mid march

I've been going through all my old photos lately. I don't know why, but in the mornings my iphoto icon has been doing a good job of luring me in to explore. As Sage runs around, nibbling on her breakfast, I find myself with coffee in hand just smiling and enjoying the happy memories these photos bring.

 I tend to start at the photos taken on the day Sage was born and then move on from there. I sometimes look back on some pictures we took a few days before I went into labor.  My belly was so big and full then. I remember feeling strong at that time and just so, so ready to see her face and examine her little body.

I was especially happy when I came across the photograph above. It was taken last fall when my beautiful friend came home to visit. It's a special little gem in my eyes.

Farewell Winter

I have to say it took a bit for my longing -for- spring- heart to get excited about the snow storm that hit  the east coast last week. The storm was suppose to be big. And as we were waiting and prepping for it, I realized how fitting it was for Mother Nature to send us out of the winter season with a beautiful, powdery snow fall.  Her powerful ways- even with how unpredictable they can be- reminded me to be mindful again of this particular season. It is about to end and I needed to take it in and appreciate it for all its qualities, even the harsher ones. These past weeks, I've been downplaying winter in my head too much. I've neglected to remember that it is a special time and it is beautiful and should be cherished and written about as so. So in realizing this, I managed to become blissfully happy about the snow that was approaching us.
..........
The snow came to our fields and mountains during the early morning hours- which definitely makes for an exciting wake up call. I was actually a bit taken back by the excitement that coursed through me when I first sat up in bed to take a peek out the window. "It came!"... "The snow came!",  I told my sleepy boyfriend who was snuggled in tight beside me.

 I know the finality to this news meant different things to the both of us. To me- it meant pancakes and bundling our baby up to show her the last traces of winter. And to Kyle- it meant managing all his farm duties in the snow.

Despite the harsh conditions--the chickens still needed to be fed. The new baby chicks still needed to be checked on and properly cared for---the greenhouse needed some work done on it---and the veggies needed water.  My farmer is special, I tell you. In fact, all men and women who choose to work outside during the cold of winter and the heat of summer are. This season has made me realize this.

Unfortunately, our winter wonderland didn't stay long. Temperatures here changed pretty quick and by late afternoon all the snow that came our way was melting away. It was as if Spring was emerging right then; like she won the war in the realm of nature. This was her time now. And she expressed this by slowly painting earthy colors over the land around us; completely erasing any signs of her seasons predecessor. Soon the grass was out again and mud puddles were appearing.

Sage ventured through the muddy spots without fear, not even needing my hand for help. She fell a few times and was able to get back up on her own. I really love this about her. My mama instincts, of course, are to help her right when her bum touches the ground, but I'm seeing the value in letting her figure things out on her own. 

She has been showing signs of independence lately by taking walks ahead of us- and also signs of assertiveness, which I'm particularly envious of because I wish I had more of this trait in my own personality. She will tell Simone to STAY! when we are outside, or sometimes she will even tell her to EAT! once her food hits the dog bowl.  

She is bold and ever changing like these seasons, and I absolutely love it. 

Simone and Sage

Over the past few months, Sage has had an obsession with watching Simone eat her meals. 

Every morning and every evening, when Kyle starts scooping out some dog food for Simone, Sage immediately stops what she is doing and proceeds to run fast to the laundry room. 

She runs yelling, " Mone...Mone...Mone!" 

She enjoys so much watching her doggie gobble down her meals and doesn't like to miss a thing! 

She tends to sit really close to the food bowl and will pat Simone's head and play with her floppy ears.

I guess this is her way of letting Simone know she is being a good girl for finishing her food. 

After Simone leaves the laundry room, Sage will sometimes hang out in there for a bit. 

We have to keep a good eye on our baby girl at this point because we know how much she would love to get her little fingers on a piece of forgotten food.  She is plotting a plan, I swear! She wants to get a taste of it so badly.

enjoying

Enjoying right now:
The fact that this runny nose thing is on its way out...
Discovering some love in my mailbox ( no bills- just a note filled with love!)
I'm enjoyin' tastes of summertime.
And my beautiful seventeen month old who randomly decided this week that she wanted to help put groceries away- even if that meant putting the shampoo in the refrigerator and the cheese in the pantry.
She was so proud and so was her mama because it was all so precious.

winter sickness

Those silly wintertime cold germs have finally reached our home. I've been waiting for this to happen all season long- especially after hearing terrible stories of people being sent to bed for days from this mighty flu going around. Thankfully this is not that, it's just a cold.

Sage seems to be the one struggling the most at the moment. She has a little cough and a raspy voice (which I have to admit is kind of cute) and a nose that just runs and runs all day. 

Needless to say, the humidifier and Vicks Vapor Rub are good friends of mine right now.

2013: free to be wild

Kyle and I spent New Years Eve at a local bar in the town we grew up in. It felt good leaving to go out that night. I had my high heels on and a flower in my hair.  My heart was happy knowing our precious daughter was all clean from her bath. Dressed in her warmest, softest winter pajamas. And, most importantly, was cuddling in the arms of her "Nana" for the night. A person she loves dearly and feels comfortable with.

Kyle and I got in our car to head to the bar and smiled at each other. 

We were free.
Free to be wild.
Needless to say, I was. I drank my rum and cokes and danced and danced. Silly me. I think I may have taken a spill at some point because I have a nasty bruise on my leg. But that is all okay... we had fun, we had fun!

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Yesterday (Finally!) I decided to check the mail once I got to the end of our driveway. Kyle and I need to start checking our mailbox more often because that sucker was filled to the brim. I started going through the letters and saw we had received winter well wishes from a dear friend of mine and from relatives. My friend sent me tea and kind words all the way from Utah. Tears streamed down my face. This mail from these people made me feel so loved at that very moment. It made my little family feel so loved.

I was feeling good about this new year before opening that mailbox. But afterwards- god, I felt even better.

At the moment, I'm feeling energized and driven. I'm excited for upcoming adventures with my family and the plans I have for expanding this passion for photography I have. Kyle taught me awhile ago that it is important to do what you love. So, I'm going to take his advice and do just that.

These two, though.
I'm excited to have more fun with these two this year. I love them both so much.

The three of us will continue to grow and discover together.

And these cute little feet -that were peeking out from the blanket today during her nap, in such a precious way-are becoming wiser and wiser by the minute. They perhaps maybe doing the most discovering this year.

christmas and tradition making

A good amount of snow came to our area on Christmas Eve. We weren't aware that it was in the forecast, so watching those fluffy, white snowflakes fall from the sky was very exciting. I think Sage loved it most of all. I noticed she would take little breaks from playing with her toys to run to the window to check on the status of the snow. This wasn't her first time seeing a snowfall, she actually saw a little last winter, but was just too young to remember and appreciate it. This year, though, she noticed it. She definitely was not interested in touching it or playing in it. But baby girl kept her eyes on it! She watched it from the window...and from the porch. Her little one year old self did a wonderful job of studying it.

Our Christmas holiday was really nice. After doing our own little gift exchange at our home that morning, we headed into town to celebrate with family. We got to the places we were going with no problem, despite the snowy roads, and had a wonderful time with the people we love.

And with this being my first Christmas season in my own home and with a baby girl that is becoming more and more aware of things, I'm realizing how much holiday tradition making is in my hands now for my family. I want the whole Santa experience to feel real and magical to Sage. I want her to view the holiday season as a time of baking and crafting and decorating. 

This year I tried doing a little bit of this on my own. But in the years to come, I feel I'll be inspired to do more because she will be able to participate and understand more clearly the activities and traditions taking place.

friend to a friend

you get a cheerio.

and

I get a cheerio.

and

you get another cheerio.

anddd...

oh no!  hold on, doggie. I will go get more!

this little one

oh sage. my tired and sick baby girl. 

despite the sniffles and the coughs, she still manages to march around this little home of ours with happy feet. 

and this is when my grandmother would say..."oh, bless her little heart..."

friday rest

after a friday morning and afternoon of work and errand running, sage and I came home and gave into our bodies' need for rest. 

that and these colors explain our friday evening.