2011 Photobook....finally complete!

I finally completed and ordered my 2011 Shutterfly photobook. It is a combination of a baby book, photo album, and blog book. I started the year not knowing how to document my family.  Before Max was here, I just made good old-fashioned photo albums from printed photos. But now do I make photo albums for Claire, and different ones for Max?  What about family photos- do I have to print multiple copies and place them in both their books? Or do I just make one family album...but then which child gets to ultimately keep it (assuming, of course, that they both want to... :)).  And then, what about all of my blog posts that capture their development, the funny things Claire says, etc?  So, the idea of the large photobook was born.

I made their largest book (12x12) and used the maximum number of pages allowed (101 pages). If I could have used more, I definitely would have. To say it was a labor of love is an understatement.  I am certain I spent 60+ hours making it, but it became a very enjoyable hobby for me to pursue after the children were in bed. Shutterfly's new scrapbooking tools are super cool and allow your creative juices to flow.  I plan to make these books each year, at least until the kids are out of the house. I'll print two copies each year so they can take a whole set with them. I ordered it yesterday when it was 40% off, plus free shipping, plus I had a code for an extra 10% off, so it only cost $100, which is much less than it would have cost for me to print the photos and buy albums from Tar.get.  I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail!

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

      

Christmas 2011

We had an incredible Christmas this year.  It was so fun with children ages 13 months and 2 1/2 years and I know it will only get better.  

I was big this year on two things..... simplifying and making sure my children get enough sleep.  We are so blessed to have SO MUCH family in town, but we want to do everything with everyone, and there just aren't enough hours in the day.

We started Saturday morning with the Mieska clan at GG's house.  We usually can't make the Mieska get-together because it's in the evening and we're with my family then, so we were thrilled to be able to join this year when it was moved to the morning. 

Claire and Everleigh... the two girls in the bunch. Both sporting adorable red dresses.

This is how these photo shoots generally go.  The boys chillax and the girls freak out. Ah! A scary COUCH! And a CAMERA! And my friends/cousins!  SCARY!!!! 

Now it's Ev's turn to be dramatic, while Brody wonders what's up. 

After naps at home, we went to 4PM church and then to my mom's for an amazing lasagna dinner.  I love this picture of three of my very most favorite people! 

The best present of the weekend is the new camera.  Hands down.  She took over 300 pictures in one day, which is probably why the camera consumed four AA batteries in that short period.  It even has a USB cord..and takes video too! 

As tradition has it, we spent Christmas morning at home, together, in our Christmas jammies.  The kids opened a couple presents from "Santa", although Claire doesn't understand what that means yet and we're not pushing it.  

My Dad, Chris, and Becky came over for a scrumptious lunch of wild rice soup (thanks Becky for making it!), salad, and bread.  

This picture of Uncle Chris and Claire makes me melt! 

Claire is a very captivating story-teller. 

Christmas night we went back to my mom's to celebrate with the Farmers (Brad's children and their families).  It was so fun! 

I think Max is so handsome! 

 Mom and Brad bought the kids a motorized vehicle for at the cabin.  They already LOVE it and it hasn't even turned on!  Max enjoyed getting a feel for the driver's seat. 

"No one puts baby in the trunk!!!" 

Look at the little pose Claire is giving.  I'm seeing flash-fowards to watching her drive away with her first boyfriend at age 25 16. 

I hope you had a Merry Christmas, too!  The fact is not lost on me that Christmas is indeed not merry for too many brothers and sisters in the world....those who are hurting spiritually, financially, emotionally, mentally, physically.  Those who are lonely, whether they find themselves alone or in a group of people.  The mothers and fathers, here in the US and all around the world, who long to provide for their children, and are reminded once again at Christmas that they cannot.  I pray for those who long to celebrate with a child of their own, that by next Christmas, they're taking pictures of their new baby beneath their Christmas tree.

I liked how my Christmas card simply said, "May the splendor of the season remind you of Him who is worthy of all our praise"..... Amen!  

Favorite photo of 2011

I'm linking up with Rachel from Finding Joy  to share my favorite picture from 2011.  I took many, many pictures this year and it's hard to pick a favorite.  That said, here are two of my favorites from this year.  

2011 was a year of getting to know our sweet son, Max.  It was a year that began with a huge amount of sleep deprivation due to this little boy, and a feeling of renewed hope once we worked with the Sleep Institute in the St. Louis hospital (they will always hold a special place in my heart!).  It was a year for me to experience fully how our love multiplies, rather than divides.  Seeing my two children grow, and learn, and play together created heart-exploding moments.  The above picture is from the 4th of July at Nana's cabin.  I love everything about this picture-- Max's voluminous hair blowing in the wind, his naked, chunky shoulders and arms, the American flag flowing in the background, my dear friend Laurie smiling on, and my husband (not seen) holding her new precious son, Landon.  I also love how Max is sporting pink sunglasses (who do belong to his sister)- he makes pink look good!  Weekends at the cabin with a bunch of family and friends are one of my favorite parts of summer. 

My other favorite picture is this self-portrait of our little family on Valentine's Day.  I like how it's normal- no fancy photography, just a good old-fashioned "stretch your arm out as far as it can go and hope you have the subjects centered" picture.  On the day especially marked for celebrating love, I love how in love we look (and were/are!).  

Thankful for thirty

I turned 30 years old today.  And today, I'm thankful for thirty.  I have no issues with reaching this milestone.  After all, it's better than the alternative, right?  And truthfully, I have felt 30 for awhile now, so we're just making it official.  

Today I am reflecting on a few of the many things I have to be thankful for, as seen through the eyes of my iPhone.  

I am thankful for special Mommy/Claire dates with this sweet girl.  It feels like just yesterday that this girl  was a four pound screaming (all.the.time) little peanut. And now she's a big peanut who is totally potty-trained (including during naps and at night-time), an animated story teller, and a perfect lunch date. 

I am thankful for this little "CHEESEEE!!" boy, who makes my heart almost explode.  And for my relationship with his Grandpa, which is a wonderful story of restoration. 

Thankful for precious cuddles. 

And thankful to witness the special relationship my children have with their father.  Just today Josh and I were discussing how it seems that so much of how we turn out, and operate, as adults is based on our childhood.  It's a lot of pressure to provide healthy, character-building, full of appropriate-boundaries, childhoods-- and I'm thankful to be attempting it alongside this guy. 

I'm thankful for fun. and giggles. and seeing life through a child's eyes. 

I'm thankful for surprises.  Like the one my husband surprised me with today.  When my alarm went off this morning, my sweet hubby informed me that he arranged for me to have the day off, he cleared my calendar, and we're about to spend a fun day together.  After my initial thought of "Ahh, I have SO MUCH to do at work!!", I was thankful for remembering that my work will be there tomorrow and it's important to celebrate life. 

Thankful for a budding photographer who adores taking pictures of her baby brother.  This time she caught me in it too.  

I'm thankful for precious friends, like Rachel, who are on this mothering journey with me.  Thankful that we can support each other, listen to each other, and remind each other that we WILL sleep again someday.  Thankful for fun and laughter. And for memories, like the one below, that will continue to make me chuckle for a long time. 

And I'm thankful that, even though I'm now 30, I can still act young.  Age is only a number, right? 

Thankful for good friends, who have become the family we chose. 

I have much, MUCH more to be thankful for, but not all of it was captured on my phone. :) 

And thank YOU for reading this little blog of mine! 

Happy birthday to us!

Happy birthday to two of my very most favorite people in the world... my broham Chris and my hub-a-lub, Josh.  And me, too. :)

A sweet walking boy in Christmas jammies.... love! 

And this little guy LOVES the remote.  Just try taking it away! 

He's already a CHEEEESE-er! 

We had lots of fun celebrating our December birthdays tonight.  Chris was on the 3rd, Josh is tomorrow, and mine is the 21st (the big 3-0!).  I am so excited for this coming three day weekend.  Tomorrow, Nana and I are taking the kids downtown (and Josh will meet up with us) for our third annual Santa visit at Macy's along with the Macy's 8th floor display.  We'll all get lunch before we race home for naptime.  Claire has been warning me that she is NOT sitting on Santa's lap.  On Saturday, we're going to the zoo in the morning and we're going to dinner and an amazing Christmas concert at my church that night.  Sunday is a full day of celebrating Christmas with Josh's family at our house.  Life is good! 

The evolution of language

It truly is amazing to see how language develops.  This is an example of how a single request has changed for Claire in one year:

18 months: "more milk"
2 years: "more milk please Mommy"
2 1/2 years: "No, Mommy.  I don't want milk. I want wa-wa (water) instead of milk"

Now Claire uses the words "instead", "otherwise", "actually", "kind of", in the proper context.

She says things like, "oh that's a bummer" and "that's kind of crazy!" to describe situations or emotions.

This morning Josh and I were whispering while discussing the large hive on her cheek (which is another entire story). She came up to us and whispered, "what are you talking about, guys???"

When Max cries, she says, "I think Max is crying because he wants his Mommy.  Do you want your Mommy, Max?  Go get her!  Go see your Mommy".

Last Saturday Claire and I were heading out the door to get haircuts at our neighbors house.  She called out to Josh, "Bye Daddy! I'm going to get my haircut!  I'll be RIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHTT back!  Okay, bye! Don't be sad!"

Last night the water was boiling over onto the stove when I was making rice (can't wait to hopefully get the rice cooker that I put on my Christmas/Birthday list :)).  She said, "Shit! Rice! Shit!"  I told her not to say that word.  She said, "Okay, shoot the boot!  Shoot the boot!"

Literally, just a year ago she was saying one or two word phrases.  I'm just in awe of how language develops in young children.  Not a day (heck, even hour!) goes by that she doesn't make me smile with the things she says!

Mission: Accomplished

Claire showed signs of being ready to potty train from a very young age.  She has stayed dry through the night 99% of the time since she was 9 months old (seriously).  Her brother is sorta following in her footsteps too. She has also been very self-aware for a LONG time.  On my maternity leave last year I considered trying to potty train her, even though she was only 18-21 months old.  No dice.  I had a week off this past August and I was determined to start and finish potty training that week.  Well, it lasted just eight hours before I realized that while she was ready, she had no desire (so I guess that means she wasn't really ready).  Fine with me.  Frankly, I thought diapers were probably more convenient anyways.  I am a believer in waiting until they are fully ready to potty train.  Doing it on their watch, not mine.  If I could see within a few hours that she wasn't ready, I wasn't going to push it.  

So we gave up on that day in August and didn't push it again.  Fast forward three months.  A couple weeks ago Claire started saying, "there's something wrong with my diaper!". There was nothing wrong with it; she simply found them uncomfortable now.  I thought- a ha!  THIS may be when she's ready! 

So we started potty training on November 22nd.  And I think I can safely say, today, just ten days later, that she's potty trained.  We haven't had to go in public yet, so that will be another test, but she goes perfectly well at home with zero accidents.  I want to give a shout-out to my mom-in-law too, who was a huge help. 

Exhibit A: NOT READY (20 months old)

Exhibit B: READY (31 months old)

It didn't help that Claire hasn't been able to watch any other children go potty.  It should help Brody and Max when it's their turn to potty train because they'll have Claire for an example. 

So proud of my big girl.  Way to go, Claire! 

Sunday Funday

'Twas a good day.  Unfortunately, it didn't start with going to church and that makes me sad.  I miss our church!  Max naps during the service and I haven't figured out how to get around that.  When he transitions to one nap a day we'll be able to go again.  I am strict about sleep because I know how important it is to my children's health and behavior.  Have any other parents of young children figured out how to go to church when it was during naptime?  Would love to hear your experience!

We had a lazy morning and then I met my dear friend Sarah for coffee at Caribou.  We had a great chat and then I did a little Christmas shopping (so much faster by myself than with two tag-a-longs!) and got groceries at Target.

We enjoyed an afternoon at home of playing, baking, and football-watching.  And I made lasagna for an early dinner. This evening, Daddy ran an errand and Claire, Max and I spent 50 minutes driving around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights.  Claire is just enamored with the lights.  It's going to be a fun December- I think we'll spend several more evenings enjoying our time together and marveling at those pretty lights.

Claire was a great (really, she was) helper today. She unwrapped the hershey kisses (and only ate one, with my permission). 

Max contributed by buying our baking supplies. (He took TWO steps on Friday! Yay for my big boy! He just can't know he's doing it).  

Then she placed the kisses very carefully into the center of the pretzels. 

Max made sure the goodies baked just long enough.

I enjoyed my four day weekend, especially the 2.5 days of it that I was relatively healthy.  It's back to work tomorrow, but it'll be nice to get back into the swing of things. And I have next Friday off, so it's another short week! Anyone want a playdate on Friday??

Authentically grateful

I loved this post by a Minnesota mom of seven.  It's a reminder to be authentically grateful.  A reminder that many...(even most?)...  people are aching for one reason or another beneath their holiday smiles.  It's a quick, easy read, and I hope you'll be blessed by it like I was.

Scenes from Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed breakfast with my dad (at our house while Max slept), lunch with the Dockens, Parks, and Sue and Julie at the farm, and dinner with the Thydeans, Farmers, Brody, and my mom and Brad at mom's house.  We have much to be thankful for!

(Oh and that French Silk Pie?  It was forgotten on the kitchen table and subsequently thrown away.  Oh well, it was cursed from the beginning.) 

You are my God, and I will praise you.

you are my God and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:28-29