December Dailies: Day 30

Tonight your mama got inspired to make a new lasagna recipe and we had an impromptu dinner party. Your favorite cousins Jackson and Maverick came over with uncle higgy, and uncle Dustin and aunt Kati came by too! It reminded me how much I love a house full of laughter and joy. You are surrounded by so much love and support - I am thankful for this close family of friends we have here. They adore you, and the feeling is mutual. Here they are reading your bedtime story (favorites are Little Blue Truck and Goodnight Construction Site). 

December Dailies: Day 29

Today mommy got to go to brunch with Aunt Lori for her bday. It was Deeeelish!! I came home to find that daddy setup the construction work bench you got for Xmas and BOY are you a fan. You keep wanting to build tables and chairs, and drill and hammer things. It's pretty adorbs. 

Also these two cuddling in front of the fire. Too much!

December Dailies: Day 28

Today we got your second ever haircut. Second-ever is a testament to how much we hate to see you unhappy or uncomfortable. You did awesome -

AND the original kids cut salon we took you to had closed, so we were forced to try a new place AND it just so happened that the same girl who first cut your hair now works at this new place. Ciara is rad and a true kids cut progressional. You didn't cry once until she wanted to style your hair in a dinosaur spike, but I can't blame ya there. And then you got to ride on a horse. Pretty perfect little Saturday. 

December Dailies: Day 27

While the Christmas Cabin was so much fun, I've got to admit, it's sure nice to be back home in our own house. We're slowly packing up Xmas for storage until next year, cleaning and of course playing with our new Xmas presents!!! 

We got daddy a new cold-air-intake for his truck and it was pretty dang cute watching you two put it together today. 

We also pulled out a new fun treasure hunt game that I picked up at the last minute, and thankfully you loved it!! You're quite the card shark fella, it was pretty cute. You love crawling on the floor and playing games, and I don't mind it either. 

December Dailies: Day 26

Cuddling with Sawyer last night, in absolute heaven, no clue what drove me to be covered in hives, but it was not fun. Not fun at all. Thankfully my babe was extra cuddly. Thanks bud. 

December Dailies: Day 25

There is so much I could say about today. I am overwhelmed with love and joy and blessings I can't begin to put it into words. 

Family. 

This one photo sums up how insanely, incredibly happy I am today. In our Christmas cabin. 

Christmas stories

Setting: Xmas eve morning, Sawyer crawls into bed with Grandma and all 4 dogs. Talking about the impending Santa visit...

Grandma: "Sawyer, but what about Jesus?"

(Loooooong pause)

Saywer: "ok, let's talk about tractors. All of my tractors". 

December Dailies: Day 24

It's Xmas eve. 

Has there ever been a more magical day than today? No. 

Today we woke up in our Mt Hood Xmas cabin, we had an amazing family breakfast compliments of chef Grandpa, and then we packed up our warmest hipster flannels and headed to find the perfect snow for sledding!!! Thanks GOD for a white Xmas!! Maybe my first ever, I don't know. I love this place and so does everyone else. 

Today you went tubing for the first time and we learned a few things:

1. You have no fear. This sledding ramp was seriously steep and you didn't for a second hesitate to hike up the mountain to tube down. Curious. Fearless. Courageous. 

2. You love your family. This has never been a question, but today proved we are absolutely your people and this warms my heart like no other. 

3. You might be a professional ice skater some day. 

December Dailies: Day 23

Today we packed up our entire house and family and hit the road for our very first Christmas cabin. We'll be here for the week and we've been excited for this week for months!!!

You couldn't stop talking about "going to the mountain" in the big truck with daddy and mommy and Alice and Betty and grandma and grandpa and uncle cam and gizmo and Chloe. This is going to be unforgettable. Welcome home, family. 

December Dailies: Day 22

Family movie night makes me soooo happy. 

Heart: Full

I cannot put into words how insanely happy this makes me.
Dinner's in the oven.
Puppies running around like crazies.
Birdy blasting (latest obsession).
Warm house.
Xmas decorations shouting holiday cheer.
Beautiful tree dressed in years of beautiful memories.
Presents to wrap.
Laundry to do.
House is a hot mess. My hot mess.

This is a beautiful life and I am so, so thankful to live it.
Thanks to God for this blessing. I don't know how I ever got so lucky.
xo

December Dailies: Day 21

You. 

December Dailies: Day 20

It's all about these right now. Highly unlikely they'll hit mailboxes before Christmas. OH WELL

December Dailies: Day 19

I miss this tiny little baby. 

December Dailies: Day 18

You've got quite the imagination, kiddo. Apparently your memories of our fun Polar Express ride are a bit different than ours. Here's a note from your teacher:

December Dailies: Day 17

You adore your daddy and obviously want to be just like him. You mimic his every move, it's pretty darn cute.

December Dailies: Day 16

You are so deep in the holiday spirit, you've replaced "Thank you" with "Merry Christmas"!

You've almost even got your daddy in the mood for holiday cheer. You spend Mondays with your daddy and I think it's just adorable the special time you two share these Mondays.

December Dailies: Day 15

I cannot explain how much I love Christmas jammies. You are so stinkin cute in them. 

December Dailies: Day 14

His fathers son.

Daddy had to go to work today. On Saturday. Booooo.

Lucky for me, you stepped in as man of the house. Without any direction, you decided to go work in the yard. 

We've never asked you to do this. You've never done it on your own. But you did. You stepped up and shoveled dog poo, raked leaves, evened out the gravel. Whaaaat?

I didn't want to interrupt you, but staring out the window at this tiny human who so insanely closely resembles my husband is a trip and a half. You are most definitely a mini-me of that sweet dude I married and I feel so insanely thankful that he's set such a good example to take pride in your home and keep it tidy.  When you finished fixing up the yard, you came in, got your guitar, went back outside and sat on the deck, strumming your guitar and singing to the grass.  Be still, my heart.

December Dailies: Day 13

Today.
Oh my, today.
Today was the most magical day of all.

Friday the 13th is supposed to be unlucky. Given the month we've had so far, we would've been smart to wear helmets and shoulder pads all day. Beyond our best judgement, we ventured out for a good old fashioned family adventure, and BOY WAS IT FUN!!!!
Today we went to the Mt. Hood Railroad Polar Express train ride adventure. I'd heard mixed reviews, so I'll admit, the bar was set low. The experience far exceeded any expectations, and we are FULLY on board to make this a new family tradition for years to come.
The day got off to a bit of a rocky start with us missing our original train board time.  But rest assured, we're girl scouts so we quickly recovered and caught the next train after a pizza and a few brews from Double Mountain Brewery. Far as we were concerned, twas a Christmas miracle!

We boarded the train, and your sweet little eyes lit up as you heard those famous words over the loud speaker: "ALL ABOARD!"

We drank hot chocolate. Hot chocolate for a kid who doesn't get sweets or hot chocolate, is pretty much amazing. We also heard the story of the Polar Express (again) over the loud speaker. We ate cookies. 7 cookies. We drank more hot chocolate. We got sugar highs and jumped on the booths like bad, bad children. We had a freaking blast. A week ago, Gpa brought you to WK to meet Santa Kennedy, and unfortunately, you absolutely lost your mind - so freaked, not cool with the S-man, so no photo opps were taken. This time, on the Polar Express, Santa was a professional. He sat down and took control. You didn't have time to freak. You told him what you wanted for Xmas (a new car, a white one), you told him your name was Sawyer Sizemore, he asked for a hug, you gave it to him. We melted.

Such an amazing day. I love seeing you so happy, and watching my mom and dad fawn over you is just too much. You have so much love and support around you, it fills my heart and soul. Thankful for our loving family, all focused on your happiness, our favorite little dude. We are so, so blessed. All thanks to that big guy in the sky. Blessed.

This is love

December Dailies: Day 12

Day 12, unfortunately I didn't see my babe once. Went in to work super early and didn't get home until midnight. Sad. I hate these days. So, today's daily comes from your daddy. Here ya go:

He tells daddy which way to go on the way home: left or right. 

He said he wanted to decorate the tree with mama. Not daddy, daddy can't help. Just mama. 

No trailer today daddy?

Daddy look at the stars and the crescent moon!

Pointed out Xmas lights. 

Watched Polar Express movie. Again. Specifically asked for it. Watched it all the way through. 

Had triangle sandwiches for dinner. (Sammich). And a nana. 

Played with Betty and his bear, ran around the house, pretended to be a puppy. 

Went to bed late at 8:40, had light on at 10:45 barely asleep, fell asleep with the light on. 

Wandered into mommy and daddy's room and fell asleep on the floor next to mommy at some point in the middle of the night. 

And that was day 12. 

December Dailies: Day 11

Today I got back from another quick business trip. These trips will always and forever make me feel so sad, guilty and wrong for being away from my son for any amount of time. I always pray that nothing happens while I'm gone. Alas, it's reality and I've worked hard to make the best of it. 

As I had some time to kill at the San Diego airport today, I was perusing the airport store and ran across this ridiculously adorable bear. I immediately thought of Sawyer and how much he'd love it. Without question, I snatched up this tiny fortune and put him in my suitcase. About halfway through my flight home, the typical routine set in. I started to get giddy, started imagining walking in the door to Sawyer running to greet me with that sweet smile, arms wide open and plenty of stories about his day on the tip of his tongue. I SO look forward to this every time - coming home is the BEST part of business travel. The cutest thing is that sawyer is obsessed with airplanes and seems to completely grasp the concept of my packing my suitcase (which he's obsessed with) and getting on an airplane. This boy loves his planes. 

I decided to start a new tradition. At the end of every business trip, I'll get him a present from wherever I am, I'll put it in my suitcase, and let him fish it out when I get home. This is what I did tonight and he loved it. He loved getting to open my suitcase on his own and search out his new toy. 

I love that I get to make up whatever new traditions I want. I forget sometimes that I can, and should do that. And why not create a little silver lining to these trips? I also love the symbolism of bringing him back a treat from my travels, because he's the reason I deal with last minute travel and being away from my family - so I can build a better future for him. 

This kid is about to have a lot of San Diego and San Francisco swag. 

December Dailies: Day 10

Tough times in this old house. Man I can't wait for vacation in 2 weeks! I've been sick plenty of times but it's not often I'm so sick I can't hang and have to go home. This was one of those days. Luckily I had one sweet pup to cuddle, and I'm also, selfishly, very thankful that you're in preschool and I have the luxury to take a sick day. I know plenty of stay at home mamas who've got to work through this type of sickness. I'm thankful I only get to do that in the evening. 

Here's to a better back half of the month. 

December Dailies: Day 9

It's rare that something happens and I don't know what to do. Those motherly instincts have an amazing way of kicking in, most days. Tonight was a rare exception when I almost called my mommy to ask her what the heck I should do. We were chatting next to our awesome wood stove and you accidentally burned your arm. You've been hurt plenty of times (in fact, you've had a particularly accident prone month now that I think about it), but this time, I heard that terrifying scream cry and I knew it was serious. Luckily, your daddy saved the day and took over while I just totally froze up in the moment. Yay for daddies!! He stayed calm and wrapped your arm in a cold compress right away. You calmed down a bit but still weren't quite right. I finally caught up to daddy and gave you some Tylenol. After an hour and a quick trip to walgreens, you were on the mend. 

It's times like this I am so incredibly thankful for two things:

1. The resiliency of children, a healthy babe who will (hopefully) heal quickly and your ability to be easily distracted by the likes of an iPad. ;-)

2. Your daddy. It's true that two parents are better than one and your daddy is someone real special. We each contribute something different to this team and I am so thankful for his level-headed nature, incredible patience when it matters most, and his ability to step in and save the day when I need it. 

Also, you've hit your December quota on injuries. No more please.