Lights

Rise & Shine!

Sunday Play

Recovery

As soon as I said it...

As if on cue, the minute I started to relax in Atlanta, my nose started to get stuffy. I came home early on Wednesday, wrestling with a full-blown cold. Everyone in our family has been sick this week. We're a sad sack here -- trading coughs, sniffles, sneezes, naps, tissues, medicines. I think recovery is within sight, but still a few days away. Keep us in your thoughts!

Continued...

Sick

Break

Day 2

Atlanta

Yup. I'm in Atlanta.

Stone Mountain, to be more exact. I'm here on a work conference, learning all about HLM modeling and how best to present the vast array of data we've collected about physical activity in schools. I came down yesterday and will be here until Wednesday night.

To be honest, I'm having a nice time. I've enjoyed some yoga, slept a little more soundly than normal, and enjoyed quiet cups of tea while reading. I'm riddled with guilt, however, because I left my dear, sweet, loving husband with a sick Alice. And when Alice is sick, she's pretty darn miserable. I feel bad that M is not only dealing with the regular chores of daily life on his own, but doing so with a sick kid. I will owe him one.

And now I must go to bed...

A Morning in Stone Mountain

Traveling Alone

SC

Smile Alice!

Order

Should. Be. Asleep.

I wish

Dear Alice,

How I wish there were a way for me to capture the cuteness!! At least once a day, I find myself in total awe of you. Of the words you now know. Of the moments you remember. Of the conversations you start to have with your loved ones.

This morning, when I asked you if you had good dreams, you said you had been crying, but now you are happy. This evening you told me that daddy was at the gym and that you had fun with Mel. You said wallet and popcorn and zipper, words I didn't know you had. When we were going to bed, you rubbed my cheeks with your sweet little hands. When it was time to give kisses through the slats, you pushed your belly up against the bars, then your nose, then your hands. You said, "LOVE YOU!"

I wish I could capture the sweet curls of your hair after the bath. The joy of hearing you say a new word. The awe inspired by your ability to convey emotion.

I love you, my sweet Alice!

Love,
Mommy

Weekday Morning

Dinner

This weekend, I cooked three meals:

1. Saturday: Cavatappi with Cilantro-Pistachio Pesto
2. Sunday: Prosciutto, Apple, and Brie Monte Cristo Sandwiches
3. Monday: Ratatouille and Sausage Potpie with Cornmeal Biscuits (substituting zucchini with butternut squash)

The pesto was a total disaster - we threw the better part of the meal out. The Monte Cristo sandwiches were DELICIOUS (think your favorite appetizers, melted, with buttered toast - fantabulous). Tonight's was an old standby.

While preparing this somewhat labor-intensive dinner, I realized that it is my favorite winter meal. And the best part is that the meal is better on day two. Looking forward to tomorrow night's meal...

Counting

Planning

Way Past Bedtime!

Photo Op

Exhaustion

Coca-Cola, why are you so good?!

Early Riser

My sweet monkey woke up very early this morning. The past few nights she's been staying up late, chatting in her crib, yelling for "mommy!" "daddy!" "door!" "choo choo!" (we live right near the above-ground train). She's also been eating an INSANE amount for a tiny little bug. So we were are pretty convinced she's going through a bit of a growth spurt.

This morning, she woke up crying for mommy 5 minutes before my alarm was set to go off for my early morning gym class. The clock read 5:03 AM. I turned off my alarm before it disturbed Michael and went into Alice's room, fully aware that picking her up probably doomed any chance at the gym. I picked up my crying baby, sat with her in the rocking chair, and let her sleep in my arms for an hour. At 6, I finally decided to try and transfer to the couch so that I might be able to sleep too. But as soon as we left her room, Alice decided it was time to wake up.

The two of us played together quietly, in the semidarkness of the early morning. I have to admit, it was perfect.

Alice Making Her Monkey Face

Reading Circle

Family outing!

Mod!

2012

Happy New Year!!

I'm a few days behind schedule (surprise, surprise). But welcome to 2012! I'm excited for the new year. 2011 was a good, solid year of living. Michael & I enjoyed watching our sweet baby grow into a toddler. We both did well at work, and continued to settle into our no-longer-new apartment. We made it to Spain (!), and Virginia. It was a good year.

But I'm partial to even years. Most of our major life events have happened during an even year - I was born in 1980, graduated high school, college and grad school, got married, had a baby, etc, etc, etc. So I'm hoping that 2012 brings a similarly exciting time of change. I don't know what's ahead for me or my family, but I'm encouraged by a new year to make things happen.

Incidentally, I have been working out since I wrote about it in mid-November. I've managed to workout at the gym at least once a week and do at least one yoga class per week since. I'm encouraged, though always hoping for more.

She Loves Hugs!!

Yogurt Makes Me Happy

At Least It's Sunny!

Cold!

Happy New Years!!!