We are well into 2013, and I am (again) way behind on posting. As usual with the month of December, I can blame that on the endless activities, events, family gatherings, and amazing memories that filled our calendar, leaving little time to download pictures and write.
Recently, I've heard a some people say how happy they are that 2012 is over, and 2013 has begun. And while I understand the need for a fresh start sometimes, I am not in that camp. 2012 was one of the best years of my memory, and given the fact that I am back to work (from maternity leave) at the start of 2013, I can tell you that I wish 2012 could live ON and ON and ON. Last year, we welcomed the MOST beautiful and perfect (not kidding) little girl to our family. I took some time off to be a stay at home momma and loved every minute of it. It's no joke having a two and a half year old and a baby, though. No joke. Or, maybe, it's no joke having a two year old...I'm pretty sure that all of the work and toil originates with Liam. Hattie is a patient, tough, angel--and; right now, she has a scratch on her face to prove it. "Gentle, Liam" is quite possibly the most used phrase at the moment in our house.
Last year, we layed low for the most part but we did take a couple trips. With the Kratz side, we visited the mountains and snow at the beginning of the year, and a beach house in Monterey in the summer. We visited Mickey at his house in April, and then to Hawaii in November, both with my side of the family. And while most of our daily lives revolve around something Disney (Buzz/Woody/Doc McStuffins are Liam's favorites), when asked if he liked Disneyworld or Hawaii better, Liam said he wanted to "go back to Hawaii now!" He is definitely my son. It's no wonder why he likes Hawaii--he is a fish. Well, almost a fish--he hasn't fully mastered swimming yet. You'd never know that by the way he jumps in by himself, dives for rings, and holds his breath under the water. Needless to say, our Hawaii vacation wasn't as relaxing as past trips. No taking your eyes off him for even a second!
Here are some random things I hope I'll remember about 2012:
- The way Liam says certain words: "motorcycle," "turtle," and "love you too, mommy" are my favorites.
- How Liam loves to hear our "stories," most of which are stories of Matt or my childhood. Liam's favorites are my raccoon story, and Matt's fishing story. We tell each of those at least five evenings a week. The best part is how Liam finishes telling the story as if it is his own.
- Oh boy--and Liam's fascination with raccoons. They are part of almost every story he tells and he is a master at "hiding from a raccoon" and making raccoon faces and sounds.
- Our nighttime routine with Liam and laying with him for "one more min" as he says. One of the things I thought would end when Hattie arrived would be our night times with Liam, Mommy, and Daddy, but Hattie acquiesced to a 7:45 bedtime, so the three of us (M, H, & L) still get books, storytime, singing, and prayers together.
- How Liam is a rockstar. Seriously, rarely ten minutes go by without seeing him with one of his guitars strapped on, or making something into a drum stick and drums. And hearing him sing...today he was crooning "He's got the whole world in His hands," naming all his family and friends that Jesus has in his hands. But as soon as that is over, he'll be humming the Beatles. His taste in music is vast.
- The way I felt when, after Hattie was born, Liam came into the hospital room and crawled into bed with me. The powerful, heart aching, almost painful love that catches your breath, holding both of my children in my arms.
- Hattie's soft-as-pillows cheeks and how addicting it is to kiss them. And her thighs--rolls, and rolls, and rolls of them.
- How happy Hattie is when someone is smiling at her. Heck, how happy she is when someone is paying attention to her....It's hard to find quality one-on-one time with her when Liam's around!
- How confident Liam is. Praying that confidence grows into strength of character, not stubbornness!
- How funny it is when Matt and I can't understand what Liam is saying--sometimes it takes a LONG time, and Liam is (usually) very patient.
- How truly amazing Matt is as a dad. He plays with Liam--like really plays--on his knees, voices for his stuffed animals, kind of playing. Matt is rarely on his phone or distracted when he is with the kids. He is focused on them and gives them true quality time...not just time.
- How Liam loves to be a "Momma Helper." Thank you, Berenstein Bears Books!
- "Hot Doggy Truck" at the mall. If it weren't for that coin operated contraption, I wouldn't have anything to bribe Liam with to get good behavior at the mall (I know, bad mom, but sometimes bribery is necessary).
- How great it is to have amazing grandparents in my kids' life. So, so, so great.
- Liam's athleticism. He is a gymnastics star--lots of forward rolls. He can throw a spiral football consistently, and if you don't watch out he will peg you in the head with a baseball. We've had to institute a "Ready, Mommy?" before he throws to make sure I don't end up with a ball in my face.
- Liam's love for books, the library, and the library park.
- All the energy Liam has. He is SO full of life and passion. Now...to channel it. Last night, when getting ready for bed, he said "I ran all my energy out." That's pretty much how it goes. If he isn't sleeping or eating or watching a show, he is moving and moving fast!
- Liam's second birthday and the look on his face when he saw all the balloons in his room in the morning. He still talks about how there were so many "they covered me up!"
- Watching Liam score his first goal at Teeny Weeny soccer, and then immediately getting distracted by doing a headstand and picking his nose. Those practices were so hilariously chaotic.
- How Liam asks me every morning: "Mommy, what we doing today?"
- How amazing it was seeing Christmas through Liam's eyes this year. From Santa at the mall, to Chipmonkey our Elf, to Christmas morning...it was the best. (See waaaaay below for Christmas photo dump....following the random 2012 photo dump).
The things I probably won't forget, but wish I could:
- All the time outs.
- How messy my house can get, so quickly too. And the pain associated with inadvertently stepping on a Lego strewn in the mess.
- How much laundry I do every day...because Hattie is basically bulimic.
- Repeating myself to Liam. Sometimes, I even hate hearing my own voice say the same thing 10 times.
- All the nose picking. Liam asked me last week to clip his nails because it was getting too hard to pick his nose with them so long.
- Hearing "no" and the stink face he makes when he says it. And as cute as it may have been at first: "No way, Jose" is equally as bad.
- Our second Emergency Room trip, and consequently the lip stitches.
- How much I need to work on my patience.
And, to help me remember the earlier part of this year, here is a dump of random fun photos from 2012:
And because this post is already ridiculously long, I'll just add some pictures from Christmas 2012.
eating snowflakes
he found his stocking as soon as we arrived at Mimi and G-Da's house
a piggy for our piggy
santa's helper
his annual ornament--a guitar
this face was my best present this year
Pelton Christmas 2012
decorating eating christmas cookies
look who is getting bigger than Hattie!
Kratz Christmas 2012
a perfect gift for liam.
See what I mean? 2012 was the best.
