The big news in January is that Mommy went back to work!
Honestly, it's been a bit of a relief in some ways as I realized how much I really do enjoy working and "accomplishing" things. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my kiddos and being a mom, but it's also nice to be able to work hard at my job and make an impact there.
It also really helps that we have amazing child care and both Brinley and Becca are well cared for, have a lot of fun and are developing/learning and being challenged at that environment. We are so thankful for Four Square and don't know what we would have done without them!
Towards the end of my maternity leave, Becca was starting to get a bit more restless and I would feel guilty pushing her aside to do laundry, make dinner, etc. Now that she's in daycare and we have our new routine, we can focus on more family times in the evenings and I can throw in a load of laundry during the day or on a lunch break. I've been working from home a ton which has also helped. I'm so thankful for my job, my amazing boss and the flexibility that I have. I realize that it's such a gift!
Right now we've established a great routine of family dinners every night, hang out time, and then Matt put Brinley to bed and I feed Becca and get her down. Matt and I have even had time to do some individual stuff (like Matt go to the gym and Jess fix AG dolls hair ;)) and then he and I hang out for an hour or two before bed. We are in a great rhythm right now and really love how it's all been going.
My work has been slow as we wait to see if a large project will happen or not, but there are some exciting things on the horizon so I'm looking forward to seeing what is ahead.
Matt's job has been a bit more challenging as he's not getting recognized for all of his accomplishments at work and seemingly nit picked for little things. It's so frustrating to see and I just pray that he will have a breakthrough there and get the respect and position that he so rightly deserves.
Brinley is flourishing at school and can write her first and last name pretty well, many of her letters and is even reading some site words (including colors). We are so proud of her and her willingness to learn! We are still trying to figure out whether we send her to kindergarten next year or if we wait, but we have a good support network around us to help with that decision which is awesome.
Becca is adjusting well to the new schedule and is growing and developing more each day. She's such a joy and we just adore her!
In other big news, Matt and I got some recent media attention after we started a Go Fund Me page for the Philadelphia Eagles Charity after they beat the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. We channeled all of the heartbreak and loss into an act of kindness (copying the Saints kicker's campaign) and the response has been incredible. Through all of this, God has really solidified my life's purpose in my mind: "To show other's God's love by bringing them joy and kindness at every opportunity and through a variety of ways." Whether its Blessing Trips, Candles on a Mission, this Go Fund Me, whatever it is. I aim to do this as often as I can.
It's been an incredible month, and we look forward to all that 2018 will bring, Lord willing. Tomorrow is my birthday and as I right this, I can't help but stop and thank God for all of the blessings in our life. I couldn't ask for anything more! Thank you, Lord!
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| Looking a bit nervous to have her foot painted for a special "welcome to Four Square" project |
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| She can push herself up pretty high these days! |
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| Brinley adores getting to visit her sister during the day :) |
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| Play time! |
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| Sleeping beauty :) She's adjusted really well to napping in the cribs at school and has taken 2 hour naps there now! |
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| Playing with "friends" :) |
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| Sweet message from Mommy's friend April when I came back. Sad news is that April moved to a different company :( |
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| That tongue! She loves to stick it out so we can drum on it :) |
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| Daddy and Brinley have been playing a silly game with tape. I just don't ask questions! |
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| That tongue again! |
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| Making sure little sister is a-okay! |
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| I was declared the "best mom ever!" Because I bought her a cake pop at Starbucks. I will take it! |
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| Brinley selfies! |
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| Photo by Brinley! |
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| We used some of our Christmas money and got a membership at Underwater World (or Sea Life Aquarium as it's actually called). It was Becca's first time there and she was a bit taken aback by all that there was to see! |
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| Selfie with my girl! |
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| Yawn! |
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| My girls :) |
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| What in the world?? Why am I underwater and what are all of these fish swimming around??? |
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| Just chillaxin. |
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| It's YOU!!!! |
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| Brinley's class learned about Arctic animals and here they are putting their hands in freezing cold water and then trying it with "blubber" to show how it keeps animals warm. I love everything that she is learning at school! |
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| So great to get pics and updates of how they are doing every day |
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| Still nervous about that foot painting business... |
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| The sister bond is strong! |
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| Upside down! |
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| A fun random experiment that I did one morning. We all have blue eyes but look at the different shades! Brinley's are more blue-green, Daddy's are the lightest. |
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| So I told Brinley to go put a hair clip in to keep her bangs out of her eyes and she comes down the stairs like this. She was honestly confused why I wanted to take a picture of it! |
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| Life is crazy. Life is busy, but sometimes you just have to stop and catch a snow flake on your tongue. I remember we were rushing but it's sometime those moments where you just need to slow down! |
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| Smiles like this melt our heart and let us know that she's happy, even when we can't be with her all day! |
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| Play date! |
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| I think we are going to have our hands full with this one! Looked at that determination! |
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| Vikings baby! |
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| Go Vikings! |
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| Always loves checking on sissy... |
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| Big girl time getting matching Vikings manis before the NFC Championship game |
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| Taking advantage of a slightly warmer day to enjoy some sledding! |
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| My heart :) |
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| First time "playing" in the snow... Not sure what to think! |
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| This picture cracks me up. Story time in the nursery! |
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| What do you think they are talking about? :) |
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| Matt and I got a sitter and went downtown with some friends to enjoy the Super Bowl fun. We loved seeing Nicollet Mall all decked out! |
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| Why not do a freezing cold "sleigh ride" behind a Ford truck? |
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| ESPN set |
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| Group shot at the lodge |
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| Brrrr! |
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| Waiting for cheese fries in front of the fire |
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| So my birthday is Jan. 31 and Matt and the girls surprised me by hiding in the closet when I got home from work and jumping out with a cake (with a lit candle on it!). It was hilarious seeing the closet doors open and they all pop out. Even Becca hiding in their in her monkey chair! |
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| Come on out Becks! No clue why daddy had you in the closet, lol! |
