It’s coming.

When I’m pacing through the dark, walking a baby back to sleep, I don’t see it.

When I’m rubbing a round baby tummy to help relieve the pain, it’s not there. 

When she fills her diaper the exact moment you click the last car seat buckle into place…

When muscles tighten and limbs fall asleep

when crumbs from your food land on her cheek

when you have to tell others no (again)

wait

it’s coming

the smile

I don’t think a mama’s pride in a simple smile can be understood until you realize the work it took to get there. 500 feedings. 500 diapers. And that’s the simple part!

Isn’t she beautiful?

 

And then there are the funny faces too:

After nap stretches also induce mama-pride. 

You know it was a good nap when mama’s sweater marks your face.

Christmas, Parts 2 and 3

I suppose when I label a post with “part 1,” I’d better post something soon after.  Here are pictures from our extended family Christmas celebrations.

Ava had the privilege of meeting her great-grandma!

Christmas presents were opened of course. (Notice who’s hiding in the background.

Overall, we had a great time at the Ryons’.  Thanks for having us!

Moving on to the Bakers’.  Presents were opened,

Our kids had a great time playing with their cousins and uncles:

Ava enjoyed plenty of snuggles.

More playing.  This was the year of floor puzzles and legos. 

And a late night ride home, snuggled up with new toys:

Christmas, Part 1

Ready for picture overload?  I don’t feel like filtering them down, and I bet my most avid readers won’t mind. Right, Mom? ;)

Decorating sugar cookies.  We skipped the birthday cake for Jesus this year and just decorated a big sugar cookie for the occasion.

Christmas morning started with  cinnamon rolls and then a post-sugar “nap.” 

We rehearsed the Christmas story using our nativity set and then each picked out a gift from GFA’s Christmas catalog.

Plenty of smiles to go around

Sophia takes after my mom and opens gifts very carefully and slowly,

which gives Caleb plenty of time to get excited.

Posing with their loot:

Playing with their loot:

Happy New Year!