2 years old

Today he's two.

It's been a tremendously awful week. We've all been ill, with Simon and L still rather defeated at the moment. We've canceled Simon's party for tomorrow, so we don't gather everyone to share all of our germs and continue a vicious cycle.

But I still put decorations up. And even though I'll begin antibiotics for Simon today, I'll still make a cake. Because this day is celebratory - this is the day we held our boy!

Birth - 1 year - 2 yearish

Streamers

We celebrated Simon's first birthday this last weekend. I made these streamers after searching for DIY homemade decoration ideas online. It's so simple, but incredibly festive. Cut strips of fabric, and tie them to yarn or string. Voila.

I hated taking them down, but they will be used again.

I made a chocolate cake, decorated with dinosaurs. I also tried my hand at homemade oreos and shortbread cookies. I'd recommend both recipes to anyone. The shortbread cookies go particularly well with a cup of good tea.

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I felt fairly emotional about Simon turning one. Everyone always barks at you how fast it flies by. And it's true. I look back at video snippets and pictures and wonder how he could change so much in one year.

But it makes me wonder about her.

Images of pinks and butterflies and frilly skirts vanish as I run a green J.ohn D.eere tractor over Simon's legs and up and over a chair. I love roaring dinosaurs and I look forward to catching turtles and making mud pies. I don't lament over anything to do with this sweet little boy that I'm lucky to have in my life.

The shadow babies that she would have been born with are coming up on two years this month. I guess they aren't babies anymore.

It's more subtle now, but echoes of her resound in every element of our lives.

And I'm not really saying anything new.

One year old

Little brother is one today! He's healthy and happy and just the most delightful little person ever. I am so thankful for him.

Thankful

Things I'm thankful for:

• Beautiful sunsets lately
• Wonderful weather
• A little boy who is walking now
• Spotting a woodpecker on several of our walks
• Family 
• Some fun new notecards I've made
• A sweet husband

Two Years

Lyra,

Two years without you.

Love and miss you more than you know.

Mom

Random: 1.11.11

So, this arrived in the mail yesterday!

I ordered it from etsy, and am super excited to have this as my necklace for Lyra this coming year. This artist customized it specifically with the Lyra constellation, and I'm just thrilled to start wearing it!

And it was perfect timing as today is my birthday. I don't remember much of my birthday last year...everything was still really foggy and we were just so sad. It was hard to feel celebratory over a birthday when our daughter died less than a month earlier. I think we were still moving to this apartment, so we probably packed and moved a bunch of stuff. And L surprised me with a really nice cardigan. I guess I do remember a little bit.

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Thursday is Simon's heart echo and brain scan. If you could, send a good vibe or prayer that there is nothing to be concerned about. I'm trying not to worry since we don't have full information yet. Once we have something more solid, either with the echo/scan, or when he's born, then we can know more about whether to worry or not. (Easier said than done...)

I'm still having contractions throughout the day, but not painful ones, so I'm not expecting him to make an entrance as of yet. I don't know the whole natural labor thing, as I was induced with Lyra. L is hoping he comes within the next 8 days though, so his birthdate can be a palindrome...I should have expected that marrying a math/computer science guy :)

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Wishing you all some peaceful moments this week.