Friday Letter #10 - The Evolution of Your Hugs

Dear Liza,

One of my most favorite things about being your mama is your hugs. Your little arm found its way around my neck just before your first birthday. In the dark next to your crib, I whispered a song against your cheek. You reached around and patted my back. It was my first hug from you, and I will never forget it. A few months ago, you started showing your enthusiasm for your things by squeezing them in a bear hug, squinching up your nose, and making this sweet growling noise. Daddy used to ask you for a hug and a kiss before bed each night, until recently when you surprised both of us and asked him first. You've also begun spontaneously hugging our legs when we're busy doing something up at our level and our arms are out of your reach.

Bitsy, the most amazing thing about watching you grow is how you make sense of the world without any formal teaching. Nobody taught you how to hug. We just kept hugging you. You must have thought it was an important life skill because you've figured it out.

Lucky us!

Love and Hugs,

Mama

This post was inspired by FridayLetters.com's question #157.

Merry Christmas...Take One

We love this picture, but can't find a photo card to fit it. So, it's back to the drawing board for us.

Gymnastics with Daddy

Liza and I have been taking a gymnastics class for the past few Saturdays at the local gym. Guess who escaped from work for an hour and surprised us last weekend?!? Our little gymnast was thrilled to have her Daddy join in on the fun.

Together Again

He's been away for a few weeks, but now he's home again...right where he belongs.

Feeling Mellow

Dear Liza,

Daddy and I often talk about where we'd like to live once the choice is up to us. Neither of us has ever been able to come up with a definitive answer. I realized a few months ago, though, that I dream of living in a walkable neighborhood...someplace where we can get to a bookstore, a coffee shop, the library, a delicious restaurant, the farmer's market, and a few fun little stores all on our own two feet. Gramommy and Grandaddy live in such a place and we took full advantage of it during our visit. There were two trips to the taco shop, a delightful stroll to the river, a few shop meanderings, two visits (in one night!) to our favorite restaurant/bar, a visit to Grandaddy's office, and two yummy breakfast dates. You enJOYed dancing to the music during breakfast, pointing out the trucks as they rumbled up and down the street, and woofing at the many dogs we met along the way. The walkable lifestyle definitely fits us!

Love, Mama

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Dear Liza,

You were more than ready for this adventure, popping up out of a sound sleep and excitedly babbling away to me when I came to get you dressed before the sun rose. At the airport you pointed out every jet you saw shouting, "Jet! Jet!" until Daddy and I joked later in the day that we wished we had a dollar for every time you said it. We would be millionaires. Neither of us knew what to expect from you during a whole day of travel and little to no sleep. Both of us were banking on the worst, but you totally proved us wrong. The noise and motion of the prop plane really scared you. You clung to Daddy and sweated through your outfit during the 36 minute ride to the big airport. Much more comfortable on the big jet, though, you played, snacked, peeked at the ladies behind us, and napped (!). Even though you liked to look out at the wing and the clouds, just one peek down at the ground way below us made your eyes grow as big as saucers and you would immediately slam the shade back down. Daddy and I had fun watching you experience all the newness of travel, but we were ever so grateful when those wheels touched down at National. Let the vacation begin!

Love, Mama 

East of Here

We just got back from our first summer vacation since Liza joined our family. Originally we hadn't planned to be so adventurous. Flying across the country through three time zones with a toddler was not our idea of an easy first trip, but life had other plans for us. The trip turned out to be pretty fabulous. Liza was amazing and thoroughly enJOYed the constant attention of adoring family and friends. As we traveled back, Lee asked me if I thought she'd remember any of what she'd just experienced. I doubt it. And so, we'll have to do the remembering for her. 

Stay tuned...

A Week in the Life

Other than the pictures and words on this blog, I haven't been keeping a scrapbook for Liza. I have a couple of small albums, one tells the story of her birth and the other my mom and sister put together of her first 6 months of life. I'd like to be one of those moms who makes a book detailing the events of each year of her life, but the reality is that I don't have the time or patience for that kind of undertaking. When I read about Ali's "Week in the Life" project, though, I knew I was capable of that. I spent the week of April 18-25 documenting our lives in pictures. Last week I placed all the pictures in a digital scrapbook. Tonight, I finished the words. I can't wait to get the hard copy into my hands, and I hope to do this project once a year for the foreseeable future. Hope you enJOY the peek at all the little things that are us in 2010.

Click here to view it.

Happy Birthday, Liza Claire!

Slipping out of bed this morning, I whispered, "It's time to go get the birthday girl!" I pulled a sweatshirt over my head, socks onto my feet, and as I left the room, Lee raised his head and said, "Happy Birthday to you too, Mama!". 

Yep, it kinda feels that way, like I'm sharing in this party.

No one told me the magnitude of emotion I would feel in the days leading up to the anniversary of your birth. I never realized how momentous an occasion it would be for me. But here I sit, with tears streaming down my face. We did it! We made it! I am so happy to be here celebrating you, celebrating me, celebrating us!

Thank you sweet girl...

For being patient with me while I fumbled along learning how to be your mama. For greeting me in the morning with your bubbly personality. For making us laugh over and over and over again. For wrapping your soft little hands around my neck when I sing to you before bed. For listening to our favorite books and giggling at all the parts I know you will.  For your contagious enthusiasm for life. For bringing so much JOY to our family. 

And, most importantly, just for being you, our little birthday girl. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sweet Liza, Daddy and I are so thankful for you and all the JOY you bring into our lives. 

  

We had a nice quiet day at home, just the 5 of us...cooking, eating, napping, barking, walking in the sunshine, playing, and gnome kissing. 

Hope your day was full of all sorts of JOY too!

Takin' a Dip

Us

Taken especially for Gramommy :-)

Out West

We've been here a week and have made lots of progress toward getting the house unpacked and making it feel like home.  Thank you, Gramommy, for all your help!!

It's hot (and getting hotter), but we're enJOYing the abundant sunshine.

The dogs have adjusted very well and are loving their new backyard.

Our girl has been such a trooper and always keeps us entertained.  

The evenings are delightful...cool breezes, gorgeous sunsets, a glass of wine, and each other.

Daddy's Home

Life is so much sweeter with him around!

Our Girl

Liza Claire
February 10, 2009
12:27 AM
9 lbs, 10 oz
21 inches

Remnants

a bitterly cold morning

me, a latte...him, plain coffee

bedheads, the two of us

a few minutes in the sunniest room of the house

just hanging out, talking

Almost Ready

The title of this post is a bit tongue-in-cheek, as if she's timing her arrival according to the completeness of our to-do list.  Ha!

Nevertheless, we've been busy and the list is dwindling.

The glider arrived, and we've set up my corner of the bedroom to welcome her home.

 

 

All of her stuff has been washed, folded, and put away...tiny socks and hats, footed sleepers, blankets, towels, and sheets.

Today, we'll install the car seat in the Jeep and hang pictures on her walls.

I'm hoping to finish two last craft projects in the next week.  The first is a knitted hat for a friend's new little guy.  Also, I'd like to decorate my new journal inside and out, so it'll be all ready for the scribblings of this new mama.

Our New Toy

After much research on Lee's part, we decided to make the switch and are now the proud owners of a MacBook.  It arrived this morning, and I've been fiddling with it for much of the day.  I haven't begun to figure out all it can do for me (it took me more time than I care to admit to post this picture to the blog), but I'm having fun learning.  

Just a Glimpse

...my birthday...Christmas...our baby shower...
family...friends
...and coming home again...
abundant JOY

click the collage to enlarge

November Evening

Reading, crafting, waiting for dinner...together.