Monday the kids were playing near our front window and the light was great so I ran for the camera. I snapped off a few shots of each of them before they were done with it and wandered off to play again. I pulled the pictures off the camera recently and was struck by how grown-up Max looks. I know he’s almost four, but looking at these reminds me of what a little boy he is becoming. Toddler Max is in the rear-view mirror, folks, and he isn’t coming back. And oh that squeezes my heart sometimes. I LOVE the boy he is and I can’t wait to see the person he becomes. I love seeing him grow and learn and change. But I guess it’s the nature of parenthood to carry a measure of nostalgia along for the journey. It hurts so good to think about my kids as babies, knowing I’ll never have another tiny newborn to snuggle. The baby squishiness, the little noises they make, fat little starfish toddler hands, first words, first steps, being able to make everything right with a hug and kiss. I love the baby stage, and I love the toddler stage, and I love the preschooler stage (most of the time, ha!) and hopefully we’ll find things to love about the teenager stage too. It takes my breath away sometimes to think how lucky I am to have two amazing, healthy children. I never ever take it for granted. And I can almost understand why those crazy Duggars keep having kids. Because sooner or later you have your last baby, and it’s hard to know those days are gone for good. But at the same time it’s so. much. fun living each day’s forward progress they I’d never want to keep them one age.

I love you, Maxwell and Anna. More than you’ll ever know.

Little sister photo bomb!

Yes, I know Christmas has come and gone a few weeks ago, but I finally had a chance to sort through the pictures and get them up (warning there are lots to come in this post!). We had a wonderful Christmas with family. Our plans to go up to my grandma’s were foiled by Max getting sick, but luckily by present-opening time he was feeling much better and able to enjoy it. Jeff’s parents were here and Greg and Leah and the girls came also. I love having everyone together for Christmas! We enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve fondue dinner (started when Jeff and Greg were little) and the cousins had a a great time playing together.

Both kids really enjoyed Christmas this year. Max of course understood the whole idea very well this time around and was excited to receive and give presents. Anna had fun opening her gifts as well. Oma and Opa got her a stroller for her dolls (so they wouldn’t have to be crammed in the shopping cart for rides any more ) and it was a huge hit. It was sitting under the tree unwrapped and she made a beeline for it. We ate breakfast before we opened presents, but Anna ate hers later because she would not be deterred from the stroller. At one point there was a baby in the seat, another in the basket, and one on the shade. Max’s favorite gift is probably a tie between his superhero cape and the “arch blocks” he had asked for. I was very happily surprised with an iPad. Jeff had thrown me off by saying he only got me a couple things (which was true, I got the iPad and socks from him) so I was not at all expecting it. I love it, thank you wonderful husband!

Here are some pictures of our time together. So grateful for family!

Christmas jammies:

Just a few presents under the tree…

The very talented Leah made mittens for the guys:

“Thanks for the box, Mom!”

Super Max!

Opa invented a fun game with Anna. First you do this:

Then, this:

And then Anna signs, “More!”:

The girls did a bunch of fun crafts with Oma. Here they are making bracelets.

The weather even cooperated for some park time!