It's A Good Day For a New Year

I'm not one for resolutions. I think any time is a good time to start new habits. But 2014 is feeling extra fresh-starty to me. Perhaps it's because in 2013 I transitioned from being pregnant, to having a preemie to putting in my time as the mom of a baby under 6 months old - you parents know what I'm talking about. Those months can be brutal...although I have to say my little Marlowe took it pretty easy on us. Hillary became a father of two and went from being a stay-at-home-dad to working (more than) full time outside the house. And my little dude, Beckett, became a big brother and had to get used to not having his best pal, his dad, around to play with all the time. It was a year of constant change.

But 2014 will be different (as far as my crystal ball can see.) Now that we've completed our contribution to the family lineage, I feel a renewed claim on my body. I'll probably be nursing for a while, so there are no crazy nights out in my immediate future, but copious amounts of yoga and toning exercises are in the cards and I can't wait to feel the energy and healthy glow that comes with that.

We're still working out the logistics of being a family with two full time working parents, but the kinks are slowly melting away.

Marlowe is nearly 8 months old now! Her gestational age (can I still use that term?) is still only 6 months, but we are headed into that sweet spot of babydom that includes more scheduled and extended napping, going longer between meals, which means more sleep at night and, super cute stuff, like sitting up and trying solids.

The world feels fresh and new.

To commemorate that feeling Beck and I planted a tree on New Years day. The Honest Company - which I subscribe to for my monthly soap and family essentials - sent us a sweet little Cedar as a holiday surprise. I am continually impressed with that company and highly recommend all their products.

It waited patiently in it's nice little package for the crazy days of Christmas to be over. It was chilly out, but not too bad as long as we bundled up. Beckett loved pushing the dirt back into the hole with his shovel, but would not touch the dirt with his bare hands.

He was worried about it being too cold for the little tree. He has good instincts. I told him we'd bring the tree in and let it grow through the winter and then we'd bring it outside in the spring.

It's his job to water it when the soil feels dry - he makes me check, but has been very diligent about it.

Every so often he walks over, quietly examines it and says, "It's sure taking a long time to grow..."

Perhaps we'll make this a New Year's tradition.

Wishing you a wonderful 2014, full of fresh and new feelings.