dreaming of a white christmas

or maybe I don't have to dream...

It's snowing here in Massachusetts.

And there's absolutely nowhere I have to be

but home,

homemade cocoa... see the cinnamon stick? :)

 with Matt upstairs and my little bunny by the tree.

Is it snowing where you are?

xoxo

Sunday naps and Christmas card photos

earlier in the day- activity time with dad & Luna

Happy Sunday. It's cold, rainy and dark here today. I'm sitting here with my sleeping baby on my chest, my sleeping hubby on the couch next to me and a sleeping pup on her blanket by the fire. There is no place I'd rather be:).

We finally ordered our Christmas cards. Usually, I shoot for perfection (or as close to it as I can get). Matt humors me as we take 200 (yes, 200!!;)) photos until Matt, Luna and I are all looking at the camera with happy, Christmassy expressions. 


Take #1

 This year, with my new-found style of breast milk and spit-up-stained clothing, unwashed hair and yesterday's lunch crumbs still hanging out on the coffee table, perfection is not the goal.


Take #2

 So, after three takes, we got a shot. Not perfect, but we captured a real moment, so that, in and of itself, makes it perfect.
 

Take #3


(thank you, also, for editing software;))

Have a lovely week:)

xoxo

settling in

Hello, December.

Thank you all for your well wishes and sweet comments on the arrival of Benjamin:). We're settling in with him, just in time for the cold front. The fireplace insert is running 24/7 and it's requiring a lot of extra work (and wood) to keep the house warm. But warm & toasty it is for the little guy, who, I have to say, all biases aside, is really a sweet & good little boy :).

We came home from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving. We had a quiet meal, which was a drastic change from our usual hosting of 25 family members:). This year, it was just the four of us, sitting by the fire, eating a (delicious!) pre-cooked turkey dinner from our local grocery store. It was relaxing and just what we needed after the hospital blur (but we do look forward to our tradition of football games and 25 stuffed bellies again next year...wait, make that 26 bellies).

Since Thanksgiving, we've been spending our time with Benjamin, staring at him, learning him and watching him take in this whole new world around him. I find myself often apologizing to him, ie. when it takes 20 minutes just to change his onesie 'honey, mama is new at this', or when I take his diaper off and forget to cover the stream of pee that soaks his chest 'mama's learning too, sweetie'. But all in all, it does seem that the past two weeks have made me a progressively better mama and he seems to be getting more patient and comfortable with both his mom & dad.

And seeing his dad with him just melts my heart. He gets this proud look. And this whole fatherhood thing seems to come quite easily for him. Another asset to add to the list of the reasons why I love him;).

And then there's the fourth (well, she would say she's the third). She has adjusted amazingly well. No adjustment at all, really. She seems to think that she is B's mama. I often spy her monitoring him while he naps. She sleeps near his moses basket, barks a bit sooner and louder when she hears outside noises. She protects him. It's really sweet. (But who am I kidding- this is no surprise;)).

So, happy December. I'm very much looking forward to my first real December in blogland:). I hope you are all enjoying this magical (and maybe a bit crazy;)) month. I look forward to basking in it all here with you:).

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

Welcome Benjamin Charles:)

Hello friends!

I just wanted to post an update that sweet Benjamin Charles came into the world yesterday, 11/22/2010, at 7:57 pm, weighing 9 pounds! He's healthy and we're all doing well, getting as much sleep in the hospital as we can. We'll be home just in time for a cozy Thanksgiving dinner and we have a lot to be thankful for.

I hope you all have a lovely holiday. I'll post pictures of the little guy soon:).

xoxo

waiting:)

Benjamin's due date came and went on the 14th without a sign of the little dude. I guess he's super comfortable in there. What he doesn't know is what he's missing out on out here; the fireplace heating the home daily, homemade apple crisp and chicken pot pies, Christmas music being played a bit too early, a snuggly black pup (who seems to think that the nursery was decorated just for her; we've been finding her laying in there almost every morning).... it will be worth the wait for him, we'll make sure of it:).

This first half of November has consisted of hibernating & nesting in our home in the woods. The nursery is coming along nicely. There are a few things missing, including a book shelf that my parents picked up at an antique shop, some photos & artwork for the wall, and of course, the little guy, himself. Here are some photos of the progress to date:

My old baby blanket to carry Benji home in

A swaddled frog... good practice for Benjamin

A closet full of hand-me-downs

xoxo

photos taken with love

Happy weekend! I hope that you were all able to enjoy an extra hour of sleep this morning:).

Benjamin's nursery is coming along... there are a few final touches that are needed, which may or may not happen before he decides to grace us with his presence. I wanted to share with you some lovely photos that my oldest & dearest friend, Amber, took to decorate his walls. The rest can be seen here at her blog. They're the perfect blend of retro, fun and little-boy-but-not-overly-so. I love them and know that the little man will too:).

Thanks A:).

xoxo

gratitude

Happy November.

This month has always been a very special treat for me, for it's the perfect blend of fall and winter, with the excitement of the holidays folded in, generous dashes of family gatherings and beautiful decorations, rounded teaspoons of leaf piles, dustings of snow. I get giddy just thinking about it.

I think back to my childhood Novembers, which were always packed with a flurry of activity, family, delicious foods and smells wafting from the kitchen, pumpkin-anything, cozy nights in front of a holiday movie, with a roaring fire in the background. My parents raised us in a home wrapped in love and happiness and I can only hope that my children will feel and know the same. 

This November, we'll be spending a lot of time in our home, getting to know this little baby, who is still quite comfortable inside me, I might add;). We feel like we're as ready as we'll ever be to welcome this little guy into our home. A home that we built on love for each other... and now a love for this little boy (and Luna too, we must not forget her:)). I look at how Matt is preparing for 'the big day' and it nearly brings tears to my eyes. He's already a proud papa- it's so sweet. He's so protective and attentive and he won't let me do anything around the house. He rubs my belly every day with such a proud look on his face, something that Benjamin will never see, at least not from this perspective, but something that I get to see every day, and will cherish forever.

I'm full of gratitude this November. Gratitude for my past, for our future, and for today.

Happy November:)

xoxo