Living in wait.

This has been on my mind for a while. Life is short and I should never wish time away and yet these past few months I have been focusing on next year or last year. I need to be reminded to be happy with the present. These precious days with a curious toddler are going to go by as quickly as the days with a squishy, sweet newborn. How as a mother could I wish this time away? I know it is not ideal for our family, but sometimes I need a little wake up call. The giggles, running, and tantrums will be hormones and teenage drama before I can bat an eye.

Well I don't really know what the point of this was beside the fact that I needed a reminder. Everyday Max amazes as he learns something new and explores the world. Instead of looking to the past or the future, I should be reveling in each moment with my sweet little boy.

Can you share, please?

I know I have said this before, but my child is a wild man. He is constantly on the go. Kicking balls. Running. Doing "quick feet" which is pretty hilarious. Reaching up on tables and counters. Racing his cars. Just watching him makes me tired. I am sure his antics are normal for his age, but I am in awe\ just watching him. So Max can you share with me? Share some of that wildness with this Momma, who feels like I am 20 something going on 70 something. 

Sliding down the stairs.

Tough guy.

This kid has his Harry Potter imitation down. Can't you tell he is conjuring  his stag partronus? 

I am ready for summer time when I can let him run wild.

What MLK Day means to me.

Yesterday so many people were enjoying a long weekend, thanks so an amazing man who changed our nation for the better, but when I think of MLK Day I think of 3 years ago. I was sitting in the waiting room of a small town quick care clinic while the doctors ran what seemed like a hundred different tests on my brother. Such random things like a back ache, vomiting, and frequent nose bleeds were worrisome, but nothing that horrible sprang to my mind. As the hours passed and I was still waiting, I tried not to really dwell on why it was taking so long.

Then off to the hospital we go for a CT scan, then back to the quick care for the results, then the words "I am so sorry, but you have cancer." How could my strong, healthy 19 year old brother have cancer? In many ways that was the worst day of my life, and in many ways it was the best. My family can never thank that doctor for being persistent in discovering what was wrong. The quick care is most often used by college students so would have been easy for her to have written him a prescription and sent him out the door, but she didn't. She gave him a chance at life.

MLK day means hope to me, but a different kind of hope than MLK preached. A hope for life. And every MLK I say a special prayer of thanks for that doctor. She gave my family so much as she got us going in the right direction for him to get well. Thank you, thank you, thank you Dr. S for my cancer free brother. Max needs such an amazing man in his life and so do I!

Max is thankful for that doctor, too. Uncle N is one of his favorite people in the entire world and I have a feeling that he always will be. 

Is it really January?

Because it feels like early spring. I am not complaining though. I love the sunshine and nice roads. Max and I even have snuck in a little outside time. He was in heaven. He ran straight for his car and didn't want to leave to go inside. I mean full on fit. Tears. Kicking. Screaming. Cussing me out in his own little language. But I was cold and if I was cold I know he was cold so in we went and then he took an almost 3 hour nap. I love when he plays outside.

"This is the best thing EVER, Momma."

Opening and closing the door as well as getting in and out a million times are  his favorite part.

"Will you get that camera out of my face?" But he has started eating again!!  

What's on my mind.

First for my worries.

• My chunky growing little monkey has slowed down his growing to a point that is concerning me. I think I am going to call the doctor. He hasn't been eating well, which I contribute in large part to the major teething that is currently happening, but it is just on my mind. Yesterday we were at the mall and I am trying to eat better so I brought a long a little lunch. Max wouldn't eat any of it so I decided I would try to bribe him. Probably not the best parenting technique, but hey sometimes if I get him to eat something then he will keep eating. So I went to the taco place and bought him mexi fries, which are basically tater tots. In the world of Max, tater tots rank right up there with being outside and the dogs. He loves them and yet he still refused to eat. He is eating better today, but I am still worrying.

He was a stylish shopping partner even if he wouldn't eat.

• How in the heck am I going to get all my stuff from the lower 48 back to AK? When did Max and I accumulate so much. As excited as I am for the big move, the thought of it makes my stomach get knots. I have had the mentality that "we will cross that bridge when we get there" and we are getting nearer and nearer. Yikes and Yay all at the same time.
• My head and heart are constantly worrying about my love. I guess I have learned to repress the feelings and carry on with life, because life is carrying on around me but his adorable face is always on my mind.

Excitement.

• Max has added out to his list of words. Well it comes out more like Owww, but it is in the right context and I am over joyed. The little man has been on the run for over 6 months now, but as for words, he isn't speaking much English yet. So much babbling and starting to mimick my sounds, yet not much "real" talking. I love when he picks up new words and I hope I start to hear more and more. 
• My family is going to be together sooner rather than later and it doesn't seem real yet, but the idea of giving my husband a kiss and watching my boys play together puts a huge smile on my face.

I have a feeling we will have a lot of wrestling matches.

I can't wait to take more pictures of them! They make me so happy and feel like the luckiest lady around.

• Even though I am worried about the move, I am so excited to see my Alaska family again. I am moving in with my sweet friend Julie for the first few days I am up there before I get my house all settled, and I can't wait for the fun to ensue! We are going to have a blast. 
• I made a roast for dinner tonight and it smells amazing. I am excited to eat here soon. 

And a picture to go.

The most common phrase I say all day long is Max quit climbing on that. My child loves to climb, the little monkey. 

Goals.

So we started doing family goals for the upcoming year and I haven't done that yet so I thought I would share a few here and maybe keep myself accountable.

1. Once my family is reunited and I am living a normal life, not like a teenager anymore, I want to start making a new healthy recipe every week. I felt myself getting into a cooking rut right before I moved back to Idaho and I want to get some creative cooking jeans. 
2. No more than 2 Pepsis a week. I go through spurts in which I drink way too much pop and right now (thanks holidays) I am in one. I already had two this week on the first two days. These next five days are going to be hard. 
3. Improve at being a mommy. I don't think I am doing a bad job, but I think I can improve and I want the best for the Max man so I want to keep improving. 
4. Keep on the losing weight track and not get back on the gaining weight one and keep up my exercise routine. 
5. Read 50 books. I was doing this in 2011 and got to about 40, but I quit reading in October so I want to actually do it this year.

Another holiday off the list.

Rather than countdown days (which I also do, because I post a pic of Max everyday for GB), I like to think of counting down the holidays/special occasions until my family is together. And the past week allowed for us to cross off a couple more. I have been looking forward to 2012 since about May of 2011 and now it is here!! Woohooo!

We have been keeping busy. Despite the toughness of holidays while Greg is at work, we managed to have a blast!

We woke up Christmas Eve morning to glorious snow! It has been a weird winter season here so we took advantage of it and decided to do some sledding! We had a blast!

He loved going down the hill! He giggled the entire time.

Already for Christmas Eve Mass. It was a beautiful service. I love this picture of  Max and I, it would be a perfect picture if my handsome husband was standing next to us!

Max and Daddy, bright and early on Christmas morning. What a blessing that we got to see his face and he go to watch Max open a few presents!

Opening presents isn't half as fun as climbing on them. 

A new meaning to "dressed up for Christmas dinner!"

The traditional family White Elephant party. It was full of laughs as always.

Ringing in the new year! Well it was the new year on the East Coast and we are on west coast time.

My handsome NYE date! I am one lucky lady!

A little out of order, but isn't he cute?

Ready to say adios to 2011 and HELLO to 2012! I have a feeling January is going to be an amazing month!

Max is getting so big!

Even though 2011 wasn't the most ideal situation for our family we have learned a lot and loved even more. I am so thankful for my family, my friends, and my fellow Army wives. You keep me sane (or mostly sane).

Hello 2012, I can't wait to see what you have in store for u!