Monday, January 2, 2012

....new beginnings.....

....the last 10 days has been euphoric....I'm sure it was a bit to do with Stefan being off work for a week and the fact that we sucked the Christmas spirit out of everything we did as a family.....but it was a slow time..... festive, yet quiet.....no stresses, no schedule, no routine.....we planned for packing as much togetherness as we could during our week at home and now I am having a hard time avoiding a bit of the Christmas let down........




....I didn't pick the camera up very much....it wasn't due to lack of inspiration.....quite the contrary, I am feeling extra inspired to do so many things as a fresh 2012 embarks upon us......

.....I don't have a plethora of pictures to document our time.....there aren't any photos of the family nap we took yesterday while Stefan and I sandwiched the girls between us while Brody snoozed in his crib.....I thought about it, but then I would have missed a few seconds of the precious moments of hearing the deep breathing of sleeping girls and the extra weight I always feel in the bed when Stefan is present.....nothing was pulling me from that moment.....there aren't photos of twister or memory games we played.....no photos of the day date Stefan and I had splurging on a fantastic NYC lunch and then shopping for our children......no photos of the scooter rides, the swings or the movies we all watched nestled on our beloved red couch......

......I literally felt myself burrowing in my cave with my family......leaving the camera behind more frequently so the only thought on the forefront on my mind was savoring the here and now......




.....because there will be other times for clicking pictures.....

....this Christmas was a special one......both girls could fully understand the meaning of it for the first time and anxiously awaited placing baby Jesus in the manger on their nativity scene on Christmas Eve.....they listened to stories of Santa and his elves with wide eyes......they soaked it all in and asked questions that we didn't expect......like, why do presents from Santa and Mommy and Daddy have the same wrapping paper?

....we'll take note of that observation for years to come.....

...but it was also special because it was Brody's first Christmas.....


....and his sweet little soul has added so much to this family.....I don't know how we ever survived without his smiles, his coos and the pure bliss he brings all of us......




.....and Santa knew not to bring him too many toys......pots and pans and a wooden spoon while hanging out in the kitchen with his family is all he needs......


.....there was also something serene about knowing this would be our last Christmas in the city.....it was sad, yet exciting all at once.....space is becoming tight and there are joys of outdoor backyards and fresh air that our kids would love to have.....there are quaint little downtown areas in the surrounding suburbs that can give us the same neighborhood feel that we have grown to love.....and because we won't move too far from the city, we will still have the same frequency of visits from friends that travel from all over to see our backyard......




      .....love you, Veru and Isabella!....
....and since the kitchen is where we spend most of our time as a family, I vote for one that is 10 times the size we have now.....because as much as I love a close family, our kitchen is getting tight for our party of five......






      ....Black eyed peas for New Years Day.....
....but the new year brings a clean slate.....new challenges, new goals, new ideas....and in our case, new beginnings......

.....so when the girls spent an hour at our front door waiting for friends to arrive for our New Years party, I couldn't help but think how it symbolized our future......


....one door closes and another one opens.....and we wait for new beginnings with excitement and anticipation....

....and although we have family resolutions in our home like eating more colorful meals and banning the phrase, I want.....it's almost impossible for me not to think about this year ahead and know that there will be so much change....

.....new neighborhoods, new friends, new schools, new everything.....

.....and as scary as the initial thought of all of that is, I still thrive and love change.....whether it's a move or a new baby or a new job; any type of stress that forces us out of our comfort zone requires us to mold and reshape into a newer form of ourselves....


.....and after the morphing takes place, a better more beautiful form of yourself emerges.....



....it's growth and it's all good....


....Happy New Year!...