Happy New Year! 2014

Onward and upward is my motto for this year.  Many changes on the horizon and a lot of work to get through them.  I am hopeful that this time next year my life will look significantly different, and hopefully all for the better.  First on the agenda, a month of health.  I am working on a pre-operative diet and exercise regime to prepare my body for my reconstructive surgery.  We are tentatively looking at a date in mid-February so I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.  I need to strengthen my core muscles, and limit any inflammation present in my body.  I also need to wean Gio.  Immediately.  The expectation is that we will be lifting my left side to better match my right at the same time.  In order for that to happen, I cannot have any milk left in it.  Tonight was the first attempt at giving him regular milk without me present for bedtime.  I'm sure it will be fine.  He goes down for others just fine though usually does get some pumped milk.  The real challenge will be weaning him around me.  He doesn't need milk around anyone else, but melts down if he's tired or otherwise needing comfort and isn't given milk with me.

And all that just gets us into February!  Then it will be a long recover process.  Five days in the hospital and a minimum of six weeks recovery at home.  Sounds like full recovery will likely take more like three months.  There apparently may be additional "clean up" outpatient surgeries down the road too.  Fingers crossed that won't be the case.

After that?  Who knows!  I have a lot of hopes for this next year.  I do know it involves dance class for Bella, more preschool, finding some activities for Gio, lots more outdoors and nature play for both kids.  Trips to the zoo and the discovery museum, days at the parks and walks around the neighborhood.

I am setting the intention to find myself this year.  I need more music and performance in my life.  I need to find something regular and structured and productive to do with myself even just a day or two a week outside of raising my children.  I need these things to present themselves to me in a way that I can easily see them and take advantage of the opportunities.  I intend to heal some old hurts, even just a little, and find some more happiness in the small every day moments.

Most importantly I intend to see the world through my children's joyful eyes.  They are magnificent and see the world as such.  I am so lucky to have them and hope to remember that every day.

Merry Christmas to All

Another year has come and gone.  As we look towards 2014 I wish you and yours love, happiness, laughter and health in this, and every year to come.

From our Beautiful Mess to yours...

 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

Hoppy Easter!

In our house we believe in the Easter Bunny and brightly colored eggs.  This celebration usually involves an Easter egg hunt, girls in pretty dresses, lots of delicious foods made by the many wonderful cooks in the family, and delicious treats too.  Most importantly it revolves around family and friends and being together.  This year was no exception.  We spent the day at my dad's house where the little kids enjoyed running around the very large backyard, and the rest of us enjoyed the sunshine and festivities of the day.

I know I am overdue for a pregnancy update and I fully intended to post one on Friday (I hit 12 weeks!) but am delayed to take a proper bump photo for you, which I should be able to do in the next two days.  So it will have to be 12 and a half weeks! =)  Something to look forward to though- our NT scan is on Thursday!  More ultrasound photos! =)

In the meantime here is my oldest beauty in her Easter dress.

Thanksgiving, parts one and two

Although I did post my gratitudes on Thanksgiving day, I never told you about our actual holidays!  Yes, I did mean that plurally.  We celebrate on Thanksgiving Thursday, and then have our second Thanksgiving on the Saturday after.

On the holiday proper, we went to Nick's mom's house for dinner.  For our family, it was relatively small and happily low key.  There were 12 of us I believe.  Lorraine cooked everything for the meal and it was all delicious.  All I did was bring some cheese and artichoke dip for appetizers.  Easy breezy. =)  We all had a wonderful time relaxing with each other and enjoying our delicious meal.  Bella really enjoyed herself too!

Friday was spent relaxing and preparing for Saturday since we were planning to drive to Disneyland after dinner.

Saturday rolled around and I felt like we had plenty of time.  We still had to pack our bags, load the car, and make mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts for dinner, all before 4pm.  In retrospect I probably should have done the packing on Friday.  By the time dinner rolled around I was ready for a nap!  But we made it and finally arrived at my dad's house for our annual "Saturday after" Thanksgiving round 2.  This is more of a pot luck event.  My dad and Vicki make the turkey and stuffing (and some other odds and ends depending on the year) and everyone else brings something to share.  I'm always on duty for the mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, which I could pretty much make in my sleep these days.  It is a wonderful event.  Little miss Bella enjoyed herself immensely.  After dinner and dessert Nick, Bella and I hit the road and drove to Anaheim where we were meeting my sister Sarah and her family for Mia's first visit to Disneyland!  More on that to come...