Memory Jar // 2012

One of my favorite things about having my own little family is starting our own new traditions. Last year we started the new tradition of creating a memory jar for each year. What is a memory jar? There are several versions of the idea, but what we do is just save small mementos to toss in the jar to remind us of events big and small through out the year. I love it because something as simple as a trip to Dairy Queen that could have been easily forgotten, will be forever remembered because of the little memento I randomly tossed into the jar.

Here's what we found when we dumped out our jar this year and took a walk down memory lane:

1. Ice cream cone sleeve from a DQ date, just me and Morgan // June 18, 2012.

2. Wristbands from Frank and I’s solo overnight trip to Wisconsin Dells this summer.

3. A power ball ticket, the back reads “The time we bought a lotto ticket and thought we’d wake up rich. Didn’t happen :( ” // November 2012.

4. A ticket stub from Morgan’s first circus // May 2012.

5. Bunny Money from Easter Eggstravaganza // March 2012.

6. An acorn from a walk in Hobb’s Woods // September 2012.

7. Leftover tickets from our visit to Bay Beach in Green Bay this summer.

8. A cut out from the Oshkosh Celebration of lights program // December 2012.

9. A cork from Game Night // March 29, 2012.

10. A fortune from Morgan’s fortune on his birthday, reads “You need to talk to someone about what’s on your mind” // July 30, 2012.

11. A place card from our friend’s wedding // September 2012.

12. My name tag from a murder mystery party with friends. I was “Kitty Cocktail, the Cocktail Waitress” //February 2012.

13. #2 Birthday candle from Morgan’s birthday party cupcakes // July 2012.

14, Cardboard sleeve from a Starbucks drink, reads “Family Country Drive” // February 6, 2012.

15. The receipt from brunch in Madison with great friends //February 12, 2012.                                                                                          

I already know 2013 is going to be a BIG year, and I can't wait to start filling that jar with memories.

{Click here to see last years jar}

xoxo,

Ashley

Christmas Day

I've said it once and I'll say it again, it is so wonderful how experiencing Christmas with your own children brings you back to your childhood and puts the magic back in Christmas. That night before Christmas morning I tossed and turned in my sleep and every time I woke up to make a trip to the bathroom {oh and there were many times} I felt that familiar rush of excitement and anticipation that I remember from all those Christmas Eve's of my childhood. But, this time it was because I could not wait to collect Morgan from his crib and see his face light up as he found what Santa had left for him under the tree. 

Here's the narrowed down version from my camera roll from Christmas morning {because you know I took a million and one pictures...}:

xoxo,

Ashley

thirty-five.

 

Pregnancy: 35 weeks

 

How big is baby?: Estimated to be as long as 20 inches {head to toe} and 5.5 lbs.

Heartbeat: Beating at a strong 152 BPM at today's appointment. Big brother Morgan tagged along with me to the appointment and got to hear the baby's heartbeat again. He got a little freaked out when I was laying up on the table and kept asking if "Mama alright?", but when my OB referred to the heartbeat as a choo-choo train he stopped crying and listened :)

Sleep: As good as is to be expected at this point :)

Feeling: Every day is different. Today? Pretty good!

Movement: We've hit the painful and uncomfortable point. It felt like he was trying to fully stretch his body out yesterday {ouch}. Not yet buddy, gotta stay curled up in there for a few more weeks!

 

Belly: Big {although everyone just loves to tell me otherwise}. The button has popped out way more than I remember it ever popping out with Morgan.

Countdown to baby: 3.5 weeks to go until my repeat c-section!!

Nesting has kicked back in after hibernating for a few weeks, and I have in the last couple of days washed all the newborn and 0-3 clothes, towels, blankets, moby wrap...you name it. All we need is to pick up a mattress for the crib and hang a few things on the wall, and little one's corner of our room will be complete! We're ready for you baby boy!

xoxo,

Ashley

It's getting closer...

The last few weeks, my mind has been quietly occupied with all sorts of thoughts and feelings about our little family that is about to grow to four. And, tonight at bath time it really hit me hard. The house was quiet other than the happy sounds of Morgan splashing away in the bathtub. If only for a moment, life seemed so uncomplicated. So simple. So beautiful. I love that child with every ounce of my being, and it still amazes me after 2.5 years how I can have so much love for one little person. And knowing that pretty soon my heart will swell with that much love for two little boys, well that my friends just leaves me in awe. The power of that kind of love is truly amazing. 

As the birth of our second child grows nearer, I can't help but be more aware of  conflicting feelings I have been having. It amazes me how I can be so, so eager for that day to come, for us to finally get to meet the mysterious little person that has been growing inside me for the better part of 2012, but also have this sense of mourning for the little family of three that will be no more. Although some days can seem crazy, I know there is a simplicity that comes with having one child and I've become acutely aware of this as little one #2's arrival date gets closer and closer. 

It's in those quiet bath time moments. It's in the quick shopping trip to Target, just me and my little buddy. It's Christmas morning centered around our one little angel child. I want to soak up these last few weeks of our world revolving around one little boy. Does that sound weird? Ungrateful? Selfish? Is it weird that these thoughts can also coincide with such excitement and anticipation of the birth of our next little one? Maybe, but, I also know that eventually my bath tub will be filled with two adorable little boys and twice the love. That me and my boys will make those same trips to Target, but then it will be as the three of us, The Three Musketeers! And that next Christmas will be twice as magical with a 3.5 year old excited for Santa, and a 11 month old toddling, with amazement taking in Christmas lights for the first time.

I know these may seem strange thoughts to some, but I doubt I'm the only mama who has felt this way. I don't like to sugarcoat my feelings. I like to keep it real, so to speak. And I wish more mama's felt that way. Motherhood would be a lot more freeing, and feel a lot less lonesome {as it sometimes can feel}, if more mama's were just real about how they felt. If they only they were a little more free to talk more about the other side of motherhood, those not so "puppies and rainbows" moments, if you will.

So here's to enjoying and soaking up every small moment in these last few weeks as a family of three, and for the excitement, new adventure, and twice the love that our family of four will bring!

xoxo,

Ashley

Christmas Eve

 My parents crooked tree :)

We spent Christmas Eve with my family at my parents house, going over bright and early for a Christmas breakfast {breakfast casserole and homemade cinnamon rolls} and to open presents. 

yummm

 

 A little excited to open his first present :)

 My beautiful set of Anthropologie bowls from my parents. 

I think I'm in love.

 Showing Grandma his new Elmo.

 A new Mickey suitcase from Great Grandma.

 I think he likes it!

 Proof I was there haha

{side note, I'm totally sporting the puffy pregnant lady face...oh joy!}

 My brother

Then we lounged around all day, playing with Morgan and his new toys until Christmas lunch/dinner. 

Later that evening, back at home, Morgan helped me make a pumpkin pie for Christmas day...

and then he put on his new PJ's {Thomas}.

Then, we cuddled up on the couch to read from our stack of Christmas books...

 

...and finally Santa came after the little one was tucked into his bed for the night!

Children really do put the magic in Christmas! Every year it just gets better and better as Morgan gets older. And to think, next year we'll have an 11 month old at Christmas time too!

xoxo,

Ashley