Not too sick for all our traditions

I had some pretty big plans for this week leading up to Christmas.  Okay maybe not big, but I have a plan.  I pictured our days full of Christmas baking, cookie decorating, and some Christmas crafts.  But so far our days (and nights) have been filled with tissues, body aches, hot tea, fevers, steamy showers, and even a throw up bowl.  Unless you count the Christmas movies we have watched, there has been a lot less Christmas cheer that I imagined, especially on Jonah's first Christmas.

But here we are, just 6 days before Christmas.  So rather than feel sorry for myself...or should I say after feeling sorry for myself, I decided that we needed to just go for it.  Since I think we are still a little too germs to start on Christmas treats, I thought ornament painting would be a safer bet.  I had Jake grab the craft paints while James set up the computer for some Christmas tunes.  And after I doled out everyone's previously selected ornaments, I of course, grabbed my camera.

That video of tiny James inspired me, so I started with a little camera time.  I am no videographer, but I know I will be grateful to have their childhood voices recorded.

And then about the time Jonah started to get annoyed in the background, I switched back to documenting things the way I am more comfortable.

 Here is to Christmas traditions and filling our tree with ornaments and memories of all our past Christmases.

Melancholy at Midnight

A silly video of my Jamie Do popped up today on my Facebook feed.  The video was from 4 years ago today.  Jamie, who had just celebrated his 2nd birthday, was performing a passionate rendition of "Happy Birthday" which upon my questions told me it was his birthday.  The video made me smile, laugh, and of course made me heart ache a little.  I wanted to reach out and scoop up that two year old James and just love on him.  I miss him being that little!  

Now he has just turned 6!  Luckily he is still that goofy sweet boy in the video, just not quite as small or squishy.  He still makes the same expressions and has the same little laugh when he knows he is being funny.  Isn't it beautiful that even though they grow and change so much there are parts of them that always stay the same?

But as I watched, I was reminded once again of just how fast it goes...just how bitter sweet this motherhood thing is.  Tears stream down my face as I type this because it is all so temporary, but that is what makes this...makes them so precious.  

So in honor of my emotional midnight blogging, here are my sleeping babies.  I may not be able to freeze time, but that is way I have a camera!

As painful as the reminder is, I am so grateful for it!  It is so easy for me to get caught up in the never ending list of to-dos.  I need to remember to slow down and embrace the beauty and joy I am blessed with.