When I was pregnant with Nelle I read something early on (maybe in my first trimester?) 

that I filed away in the back of my mind because I knew I would need it later on.  

"The best gift you can give your child is a sibling."

And then when Henry was just a mere 16-month old baby himself and the days were flying by, and I didn't feel ready or prepared for the new baby to arrive, and yikes, now he's 17-months old, and all of a sudden we're at his 18-month old wellness check, and she's due any day, I pulled it back out and repeated it like it was my job to calm my nerves, to erase the thoughts that I was cheating Henry out of this time that was supposed to be all his. 

And even now, when I feel like one of them isn't getting enough - attention, individual time, playtime, story time, etc -  and the guilt creeps in, 

I repeat it again.

Henry loooooves when Nelle does her "tuh-tih!" (tummy time).

The best gift you can give your child is a sibling.

They may disagree when they are fighting over toys next year, or who gets the last cookie in the year after that.  Or who gets to pick the next movie to watch five years from now.  Or who gets to sit in the front seat 10 years from now.  Or who gets to take the car 15 years from now.  

But they'll always have a playmate.  And a friend.  And someone to share secrets with from Andrew and I.  And someone to walk into the first day of school with.  And someone to talk to that just gets it.  And when we are old and gray and gone, they will have each other.  

 Ahem.

I love watching this relationship begin.  It's not always pretty, and it already requires a bit of refereeing.  

You know, the normal.  Like please don't jump on your sister.

  But it's something watching two little people you love so much love each other.  

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Happy Monday, all.  Hope your week is off to a start where you feel loved, hopeful and inspired.

Thinking a lot today about how precious these babies of mine are.  

I don't stop enough during our normal hustle and bustle to let that sink in.  

I guess it makes sense then...

why the two minutes I spend checking in on both of them right before I get into bed myself 

is often times my favorite part of the day.  

 

They are so vulnerable to so many things.  But here they are safe, loved, peaceful, content, and tucked in tight.

Love them so.

On Monday night, I looked in the mirror as I started to get ready for bed
(at 9pm mind you - older age, earlier bedtime...or at least it should be so I wasn't so dang tired every morning) and laughed at my purple teeth.

Oh red wine, you get me every time. 

After a wonderful birthday of texts, calls, emails, zoo tripping with friends and littles on a near 80-degree weather day, dining al fresco, and cake eating with my favorite little guy, Andrew and I topped it off with our first fire pit night of the year where we sat with just the light of the fire
and adult beverages in hand.

It's the little things.

Birthday happenings since last Saturday.  Spoiled mama.
 

Cheers!  New trick for Henry last week.
Happy Thursday.  Happy springs-a-comin'.  Happy naptime.  Happy happy happy to you.  

I've been wanting to blog for probably a week-ish now, but every time I thought to make time to do it, I felt like there wasn't any significant to share.  

That's okay.

Not all of life is earth-shattering.  The truth is, we're in a bit of a lull, just humming along.

I feel like there is light at the end of our tunnel.  After five weeks of sickness at our house, I'm a little hesitant, but so desperately wanting to say that we are almost healthy.  Henry is on his third round of antibiotics for an ear infection that just won't quit.  Poor guy.  He's been a trooper, but our little trick of mixing his medicine and juice in a shot glass and fancy-ing it up with a pretty decorated paper straw has lost its luster, and we are having to get super creative to get him to down his little mocktail.  

We go to see the ENT we were referred to by our pediatrician next week 

because poor Ham has just struggled with ear infecitons a little too much these past six months.  

I'm a little glad and a little sad at the same time.  I don't want these infections to be an ongoing issue, but it's just so stinking frustrating when you think you've done all the right things as a parent to avoid certain issues, and you end up having to deal with them anyways.

But, here we are, and we will deal with it as best we can.

Unfortunately, those five weeks of illness have left me a little zapped.  I'm feeling low on creativity, a little bitter about being cooped up so much, and I need to get my mojo back because I feel I'm the best me - mother, wife, friend - when my creative wheels are spinning.

Lately I've been daydreaming about having a new space to create in.  New walls to decorate, different design challenges to face.  And while I have so enjoyed putting our home together, I've stared at all of these walls a little too much this last month, and I'm over it.  All of it.  Except I don't want to start over in this house so Pinterest will have to suffice for now.  I'm itching for a change.

And for spring.  I know it's only a couple of inches of snow on the ground, but it. is. March.  Go away.

--

A few photos of my sunshine even on the cloudy days:

 Coooooooooooo.  Girlfriend has a lot to say lately.

Dimple sighting.

I've always heard the second (and any subsequent children) have less and less photos of them when compared to the firstborn.  

We'll have to see if that ends up being true in our house...especially when the firstborn rarely sits still.

 Henry in timeout in our dungeon.  Just kidding.  If I try to get any work done while Nelle is sleeping and Henry is awake it always ends up with him tearing apart our basement and playing in the storage room.  This little blue-eyed boy.  I think he's just the handsomest.