Where did the month of January go?! Today there's a slight briskness in the air, we've seen a few flurries of snow drop and melt and Addy and I are staying warm at home today. By the time Josh got home, he was ready to take Addy outside for a few moments to catch some snow flakes on their noses.
Inside the house I was getting a wintertime craving to make some homemade hot cocoa. Josh mentioned hot cocoa would be nice on a day like today and I've had a recipe for a powdered mix I've been wanting to try. So I whipped that up for the two of us! Addy was too occupied drinking her regular whole milk that we didn't even offer some to her this time. But I made a jar full of the mix and it's quite yummy!
I also made a new recipe for Pumpkin Granola. Our home smelled soooo delicious with the pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and other warming spices floating in the air. When the granola cooled I added some Craisins and some raisins. I made myself a little parfait with berries and vanilla yogurt for dinner and topped it with some of the crunchy granola. AMAZING! Addy even had some. I'll include the recipes on the blog soon. So, about January...here's an update on what's been going on in our neck of the woods.
A New Year: Happy 2014...
New Years Eve night we got Addy all cozy in her Christmas cow jammies we got her and made our way out to the Shelton's for an overnight New Years Celebration.
Mooooooooooooo!!!!
Nanny, Mema and Addy
Auntie Lizzie and Addy, "Good Girl!"
How partying affects the ladies of the house...Friends...
We have been so blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends who live not that far away. Despite those days as a mom when you feel so undone and disheveled, I'm learning to be real. Our neighbors across the street have been a true God-send. I grew up on a tiny street of only three houses and although my family made efforts to be neighborly with our two neighbors there were never any kids to play with, unless the grandkids were in town. So, having neighbors who are in a similar stage of life as us has been amazing. Having a mom across the street whose son is only two weeks older than Addy is has been both comforting and fun. She and I have given each other permission to even come on over to each other's houses un-showered and still in our jammies just to get some adult time for us and a play date for our kiddo's. Isn't that a rare gem of a deal?! If I wanted to have my house completely spotless and my make up always on then I'd never see the outside world. I'm learning that I just need to be me, no mask, no front. And let me tell you...it's humbling and sometimes very gross, but I'm learning to deal.
Mom Time...
To be honest, all of the advice I got as a new mom or a mom-to-be has kinda gone in one ear and out the other. Some stuff I could relate to and some stuff I just need to figure out for myself. Being a mom to a newborn, then to a toddler has been an adventure. I can be very short-fused and bored at times. For the longest time I used Addy's nap times to get things done uninterrupted around the house. Now I'm finding if I don't take a few minutes to myself while she sleeps that I'm a basket case and very likely to explode not long before my husband walks in the door at the end of the day. I have often thought, "Gee, it would be nice if Josh could see me during the day more with Addy." Most days I feel he see's me on my last thread, ready to call it a night and curl up on the couch to detox from toddler time.
She and I really do have a ton of fun together during the day. The older she get's the more I'm excited about teaching her new things. Adelynne has had this independent streak almost from day one. She isn't really a cuddler. She will actually push us away or stiffen up her back in protest. She like's to give what we now call "kiss kisses." But, she's never been one to wake up and want to snuggle in our arms or get cozy in our bed and fall asleep. Some parents can't get their kids out of their bed; we can't get our kid to stay in our bed.
Toddler Time...
Our little rose bud is really her own little person. I wouldn't say she's completely high maintenance but she can get set in her ways. Lately her emotions have gone from a full on tantrum to laughing hysterically...for no reason at all! Let's just say she keeps things lively around here.
I LOVE being her mommy and by gollie she's teaching me a ton every day. We have been enjoying paining with water colors, coloring with crayons and markers (she's becoming an expert at putting lids on), cleaning with a rag, making yum yum's for her babies and whoever else, making coffee with mommy in the mornings, reading books, dancing (she knows how to twerk...but don't look at me...), legos (she loves to put a tower together on her own and waits until I say "Good Girl" when she's finished, playdo and playing doctor with her doctor kit (she makes the stethoscope go "boom boom boom boom" for a heart beat). Oh, and if you ask her what the cow or doggy or cat say she'll tell you. She even know's what the fox says (you can blame or thank Josh for that...).
Night Time Rituals...
When we had Cheyenne we began calling our bed time routine "Night Time Rituals." If friends or family were over they'd be apart of them as well. They usually involved signing, dancing, reading, hide and go seek, bath time, brushing teeth, praying. Needless to say the closer to bed we got we had more things we enjoyed doing.
Now having Addy we have some more night time rituals. Right now our favorite part is prayer time. We get her all cozy after bath and a good lathering of her lotion, turn her lights down, start her music and Josh and I take turns holding her in our arms and rocking her back and forth. Josh starts with sometimes a little conversation with her but then he always prays. It's pretty precious to hold her in our arms and look into her big brown eyes. Josh tends to always pray over her that she would come to love and know God and that she would be an example to others around her. Many months ago God gave me a little prayer that I pray over her every night:
"May the Lord watch over you and protect you. May he give you sweet dreams. May he make his face shine on you and lead you into all truth and understanding to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
I love night time rituals...they've become very precious.
God-Time....
Lately I've been blessed by the messages from Pastor John Mark Comer of A Jesus Church (Solid Rock: http://www.ajesuschurch.org/teaching-current/ I've been following the messages through the book of Mark for a few months now. Sometimes Addy's nap time has become my time with the Lord, listening to a message or journaling. This time has been really quite rich and rewarding. I love how John Mark opens the text, especially with such a huge emphasis on the historical context. I've looked at Scripture in a brand new way because of it.
And, I've decided to get back into leading a junior high girls life group! We met for the second time last night. Four delightful young ladies and I even get an awesome co-leader this time around! I can't wait to see where God will take us all.
I don't have any pictures yet, but we dedicated Adelynne Rose about two weeks ago. Most of our family was able to be there for the event. We missed having our brothers and their kiddos, but were so thankful for her grandparents and even great-grandparents being there as well as two of her aunties and her uncle. We had everyone over afterward for a brunch.
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