New!

The New Year brought a NEW blog design. Jessica from Diamond Doll Designs did an AMAZING job. I could not be happier. She was so easy to work with and so quick! She came up with the perfect design, with very little information from me.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Now to work on lots of posts. So much to catch up on and so much new going into this new year. I cannot wait to jot it all down.

Ho Ho Ho

Holy Smokes. It's December and the 19th at that. Where does the time go?

We are in the Christmas season. Actually nearing the end (WAAAHHHH). I love Christmas. For the feelings, the memories it evokes, the traditions. I love it more this year that we are starting/continuing our own Christmas traditions with our family of 3 and a half:)

We hunted our Christmas tree (from a lot this year due to bad weather) but alas we still umm and haawwweed over it, measured, shook and finally decided on a nice fat tree:) Our daughter with us sniffing, touching and running around like a wild woman. We decorated the tree with her help. More like redecorated the tree a million times. Her little voice exclaiming over all the ornaments she knew "Baa" "Oink" "BABY".  And then she found an ornament that I have had since I was a little girl (a

porcelain doll sitting on a moon) and insisted on carrying it around, hugging it, kissing it until I removed it from her tiny little hand when she fell asleep. I put it back at the top of the tree, until the next day she saw it and the same thing happened and has been happening everyday since. The joys. The magic of it all, seeing it through her eyes. The smile she gets when she looks at the lights on the  Christmas tree. The "ho ho ho" I hear every time she sees a Santa. The "BABY!!" exclaimation as she looks at all the Naitivity scenes.

We have prepared gingerbread houses, have crafts galore to finish before Tuesday, and finish our cookie baking that we give to the neighbors. It is the season. I wish we could have this feeling always. The togetherness, the joy of doing together, of giving to those less fortunate. The magic.  

My favorite memory of this season thus far. My daughter enjoying her first sled ride. The giggles and screams of glee. I was nervous she wouldn't like it. I should have known better. My free spirited, thrill loving girl LOVED flying down the rather steep hill towards the large trees, with our dogs barking along beside us and snow flying up in her face. That sound will be forever etched in my mind. I am so happy we are getting this time. These fun memories just the two (three with dad) of us before her sibling arrives in a couple of months.

This Christmas season has been better than I could have anticipated and we are not even finished yet. The days get better, sweeter, more fun with this girl of mine. Her father and I could never have imagined the joy and love she has brought into our lives. I wouldn't trade these days for anything in the world.  

Merry Christmas if I dont return before then. Enjoy this season. Not for the gifts or the wants but for the memories and the time together. It's the magic of it all!