January started with joy and excitement and freshness and fun. Snow and sleds and delight. Each day we have a certain rhythm to our day and it slowly builds to the BEST part of the day---Danny coming home!
February we have started to do more things like That Fun Place and morning play dates with lots of little people that we love. So grateful for all the Mamas and babies that Malachi gets to play with.
March It is so fun to do things together and Mama is soaking up all the time with just us 3 before the big life change comes with our new baby.
April Mama's belly is growing but Malachi still fits perfectly in my arms and it is my favorite thing to scoop up my busy little boy who doesn't snuggle for too long these days unless Mama puts on a worship dvd or lets him look at pictures on her phone.
May Well our lives will never, ever be the same now that CALLIE JEAN is in our world. May 4th at 10:08 am we welcomed a beautiful little baby girl. Tears of joy and surprise! I was really expecting it to be a little boy, but WOW I never knew how special a baby sister and little daughter was going to be for our family. Callie is the dreamiest, sweetest, quietest most darling girl we could have ever imagined!
June Danny got to celebrate Father's Day this year with two darling babies in his arms. We are beyond blessed with these two under 2....Whenever someone tells me "oh you must be so busy!" I qualify that EVERY time with Well these two are great! They sleep great, eat great and are so easy to be around every day. Life isn't perfect or without the days of low energy, bad moods and no patience...but I can honestly say, I AM THRILLED every day to see their faces and miss them when I tuck them in each night. I love being their Mama.
July Well the best $20 we spent this summer was this little green turtle pool where we spent hours upon hours every day. Sometimes starting early in the morning and most often times as soon as Malachi woke up from his nap. We are so grateful for a covered deck that kept it toasty warm but out of the direct sun light on his pearly skin. Callie was often times napping, cuddling in Mamas arms or watching patiently from the kitchen in the cool in her little seat. Next summer there will be 2 cutys splashing in this little turtle!
August I can't say enough how much I have enjoyed baby wearing both of these two little ones. It has been a life saver but also an incredible bonding experience to wear both of them as needed. Malachi is still content as can be to be worn and when I have put him in the front he still can see and look at whatever is going on. We have tried the backpack carry on him too and he's had fun up high too. Callie instantly soothed in the Moby wrap and although it was pretty hot wearing her during the summer, it helped me to be able to enjoy many hours at the beach, walking around outside and getting out and about with Malachi in his stroller.
September We had some of the warmest and most beautiful evening swims in September...scooting out as soon as Danny came home from work and definitely hitting up the beach on the weekends. We loved spending time with our beach loving family and this day was so special spending it on the paddle boards with the Uncles and cousins. Malachi absolutely loved being at the beach. I'll never forget his little legs running at full tilt and throwing rocks and the absolute freedom and joy he had exploring the waves, rocks and sand. We are so grateful to live so close to such beautiful places.
We end each day on our bed with books. Callie enjoys being part of it all and watches the pages intently. Malachi soaks up the time with his Daddy and snuggles in between us pointing to whoever he wishes to read the certain books. He has his favorites and when they aren't...he will wiggle and tease us until we ask..."all done??" Sometimes he is ready for his snuggle and will say YES but most times he will quickly get back in place so he doesn't miss out on the book time. We are so grateful for his love of books.
October Each day is so similar. We start with breakfast and then head to the living room to play..usually with CARS!! Callie sits in her exersaucer or joins Mal on the floor. She loves watching him. He plays with his cars on the window ledge or rolls them back and forth. They are so content to play independently and for this I am beyond grateful. There are many times I have to leave one or the other to change diapers, feed or do general cleanup or something that is necessary and it thrills my heart to peek in on them playing happily and contentedly. What a joy as a Mama to see that. Malachi often wants to go in Callies bed when they both wake up from afternoon naps. These moments are so tender for me. I daily pray for these two to have a closeness and to enjoy eachother. I know Malachi will be thrilled once Callie can actively play WITH him and until that day he is sweet to hug and kiss her. He often picks up her toys or brings her new ones if he is asked to or even does it on his own accord. There is nothing more precious then watching these two together.
November We look forward to Daddy getting home each day and after supper play time is the highlight of our day. I love listening and watching them together and although I am usually "half checked out" it thrills my soul to step back and just observe these 3 that I love so dearly. Malachi loves rolling his cars to Danny. Callie is delighted to pull Daddy's beard and sit up and grab at anything in her reach. We have a few songs that we watch on youtube and this is one of the few times we are cozy, snuggly and still during the day. We love ending our day with some good night songs.
December It's the most wonderful time of the year. I have the house decorated and each morning Malachi guides me to where all the "Lights" are. It takes awhile to light everything up! hahah We love playing outside, and Malachi will demand a "Walk" almost as soon as he wakes up. Its a bit frustrating to maneuver in the snow but his new favorite thing to do is pull our little red sled all up our drive way, in front of our house, down the 2nd drive way and across the sidewalk....over and over and....over. Mama prays for patience as she deals with mittens not being able to pick things up, snow getting in boots and just general walking in snow isn't easy when you are Mal's size. But I am thrilled to get out in the fresh air with this guy. If the sidewalks are clear and the temperature isn't too chilly we load up our double stroller and Callie gets some fresh air too. Mama gets stir crazy so its a huge relief to get out of the house at least once a day.
Honestly, in the confines of my house, 2016 has been the most joyful, restful, peaceful year of my life. My babies are awesome. I depend on their naps to refresh my soul, get alone time, read my Bible, check out and surf the net....but I am overjoyed with the hours I get to pour into my kids each day. My life is not big or important, but I know it is everything to Malachi and Callie for them to have a peaceful existence in our home.
Life outside these walls can be filled with pain and heart ache and so many things that I pray for each day cause a lot of stress and worry. I have so many people I love in different and hard situations. Even beyond my connections, I look at how the world is changing and how many things have changed this year in politics and different tragedies that have occurred...well its a wonder that everyone in the world isn't filled with despair.
But I know my hope and my peace and my courage and my joy is not on things outside, but within. I have fallen more in love with prayer this year and look forward to looking through my prayer book at the names and things that God has laid on my heart every day. It is one of my treasures. I know there will always be pain, but focusing on the JOY will be my pursuit and my aim.
Thank you Jesus. For this beautiful year. I have had so much given to me. So many blessings. And I am so grateful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
