2013: A Year End Review

Its been real 2013 but its time for you to go!  My word for 2013 was purpose.  I set out to find some purpose in my life.  I am still working on that.  I love my family, I am getting my health and body back after having a baby.  I still have more purpose to work on in the New Year.

We started January off with the big announcement we were adding to our family.  I wasn't exactly enjoying pregnancy at this point (did I enjoy it at all this time?) definitely wasn't fun feeling hungover when I couldn't even taste the delicious beverages!  It had been a journey for us to get to this point, we were beyond excited.

But what goes up must come down and January had the worst ending when we had to say goodbye to my dad.  He may have been my step-dad who I tried to get rid of at everyturn when he first came into the picture, but the man kinda grew on you.  He was so great to our family and we miss him everyday.  It gives me so much joy to hear Liam talk about him, but I know those memories will fad for him and Aubrey will never know him.

 

February was spent daydreaming about our new baby.  Will Liam have a brother or a sister?  How can we decorate the nursery?  We took Liam to the doctor with us when we had the ultrasound.  I was a bit nervous, he really wanted a sister, how would he handle the news if he learns Baby Fudge is a boy?  Luckily we didn't need to find out, Liam was ecstatic to be getting a baby sister!

We also had a fun snow day. It doesn't happen often around these parts, but it was an experience for Liam.

 

I love March.  Liam's birthday, warmer weather.

 

This year we planned Liam's birthday party at the park.  We had a pirate party... unfortunately it snowed.  We still went but it was cold and Liam was not interested in playing.  But I think his friends had fun... like I said snow is unusual here, I can't believe it happened twice in one year, so its an experience.

 

Of course the next week it was 79 degrees outside.

 

Baby Fudge got a name.  I continued to grow, as did she.  

We celebrated Easter.

And Liam got his hearing aides.  Oy! Those things are EXPENSIVE!  Not just for the devices but his ears grow so quickly we are continuously in getting new ear molds made.  And the darn devices have "broke" several times, luckily it hasn't been our fault so we haven't paid to have them fixed.

I was apparently really busy growing a baby in April, because I didn't write much.  Sorry!

 

May was spent at doctors appointments and celebrating Liam being 2 years cancer free!  His doctor called this year one of the biggest milestones for him, 2 years cancer free!  Its amazing how much he has been through in his short life.

 

We continued to celebrate Liam being cancer free with Cancer Survivor Day.  Just look at how much he has grown! 

 

Brian was also celebrated for Father's Day.  I cannot put into words what a great father he really is.  Liam has so much fun with him.  They are constantly wrestling and running circles in the house.  Each morning when Liam wakes up he is disappointed to hear Daddy went to work.

Liam started swim lessons this month.  It was a rough start, but he has came SO FAR!

And I got some sewing done.  I LOVE making these carseat covers, they are so convenient, I never take Aubrey's off her seat.



Difficult from the day she was conceived, Aubrey made her appearance 3 weeks early and light on the pounds. 

But as we were busy celebrating, our dear friends were receiving life changing news.  Keep fighting John Ryan!

 





 

As we adjusted to life as a family of 4 I found myself very reflecting and emotional.  Crying over Liam's hair. but in my defense it is unruly!  and it was so adorable before we cut it!  I have been refusing to cut it again in an effort for the length to weigh it down... Lets just say Brian hasn't enjoyed this idea.

 

I also started "running" in August.  I did not start off with anything impressive to me and had to keep telling myself 'you just had a baby', but it was time for me to get out of the house and work on ME.  This was not easy to do with 2 children, still isn't!

I spent September spreading Awareness.  Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

Liam

John Ryan

Drew

Nolan

 

And I had some fun sewing for the upcoming holidays.

 



 In October we did a lot of traveling (a lot for having a 3 month old).  First we went to MI, Brian and I went to a football game and the kids got in a lot of family time!  Then we were off to Atlanta for Brian's sister's engagement party.

 

The best season of all made its appearance in November.  And Liam got to spend plenty of time outside with his father.  They just love doing lawn work together :)



 Then the end of the year finally arrived.  We spent so much time getting ready for the holidays.

  Liam learned the true meaning of Christmas in preschool.  It was so cute listening to him tell the story of Mary and Joseph.  Unfortunately a stomach bug also passed through our house.  And ended with an eventful trip to Michigan for ICEmas.

c a
The icestorm caused a lot of problems for people, leaving some without power for 7 days!  Luckily we were only without power at woman's house for about 2.5 days.
 

5 months

Miss Blue Eyes... Even Liam calls her that now, or Little Lady. 
Weighing in at a not so chunky 13 pounds 12 oz.

Activity: We were getting into a nice routine for tummy time. You were quite content to be rolling around on the floor, getting at whatever you wanted. Then you started sitting, all you want now is to be sitting upright.

Eating: This girl can eat! I am still breastfeeding, you can not wait 3-4 hours between feedings ( THANK YOU ). You are also LOVING any baby food you can get your hands on, except greens. I fear you will be an Oompa Loompa soon if you don't start eating other colors. You also try to grab anything we are eating out of our hands.

Aubrey grabbing Liam's grill cheese to eat

Sleep: This area still leaves a lot to be desired! You are so inconsistent. We have had 2 days EVER that you have slept until 6 am, a handful or so where you slept until 4 am. So many nights you just wake up and not to eat.


Thanksgiving you started rolling over at night and we had to stop swaddling you. We also had to put bumpers on your crib because you would stick your arms and legs out the sides, I was afraid of you breaking something.

Socially:  You are always ready to give someone a smile, as long as you are getting attention.  You have really became a happy baby.  You love your brother, watching everything he does.  Just don't pick up any bad habits from him (like eating).

Marathon Training Update {1}

So last week started my training for the Rock n Roll Raleigh marathon.

Marathon running began for me in 2008.

I have always struggled a bit with depression and was having a particularly low period in 2007/2008. My doctor suggested I start exercising more, so like any sane, reasonable person I signed up to run a marathon.

It was a phenomenal experience for me. I met so many great people and each week was a huge accomplishment. So I came home after the Rock n Roll San Diego marathon and immediately signed up for Chicago.

 

After Chicago I took a break from racing but continued with marathon running through coaching with Team in Training.

My break from running was then extended when I had Liam and life just got in the way. I am so excited to be back running. I went for a nice run with the Team on Saturday and I can't wait to wake up early and spend my Saturdays with them again. Okay maybe not the wake up early part. Yeah definitely not the wake up early part.

I'm still working on my training schedule.  For the runs I planned out to follow Hal Higdon's intermediate 2 program, but also wanted to add some cross training in the form of P90x.  Here is where I am at.  I will adjust next month if necessary.

Lets hope I stick to this plan while we are in the tundra of Michigan next week.

Aubrey Newborn

5 months is not too late to share newborn pictures right?  Okay great!

I didn't want to share these until we had sent out the birth announcements, but after many months and mix ups in addresses I still don't know if everyone got them, so if you feel you didn't receive one in error, please email me your address.

Liam was less than cooperative on this day, but I love him!

PJ Party

I love pajamas!  so Comfy Cozy.  And buying Holiday themed pajamas are a must.  usually Target is our go to shopping center, but this year I wasn't impressed with their boy options in jammies.
We had to go to Carters and I still can't say I got him what I wanted, but at least its wintery.

Here are our Christmas pajamas through the years :)

 Reading Twas the Night Before Christmas    Pajamas are not complete without boots :) Someone loves her big brother!