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travelin’ man.

We made a very brief trip home to see family last night, and in the past 24+ hours, Henry has proven himself the perfect travel companion in miniature once again. Even with a cold that’s got him feeling pretty crummy, he’ll put a smile on for all of the grandparents, snuggle into the Pack ‘n Play overnight, and cozy up in his carseat for the drive to and fro with little more than a peep. What did we ever do to deserve him? Nothing, as far as I can tell. I just keep thanking God over and over for the gift he is to us. I am always amazed.

We’re still en route home, and while blogging from the car is made much lovelier by an iPhone app these days, it’s late, and the day has been long on many accounts. I snapped these two photos of Hank this morning, minutes apart, and find them a fitting representation of the days events–in some ways, surprisingly joyful, and in others, the kind of stuff that just makes you need your mama. We’re all hanging in there though. 100 some odd miles to go.

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I hope to be able to reflect more on today at another juncture, but for now, I’m pining for bed from the passenger seat.

winding down to rockabye baby, U2 edition, and thankful for it,

mm

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this thing we do.

We spent a little time tonight watching videos from when Henry was just days and weeks old. I can’t believe that the teensy tiny baby on camera is the same child who keeps us moving at all times now, just seven, eight, nine months later. It’s a funny thing, being a parent at this stage. Nine + months doesn’t seem all that long ago, and of course we remember those first moments less than a year later. Right?

To some degree, I’d say. I do remember a lot about Henry’s birth and the days that followed, but I think there may have been a good portion that got tucked away behind the new parent haze and the major sleep deprivation that moved in with us when we got home from the hospital. Still, I loved it. Every minute of it. And tonight, watching snippets of our time as a very new family of three made my heart leap all over again. Sure, this gig is hard on a lot of days, but it’s the best job I’ve ever had. I know Jason would agree.

It’s amazing how much I find myself taken with every stage. A good friend has told me on multiple occasions that she’s loved every stage–and that they just get better and better. I admired the prospect of that possibility, but admittedly, I had a hard time believing it when I first set eyes on our little man–I was so in love. The longer I spent time with him as a newborn, the more I was convinced that there’d be little competition for how much my heart overflowed in that season. Not true. On Monday, when Henry said, “Hi!” for the first time while waving at a friend’s little girl, I was reminded just how much he is coming into his own–and how I love every single new change. This evening, when he said, “Buh Bye” while waving goodnight to friends, every bit of the mom in me lit up. More growth. More fun. More of something to celebrate as a parent.

At this stage of Hank’s development, every small thing feels like a big thing to me as his mama. In the same way that his first smile had me near tears in the nursery last Spring, Henry’s discoveries and new words, the connections he makes–and the ability to watch them happen, all bring me such great joy.

My friend was right. It just gets better and better. The day Henry came into our lives, I immediately loved our tiny baby boy more than I ever thought possible. I couldn’t describe just how good it felt then, and I can’t tonight. We are loving every stage as Hank’s parents. How could we not!?

making the days count,

mm

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dear valentine.

Tomorrow will be my 8th Valentine’s Day with you, and in my estimation, the best one yet. Six years ago, I know I thought the same when you called from thousands of miles away–I can still remember where I stood for those significant (and expensive) minutes. I could tell you just how dark the sky was overhead, how much I missed home, missed you. Then surely, five years ago, just 38 days before we tied the knot. Four years ago…in Africa. There are others in our history, too, all made significant by your creativity and intention (you have always been remarkably good at acknowledging noteworthy days). But this one–this one I’m certain will top them all, and it isn’t for any number of chocolates or flowers or romantic cards (although the flowers today were perfect, and perfectly grand :).

I love that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, not because of the undue pressure it adds to couples and non-couples alike, but because it gives us an excuse to love extravagantly. And we could do this every day of the year (just like I could write this post to you any day of the year), but it might get a little cost prohibitive and silly after awhile, you know? What I mean by that is this: it’s nice to have an entirely acceptable reason to do something a bit special–or to embarrass gently, out of love. You know, the way we have lunch plans tomorrow, on an otherwise random Tuesday, and the way that I’m babbling on, in essence just trying to state publicly how much I love you, in a blog post.

Here’s the thing of it. We’ve weathered a lot. We’ve traveled the globe, created a home in four places, tackled challenging home projects (that’s a big deal;), had a BABY(we’re parents!), made time for others, made time for ourselves, made time for each other, made room for God, made room for change. We’ve admitted the hard things, done the hard things, become stronger because of them and in spite of them, learned lessons, grown determined and rolled to the middle. We are eight and a half years into being us, and we have so much to be thankful for together.

When it comes to celebrating love, I think we have a pretty incredible reason to partake in the whole Valentine’s Day extravaganza tomorrow. We get better at this every year. I like that about us.

love you, jmk. or in other words…i heart you. xoxo. be mine. happy valentine’s…

mm

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love to love you.

Being a mom is the most amazing, challenging, incredible, humbling, tireless, rewarding, worrisome, wonderful job in the world, and Henry David is the greatest blessing we’ve ever received. But we haven’t been without him (together) overnight since the day he was born–until this weekend. And stepping away from the responsibilities of mom and dad to enjoy close to 24 hours of time, just us, was such a gift!

We didn’t escape far, but Grand Rapids was just close enough that we didn’t lose sleep, and just far enough away that we wouldn’t check in. Not only did we all survive, but it’s fair to say that we’re all better for the time we spent “out of town.” Although we have a lot of fun as a trio, it was valuable to my heart to have fun–just J and me, without worrying about the little man and the next feeding time, next nap, next…

Dinner, a beautiful hotel, a perfect view, breakfast in bed, and a lunch date before coming home did this mama a world of good.

I love my baby boy. But I loved my grown-up boy, first. And I love that when we love each other well, we love Henry better, too!

blessed and refreshed. indeed.

mm