friends

3 in the bed

sprinkler

3 in the bellies

sad girls saying goodbye

Finally catching up with friends we haven't seen in way too long - that was our Labor Day weekend.  It was so good to catch up and watch the kids wear each other out.  It's hard to imagine that in a few months, our crew of seven will become a crew of TEN - as we add a Deedle and they add twin girls to the mix.  Six kiddos and only four adults... we are going to be heavily outnumbered!

*thanks Kellie for the first photo - love it.

now a mommy

coffee and indulgent reading

snow all the way there

baby rocking

muffin making

facetime ending in tears

soaking her up

the new mommy and me

Liz is one of those very special rare friends.
We found eachother in sixth grade and through the ebb and flow of life have stayed close.
Close as sisters, and that's a better way to describe her - my sister - family.
So when she became a mamma in January - there was no way I wasn't hoping on a plane.

Seeing new a new mommy and daddy.
Snuggling that little peanut.
Oh, that new baby smell!  

This was my first trip alone away from my babies.
They were in great hands - mostly daddy's with some grandparent and godparent helpers.
I still missed them something awful.

Good thing I had a snuggly baby to keep my mind occupied.
I did some cleaning and cooking.
Baby rocking and bouncing while mommy and daddy napped.
Her mommy and daddy were very tired.

I know by the time I snuggle her again, she will be twice her size.
She will be sitting up and maybe even starting to crawl.
She will be sleeping more and so will they.
Those first few weeks are some of the toughest and the most precious.

I came home to my babies.
Who seemed bigger than when I left them.
I had worried about Theo with me gone, but it was my Eva that took it the hardest.
And it was her that gave me a 10 minute hug at the airport.
Hugs like that do a momma's heart good...
especially when she wonders how the world her babies grew so fast.

my thanks

For these guys...

I am incredibly thankful.

Not just for the obvious mommy reasons.

It is true, I am so very thankful for them...

the healthy, intelligent, loving, courageous and amazing kids that they are.

It is some of the other things...

the things that I see, feel and enjoy that I wouldn't have before.

The things I would have missed or taken for granted if it weren't for you two.

How the snow sparkles like glitter on the hood of the cars in the parking lot.

Taking the turns at Target a little too fast causes the carts to pop side wheelies - and thats hilarious.

Any store display of trees, ornaments and lights are magical places.

That you can get a lot of things done in the morning if you are up before the sun.

Saying hello to strangers makes everyone smile.

That a good long rock in the rocking chair can cure almost anything, even an annoyed mommy.

Spontaneous act of kindness between you two makes my heart explode.

My parents are amazing and they are even better than amazing grandparents.

That family is so important, every single one, because family is love.

That your daddy is the coolest daddy on the planet and I am so very lucky to have him.

All of those things are just things from today.

Thank you guys...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING