2016: Treasuring Time

The "word" of the year.  Not sure how this started or why, but hey, I'm an English teacher, I love words and themes, so I'll play along.  But, I'm also going to break the rules, as English teachers like to do with language, and use two words.  

At the end of 2014, a new friend asked if we had a word for the year.  I had only heard inklings of it up until that point, and made my own assumptions of what it is suppose to mean.  An idea that will resonate with you.  A motto to pull you through the hard days.  It's not a goal or a resolution to can check off, but a rather a focus for your mind and energy.

The driving force to get us stared in 2015 was the idea of *Moving Forward* -- not to be confused with moving on.  We very much did not want to forget about the losses we endured in 2014 as they will always be apart of us.  We wanted - and needed - to find strength to continue on honoring those memories.  We did, and still do.  

Now, in 2016, my focus will be on *Treasuring Time.*  Just in these few shorts weeks with Mila, especially as my maternity leave rapidly comes to an end, I've realized just how precious time is and how fast it goes.  Cliche, I know.  Every parent says that, but you won't understand it until you are a parent.  I didn't.

So, in 2016, I will treasure time by...

~ savoring every milestone Mila hits - each one will be flying by this year and we'll never get them back.

~ writing and recording all the memories - whether it is a phrase, a sentence, or a page, writing something will always be better than writing nothing.

~ working efficiently and effectively at school to avoid bringing it home -

~ asking for help if I get anxious - an admitted weakness, where I often fall into the "it's just easier if I do it myself" phase.

~ reading during stolen moments - again, I always have access to a book to read a paragraph or a page.

~ never regretting a lazy day enjoying the snuggles of my daughter and company of my husband - the dishes, laundry and cleaning can wait.

Here's to a treasured 2016!

Mila is Two Months!

Milestones:
~ ten pounds, fourteen ounces, twenty-three inches long at two month check up 
~ full control of my head, which is great because I need to see everything
~ still rolling over from my tummy to my back during tummy time, which I love
~ love bath time and eating the bubbles and standing up in the tub
~ slept seven and a half hours on Mom's birthday as a gift to her
~ got to meet Santa, and we napped and read a book together
~ love playing "Patty Cake" with Mom - I laugh and she cries

Mila is One Month!

Highlights:

~ eight pounds, four ounces and twenty and a half inches long at one month check up

~ four hours of sleep one night and six hours the next!  (Although, I haven't done it since.)

~ rolling over even though Mom told me I was too young

~ holding my head up longer than I should 

~ meeting so many friends and future playmates 

~ first out of town trip to Williamsburg to meet my cousins

A New Kind of Date Night

This time, the cocktail selection included a bottle.  

This time, the dance in the living room added a new partner. 

This time, the conversation changed ever so slightly.

This time, the snuggles weren't just reserved for us. 

And it was our new happy.  

When the temperature hits record highs in November, Iowans know they must take advantage of it, no questions asked.  Because, all too soon, winter will creep in and never end.  So, when the forecast called for upper 70s, I didn't have to convince Casey to grill me some steak and shrimp.  

And, by turning off the television, turning on the music, and focusing on each other, we could create our own date night right at home.  

Pandora created our tone and mood for the night with Jack Johnson's radio station.  It was as if Jack and Pandora had planned it for us.  

"Everything" by Michael Buble popped on and demanded we dance.  This was the first song we danced to as a married couple.  We scooped Mila up and told her the story of Mom and Dad's first dance and wedding day.  

Then, as if on cue, "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz came on as we sat down to eat.  The song from our wedding ceremony.  The song that immediately makes me think of my husband and our love.  The song that captures our relationship perfectly.  It could not have been planned better.  Mila gave us twenty uninterrupted minutes to enjoy cocktails, food, and each other.  

And we were reminded of the love that created our precious little girl. 

Celebrating Year 2

Our second anniversary was celebrated much like the first.  Both included at great night and delicious meal at 801 Steak and Chop.  Both were decorated with little hearts and special anniversary menus from the staff at 801.  Both shared memories of the last year and of our wedding day.  But this year, one of us had a "mocktail" and our next big adventure silently wiggled in my tummy. 

Tango-tini

Key Lime Pie

In our cards this year, we both wrote a note to the other about how lucky we feel to have each other.  I am so honored and blessed to get to spend my life with someone who loves and spoils me like he does.  

Gender Reveal Party: Baby Smitty's 1st Happy Hour

I like to know things.  Always have.  So when given the chance to know if our little nugget was a boy or a girl, there was no question.  I had to know.

Not only did I have to know, I can't keep a secret like that.  So, the day we found out, we hosted Baby Smitty's 1st Happy Hour to tell our families.

Waiting from our 11 am appointment until 4:30pm was hard enough.  I wanted to call my mom the minute I left the doctor's office.  Thankfully, I could keep busy with planning and prepping thanks to ideas from Pinterest.

The cupcakes:

The appetizers:

The decorations: 

The guests: 

Each guest got to decide if they thought Nugget was a boy or girl before getting a cupcake.  They also got to make predictions of Baby Smitty's arrival date.

The parents: 

Completely staged play by play.  Thanks to Aunt Crysta for the photography skills!  Little Nugget will love laughing at her cheesy parents one day.

IT'S A GIRL!  

We are beyond excited and blessed to welcome our daughter this fall.

Name Change

One of the reasons I waited so long to start a blog - even with the pressure from my grandma to write - was the name.  I felt it needed to be forever.  The perfect name from the start.  If there is anything I have learned since, it's -- life doesn't work out that way.

So, here I am, changing the name of my blog after two years.

I am a different person than when I started this.  Then, I was a newly engaged twenty-something.  I spent my weekends out until all hours of the morning.  I worried about writing papers to finish my masters.  I looked forward to vacations and trips to the beach to get away.

Now, I am in my thirties.   I spend more weekends at home snuggled with my husband and dog.  I worry about the health of my family, especially my little nugget.  I look forward to becoming a family of three.

With that, the name goes from "Makes for Good Stories" to "The One with Our Story."

The best part will be looking back on this in a few years and reflecting on my old self and who knows what the future will bring.