Mid-year Update

Well here we are 6 months from my last post, get used to it folks, life is busy and updates are fewer and further between, but thanks for sticking with me!  Benjamin is now over a year old—WHAT?  How is possible that we have had two kids for over a year?  It has happened!  The saying is certainly true, the years are short but the days are long.  So what is new with us?  Let’s do updates person by person:

Benjamin—he is walking EVERYWHERE, getting into EVERYTHING, and talking or moving all the time!  He is a snuggle bug to the fullest, he is a momma’s boy for sure and he loves his sissy something strong (don’t get me wrong, he loves his dad too, but his two main ladies have his heart the most).  He is a pretty happy kid, often smiling or giggling, but when he does not get what he wants, he can cry at the drop of a hat.  Marc and I often joke that he is the biggest cry baby we have ever seen.  He still has not perfected sleeping but he is making strides.  He likes to eat, he is skeptical of strangers, but loves his people, and can get into ANYTHING and is super super strong for such a little guy.

Olivia—she is the smartest little toddler I have ever seen.  She is sly and quick, she picks up little sayings and will repeat them in the most opportune time.  She is a trip!  She also has a smile that can kill and helps her to get away with more than she should.  She can be super endearing and then turn in an instant and be a tantrum-throwing toddler.  It would be more funny if it was not our current reality.  She is a great big sister and I do think the pandemic has had its effect on her—every time she sees kids, she asks if she can play—she certainly misses her time at daycare (which to be clear, she never seemed excited about at the time).  We are still working on potty training—so any and all tips are welcomed!

Marc—After 16 loooooong months at home, Marc is finally headed back to the office this month.  He will be home some and in the office some, but I think he is excited to get back to a little bit more normal work/life balance—our house does not lend to easily working from home.  He has been our rock this last year, helping out in so many ways and being a rock star dad!  He continues to grow his tool collection and develop various skills for wood-working and home improvement.  We are tackling a bathroom renovation soon—well mostly him to be honest, I am just here for painting and aesthetics.

Laura—I have now been at my new job for over 7 months and am settling in well, though the 5 days in the office vs my previous 3 has been an adjustment.  I have been killing it at audiobooks since I have at least an hour and 15 minutes in the car everyday, need good book recommendations?  I am your gal!  I feel like I am finally getting my footing after a year of being a mom of two, its hard work!  I still struggle daily with nerve pain and numbness, residuals from the Guillain Barre diagnosis, and some days are much worse than others.  Unfortunately, my leg/nerve pain generally starts around 3-4am, keeping me up some nights for hours.  Advil has become my new friend.  Though my hope is in that most people generally make a full recovery within the first 1-5 years after diagnosis.  Only about 20% have long term damage, so here is hoping that life continues to get a bit easier.  You never know how much you appreciate the ability to bend over or even just to sit, until both are very painful.  

We are all super looking forward to a beach vacation next month and some time to get away, just as our family.   I am going to try to do a Benjamin 12 month post soon filled with pictures.  Hope everyone is feeling excited about 2021 (even though its now half over! haha).

Happy New Year!

I think it is with great trepidation that we all step into 2021.  Tread lightly so you don't wake the baby!  2020--what a year!  It taught us the importance of family and friends, of leaning into one another and of how much you really can do from the comfort of your home.  It also presented us with many challenges: having a baby amid a global pandemic, adjusting to life at home more, a new job, a rare disease, and so much love too!  It is certainly hard to wish away the year when it brought us sweet Benjamin.  Though, I still wish that adorable little guy would learn to sleep.  I told Marc that I feel like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde--loving on his sweet face and snuggles during the daylight hours and then getting simply furious that he is up for the 8th, 9th, 10th time some nights--yes I am about to loose my mind.  But as we learned with Olivia, this too shall pass--I would just prefer the sleepness night stage to pass quicker :)

I think we are all so cautiously optimistic that this vaccine rollout will go smoothly and that maybe by fall we can start to see some semblance of "normality."  What even is that anymore?  But rather than turn this blog into a rumination of thoughts on what this year will look like (I really should not even bother anymore, it is certainly in God's hands now), lets instead focus on the cuteness of these little kiddos in picture form.  Here is a bit of a catch up over the last few months:

We had some PJ snuggle time:

We virtually cheered on VCU:

 

We celebrated Halloween:

 

We played in the leaf piles that Daddy made and welcomed in Fall:

Speaking of Daddy, I think this girl might have her dad's affinity for tools:

We celebrated Olivia's 3rd birthday with a puppy party with just our family:

We took Christmas pictures on our porch by my sister (no photography this year):

 

Our little man grew up quickly before our eyes, going from sitting independently to standing while holding and now he is crawling!!!

We celebrated Thanksgiving:

We got a visit from Santa (aka Marc's dad) at our house:

Here he is standing while holding onto the couch:

They enjoyed walks with the nanny while mom and dad worked, all snuggled up:

We celebrated Christmas with way too many presents (per usual):

 

And finally we rung in the New Year around 7pm, cause that is what you do when you have kids...don't worry everyone, its sparkling cider!  And that is a wrap on 2020!

It is certainly easy to see the many blessings when we look back at all the wonderful pictures!  I hope 2021 will be a great year for everyone--did anyone make any fun resolutions?