eight years

 Today is our eighth anniversary, and for once, I can confidently say it: this was the best year yet.

I was reading back through my anniversary posts from years past, and I am so thankful to not be wandering in those confusing, painful seasons anymore. Maybe more days like that will come. Probably more days like that will come.

This time around, though, I know that we can get through it. We can make it through anything. Year eight was the Promised Land after all the years of wandering. Finally, the "for better."

Thank you Jesus for a taste of glory.

During year eight, I fell in love with Matt a thousand times over as I watched him fall in love with our daughter. I can't imagine an earthly joy that compares to watching him be a daddy.

On our walk yesterday, I commented that year eight was the best yet. He replied that the next one, year nine, would be even better.

How?, I asked. We already have Millie. How could it possibly be any better?

He actually couldn't think of anything concrete, because clearly I was right (not unusual). We did agree, however, that the next year might be a tiny bit better because we would have Millie for ALL of it- not just 10.75 months of it. And so I'll give him that. I guess the next year might be better. We will be a family of three for all of it. And I really don't imagine it can get any better than that. (But I'm open to being proven wrong, I suppose.)

Happy anniversary, Mattie. I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather share this life with.

Seven Years

Six Years

Five Years

Four Years

Three Years

Two Years

One Year

matching outfits, broken backs

It's been a good weekend.

I needed a good weekend.

Next week we're going on vacation.

I need a vacation.

Today I finally got to spend a few hours relaxing in the pool with just my little family. Millie has definitely come to be the pool-loving baby I'd anticipated she would be. She's happy and splashy and quite in her element as we hold her in the shallow end or let her bounce on floats. Today she was so happy with Matt that I even took a little nap on my own float. Bliss.

Millie loves the water, but she still isn't a huge fan of all the things that have to happen before the water part. Swim diapers. Bathing suits. Sunscreen. I tried to explain that sometimes you have to suffer a little before you can get to the good stuff. I hope the lesson sinks in. Preferably before we get to the beach next week, ha.

Because I like to focus my mental energy on things that really matter, this weekend I spent an awful lot of time thinking about, planning, and shopping for our Fourth of July outfits. Ha. You know I love a good coordinated family outfit!! And July 4 is basically my favorite holiday. And it's Millie's first one. And we're going to be with my sister and her family, which means the babies will have a patriotic photo shoot!! Anyway, that was my weekend project. I'm almost done...just need to find a good red shirt for myself.

But we went ahead and coordinated ourselves today, too. No reason to wait for a holiday. My favorite thing is when people see us in OBVIOUSLY MATCHING outfits (like above, and picture Matt wearing another version of yellow and navy and stripes) and are like "oh wow! You guys match!! Did you know that??!"....ummm...yes.

Anyway, yellow and blue are our team colors, and our anniversary is this week, so we'll probably be doing it all week. There's nothing that I love more than my husband that loves being matchy-matchy with me!!

Yesterday Millie had a few hours where she felt like the world might end if I wasn't holding her. As it turned out, I actually needed to get a few things done, so we decided to try out our old friend the Baby K'tan. We normally use our Ergo and Boba Air these days, but they were both in the car (and therefore probably 12 feet away...perish the thought), so I grabbed what I had nearby.

 Let's just say...a 23 pounder in a K'tan is really something. Supposedly the K'tan is good for up to 35 pounds, but I just can't imagine the back strength a person would need in order to keep wearing a baby that heavy. I basically want to walk to the nearest hospital and sign myself up for spinal surgery today. DANG. THAT WAS HEAVY.

I do like having her forward-facing, though. I can't do it in any of my other carriers. Now I really want an Ergo 360...but I'm also wondering how comfortable I will be even in that. I just feel like when she's forward-facing, her weight is more obviously pulling away from me...compared to when she's facing inward. Maybe that doesn't make sense. It just seems like gravity is more intense, ha. So maybe I wouldn't really be able to handle her facing outward in any kind of contraption. In conclusion, if you have personal experience with a really heavy baby and an outward-facing carrier that didn't break your back and shoulders, please share your recommendations (or non-recommendations)! We still use our Ergo regularly and I have no complaints with it- I imagine we'll keep wearing her for quite a bit longer, so I'd just like to have more options for how she faces.

I know this is the most random post ever, but that's pretty much all I've got these days. I've learned- and I guess you've noticed- that I just don't have the time and/or mental energy to write a whole lot these days...so when I have 15 minutes where I'm waiting for the chicken to cook as I make enchiladas, and Millie and Matt are happily occupied in the other room, and I have a few pictures that make me smile and haven't already been shared on Instagram...well, I better grab it and do what I can, or it may be another week before the chance comes again.

But now my enchiladas are calling, so it's time to go! Have a wonderful week...good luck choosing the most patriotic and matchy-matchy outfits EVER for the Fourth!! :)

freedom

I know I've said this about a million times before, but I just love watching Millie grow up and develop interests, and I never stop imagining what she might be like someday. What she'll be passionate about. What will fire her up. What she'll hate.

What a privilege it is to watch her grow. I'll never stop being thankful.

At any rate, over the weekend I caught a glimpse of some of her recent passions- the kind that translated easily (in my imagination) from baby passions to possible later grown-up interests. It was like a little glimpse into the future- and I must say, I liked what I saw.

Millie, it seems, is going to be a freedom fighter. (But hopefully not the kind that gets involved with scary paramilitary groups.) This girl does not stand for oppression. 

Set the captives free!!!!, she says. I'll help!

Of course, her world is a little bit limited right now. So oppression and captivity is all relative. Even still: she won't stand for it.

Especially not on her turf.

JAMMIES!!! Why are you guys all stuffed in a drawer?? JAMMIES ARE MEANT TO BE FREE!!

Jammies, I have rescued you from your turquoise prison. 

JAMMIES!!! I SAID YOU ARE FREE!! WHY DON'T YOU AT LEAST ACT GRATEFUL OR SOMETHING??!

 Shortly after Operation: Free the Jammies concluded, she was devastated to see them re-oppressed by the mean dictator (aka Mommy). But since her attention span is only about two seconds long, she didn't shed too many tears over it. She just moved on to her next cause.

Kleenexes!!!! Never again shall you all be smooshed into that tiny, oppressive package!!

I have freed you, and now I shall kiss each one of you. Then maybe you won't try to do something awful like wipe my boogies away later... 

I mean, on the one hand, it's silly to project intentions and causes onto a baby like this. But on the other hand, it's a lot more fun than just being irritated by a mess of pajamas and tissues...so, I choose projection. Besides, you never know. I would be proud for Millie to grow up into someone passionate about bringing freedom to captives. Someone who stands up for what is right. 

Did someone say 'stand up'??

I can't wait to see who she becomes...but also, no rush, Mills. This standing up nonsense can definitely wait a bit, if it's all the same to you. 

notes from school

Yeesh. It has been one heck of a few weeks over here. Not bad, just...busy. Work is insane right now, and I have approximately zero ounces of emotional energy left by the time I put Millie to bed (or some days, by 10:00 a.m.)...so consider that my excuse for a general lack of participation in the blogosphere. And world. Also, the word "blogosphere" is stupid.

Also, I've been spending my precious few 'free' minutes each day working my way through Gossip Girl. So...yeah. Judge away if you must. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Today Millie came home from school with a note in her bag, as she does a few times a week. I always get this ridiculous thrill when there's a "school note" in her bag because it makes me feel like a really really REALLY Real Mom. Like...just reading this note from the teacher, yo. LIKE MOMS DO. It's awesome. School will be closed on July 3rd! Please send your updated vaccination records! Don't forget to send canned goods next week! I have no idea why notes about these things makes me feel so happy, but they do.

Anyway, today's note was particularly thrilling. Tomorrow is CRAZY HAIR DAY.

Say whaaaaaa?? Like, it's spirit week in the baby room?! WOOOO!

Unfortunately, Millie doesn't have a whole lot of hair to speak of. I was checking out her classmates' hair today, and I'm sorry to report that most of them don't, either. I feel like the baby room is going to be less spirited than they would like, but what can you do? I was almost sad about the lack of craziness in Millie's hair tomorrow, but then I remembered the pictures her teacher texted me earlier this week.

Apparently Millie isn't going to lack Crazy Hair. Apparently Millie INSPIRED the Crazy Hair Day.

Yes, this would be my Millsie during lunch on Tuesday. Not really lacking in spirit, this one. Or crazy hair.

In case you were wondering how one would obtain this amazing Einstein-inspired look, I can tell you. First you eat ravioli with your hands. When you get tired of eating, you should rub the sauce all over your hands like lotion. After you're thoroughly ravioli-lotioned up, rub your hands enthusiastically through your hair. Repeat until you achieve the desired look.

Bam.

If you do it right, you will not only have amazing Crazy Hair, you will also be the happiest person ever on earth. It's a win-win.

So anyway. I guess we probably will be participating in Crazy Hair Day tomorrow. I'll just not wash her hands after breakfast, and the rest should take care of itself.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and weekend! If you need me, I'll probably be scrubbing ravioli out of Happy Baby's hair while she applauds enthusiastically. It's really not such a bad gig, this mom thing. :)