Winding up 2014

The past few weeks have been FULL.

First, we had a beautiful Chanuka together as a family!

Then, Ellie had the cutest little Chanuka play at school!

We also celebrated Moshe turning ONE!

Someone experimented with her Minnie ears:)

And the babies had fun together:)

We also celebrated Anniversary # 6! (lots of celebrating this month)

So that's what I've been up to!   What has been the highlight of YOUR December?

A Season for Miracles

Last night was the last night of Chanukah--and this year was a good one, with not one but two happy babies.

Last year, we had three menorahs for the three people in our family:

For her gift, Ellie got her beloved toddler CD player, which she plays and rocks to to this very day!

I was pregnant with Moshe, and received a cute little "Watch Me Grow" frame to fill up with his photos.

Besides for all of the fun and games (and food fried in oil.....mmmm) Chanukah is about celebrating the big miracles in our lives--the moments where the seeming randomness of the world falls away, and you can so clearly see G-d moving.

Last year, on this very day, I gave birth to a baby boy--who was so sick, we weren't sure for days if he would survive at all, and what kind of quality of life he would have.

This year, I have a beautiful and completely healthy baby boy:

And we now have FOUR menorahs lighting up our home, within and without:

Today, we will celebrate one year of the sweetest little boy. And we will also remember to take note of the miracles--the ones we see and the ones that hide in small moments and happy coincidences--that fill our lives, day after day.

Happy holiday season to everyone--from our house to yours!

On Gray Days

The past few days have been hard....a few major stresses, lots of little things going wrong, and then a steady stream of rain and snow that makes the days feels endless and my commute interminable. Most of the time I really enjoy everything I spend my time on, but every once in a while I just feel overwhelmed (anyone else??)

So after one too many gray days, here a few things that keep me happy:


This guy (and my new hair. See HERE for an explanation of said new hair)

And these crazy folks.

A finished project (doesn't that seem like a miracle!)

And running through the halls....

And also happy about these new boots that are awesome in the rain!

So that's what's keeping me cheerful on these gray days:)

A Tiny Peek into Life Right Now

Things have been a little quiet here lately--my days are usually very full and while I like it that way, sometimes I need more rest in life and the past few weeks have been like that. I've been doing less, and reading and sleeping more:)

But I wanted to pop in and write about this photo because it's such a reflection of where our life is right now. Moshe is almost one years old (!!) and has the happiest, cutest disposition. (As a side note on mothering--I will admit here that I DO NOT LIKE THE NEWBORN STAGES. Too much poop, too little sleep. But this "older infant" phase? With smiles and giggles and shiny new teeth and first steps? THE. BEST.)

Also in that photo  you can see the giant red exercauser left over from the days when putting M in there was the only way I could make dinner, and the toy giraffe stuffed into said exercauser. Most days, my living room looks like a stuffed animal daycare, with toys in the exercauser, the swing, the doll stroller, etc.

A little slice of life that I don't want to forget.