Firsts and Fourth

Oh sweet Saturday.. How I love you!


I awoke this morning to find Matt and Dominic dressing in their winter get-up to head out into the snow. It started snowing here yesterday afternoon and the snow is still falling!



He caught snowflakes on his tongue all the way up the drive yesterday.

It's a winter wonderland out there, and I too, couldn't be more stoked! This year I have vowed not to get sick of the snow before it's done clinging to the earth. (because we all know here in Illinois it clings for quite a while!) I will embrace every last second of winter that mother nature blesses us with and when it's over I will embrace Spring just the same. Oh, who am I kidding? I always embrace Spring! Last year in February we made it out to do some hiking with a white blanket of snow still on the ground and guess what.. We had a blast! So I figure I've finally found my cure for the winter blues and I will not be that same old bird in a house this year.. I will fly out and be free!


Owyn and his *organic* popsicle. February 2010.

 

Dominic last February enjoying our hike.

This winter will be full of good things. Life is feeling so full right now and I am loving it. This year will be our last first Christmas that we will celebrate in our home and it's bittersweet. It amazes me daily how life just trucks on in full speed. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were celebrating our first first Christmas together.

Dominic's first ornament. 2004.

Two years passed and we found ourselves celebrating our second first Christmas. With our second little who really was little and new at Christmas time.


Owyn's first ornament. 2006.

So as our last first Christmas approaches I feel full. Full of excitement to share this Christmas and many more with our sweet Ellie Mae, but full of sadness too. This is the last Christmas I will cuddle a sleepy babe while watching the wrapping paper being flung in all directions from my two bigger littles' hands. ::Bittersweet:: I'm not one to dwell on the sadness. It's there and it's got a place in my heart but the good is just too good. I am so blessed to share each Christmas with these wonderful littles who have forever changed me inside and out.


Our little Ellie has a special place on our Christmas tree now too. It's the first pink ornament we've added to the tree and I am so happy this year to be celebrating the magic with my daughter. We really are complete.



Ellie Mae's first ornament. 2010.

This is a Winter season that I will forever remember. The last winter season in our home for a gummy smile like this one.. and it's special.



Love her!

Now I'm off to gear up for two days of fun. Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of our midlittle. He's kissing three goodbye.. and turning four.  




12-4-2010 Owyn's last day as a 3 year old.