Making Memories

Halloween and Christmas have taken on a sense of meaning for me. I've never really loved Halloween- it is the holiday that I have to get through to get to Christmas. However this year it was totally different. Syd and Charlie had so much fun. The laughing, running, little hands knocking on doors. It made me so happy and I had the realization that I am now seeing these Holidays through the eyes of a child, and quite frankly, there isn't anything better.

While Syd definitely doesn't have a full appreciation of Christmas, she is very into Santa Claus ( in theory- but she'd  prefer if you didn't put her on his lap!). We went to Hudson Gardens this past weekend and I told Bri it should be our tradition every year- the weekend before Xmas to go there.

It was cold & snowy. It was beautiful. Syd ran like a maniac, we chased her drinking our hot cocoa & cider.  I smiled the whole time.

2013 Christmas Card

Two Years Old!

I am neglectfully didn't post about Syd's 2nd birthday. After a big blow out on her 1st birthday, I learned that these parties are really for no one other than the parents. With that in mind, we decided to skip the big "to-do", but as the day got closer I started to feel a little guilty. So I decided to have a breakfast birthday party for her nearest and dearest!

She absolutely loves balloons so Brian went to get 20 balloons to decorate but got home to decide he really needed 40..so back he went. What a good Daddy.  She was so confused, and than excited, when she woke up the next morning to find balloons everywhere!

Syd is an amazing child. She is so smart and a natural leader at school (as we are told). She is hilarious, opinionated and head strong. I know these are all qualities that will serve her well (as they do me) but wow, they are challenging traits to parent.  I pray every night that we are making the right choices for her and parenting her in a firm but loving way. 

Syd adores "Car Car" ( aka Charlie Cecchini) and talks about him multiple times a day. She loves to FaceTime with Ama, Coop & Jack. She calls Deacon, "Deac" and Ruxin "other dog"....poor dog. She loves to cuddle and watch "Baka" (aka Bubble Guppies).  Her vocabulary grows every day and she shocks us with what she learns at school. 

We are so very lucky this little girl belongs to us. She is everything that is right in my life. 

I love you, Punky!

More about that surprise...

Back before I was a Mom and back before my Dad got sick and this blog seemed "silly" to me, I posted a lot about our struggles to become parents. Entry after entry were about it. It gives me hives to even think about it.

Since having Syd we decided we wouldn't "not try" to have kids but we wouldn't be trying an additional fertility treatments. And being told that having kids without medical intervention would be next to impossible it shot down any real dreams I had of "what if....".

Earlier this summer we spent most weekends in Castle Rock- looks at neighborhoods, looking at different builders. We made a lot of decisions on having only 1 child, only 1 daycare bill. We started to dream about our dream house. It looked like things would happen.

And than, as I do from time to time, I satisfy my pregnancy test obsession. I was heading out on a business trip and as I was grabbing things under the sink I saw a lonely test calling to me. I took it and as I turned to leave I saw it turn positive before the control line was done. I stopped dead in my tracks.  I panicked, I teared up, I laughed out loud. I physically trembled.

I was a lunatic running around the house trying to get ready and finish packing so I could find an extra 15 min to drive to Brian's work. I will never forget the look of confusion, pure confusion, on his face.  All I could do was laugh and than kick him out of the car because I had a plane to catch.

Here we are 21 weeks later and we still look at one another and say, " Really?".

All of our pregnancies have been girls- so naturally we assumed this would be too. We didn't consider the alternative. Our jaws were on the ground when they said "You are having a son!". WHAT???
But it only makes sense...that this be different from any other pregnancy...this is how it was supposed to be.

Baby Boy- who may never get a name because we only have girl names picked out- will be here in March.

I don't know what I did in this life to deserve to be the Mommy to two Miracle Babies.

Summer recap….and the shock of our lives

The blog has been neglected. I might try to catch you up on the awesome things we did this summer, like this. Our 2nd annual trip to Beer Fest in Keystone. The kids had so much fun and Syd could have lived on the water slide

 We also took a family trip up to Grandpa's meadow. It was amazing to be there again with Syd!

And than girl basically turned into a teenager over night with her insistence on shoes, bags and coats.

And than, some remodeling

And than, somewhere in the middle of all of this we got the surprise of our lives…

God is good.

Father's Day 2013

We went to Frisco for Father's Day weekend and had such a great time as a little family.  Syd really enjoyed the pond and rocks. 

We snuggled in Grandpa's chair. What I would give for him to have been there with her.

We kept up with our annual tradition to attend the Frisco BBQ Festival. In trying to keep in Syd's good graces (ie, before nap time) we went early. Nothing like a little Coors Light and Margs at 10:30 in the morning!

 Daddy and his girl...

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day used to be a sad (very sad) reminder of why I didn't have. Now it is a day I celebrate with a heart that could pound out of my chest with the love I have for my girl.

I spent all day yesterday silently thanking God for my little miracle and for my own Mom, who is the best example of what a Mom should be.

I adored this picture. I still can't believe she is mine. I am so glad she is so loved by all the women in this picture.