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better late

than never.  Because that’s how we roll in this house these days.  Santa photos from BW Christmas in the Park:

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first steps

Mamaku #32

on the rug
in front of our hearth
Maddie’s first steps

Maddie took her first steps yesterday.  From the foot of the couch she took a couple of shaky steps across the rug towards me and then fell into my arms, beaming.  The first steps are no less amazing with the second child.  They mark a moment that will never occur again, a moment that is one of the greatest privileges of my life to witness.

So wonderful to be making first memories like this here in our new home.  Leaving our first nest, where we had our babies, and where we had made so many first memories with Ben, was bittersweet for me.  Good to be fillin’ this den of ours up with the love light.

reading by the fire

Brianna and Ben reading a bedtime story by the fire.

Brianna and Ben reading a bedtime story by the fire.

Welcome 2010

If the way we spent our first day of the year is any indication for what lies ahead, 2010 is going to be a fruitful one.  On the New Year’s Eve and the 1st, Nathan and I stayed at home with the kids, playing, cleaning, organizing, and talking about our intentions for co-parenting, community, and consumption in the New Year.  We have plenty of home improvement projects we’d like to begin.  We have lots of sharing and self work to do together in order to be better parents and a stronger family.  It sounds like a nose-to-the-grindstone sort of year, but I think we can do it mindfully, patiently, slowly when we need to.

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Among my personal goals for the new year are taking better care of myself.  I want to go to sleep in the evenings when I’m worn out instead of checking Facebook.  I’ll have to trust that my friends will all still care for me if I miss commenting on a few of their posts.  I want to get more exercise.  I’m thinking to at least try for a weekly yoga class, and several weekly walks.  I want need to have more than 2 showers a week.  I want to have regular haircuts and clothes that I feel good in.  I want to feed myself foods that make my body feel good.  More fruits, more veggies, more lean proteins.  Fewer high chair leftovers.

Oh, the ambition.

I’m also committed to getting the garage cleaned out enough such that we can get at least 1 (one) car in the garage.  I mean it.  You heard me say it.  And I want to get a small crafty space set up in there, and I want to organize all our crafty supplies such that it’s easier to make art when we want to, and we’re not having to unlock a child lock on the cabinet and rummage around in a box full of stuff in the very back where you can’t really see anything.

I want to see more of you more often.

I want to read more.

I want to receive more frequent visits from the toilet scrubbing fairy.

I want to do more to take care of this one, rare planet that we live on.  I’m going to eat less meat, remember my shopping bags at the store more often, plant my own veggies, recycle more, reuse and re-purpose stuff more often.  I care.  I don’t know how much difference if any my small actions may make.  I have no illusion that I’m going to save even a small a chunk of ice at the North Pole.  But these are things I need to do to feel honest with myself this year.  And I’m not so slammed with babies anymore that I can’t afford go back to the car for my bags when I forget them.

I want to have more date nights with Nathan.

I want to see a movie at the Alamo again for the first time in well over a year.

I want to do at least 1 volunteer day at the Sustainable Food Center.

That’s all.  My entire wishlist and set of intentions for this year, submitted with abundant gratitude and best wishes for all of you, too.  Happy New Year!

train!

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Merry Christmas, from Santa.

opening stockings

early Christmas morning at our house:

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Santa brought a train set!:

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anticipation

Christmas Eve 2009:

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knock knock

This week Ben has begun to tell knock knock jokes with us.  Here are a few of his recent faves:

Ben: “Knock knock!  Who’s there?”

Me: “Boogers!”

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Ben: “Knock knock!  Who’s there?”

Nathan: “Just farts!”

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Ben: “Knock knock!  Who’s there?”

Me: “Eyeballs!”

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Ben: “Knock knock!  Who’s there?”

Nathan: “Snottites!”

A clear pattern emerges: The listener is responsible for the punch line every time, with the biggest laughs for words related to bodily functions.  So telling knock knock jokes with Ben is an exercise in word association for now.  But it’s a lot of fun, it’s good for a solid half hour of entertainment, and we always end up laughing, too.  :)

Maddie’s First Birthday party

Maddie Rose turned 1 on Friday!  Yesterday we had a small party for her with cupcakes, pizza, family, and a few friends.  Maddie’s been sick for most of the week, so we weren’t sure how she’d handle the hoopla of a first birthday bash, but she totally rocked it.

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I made a batch of basic chocolate cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, which I borrowed from our friend Holly.  Nathan made a batch of the Simple Vanilla Agave cupcakes, and he made the chocolate ganache frosting recipe from the same book.  The cakes were amazing, and I made it widely known that I’d love to receive a copy of Vegan Cupcakes for Christmas.

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Best. first. birthday. evar. The full set of party photos is here in the gallery.

on the playground

Playing on the common area playground in our new neighborhood last weekend:

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