\Letters to My Children\ February

I’m continuing my “Letters” project this year with a new group of my very dearest photography friends. Each month I’ll write a letter to one of my babies.  This month it’s Emma’s turn…

Well, you are officially two and a half. With. A. Bang. I was naive enough to think we'd somehow, miraculously skip over the terrible twos. But it turns out you're a normal kid with big feelings and you're having a tough time managing them. Daddy and I are trying our best to help you figure out how to express yourself, but sometimes you just need to scream and cry and let it all out. It breaks my heart, but I always tell you that it's okay to be sad and frustrated and angry. I feel that way sometimes, too. We work on taking deep breaths and always talk through things once you've calmed down. Sometimes neither of us handles these meltdowns very well, but we always learn and that's the best we can do. Anyway, enough with the tough stuff... let's get to the good stuff!

Your ability to communicate beyond your years continues to blow us away, and I love seeing the wheels turning as you work something out or make up something silly. You're becoming more and more curious about the world around you and have started asking questions about everything... "Is it Saturday? Yes or No?"... "Is this a boy or a girl?"... "Can I have 2 books or 3?"... "What are these kids doing?" And just today you read The Little Blue Truck to me and Daddy, and I was a big old sap and started crying halfway through. I know you were just reciting it from memory, but it was a glimpse into a day, not too far from now, when you are really reading to us. I felt so proud of you, and so excited for what's to come as you get a little older.

Lately, you've gotten really into playing with your Legos and I just love watching you build your "circus," as you call it. You'll build a tower as tall as you can reach, and then gleefully knock it down so that you can build it up again.

I think my favorite thing about you at this age is how sweet, cuddly, and generous you are. You always have a million moochies (kisses) for me and Daddy and Jonah, and you love to cook for us in your kitchen and share your loveys with your little brother. It makes you so happy to make us feel loved and cared for... it's one of your many qualities that I hope never goes away.

I love you so much, boo boo.

I encourage you to head over to my lovely friend Gwen’s blog to read her letter to her children.

{Jonah Month by Month} 4 Months

\10 on 10\ February

10 on 10, cabin style... we were up there to celebrate my husband's birthday, so I thought I'd do a little day in the life of a winter cabin weekend. \1\ Just a wee bit chilly...

\2\ Pretend menu reading

\3\ These two are pretty cute

\4\ Frozen stream

\5\ Rollin' in the snow

\6\ While the kids are napping...

\7\ It was all I could do to not eat these cheeks

\8\ Dusk

\9\ Make a wish

\10\ "Oh Lord Jesus, it's a fire"

I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Jessica’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!

\Letters to My Children 2014\ January

I’m continuing my "Letters" project this year with a new group of my very dearest photography friends. Each month I’ll write a letter to one of my babies.  This month it's Jonah's turn… Oh my baby boy, what a rough month it's been for you! At only 3 months old, you had surgery to repair the hernia you were born with, and then a couple of weeks later you caught your first real sickness from your big sister. All that, on top of starting daycare, and yet you've handled it all with your usual ease and sweetness.

I'm so glad you're feeling better, and crossing my fingers that the worst is behind us. I feel like we lost a whole month and I'm ready for life to slow down a little so I can get back to savoring all your sweet goodness. It sounds so cliche, but you really are growing so fast! There's so much I want to remember... all your little chunky bits, those cheeks, your huge blue eyes, the way your head smells like pure heaven.

I know I can't pause time, but I can take a zillion photos of you, and that's almost the same thing. I've also made a promise to myself to take photos with you, so here are a couple more... I hope one day you can look back on these and see how very much I love you.

I encourage you to head over to my friend Ashleigh’s blog to read her beautiful letter to her daughter.

\10 on 10\ January

I'm so happy to be kicking off the year with a new photography project - 10 on 10. On the 10th of every month I'll be sharing 10 photos taken on a single day in the life of our family. This month, I decided to document the day of Jonah's surgery. It was a day I'd been dreading since we first found out he needed surgery, and I figured a little photo therapy would be a nice distraction. \1\ Early - and very cold - drive to Children's Hospital

\2\ Our tiny little patient

\3\ This was the hardest part for me... right before he went back. He was starving and miserable and all I wanted to do was take him and run the other direction. Instead I had to hand him over to strangers and trust he was in good hands.

\4\ Coming out of the anesthesia... the surgery was a success and he did great!

\5\ Tummy full, time to sleep

\6\ Family nap time

\7\ No more hernia

\8\ Hanging with daddy

\9\ Getting back to his smiley self

\10\ I think I needed this as much as he did

I'm joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers... head on over to Catherine's blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!

{Jonah Month by Month} 3 Months

Letters to My Daughter: December

Well, my little love, I can't believe this is my last letter for this project.  It has been a year full of changes for you! This was you a year ago in my very first letter: You were still such a baby then, and now you are - without a doubt - a little girl. A year later, and you've weaned, potty trained, turned 2, got a big girl bed, become a big sister, and started at a new school. Some of those changes were easier than others, each one shaping this little person you're becoming - a person I am so insanely crazy about.

You blow me away every day with how smart, funny, and independent you are. "I can do it myself!" is something we hear several times a day, and you even requested a ladder for Christmas so that you could reach all the things you can't currently get to. (Sorry kiddo, not going to happen.) If there's one thing I know for sure about you, it's that you will walk through this world in your own way and in your own time. And when that's not driving me bananas, I find it immensely inspiring.

I can't imagine how much more you're going to change in the coming year, but I'm so glad I get to be along for the ride. I'm especially looking forward to seeing you grow in your role as a big sister... you've started having little conversations with your brother, and you're so anxious to share your toys with him. Trust me, he'll be crawling after you in no time.

I know I've said it in all of these letters, but I sure hope you know how very much I love you. I feel like I won the kid lottery with you and Jonah. Here's to another year of laughter, love, and lots and lots of hugs and moochies.

I am joined in this “Letters to our Children” blog circle by an amazing group of photographers and moms. Together, we’ve been writing these letters every month in honor of our love for our sons and daughters. I encourage you to head over to my dear friend Kristy’s blog to read her letter, and then continue on around the circle!

PS... While I'm sad this project has come to an end, I'm very excited to start a new project in 2014 called 10 on 10, which be like a monthly "day in the life" of our little family. Look for the first post in a few weeks!

{Jonah Month by Month} 2 Months

Letters To My Daughter: November

Oh, my sweet girl... it's been a difficult month so far. After months of debate, your daddy and I finally decided to move you to a different Montessori school. It's a great school, and much more in line with what we want and expect for your care and education (which we take very seriously!) We know that you'll love it in time, but in the short term the change has been really tough for you.

You've been acting out a lot and daddy and I haven't always reacted with the love and patience we know you need right now. Parents make mistakes, too, but I promise we're trying and we're going to try harder. We'll all get through this rough patch and things will go back to feeling happy and predictable.

Hang in there, buddy... you'll make new friends at school and things will start to feel more comfortable for you there. Until then, daddy and I will support you as best we can. We love you soooooo much, no matter what, and we're so immensely proud of the little girl you're becoming and what a fantastic big sister you are.

I am joined in this “Letters to our Children” blog circle by an amazing group of photographers and moms. Together, we’ll be writing these letters every month in honor of our love for our sons and daughters. I encourage you to head over to my sweet friend Carrie's blog to read her letter to her daughter.

Letters to My Daughter: October

Your brother arrived a couple of weeks ago and you, my sweet girl, are an AWESOME big sister. I was so worried about how you would react to him, and from the moment you saw him you have been head over heels in love with him. You've been incredibly sweet and gentle, and love playing mama's little helper when it comes to taking care of him.

I really didn't think it was possible to love you any more, but seeing you as a big sister has only solidified for me how insanely wonderful you are - and how lucky I am that I get to be your mama.

I am joined in this “Letters to our Children” blog circle by an amazing group of photographers and moms. Together, we’ll be writing these letters every month in honor of our love for our sons and daughters. I encourage you to head over to Bobbi-Jo’s blog to read her letter to her son.

Maternity Series #2: 40 Weeks

Jonah Paul Shellaway... born at 2:54am on September 30th, 2013

You're here! You're here, and life is fuller and more wonderful than we ever imagined. I have been so completely overwhelmed with love from the first moment I held you. You are just the sweetest, cuddliest, sleepiest little guy and I can't imagine a more perfect addition to our family.

Maternity Series #2: 39 Weeks

 

It's time for your old mom to get a little sappy on you... We're so close to meeting you and I want you to know what a privilege it has been to be on this journey with you. That's really the whole reason for doing these photos and letters every week - so you can someday see how blessed I felt to be pregnant with you. That no matter how uncomfortable I've gotten, and though some weeks the last thing I want to do is lug out my tripod and take a self portrait, I know that someday you'll be able to look back through this series and see how much I loved you - from the very beginning - and how very lucky I have always felt to be your mama.

Letters to My Daughter: September

This is my last letter to you before you become a big sister. Your brother's arrival means big changes for all of us... joyful but tiring times for me and your dad, and maybe some frustrating times for you. You seem very excited to meet your baby brother, but we know it won't always be easy to have to share us with him. Your brother will need a lot of care and attention in the early months... he won't be able to be as independent as you for a while.

All I can do is promise you that we'll do everything we can to make sure you never doubt how very much we love you. You are so special to us, so uniquely you... and nothing will ever change that.

I am joined in this “Letters to our Children” blog circle by an amazing group of photographers and moms. Together, we’ll be writing these letters every month in honor of our love for our sons and daughters. I encourage you to head over to Kelly’s blog to read her letter to her son.

Maternity Series #2: 38 Weeks

Today is my and your dad's 4th wedding anniversary! Every year I take a photo in my wedding dress, and this year it was quite a feat to get it on (and even harder to get it off!) With only 2 weeks to go, the last thing I wanted to do was squeeze into my wedding dress, but tradition is tradition and it ended up being a rather hilarious endeavor. I'm very happy to be typing this in my far more comfortable pajamas, and even happier to be another week closer to meeting you.

Maternity Series #2: 37 Weeks

You made it to full term! Yay! Your dad and I celebrated by going to the Phillies vs. Nats game for what was one of our last date nights for the foreseeable future. You come from a very long line of Phillies fans, and we hope you love them as much as we do. By the time you're old enough to care, they might actually be good again. We can only hope.

Maternity Series #2: 36 Weeks

I had my baby shower this past weekend, and while I didn't think I wanted a shower this time around, I'm so glad your Nana and Titi insisted. You deserve to be spoiled, too, and it was wonderful getting together with family and close friends to celebrate your pending arrival. Only a few more weeks and I'll get to put you in all your cute new outfits!

Maternity Series #2: 35 Weeks

Not much new to report this week... just trying to get everything ready in case you decide to make an early appearance. It's so exciting to see your nursery finally coming together. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Maternity Series #2: 34 Weeks

Only 6 more weeks to go! Your birth is feeling ever more imminent, and I'm officially in big time birth-prep mode... It's hard to be fully prepared for what I know will be one of the hardest, yet most beautiful, days of my life - but I'm trying. I'm re-reading my favorite birth stories, drinking lots of red raspberry leaf tea, listening to my hypnobirthing tracks, working out, doing lots of inversions and ligament releases, and basically doing everything I possibly can to ensure our birth journey together is safe and gentle (and hopefully much much faster than your sister's birth). As I spend time each day getting ready for your birth, I feel the bond between us growing that much stronger and I know it will all be so worth it.

Maternity Series #2: 33 Weeks

We're finally getting started on your nursery! We moved all the furniture in from your sister's room and now I get to work on the fun stuff - like your very special name quilt. I have lots of other stuff I want to get done, too, so I better get moving. You'll be here before we know it!

Letters to My Daughter: August

Oh my sweet girl... it's a time of BIG changes in your life and you are handling them all so gracefully. This week starts your first official week in Pre Primary, and despite our fears about new teachers and a new classroom, you've been nothing short of ecstatic for this new adventure.

And last weekend we moved all your old furniture into your brother's nursery and you got your very own big girl bed, which you LOVE. We were worried how you'd react to handing down your furniture, but you simply said, "That's for the baby. I'm a big girl." and that was that. You love sleeping in your new bed and haven't once attempted to leave your room when you were supposed to be sleeping. You haven't even tried to get out of bed! (Knock on wood.) :)

I worry about you a lot because I'm your mom and that's part of my job, but you are showing me every day that you really are a "big girl" now. This was more clear to me than ever when last weekend you saw these gigantic slides at a new park we visited and immediately wanted to go down the tallest one. It had to have been almost 2 stories high, but you marched right up those stairs and proclaimed "wheeeee" all the way down.

Your dad and I really are so proud of the big girl you're becoming, but if you still want to be my baby every now and then I'd be okay with that, too.

I am joined in this “Letters to our Children” blog circle by an amazing group of photographers and moms. Together, we’ll be writing these letters every month in honor of our love for our sons and daughters. I encourage you to head over to my dear friend Kristy’s blog to read her sweet letter to her daughter, Makenna.