Thankful Thursday

On this balmy 60 degree day in December, I am thankful for:

Baby booties, Johnson & Johnson baby wash, large burp clothes and little hands.

Three nights in a row where I have logged three straight hours of sleep.

Good recipes that make great dinners - tea braised pork, chicken pot pie, ham and swiss stromboli - we've been eating well in the Neyer household.

The totally undainty noises of the newest Neyer - no coos and ahhhs around here, friends.  Nope this little lady is all chirps, grunts and gas.

Fridays - they mean the start of the weekend and, for the last few weeks of the month, they also mean half days of work for my fabulous husband.

A clean house decorated for the holidays - red glass, ornaments and twinkle lights just make everything so much more lovely.

My wonderful neighbors and their endless support - from supplying us with baby coupons and hours of Addiesitting, to taking us out on errands and stopping by just to hold a baby - we are so lucky to have landed in this neighborhood.

Guiness and Rivertown Winter Ale - my love of wine is on the back burner and I am having a pretty hot fling with dark beers.

Photo Christmas cards - I love getting a peek at my friends' lives.  Today I got a card from a Chicago friend who I haven't seen since moved to Ohio - it made me smile be remembered on her list and get to see that her toddlers are now "kids".

The heart of my four year old - sure at times she can be an absolute beast, but underneath it all she's a true beauty.

Being in the final days of Christmas madness - soon all that will be left to do is the sitting and enjoying.

Capturing just hint of a smile.

Photos on a Friday

Two special ladies seeing Santa...

Dear Addison,

I know that this wasn't your idea.  I know that you haven't happily vacated my lap.  I understand that not going to the museum or out on a daily adventure was not a choice of yours.  And I completely get why you are a bit grouchy in the mornings, after all you no longer have my lap all to yourself, or quiet snuggle time - no, now you have share with your baby sister. 
I know that I expect and ask a lot of you.  I know that sometimes it slips my mind that you are just a four year old.  I know that Brenna is getting a lot more attention than you and I know that it isn't fair of me to raise my voice toward you just because I am exhausted - you are not the one who kept me up half of the night, after all.

My mood this morning wasn't very good and I shouldn't have taken it out on you - but I did, and I'm sorry.  Thank you for forgiving me - and for eating all of your breakfast, putting on your sneakers by yourself and getting your teeth brushed with me only asking you one time to do all those things.  Thanks for the big hug and kiss before you headed out the door for school and for waving at me from the car window so enthusiastically.  Thank you, also, for telling me to "take a pictures of the girls" this morning - I liked having your face with me on this exhausting day
.

You are doing your best, and I know that.  More importantly, I am thankful for all that you are doing and how understanding and flexible you've been.  I am thankful that you happily fetch blankets and wipes; that you throw away diapers without complaint; that you have started getting ready for school without much prompting.  I am grateful that you want to hold your little sister and kiss her chubby cheeks.  I love that at least once a day you ask if Brenna can play with you and that it's your idea that she join us for bedtime stories.

Sometimes you'll catch me watching you and widen those gorgeous eyes of your and say with a smile

What is it, Mama??

And I don't know how to truly explain to you how lucky I feel to have such a kind hearted child.  Or how to tell you that being up all night with your sister reminds me of the hundreds dark hours I spent pacing our condo trying to soothe you as baby - and now you sleep curled around your stuffed animals not needing a thing from me.  Or that I cannot believe four and half years have gone by and suddenly there is almost nothing baby about you...you are so big. 
I don't know how to tell you all that, so I try to give you extra hugs and squeeze your you little hands whenever I can.  I try to remind you that you promised to always be my baby - but when I said that this morning you told me that Brenna is my baby now, not you.

My heart cried a little when said that.  You didn't say in a jealous way or to be mean - it was just a matter of fact: Brenna is the baby and you are my big girl.  No way,  I said to you.  No way, you may be a big girl but the deal is you will always be my baby!  I reminded you that you were the one who made me a Mommy.  Because of you, I explained, I am more patient with Brenna.  Because of you, I am better equipped to handle this tiny baby.  I am calmer, less frantic, more logical all because you  taught me about being a Mom.
So, while life may seem a bit different right now, I want  you to know that I love you with my whole heart, bigger than the sky, deeper than the ocean.  While there will still be mornings and hours where my patience is low and I may raise my voice, I want you to know that I couldn't ask for a more wonderful little girl. 
I am so lucky and thankful that you are mine.

xo,
Mom

Chicago Kate and the Mall

The day after Brenna was born, Addie was treated to a bit of spoiling by our friend Kate.

Kate is a native Cincinnatian who I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with at Loyola.  She and I ended up on the same freshman floor and the rest is history. 
Andy briefly met Kate before college, when she almost ran him over with her car - needless to say they didn't start off as best buds.  However, now we are lucky enough to count her among one of dearest friends.  And, Addie thinks Chicago Kate is just so cool.

So, while we were in the hospital trying to figure out how to work a newborn (again) Kate and Addie went out on a shopping date.  They had planned their date back in October - they were going to go Christmas shopping for Mom, Dad and Baby.  Addie talked about their date for weeks, and when it arrived she went all out and dressed in her beloved polka dot tutu and worn in cowgirl boots.  She made sure to carry her pink purse, filled with coins and small bills (the big bills went in Kate's wallet).  She promised Gramma that she would use her manners and wear her listening ears.
Kate bravely took Addie to Kenwood Town Center - our nicest mall - the day before Thanksgiving.  Brave, oh so very brave, of Kate.
A few hours into their shopping adventure I received an email that read:

I swear....I did not teach her this.

I opened the attachment and laughed my ass off, as did everyone else in the room.  My little diva showed the shoppers of Kenwood how it's really done. 

Apparently after visiting a few stores...H&M, Coach, Macy's, Sephora and Godiva, to name a few, Addie requested that Kate put all of her packages in the crooks of her elbows and off she strutted down the middle of the mall, one cowgirl booted foot in front of the other.

When Kate and Addie got to the hospital we were shown all her goodies - pink metallic flats, a pink pompom hat, gold glitter nail polish, purple lip gloss,a gold clutch, a L'Occitane perfume sample, a bag of Godiva chocolates and a packet of ketchup from Chik-fil-a.

Yes, a ketchup packet - never question the treasures of a four year old.