We had a great holidays this year. I think Stephean counted that we celebrated 7 Christmases in the span of 3 days, so we packed it all in and came home with more toys than Toys R Us keeps on their shelves on any given day!
I've decided to start a blog that covers our everyday since we live away from family and don't get to see everyone very much. Plus, I think it would be fun to be able to look back a year from now - three years from now - or ten years from now - and know what we up to "back in the day." If you'd like to follow us there, you can find us at Grimes By Day. WARNING: Our blog might not be that interesting since we really are just everyday, normal people with not much excitement going on - so don't expect too much!
On the eve of 2012, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the year that just flew by. Wow - where did it go? It seems like only yesterday I was pushing through the nausea of pregnancy to stuff my face with Christmas treats. Now a year later, I've been blessed with a beautiful baby boy who is reaching out for any Christmas treat that my 2.5 year old daughter hasn't already snatched from my hand. So much has happened this year and I can honestly say that each year seems to get better and better - 2011 was no different.
In 2011, our family welcomed a big, beautiful baby boy. Kellan Hayes Grimes was born on July 5 (also Brooklee's birthday). He was 8 lbs 15 oz and 22 inches long. He's definitely been a more hands on baby than Brooklee was, but we've finally reached the age of which he's sitting up, wanting to crawl and can spend short periods of time playing on his own. He's been such a blessing in our life and Stephean, Brooklee and I are so very thankful for him.
I quit my job at America's Junior Miss/Distinguished Young Women and became a stay-at-home mother in January. I can't believe that it has been a year ago, and though I miss my job, being home with my babies has helped me to realize the important things in life. I've been able to invest more time in my husband and children, do a better job at keeping our house clean, food on the table and money in the bank, and I feel like I am a much calmer and content person. Its amazing the way priorities and perspectives change for the better when work doesn't consume your every thought!
This year certainly had its struggles. We've worked hard to repair a strained relationship, exhausted our brains trying to sell a house in a terrible market, and had our share of financial woes. But regardless of the hardships we've faced, God has been faithful to not only bring us through them, but to strengthen us in them. Oh how little we deserve his mercy!
In 2011,one of my sisters delivered a handsome baby boy only a few weeks before her first son turned two years old. My youngest sister fell in love, had her heart broken, and ended the year as a strong, beautiful and mature single woman who knows more about what she wants and deserves in a relationship than most married women even know. My mom and dad have enjoyed the addition of two new grandchildren, changes in their jobs and a renewed outlook on life as they've seemed to enjoy more time together than I've ever seen them before.
We took a trip with my in-laws to Utah where Brooklee got to see "real snow" and fly on an airplane for the first time. Pinterest has changed the way I cook, decorate, parent, and pretty much anything else. I've finally had the time to create photo books of Brooklee's first two Christmases, get rid of junk we've been hoarding since we got married, and create a home management notebook with family goals, budgets and meal options - or at least the shell for it.
Above all, with each year I am learning more about living in the moment instead of living for the future. While a balance of both is certainly preferred, I have always tended to spend so much time planning for and anticipating the future that I forget to enjoy the moments. Enjoying time with my children and a compilation of messages from God have helped me to slow down and bask in the time we have now - when the children are still little, we are still young, and we still have time to spare.
In 2012, I pray that God will continue to bless and mold our little family to fulfill His purpose for us. I pray that He will strengthen our marriage, help us to be better parents and teach us how to take care of ourselves better (as we vow to begin eating better and exercising). I pray that He will bless our children as they continue to blossom and grow into amazing little individuals. Above all, I pray that we can continue to set our priorities in order by focusing first on God, second on family and third on others.
So last night after a "romantic" dinner at Cracker Barrel, Stephean and I decided that we should pick a new song. So much has changed since we were dating and claimed "I Don't Know Much" as our tune (not to mention the fact that I really don't know the words to it so it must not really be "our song.") He suggested "Float On" by Modest Mouse: And we'll all float on alright, Already we'll all float on, Now don't you worry we'll all float on."
While some days it certainly would work, we agreed that Phil Vasser's "Just Another Day in Paradise" pretty much sums up our world! Seriously, its almost scary how closely the lyrics of the first verse align to a day in the Grimes household. Makes me wonder if someone was secretly spying ahead at our future when they wrote these words:
The kids screaming, phone ringing,
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it. I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things
Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise
Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can me and my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?
So the second verse is a stretch....I mean how can kids come walking in at night when they are already sleeping in between? And dinner date for us usually includes Domino's pizza in front of the tv or a restaurant with a crying baby and toddler who wont stay in her highchair. But, you get the picture.
Truth be told, there was a much calmer, romantic time in our lives when the bills didn't outweigh the paychecks, neither of us knew who Dora was, and the house didn't look like Toysrus blew up. When something tore up we called the landlord. When we wanted to go shopping, we just got in the car and went. Packing for weekend trips did't feel like we were packing up to move (though Stephean would beg to differ on that one.)
But those were also the times when an adorable little girl wasn't there to greet you at the door at the end of the day and then take off running because she wants you to chase her. A cute little boy wasn't there to wiggle as close to you as he can possibly get because you're the only thing in the world he cares about. "Rain Rain Go Away" didn't make you smile every time you hear it and a baby cooing didn't make you smile and tear up all at the same time. We are so very blessed with what we have!
So by the time we left Cracker Barrel, Stephean and I reached a conclusion: Sure, life was much simpler "back then", but we couldn't trade our "little paradise" for anything in the world. We could just "Float On" and realize one day that our life just floated right past us, or we could savor these moments - good and bad - and be thankful for everyone of them.
"And I ask the Lord every night for just another day in paradise."
When we got Macy and Kade, we had no children so they were super spoiled! We bought them Christmas presents, bought them outfits, and took them with us when we went anywhere "pet friendly." Macy even went to Puppy Training School at PetSmart, though she dropped out a little early.
However, since the kids, the dogs hardly ever get attention. So when I got an email from our local vet saying "Happy Birthday Kade!" I had a great idea to throw him a birthday party. Brooklee is obsessed with birthday parties right now and we had no plans for a Saturday afternoon, so why not?
Brooklee helped me make the cupcakes! She is in the stage where she loves to help me with things like cooking and doing laundry. I wish that stage would last through the years when she could do it all by herself!
I used scrapbooking paper to make party hats and little place settings. The dogs had dog food, we had goldfish, and Kellan's had his pacifier.
Kade was less than thrilled that he had to (a) wear that hat (b) be sung to and (c) wait until after we sang before he could get his snack to eat.
Brooklee enjoyed the cupcakes almost as much as her daddy.
And even though he made fun of our little party, he did enjoy the cupcakes!
Kellan slept through most of the party, but joined in there at the end.
And the aftermath....note Stephean and Brooklee's stack of cupcake wrappers!
We've enjoyed our new little man during this first six weeks of his life. In ways, its flown by! Of course, my favorite baby/toddler stage is not the first six weeks when all they do is cry, sleep and eat, but for the most part he's been a great baby!
Just a couple of days old and he is super alert!
Napping with Daddy!
First day in cloth diapers! Yep, we're doing cloth diapers!!
Brooklee's first bath vs. Kellan's first bath.
Brooklee loves to cuddle with her new baby brother.
Isn't he handsome! I'm loving his dark hair and blue eyes!
This is a perfect moment for me. I love my babies!!
Just one of the many times that Brooklee takes care of or loves on her baby brother.
