid-December.

Snow has fallen, Reed is a week away from 3! and just like that life went in fast forward. On this day, 3 years ago the OB told me Reed's birth date. I was 2 weeks away from my due date, and they decided that on December 20th he should arrive. (I still had a pretty crazy week ahead... have I told you about the time I slipped on ice, 9-months pregnant in front of the liquor store holding 6 bottles of wine for Ray's co-workers? and then cried. and then needed to be carried to my car? No? I didn't? Well, that will be a great story for later.)

December has been a month full of blessings for our family. We have definitely had some bad days... I drove into a parked car and needed thousands of dollars of work, a diagnosis for my on-going pain came, and someone threw up on me while I was out to dinner! Yuck. But, these trials are nothing compared to blessings.

We found an amazing new pediatrician... (Just in time for croup.)

We hung out with the Walsh's when mommy had to work. Seriously, did I tell you how amazing my cousin Chrissy is?!

We relaxed (and didn't fight) while enjoying our Sundays with Nana and Papa.

We fell asleep early.

We watched the snow fall. And sweet daddy made sure all the paths and cars were clear.

I was given the most beautiful paper clip holder ever. Seriously, it is the most beautiful thing I think I have ever received from Madelyn.

A SURPRISE! came in the mail. The most beautiful necklace all the way from South Carolina. (I don't think I have taken it off yet.)

And then an amazing offer of heating wood for our fireplace from my most crafty aunt on the North Shore. And a Papa who graciously took us to breakfast before hauling it to New Hampshire for us.

We have each other. From Virginia, to New Hampshire, Minnesota to Massachusetts, South Carolina to Michigan, and all the way to California. We have this network of amazing people all over that care for us, love us, and guide us. We are blessed.

...It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...at Nana and Papa's!

And a surprise Elfina showed up!

Thanksgiving! The whirlwind.

What a fun day. We began with breakfast with the Cawleys, rounded out with appetizers and dinner with Nana and Papa, birthdays with Hannah, and dessert with Grandma and Grandpa. Fun, Fun, Fun!

I was too busy stuffing my face to get pictures. Here are a couple.

I am always reminded how grateful I am to have the family we have, the love we share, and how blessed we truly are.