Ok, so I went a little overboard with the monthly pictures. But people always say you don't take as many pictures of the second baby, and I had to prove that wrong since Mary isn't my second baby. It just always rubs me the wrong way when I hear that since numbering babies is complicated. I know what they mean though - with a subsequent child, you don't take as many pictures or document as much. I know this to be true as I'm the third child and when I was home last my sister and I looked through our baby books. Or should I say we looked through my brother and sister's baby book and read the one sentence in mine! And there definitely are areas I have slacked for Mary and didn't for Finn, so I don't give my mom too much of a hard time over it all. But nonetheless, these little monthly pictures were just really important to me.
Aside for the rainbow leggings, I wanted to take pictures on a quilt Mary was given as I plan to frame the collage of her monthly pictures and hang in her nursery since the quilt matches her decor. Putting this together makes me wish I took them all at the same time of day, or knew how to take good pictures in manual mode. but it was tricky because not all the walls are the same - these pictures are from three different houses, so I had to match the backdrop as best I could.
I also went overboard on ordering different baby legs, so had to take
those monthly pictures as well. Some of her leggings coordinated with holidays that month, otherwise I just put her in a pair I thought was cute. That's it - I cut myself off at three monthly
pictures as that was hard enough to keep up with!
1. Read more. I did great with this was a goal on my 30 before 30 list. Then read one book since then. So, one book in nearly a year. ONE. I'm totally embarrassed and ashamed of this fact. But I've already started one this year, The Language of Flowers, I got a library card at a new library close by, and am motivated to read at least a couple books a month.
2. Run a marathon. So my first, and only, marathon was in 2005. I said I would never do another, but in November when I ran the Savannah Rock n Roll half marathon, I accidentally signed up for the full in November 2015. But then I'm really never running another again. Truth be told, this was going to be a goal of mine anyway - to run a marathon after having kids and beat my first time. Which will be doable if I train.
3. Train for my races.
4. Get to sleep earlier.
5. Finish the kids' baby books.
6. Order Cale's birth certificate (CBRS). I tried doing this in 2010. But they sent me back the fetal death certificate which I already have. But Georgia does produce a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth" and I want one.
7. Spend less time on my phone.
8. Be intentional - Do what I say I'm going to do. One of my favorite qualities about Miles (and arguably an obnoxious one too) is that he always does what he says he's going to do. Like if he says he's going to workout over the weekend - he actually does it! If there's something, big or small that I plan on doing, I want to put my money where my mouth is and actually do it.
9. Speaking of money, partake in a Financial Fast like I did last year, thanks to the suggestion of my friend Brooke. I think I can be more financially savvy/frugal so I also plan to give up Target for Lent. There's some irony in there about giving up my sanctuary in order to get closer to God.
10. Be more timely. Which means I should stop blogging and go to bed (see #4) so that we can be on time to school in the morning.
11. Speaking of school - start a prerequisite for nursing school. Much more about this one later.
Anyone have any good ones that are unique resolutions you haven't had before? Twenty bucks says half of these make it on next year's list.
When I was pregnant with Mary my sister in law threw a lovely surprise brunch and gave me a cute set of newborn rainbow legwarmers. When Mary was born I decided I would take her monthly pictures in those (as well as two other monthly pictures I'll share later) and then she could have a rainbow themed first birthday!
A Rainbow Baby is the name given to a child born after a loss - the beauty and hope of a rainbow doesn't negate the storm that ensued and still lingers. And while I will always think of Finley as our rainbow baby in that sense, I also find the term fitting for any child born post loss.
Mary's actual birthday fell on a Tuesday. Her birthday brunch would take place the following weekend, but I wanted to do something special on her actual birthday as well, so I made a sprinkle funfetti cake and had two friends over as we celebrated our one year old. We got a most special Skype call from Miles and he was able to join us as we sang happy birthday and watched Mary devour her (small slice of) cake.
Then for her "party" I hosted a small "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" themed brunch. My mom came in to town as well as my Aunt and Uncle and several local friends. I ordered a rainbow decorated cake and cupcake from Whole Foods, and wouldn't ya know it - the Meatball had NO interest in her cupcake. Truth be told, I didn't think the cake was that great either. So maybe I should stick to boxed cake mixes from now on! A local friend made Mary's shirt and I ordered the little rainbow hair clip off ETSY.
I'm really pleased with how it all came together as I did far less planning and prep than I did for Finn's first birthday, but birthdays, especially first birthdays, are just so special, and I didn't want Mary's to feel any less significant. She already will have to compete with Christmas and the busyness of the holidays, so I'm especially grateful for all those who helped us celebrate her - both near and afar.
Ok, I think that was rainbow picture overload. So in closing, I'll leave you with these. It's a good things those balloons finally deflated or I would have kept taking pictures of her.
Last night we baked cookies for Santa which kept us up a bit past our normal bed times, but that ended up being a blessing in disguise as Finn didn't wake up until 8:30 this morning and Mary slept until 9:00 - a Christmas miracle!
When Finn woke up, I went in snuggled in bed with him for a bit. He asked me if Santa was here and I told him he came last night. He asked if he was still here and if he was downstairs and I said, "No, honey - he came last night, and then had to go to all the other houses." I guess in our conversations about Santa coming, we failed to mentioned that he would not be staying. And I think sweet little Finn sort of expected to see Santa in his family room ready to play with him or something.
We then went downstairs and Finn was thrilled to see all the presents under the tree. My parents are in town visiting and kept commenting how impressed they were with Finn's patience, but warned me it would not be like this every year! We waited until Mary was up, I subjected them to a few obligatory Christmas pictures, and we all ate breakfast before we opened gifts, but then it certainly was game on for that little boy.
So without further ado, our Christmas morning in pictures . . .
This is why we try to stick to the four gift idea. Because grandparents CANNOT be reeled in.
These balloons have lasted since Mary's birthday brunch on SUNDAY.
So, Happy Birthday, Jesus!
I mean really, where does one even begin?
Why we begin with mandatory pajama pictures!
Which is good as shortly after these were taken Finn went upstairs to change.
I, on the other hand, am still in my pajamas. It's 4pm.
Enough pictures, let's check out the loot!
This was our morning - Finn enthusiastically tearing in to every gift and
Mary enthusiastically playing with wrapping paper.
Finn got a digger from Grandma and Grandpa Hidalgo, and even though
I told him it was from Grandma and Grandpa he has said it's from Santa and
I'm just gonna roll with that.
Truth be told I think Pop may be just as excited about the digger.
Cute little plate Finn made at school
It really was a mostly great morning. Miles couldn't be with us this Christmas though, so that certainly made it a little bittersweet. However, he still managed to do a great job in the gift giving department. He got Finn a Monster Truck (one of his requests to Santa), got Mary her first diamonds (a sweet little pair of earrings we will save until she gets her ears pierced), and got me a massage (and also a break from the kids - a twofer!). And while I'm thrilled to get to experience the holidays with these great kids, I catch myself looking at the candle flickering near Cale's stocking and can't help but think of the 4.5 year old not with us.
If you are reading this and missing someone, please know they are loved and missed and I hope today was as gentle and peaceful as it could be. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.
Last week my friend Michelle and I took the kids to see Santa. We went right after Finn got out of school, which worked out great as going at an off time during the week prevented us from standing in a long line (or any line for that matter) and enabled Finn to have a longer encounter with Santa than I suspect he would have otherwise. We went to Bass Pro Shop and I definitely will go back (this isn't a plug for them, we just had a good experience so I wanted to share - which I suppose is a plug, it's just that I'm not getting compensated for this - though that would be sweet if I was). I digress. . .
Yes, so anyway Santa. I called to make sure this Santa had a real beard, non of that cheap fake beard nonsense for my kids - this made up person we lie to our kids about better be authentic, damn it! Finn was really excited about getting to see Santa old me all the things he would say - "I will tell Santa I've been a good listener" (debatable) and "I will tell Santa I want presents!" But I wasn't sure if he would get stage fright or be nervous when he actually met the big guy.
When the time came Finn walked in the store very excited and while he didn't shy away from walking up to Santa or being placed on his lap, he did get more quiet and you could tell he was a little starstruck. Mary, like any good baby, cried the second she sat on Santa's lap. They snapped a couple (for free!) pictures, and then I grabbed Mary and Finn proceeded to have a nice little conversation with The Claus:
Santa: What would you like for Christmas?
Finn: Presents
Santa: What kind of presents? Do you like cars or trucks?
Finn: Cars. And trucks. And a monster truck. And a digger.
Mom: Finn, have you been a good boy?
Finn (turning to Santa): I've been good. I've been a good listener
Santa: Oh that's good, I'm glad to hear that
Mom: Ok, Finn please tell Santa good luck as he has a very busy schedule coming up
Finn: Good luck, Santa
Santa: Thank you, I will need it! Can I get a high five?
(Finn gives high five and we leave)
We then walked back to the car where I recorded this. It cracks me up the way he says "Santa" like "no big deal, I just met a celebrity, whatevs."
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