These Little Moments...

On Friday night, while tucking our girl into bed, Sean and I told Gracie we were taking her somewhere special the next morning, and we weren't sharing any details... I wanted it to be a surprise . Saturday morning came, and with it overcast skies and cooler temperatures. This actually worked out really well for our little adventure. Gracie was anxious to know where we were headed, which was part of the fun for Sean and I. I love seeing genuine excitement on my girl's face! When we drove up to the farm, Sean asked Gracie if she knew what the other families, who were already busy finding fresh strawberries, were doing. It took her just a moment to reply "picking strawberries!". She was as excited as I hoped she would be with her surprise. We grabbed a bucket and headed out into the strawberry patch, where Sean and Gracie did an excellent job of picking the best looking strawberries! This was a totally new experience for Ethan, you can tell ...

Today was one of those days. I forced myself out of bed early this morning, hoping to finish getting ready before my babies woke up and the day really began. I was successful, and both kids even slept in a little, but neither seemed very rested once they joined me for breakfast. Ethan was just a snotty, fussy mess. I think that's exactly what I texted my girlfriend when I decided to cancel our plans for the afternoon. I literally could not get it together enough, or gather the energy needed, to drag two cranky kids out. And then, in an effort to match my mood, the sky turned dark and the thunder rolled. I love non-threatening storms during the day. Last night, though? Yeah, I could have done without being woken up (after finally falling into a deep sleep) by a dog (who is so not allowed in the bed) trembling on my side of the bed. I also love how everyone else in the house was completely clueless when I mentioned the powerful thunder that scared the dog to death this morn...

There was a time when I thought I wanted Gracie to have a sister. I have lived my life (all but those first 4 years) as the oldest of two girls, the Big Sister. The relationship between sisters is a sweet one (most of the time) and I value the bond between my sister and I now more than ever. We're both women, we're now wives and mothers, we understand each other because we can relate, but also because we know each other in a deeper, I've known you my whole life kind of way. While I wouldn't trade my sister in for anything, I now know the blessing of a boy and I have no doubt that God knew just what he was doing when he gave Gracie a baby brother, in the same way that he decided I would have a baby sister. Gracie often refers to Ethan as "her" baby. She's extremely protective. I pity anyone who does her brother wrong. I've watched her defend him on more than one occasion, and while I have had to explain why she can't scream at or chase down ot...

Sean and I hosted an Easter Eve brunch at our house this year. I always look forward to holiday traditions, so dying and hiding Easter eggs was a must, as was sharing a good meal with family! We were missing Chandler (Ashley's step-son) this year, as well as Ryan and Bekah, who celebrated with us last year. We did, however, gain Ethan and while he was too young to participate in the activities like the other children, he still seemed to enjoy everything going on around him. He definitely has one of those "sit back and observe" personalities. Everyone always comments on how "chill" he is, and I have to agree! That evening before bed, Gracie and I wrote a thank you note for the Easter Bunny, thanking him in advance for the Easter gifts we just knew he would bring. We also left a carrot in case he was hungry. It turns out that he did appreciate the snack and even responded with a quick note of his own, wishing Gracie and Ethan a Happy Easter. I loved watching Gr...

Oh boy... We're into double digits now. Two months. That's all that lies between my boy today and a big ONE year old! Honestly, I'm not ready. I've had some pretty tough nights, and more than a few challenging days, but one of the hardest parts of being a mommy has to be this. The way the first year passes by, it's unfair. When I'm nursing Ethan, his legs hang off my lap now. When he's finished, he literally jumps up and wiggles out of my arms, anxious to get down and explore again. This is so different from those early days when he'd fall asleep in my arms and I'd happily give up the chance to get other things done just to hold his tiny body close to me. I knew I wouldn't regret doing that... The thing is, I know how this works. I've cried over the crib of a newly turned one year old before, cursing time, while hoping I made the most of it. Watching Ethan grow over the past 10 months has been incredible. Yes, I could definitely cry looki...

...but I think I've made up my mind. I've been going back and forth, back and forth, practically since I started blogging 3 years ago: Public or Private blog? I've decided that since I share quite a bit about my family, and share lots of pictures of my children (some watermarked, most not), These Little Moments will now be a private blog. I've never felt comfortable with the fact that there are literally hundreds of photos of my daughter, our family members, and now my son posted on the Internet for anyone and everyone to see. For those of you who would like to continue keeping up with Gracie, Ethan, and our family, let me know! I will send you an invitation to the private blog. I'll still be following along with your blogs, just not publishing publicly on my own anymore. I'm going to go ahead and make the switch at the end of the week. And to those who I know are following along... Just expect an invitation! :)

Despite my efforts to keep them little, my kids just keep on growing. Whoever coined the term “growing like weeds” got it so right. They certainly are beautiful weeds, though. I feel pulled in different directions constantly throughout the day, but the craziness often feels good. I have two little people who depend on me, who really need me, and I’ll never stop being thankful that I’m the one they turn to for their seemingly endless list of demands. There are so many things that just don’t get done these days, and it’s taken me almost 10 months of trying and failing to realize it’s okay, my focus is in the right place. Sometimes I feel a little panicked when I think about Gracie and how quickly she’s moved through her first year of pre-school. Only one more year and she'll be getting ready to start kindergarten. This thought is great for slowing me down and inspiring me to provide her all the “mommy days” experiences I can. She loves pre-school, but I can tell that she really enjoy...