4x12

do you ever have those moments where you just sit back, look around you, and say, man i'm blessed... i simply couldn't ask for anything more or better than this? that was me, on this day, which also happened to be my birthday. this one is from the sledding venture we took that glorious sunny saturday afternoon.

we had such a good time, and literally, standing atop the hill, watching beth and hank ride down after having gone down myself a few times, i was hit with it: WHAMO. my life is good. right now, my life is really, really good.

and it is.

february was good to me. to us. we found ourselves in february. we found our rhythm and and our place as a family of four. and now i can't imagine it any other way. beth blows my mind each and every day with the new things she says and does - most of it is quite comical and fun to hear ("see ya later birdies!" as she waves to the birds we pass on our walk...) and it's so fun to be around her and talk to her and play with her each day. she grows up more and more everyday - so fast i can't keep up with it! i am so loving my time off work and being able to feel like i am spending quality, un-rushed time at home with her. she really is such a joy and sweet girl. 85% of the time anyway. that other 15% she's just TWO and i get that. but most of the time we're two peas in a pod that love to be together. she's very into doing things "all by self" lately. and it's very cool to watch her take control of her life as best she can and take on the challenge of doing most things by herself. her mind is still a little further ahead than her body - she gets frustrated when she knows what needs to be done, but can't quite get her tiny appendages to coordinate with it. but she tries and succeeds at times and finds such great pride in it. it's so fun for me to watch.

hyde is just a little rockstar. still on a roll with the sleeping-through-the-night thing which i'm incredibly grateful for, and overall a mellow kid. doesn't cry much, other than when his big sister tries to help out by putting the paci in his mouth and instead ends up shoving it halfway down his throat (you can imagine, i'm sure...). he has just multiplied the size of our hearts and consequently the love in our lives. it's awesome. he is going to be a stellar kid, i'm just sure of it.

and hank, well... hank is just the man. and when i say man, i mean the MAN. an amazing dad and even better husband who knows when to give a girl a break without me needing to say a thing. without him i would be lost. i can't express how glad i am that he and i are on this parenthood journey together and there really is no one i'd rather spend my life with. i don't post enough about him, i should be better at that. because he really is the anchor in my life. it doesn't get better than him kids, i'm telling you, it just doesn't.

so yes, my soul is full and i am happy. i take it in everyday and enjoy it. because heaven knows what lies around the corner... but for now, it is carpe diem.

carpe diem all the way