.: First Month :.

 

It's already been one month since we welcomed our sweet Casey to the world!  This past month has certainly been a time of transition for us all--full of joy and tears and tantrums and wonder.  And plenty of exhaustion.

How in love we are with this little boy.  He is a wonder--even the third time around I find myself just wanting to stare at him constantly.  We've watched him become more and more awake this past month; these days you can really tell he is taking it all in.  We watch him in wonder and feel so much gratitude.  And moment by moment we're learning how to be a family of five. 

.: Our son :.

Casey Daniel Grace

 born April 14, 2015

at 8:53 AM.

7 lbs. 15 oz. 21.5 inches long

Welcome to our family! Our hearts are overflowing.

.: In the Air :.

Happily we are noticing the subtle signs of new life all around.  There are crocuses peeking out and the first daffodils in bloom.  There is enough light to play outside after dinner, seeds arriving in the mail and ground ready for digging.  There are some not so subtle signs of new life as well...like the huge baby belly I'm lugging around these days! In just about two weeks we are expecting our little new baby.  It's an amazing time.

We've been reading an old tattered copy of one of my favorite books from childhood, Spring Is A New Beginning, by Joan Walsh Anglund. I always find it special to share books with the girls that I treasured as a child but this one is particularly poignant for me these days:

"Then new life presses out

from every growing thing...

fulfilling our trust,

renewing our faith

that this has always been,

that this will be again....

Spring brings an end to winter 

and a fresh beginning."

.: Our Three Year Old :.

Two weeks ago our sweet, wild, funny little girl turned three years old. The day before we got about a foot of snow so instead of making a special birthday outing we spent the day at home playing outside, decorating the house, and just enjoying time together. 

 

(Frances in her birthday crown and wearing her birthday sweater which she received first thing in the morning....a birthday tradition!)



 

 

Neva was my eager helper in decorating for a birthday party while Frances napped.  Later in the afternoon, Mum Mum and Popeye arrived for a birthday dinner and brought the greatly anticipated CHOCOLATE CAKE!

 



 



 

Happy Birthday Frances.  How we love you.

 

(For birthdays past you can go here or here or way back here.)

 

 



.: These days :.

 

These days, it's cold.  Snow on the ground, freezing pipes, woodstove cranking away trying to keep our cold cold house even a little bit warm.  Most days it's too cold for us to be outside for very long at all before someone starts complaining of frozen toes.

 

 

But even with all this winter around us my mind these days is on spring.  Maybe it's the bright daffodils we have on our table.  Maybe it's my growing belly and the baby inside who is feeling bigger each day, closer to making his/her appearance.  What an exciting time for us all: waiting for the first signs of crocuses, waiting for the first warm day, waiting for new life.

 

 



.: Sisters :.

 



.: Catching Up :.

It's been over a month since I visited here!  After a wonderful Thanksgiving in Ohio with Robb's family the Advent season was spent celebrating with our typical traditions:  we set shoes out for St. Nicholas in the beginning of December, we lit our Advent wreath each night at dinner and sang a carol, we baked, we relaxed, we spent a wintery weekend away with friends at a cabin in the Poconos. But mostly we tended to not venture beyond our home too much at all.  When our wood stove is cranking it's hard to find any excuse good enough to leave the coziness.  I feel so grateful to be at a point in life when the small and simple are still more than enough, when slow days at home are still filled with imagination, laughter, and delight. 



(Christmas morning revelry!)



Much love and cheer to you in 2015!