We kept up with the lazy trend for the rest of the weekend: I put on a big pot of Vegetable Beef Barley soup, my parents stopped by for a visit, Marty grabbed some records, we stayed up late & watched a movie, and I even squeezed in a trip to H&M to pick up a few things.

Around dinnertime tonight, I noticed Everly seemed warmer than usual and tired, so I gave her a bath and once she was out and in pajamas, she reached up for me and actually led me to our bed- two and a half hours before her normal bedtime, I might add.  This is not characteristic of her at all, so I’m crossing my fingers that she’s not coming down with something else.

A few pictures from our weekend…

Hope you have a lovely week!

Love,
E

We were stoked to see how Everly took to it and weren’t surprised one bit when she jumped right in with all the kids on the mats.  We can’t say that she mastered any poses this time but she sure had lots of fun and definitely seemed intrigued with what was going on around her.

Here’s a few shots from today…

The kids followed a playful practice, then decorated Tree Pose cookies with icing and sprinkles.  It was hands down the most adorable kids’ party we’ve ever attended!

Love,
E

What a year it’s been!  I’ve been reflecting on 2011 and thought I’d share a few of the year’s highlights…

Everly
We went from scooting, to crawling, to talking, and babbling, and climbing in the past 12 months.  This year was a big one for our little girl; Everly tasted plenty of new foods, got to squish sand between her toes and experience the magic of the ocean, celebrated a very special first birthday, and decided she likes our bed way better than her crib.  She’s proven to be quite the fearless little girl, and not a day goes by that she ceases to amaze us with her loving and carefree spirit.

Marty & I
This past year, we both continued to balance the challenges of work and family life, but we could not have done any of it without each other.  We learned some truly remarkable things about parenting this year, and have a lot to celebrate.  On top of taking on extra responsibilities in our professional worlds, we both sucked it up and got our butts back in the gym, and are looking forward to continuing to do so in the New Year.  Also notable, I’m proud to say that I have successfully weaned Everly from nursing after 16 months.  As a longtime advocate for breastfeeding, I’m so proud and happy that I was able to give my daughter the best start in life and hope to do the same with my next child.

2012 – Goals, Dreams & Future Plans
At the top of this list for 2012, I hope to continue to live a healthy lifestyle and do things that genuinely make me happy.  More yoga, cooking whole, healthy meals for my family, blogging more, and taking a day here and there to do something spontaneous with the ones that I love.  These are the things that always put a smile on my face, yet I sometimes find a challenge in fitting them in along with everything else that goes into a typical day.  However, when I make the time, I never regret doing them.  Also on the radar for ’12: we’re counting down the days until we get to return to Destin for another family vacation, and secretly dreading saying Bye-Bye to Everly’s beloved Binky, which will also be happening soon (fingers crossed!)

Thanks to everyone who made our 2011 fantastic!  We love you & can’t wait for what 2012 will bring!  So grab a glass and raise it up, because this one’s gonna be a good one too!

Cheers!
E

Remember last year? Read my 2010 Year in Review.

We enjoyed plenty of Christmas cookies and old holiday tunes on the record player, but most importantly, it was great to spend time with family.  Everly had such a blast seeing all of her little cousins, Aunts & Uncles (Great Aunts & Uncles too) , and getting spoiled her Grandparents and her GG.

And on Christmas morning, she woke up with an extra twinkle her eye since we told her the Big Man would be making a stop at our home this year with a few little surprises for her.  Some of her treats included a tea set, wooden play food, and a special table and chairs set for tea parties.

I can’t believe we’re just a few days away from 2012… We’re so thankful for having such an awesome year and are already making our resolutions for the next one.  Hope you all had a very happy holiday and wishing you all the best for 2012!

Love,
E

File this under one of the million things about you that i never want to forget.  Your Grandma & Grandpa started teaching you about the moon the other night and trying to get you to say it.  When we say “Moon,” you pucker your lips up (as you are in this picture) and it’s the cutest/funniest/most adorable thing ever!  Tonight I showed you a picture of the full moon (emailed from Grandpa, of course) and when you saw it on my phone, you sleepily pulled your Binky out of your mouth and started doing your signature moon face.  You then ran over to the window and pointed up to the bright white ball in the November sky and said “bye bye”.  Somehow, you always manage to turn a plain old Thursday night into something magical.  Love you, kiddo.

Love,
Your Mama

She was up to no good, as usual.  But we decided to keep her anyways.

And who would have thought that Trick-or-Treating would come so naturally to her?

The sneaky little bugger even talked us into letting her have some candy.

Those gnomes just always get their way…

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!  We sure did!

Love,
E (+ Marty & Everly)

Besides a new mattress, I’ve always had the hodge-podge setup of family hand-me-down dressers and mismatched end tables that functioned as nightstands, each one bearing the markings of age and telling their own stories of the children’s rooms they previously inhabited.  I didn’t mind it so much, it always felt like home, and it was.

But being pregnant and carrying a watermelon around for 9 and a half months last year took its toll on my side of the mattress (gulp), and things were getting a little uncomfortable.  The queen bed that once seemed like the coziest place for Marty and I, and our two Boston’s, had become rickety and cramped.  The creaks would awaken me in the early hours of the morning, when a certain late night Xbox gamer (hint: husband) would try to creep aimlessly into bed, unnoticed.  And on countless nights, I would scooch our snoring dogs off only to tuck a teary, teething toddler, next to me and soothe her back to sleep in the only spot in the house that seemed to do the trick: right next to her Mommy & Daddy.

When our new bed and furniture arrived, it somehow made me feel like a grown up.  Although it’s completely brand new, something about its clean lines and ‘Frank Lloyd Wright’ look feels very familiar.  And the when the sun shines through the window pane across its honeyed wood, while a certain little angel naps in the afternoon, it makes me feel like it’s just the opening page of the storybook we are writing.

In this very bed, we’ll awaken to eager children’s voices on Christmas mornings.  It will be the spot where we’ll read book and after book, and watch tired eyes drift off to Dreamland.  When we have sick little ones, we’ll nurse them right here.   This will be the very place we’ll rest our eyes after stressful workdays, busy weekends, and the place we’ll long to return to after vacations in faraway places.

We still have a very large painting project ahead of us and a few more pieces to add to our new bedroom collection, but we’re very excited to add to the room.  Pictures to come soon… but now it’s time for a nap!

Love,
E

Have a peek at last year’s trip to the pumpkin patch.  Everly was only 12 weeks old!

Love,
E

Besides getting to meet the little man, we’ve been relishing in this perfect Indian Summer weather and taking every chance to get outside in the fresh air.  To kick off the weekend, Marty and I actually got to go out for dinner tonight while Ev got spoiled at her grandparents’ for the evening.  It’s amazing what a night out can do for you after a long, nerve-wracked work week.  We have another busy weekend in store but, as always, we’re sneaking in plenty of playtime, ‘cause that’s how we do it.  So far on the agenda: Saturday morning thrifting, Sunday BBQ, and possibly even an apple picking trip.  Anyhoo, happy weekend to you – hope you enjoy!

Love,
E