2009 The Biggest Year of My Life

Well, the title of this blog is nothing short of an understatement. In many ways my life will have a line drawn through it...everything that happened before 2009 and then the rest of it. I thought I would end the year with a few photos that tell the story of our year...

January 2009: We found out that we were going to be parents.

The day that I found out I woke up Eric with quite a shock. My exact words to Eric were "Holy crap Eric, wake up! I'm pregnant!"We were beyond thrilled. I spent the rest of the day in a long business meeting, quietly and joyfully pondering what a tremendous year of change we were facing, little did I know just how much change was in store for us.

February 2009: The exact moment that my mother found out that she was to be a first time grandmother.

We surprised my mother with a necklace that said grandmother. It took her just a moment for the truth to sink in. Can you see the look on her face? That is the "you'd better not be messing with me" look. Later that day we drove back to Denver (where we were living at the time) and had the first ultrasound, we got to see a tiny little blob that had a heartbeat. I can't even express what a huge day that was for us!

March 2009: Bumblebee in the snow.

While life was on the brink of big change, there were still the daily joys of life. Bumblebee of course knows how to revel in the little things and she serves as a daily reminder to be enthusiastic and to enjoy!

April 2009: Our house in Wyoming, pre-move in.

In April we made a huge life change, leaving the city for small town life close to family and close to nature. I went from being the sole provider to living a domestic life. Eric got a job working as a curator at a small museum outside of our new town.

May 2009: Me in the garden

I started my garden almost as soon as we moved in. All went quite well until I became big enough that I had difficulty squatting in the garden toward the end of summer.

June 2009: Eric working on a music video

June left us time to be creative and enjoy the outdoors. We also celebrated our 8th year of marriage! Eric made this music video for Marilyn Roxie (see below).

July 2009: On a hay bale at farmer's market.

We spent a lot of time trying to figure out our new town, hunting for friends and checking out local activities. Here I am seven months pregnant at the farmer's market, sittin' on a hay bale and listening to ho down music, Wyoming style.

August 2009: Sunset in Wyoming

One of the best parts about living in Wyoming is feeling like we have a renewed relationship with the natural world. August was a time of anticipation and preparation as we were getting so close to meeting our daughter. Trips out of town really helped us to focus in on the present while we prepared for the future. I spent my time, and continue to spend my time, writing, creating, and focusing in on the small joys that make life so sweet.

September 2009: She finally arrives

How can I even put into words what it meant to meet our daughter? Our whole world came into clear focus. The preciousness of life was never more clear to us than on that day. There is nothing greater, nothing.

P.S. Giving birth hurts. FYI

October 2009: Cordelia's first Halloween

I couldn't resist sharing this photo one more time. She is just so darn cute!

November 2009: Eric and Cordelia

This is what life looks like on most evenings. My loves. My heart nearly explodes with joy when I see these two!

December 2009: Cordelia

So, the years ends with the completed picture...or at least the beginning of a new one. She is here. She is our daughter. We end the year in a new town, with a simplified lifestyle, as parents and more in love than ever. We are thankful for 2009 and we look forward to the joys to come in the new decade!

What are you reading?

Many of you know that I have a special place in my heart for classic literature. I have actually been working my way through the classics for many many years. You may also know that I have a special place in my heart for zombies. My husband is well aware of this and managed to touch on both loves with one of his gifts to me this holiday season when he gifted me Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.

I think you can probably guess what it's about. Grahame-Smith has re-worked the entire novel to include zombies. I read through the book in a couple of days, good time for someone with a little one! If you like zombies and the classics, then this is a must read. Ha ha!

Lest you think I read only zombie books let me tell you that I have moved on to Home, by Julie Andrews. I LOVE Julie Andrews. I am also looking over Handmade Home, by Amanda Blake Soule. What have you been reading?

Weird Gift Tags

So, you know how you put a gift tag on a present, just saying the general information? For example a normal gift tag might read:

To: Maria
From: Mom and Dad

Well my family, specifically my dad, has a different tradition. He likes to come up with bizarre tags that hearken back to some recent event or inside joke. Usually I enjoy reading the tags almost as much as opening the present itself. This year was no exception.

Here is my favorite one from this year. It reads,

" To: Maria
From: Gentle Donkeys"

Now you may or may not know that I spend a lot of time talking about how I want to adopt a gentle donkey (read about it here). My dad thinks this is pretty funny so it was destined to make an appearance this Christmas. My dad is awesome.

Eric takes gift tags to a weird place. This year he addressed a card to me in the following manner:

"To: She who walks with Eagles
From: The Dragon of Wonder"

Your guess on that one is as good as mine. I should also mention that the card included images of unicorns and a castle. He said that it was a toss up between that one and a card with a Native American riding a tiger. Who comes up with these weird cards anyway???

Does your family do weird gift tags too? If so do you have a favorite from this year?

Photos Found

Do you have an overabundance of photography saved onto your computer too? Eric and I have had a digital camera since 2005 and we have taken photos nearly every day since 2005. You can imagine that it really adds up quickly. Even more so since Cordelia was born. So, we've been busy trying to get a good organizational system in order. We have also been deleting photos that we don't like/need. For instance we had 5 photos of Bumblebee sitting next to a stuffed basset hound, not sure why...

While we've been searching through the photos we have been finding great photos that tell a story or give a glimpse into our lives from a few years ago. I thought I would share a few of them today.

New Mexico sunset

Eric grew up in New Mexico and I lived there for many years. When we return to visit we always make it a point to watch the beautiful New Mexico sunsets.

Eric at the Botanic Gardens

While in Denver we discovered the botanic gardens. We went there any time of year to just walk around and enjoy the beauty of the natural world. This photo was taken in the rain forest room.

Eric wearing his clothes backwards

What can I say about this photo that it doesn't tell you itself. Oh yeah, Eric was also wielding a switchblade comb.

Me at gallery opening

This is a photo taken from the night we visited an MCA installation opening in Denver. The lights were the entire exhibit. We went to many exhibitions and openings while we were in the city. This particular opening was hard to reach and we spent a lot of time searching for a place to park. I also recall that I had very uncomfortable shoes on.

Snow

Yesterday it snowed pretty much the entire day. Good thing we had no place to be. We spent the day listening to music, reading, working on our videos for Andy Mason, chatting and hanging out with Cordelia.

What did you do with your day?

Christmas

Well, it's the day after Christmas. How did you celebrate your holidays? Christmas Eve night is when we started the festivities. Eric, Cordelia and I met up with my parents and brother Sam at a Chinese restaurant. For some reason we started the tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve before the church service. Since my dad is the pastor it's not really a good time for a big home cooked meal, so we find ourselves eating Chinese food, a strange and delicious tradition. There were very few people at the restaurant, so we had the run of the place.

Grandma Sue and Cordelia

I made a food face, of course

After dinner we went to the church service. The service was beautiful, but I can't help laughing when everybody hums a verse of Silent Night, humming en mass is really hilarious. I made eye contact with Sam and just about lost it, thankfully it was time to change Cordelia so I managed not to make a spectacle of myself. After the service we went home and hung out, Cordelia was up late, but in such a happy mood we spent time playing and chatting before going to bed.

Eric and Cordelia on Christmas Eve

Christmas day started early when we woke up and hustled to get dressed before driving over to my parent's house on the other side of town. When we arrived we chatted with Ben who couldn't make it up from Phoenix and then we started opening the presents.

Grandpa Mike and Cordelia

Dad with his foam bow and arrows

Oh yeah, Eric and I bought a Nerf bow and arrow thing for my dad. When I was young my dad did this thing he called "kid hunt" where he would chase us with a nerf bow and arrow while we ran and screamed, it was fun. Anyway, we thought dad would love to carry on the "kid hunt" to the next generation so we got this for him. Well, the rest of the day included many nerf ambushes, it was ridiculous. Actually as I was leaving last night I was hit in the head with a foam arrow right as I was shutting the door (it's on Sam). So, this may be a gift that we regret...

Cordelia and I

After the present opening we had a wonderful breakfast that my mother prepared...which included vegan cinnamon rolls. YUM! We spent a few hours there before heading home so I could make some cookies and we could take Bumblebee for a walk before heading back over for dinner.

Family Dinner

The dinner was delisious and all vegan! My mom prepared tofurkey, mixed veggies, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, yams, stuffing and more! We ate too much and had a great time talking. It was a great day.

Later we returned home and passed a quiet and happy evening as the snow fell outside.

How was your day?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Thankful

Today we are busy with final preparations for the holidays. I am so excited for Cordelia's first Christmas. I am filled with gratitude for such an amazing year, how far we've come.

I hope you and your family are enjoying some time together as well.

He's so Animated

One day when Eric and I were first dating we were walking through the mall in Alamogordo, NM. Eric was really into the conversation, I'm not sure what we were talking about, when an old man approached us. He came right up to Eric and asked, "Are you French?" Eric was a bit confused. I think he said something indicating that he has a little French blood mixed in with the rest of his family heritage. Then he asked the man, "Why do you ask?" The older gentleman said, "Well, I thought you might be French because you talk with your hands." It had never occurred to me until that point that Eric does talk with his hands.

From that point on I became aware of just how animated a speaker Eric is. The more interested in a topic he is, the more his hands move about. There have been times where he tried to talk without using his hands and it's like he is almost incapable of completing his thoughts. I think that this habit infuses energy into whatever it is that he is saying, you feel yourself drawn in, no matter what the subject.

There is rarely a moment where Eric is talking and his hands aren't working along with him to tell his story or express his opinion. Last night he was talking to me and I watched his hands move about in this dance, almost like he'd choreographed it in advance. He would move them up in the air when he was saying something dynamic and then they'd creep about in his lap when he was making smaller points. The most interesting part is that he is hardly aware of the fact that his hands are right there with him. He's just so animated.

Do you talk with your hands?

Twelve Weeks

Eric and I have been parents for 12 weeks today. I can't believe it. She is a completely different baby than the one that I first held a few short months ago. She is giggling, yesterday I called Eric at work so he could hear his daughter's first giggling fit. She smiles, she has serious opinions and she knows her parents.

Every day I wake up (before the crack of dawn) thankful that I get to spend another day with my husband and our beautiful daughter.

Footprints and Other Impressions

Eric took this photo a few days ago. He was really struck that the footprints were remaining in the snow and that everything else was melting or had blown away. Sure the footprints were still there because the snow had been packed in by some person who had passed by. They surely didn't know that their footprints were still sticking around and making an impression on us.

With that in mind I recently read an article on the stuff we have in our lives and just how important it is or is not in our lives. Eric and I have been going through our stuff, downsizing and just keeping the items we really use and love. Well, the article that I read suggested that one might find more freedom in giving up items of sentimental value or just quality items that we still love, but giving them as thoughtful gifts. You know the necklace that a friend has admired or a book that you think someone in your life might enjoy. Just the idea of thoughtful giving coupled with a sense of personal sacrifice.

I started to think about it and was immediately a bit uncomfortable with the idea of giving up items that I still like. I have been pondering that feeling of discomfort and have decided that I must do it because I don't want things to have more power over me than my desire to give to others. Since then I have been gathering items for people and I hope to distribute them at some point in the near future. It's really quite liberating to just let go.

The Note

Have you ever left a note for a loved one tucked away in a secret location for them to find? I do that kind of thing all the time. Sometimes the notes are sweet, like the I love you I wrote on the steamed window for Eric to find, but sometimes they are just a bit kooky. Last night Eric found a note of the kooky variety. Apparently I had hidden it a little too well since I wrote the note in 2005 and he just found it last night. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy reading it...

What a Gift

Yesterday we stopped by my mom's work to pick up a gift for Cordelia from her co-worker our family friend Jo. She has made the most detailed and amazing gift for our little girl. She made this wrap that you see in the picture below.

Jo, holding Cordelia and the basset hound wrap she made (with basset hound inside)

Let me explain some of the details to you since they may be difficult to see in the photos...

So, she used a basset hound fabric. I think you can see that there is a basset hound clip, she sewed on applique bumblebees, since our basset hound is named Bumblebee. She even put an applique bumblebee on the stuffed basset hound she included in the gift. The wrap also has a handmade applique basset head rest built in (see photo). Finally she sewed in the tiniest details of flowers and bumblebees which was too difficult to get a good picture of.

Anyway, isn't that an amazing gift and perfect for this chilly time of year? Cordelia loves it (I assume since she can't really talk) and then someday she will LOVE her stuffed basset hound. What a thoughtful and creative gift. I've never seen anything so carefully planned and it was created by such a kind woman.

Cool Dream

Last night I had a dream that I was an amazing seamstress and that I was about to release my first sewing book. I had the coolest book cover ever. Do you remember that 80s movie starring John Cusack called Say Anything? Well my book was called Sew Anything and it's cover was based on the movie poster. I did my best to give you an idea of how it would look, with my very limited photo editing program.

So now I just need to get really good at sewing!

Decorating, Twice

Sunday night we went to my parent's house and decorated the Christmas tree. The family tradition, since I can recall, is to blast John Denver and the Muppets whilst decorating. Each family member has their own duties....

Dad made weird comments and ridiculous jokes as he videotaped the events.

Mom snuggled with her sleeping granddaughter, a new duty.

Who knows what Sam and Eric were doing. Sam had a scarf wrapped around his head (to avoid pictures) and Eric was trying to get a picture of Sam. Eric was also busy making weird jokes with my Dad.

That left me to do a lot of the decorating. Sure, the others helped out, but there was a lot of lounging on their part, but that's just how it goes. Usually my mom is in on the action, but she was with Cordelia.

After the decorating is done we all sit around by the light of the Christmas tree and make each other laugh.

Then a few days later Eric and I decorated a tiny tree at our house. We again blasted John Denver and the Muppets as we went about our business of decorating.

So now we are full of Christmas spirit. Have you done your decorating?

Top Heavy

They say that babies need "tummy time" each day, a period of time where you place your baby on their belly and watch as they struggle to keep their head up. Eventually they learn to scoot about and then crawl.

Well, Cordelia can certainly hold her head up, but there is another issue she is really struggling with...

She's top heavy. Her legs just sort of shoot out into the air, kicking and never finding the ground. So, much of her "tummy time" is spent with me laughing as she flails her limbs about in the air.

Christmas Spoon and Prom Photo

When Eric and I started dating in high school it was a period of adjustment for our entire family. My parents included Eric in family events, even though we were so young. Mostly because it was clear that Eric and I were in it for the long haul. Ben, my middle brother, was not so accepting of Eric's growing involvement in our family.

He was in that tween phase when Eric started becoming a member of our family and he was just not sure why Eric was allowed to be involved in family only activities, like Christmas decorating, when his friends couldn't be. One year, right in the middle of Christmas decorating, this issue came to a head. He had a major meltdown about the whole thing and made Eric feel terrible. Eric was preparing to leave when Ben showed his kind heart.

He had remembered that Eric mentioned he had made an ornament as a child, a wooden spoon with his elementary school picture on it. In an attempt to make peace Ben made Eric his very own ornament. He took our prom picture and taped it to a wooden spoon. Eric stayed around the rest of the night and every year since. To this day Eric hangs the ridiculous ornament on the family tree every year.

Do you have any weird holiday traditions?

The Motherload

So, you know how Eric and I are always on the lookout for local newscasters? If not read here and here for just a couple of examples. Anyway, my youngest brother has gone above and beyond. Seriously the guy hit the ultimate jackpot of newscaster gold.

Yes, that's right here he is in the photo below flanked by four newscasters. He was on their turf, newscaster stomping grounds. Can you believe this!?!?!?!?! I am just going to live vicariously through him. I know you are wondering how this good fortune came to my brother and how you too can get in on newscaster glory (or maybe that's just me). Well, he got to do some job shadowing through his school and he got a taste of newscaster glory.

How cool is that? Look at my brother, he looks like the lead anchor. I am so impressed. Anyway, he said that they have filthy mouths when they're off camera...just a little insider newscaster gossip for you.

Grandma Rose

In yesterday's post I mentioned that we went to my Great Grandmother's house. We just call her Grandma Rose. Her house is as much a part of this family as I am. She's been living in it for my entire life. All of her family has measured their height on the wall of her house, seeing how they measure up with cousins and second cousins. She has the same furniture, the same red carpet and black couch. The pictures are all in their particular places and they have been there for decades. We've all played in the basement and in the park across the street and many have since taken their children to do the same.

Then there is the woman herself. She is quiet and beautiful and her eyes, well look at them they are amazing. I have always had a fascination with this woman. Always wanted to know more about her life. Recently I've gotten to see pictures from when she was younger, her life as a mother. There is just something about her. I can't really put my finger on it, maybe it's her experience, her wisdom, her beauty. I am just not sure what it is, but after I am away from her I can't help but feel that I was in the presence of someone truly amazing. I am so happy to be a piece of her legacy, to have her name in mine and to pass it on to my daughter.

Road Trip and 5 Generations of Women

Yesterday we took a road trip to visit my Aunt Tina for her birthday, to introduce Cordelia to more of her family and to get a photo capturing 5 generations of women. We left first thing in the morning. My mom, Eric, Cordelia, Bumblebee, and I all packed into our car for the drive.

Maria, Cordelia and Bumblebee in the backseat of the car

We all buckled in (even Bumblebee was buckled in) for the drive, thankful that the roads were clear in spite of the frigid temperatures of the past week.

Winter in Wyoming

The drive was nice and went quickly as Cordelia slept nearly the entire way.

We arrived at my Great Grandma Rose's house late morning. My Grandmother was there as well. So, there were five generations of women in the house, something I've long been waiting for.

1981, four generations of women and my Great Grandpa Red

You see I have this photo(above) from when I was a baby. In it you see (from left to right): my Grandma Grace, my Mom holding me, Grandma Rose and then my Grandpa Red. Since I first became pregnant I have been wanting to get another such photo with the next generation.

2009, five generations of women

Yesterday we made it happen, sadly my Grandpa Red is no longer around, but we did manage to get 5 generations of women together. Cordelia is being held by her Great Great Grandma Rose and in the back, from left to right is her Great Grandma Grace, her Grandma Sue and her mother (me). How many people have such an opportunity?!

My Aunt Tina, Cordelia and my Grandma Grace

After the photos we went to meet up for a birthday lunch with my Aunt Tina. This was also her first time meeting Cordelia.

Eric and my mom

Eric was there too. Have I mentioned how amazing Eric is as a father? He is just so wonderful, so hands on. I love him!

Wyoming

After lunch it was time to head back. A very quick trip, but so worth it.