365/366 - 30. December 2012

Proud

Confessed... I´m a wee bit proud of myself. One single day to go and I did it. I will have finished my 366 project. At the beginning... on the 1st of January... I started with a little toddler and a tiny baby... and lots of antecipation.

Inspired by Georgia of Documenting Delight I thought I should try to do a photo a day project and write a few lines concerning a delightful moment or even our simple days. I wanted to write in english because on the one hand I found out I could describe my feelings much better and on the other hand I became member of a group full of awesome women... the documenting delighters.

There are really some I call friends... I feel kind of connection between us and this makes me happy... to have found so many great women all around the world who let us give a glimpse into their lives and who share delights with us.

I didn´t think I would be able to manage posting daily because there were times through the year which were pretty hard. While my babygirl was very little and Max really easy to have it was not difficult. But times started to change... Max became more challenging in spring, wanted lots of attention and more activities... Lina started her expedition and her urge to move grew immeasurably.

Suddenly the days were much more exhausting and I had to struggle to do my daily writing. The problem was that I´m pretty tenacious when I start any kind of project (of course except loosing weight). 
I was one lucky girl that I have such an awesome husband in addition whose support and appreciation (especially) during this year was remarkable. He was entertaining the children or doing evening care while I was writing... and my mother, who was always incredibly supportive too, with her encouraging words and her admiration for my work.
I love you... and I´m thankful to have you

I became kind of documenting addict... I couldn´t imagine to let a wonderful moment (probably a simple one for somebody else) pass by without taking at least a hundred photos just to find one I had fallen for. I think I have never forgotten to take the camera with me this year... this was very exhausting (and sometimes annoying too).

How could I ever finish a project like this? How could I ever stop to document my babies´ every day lives? How will I ever remember what we were doing on whatever day? Would it be possible to continue this project? Would it be weird to take always a photo a day?

I love browsing through my posts and find myself smiling because of the memories, smiling because of the words I had found. 

I think I will keep on... too many delights to capture and protect!

 I love you my babies... you make me happy every single moment of my life!

Your Mama

364/366 - 29. December 2012

Changing a wheel

This is something that makes my heart burst with love... when I see daddy together with his son working on something that is their thing. They are highly concentrated then... papa is explaining everything to Max and our darling is repeating everything a thousand times. 

Oh I could listen to their conversations all day long...

Jointly

I love that Max and Lina are so well playing together... implied that she is not touching his cars. They are both not really patient but things start getting better and the times they are sitting next to each other calmly and not squabbling become longer, huch!

Love,

Mama

363/366 - 28. December 2012

Helmet

Trying to make him accustomed to let on a helmet as we want to go skiing soon. He was not very keen on putting it on but when Lina took it for her he wanted to wear it, hm?

Missy got quite impatient as she didn´t manage to put it off herself... cute with a sad face.

Love,

Mama

362/366 - 27. December 2012

Happy 16th anniversary!

Morning walk...

... and an evening out with my man! 

I am fallen for him, my love, my rock, my best friend!

Love,

Mama

361/366 - 26. December 2012

Boxing Day and my babygirl at 16 months

My hubby´s family came over today to spend the afternoon with us as I was quite nasty and uninvited them all for our Christmas Eve. Just didn´t want to be kind of caterer... preferred being together with my loved ones and  have a relaxed time. 

I made some yummy cookies for us and the children got... of course... gifts again!

Lina is 16 months old today and one awesome thing happened. She is sitting on the potty for quite a while already... daddy is asking her to sit down every evening before he puts the children into the bath tub. 
This evening she sat down and was successful... our girl was pretty proud of herself as she recognized that she was peeing into the potty! Isn´t this cutest?

In other ways she grows into a little "big" girl every day more which leaves me behind teary and proud equally. Her hilarious personality is so entertaining I sometimes can hardly believe she is only one and a few months. Babygirl is running all day long, driving her pink car like a lady, climbing the stairs up and down, climbing on every chair and onto the table. Movement is her life.

Lina is sleeping much better now... nursing just a few or sometimes just once a night. She loves eating... it has never been a problem since she made clear not wanting to be fed... except, soup and mash. Somehow she is reasonable that it´s too difficult yet.

Lina definitely tries to talk. She has some words in her vocabulary and is so proud when we are repeating and she realizes that we understand her... and she loves to imitate animal voices. It´s hard to differentiate wether it´s her or our cat, bahaha!

Another topic are typically female ones. My daughter loves dresses and tights, she loves dressing and undressing, is taking the clothes from the drier and putting them around her neck and over the head. She is taking every hat or headband to put it onto her head. Shoes are a favorite as well... going into the wardrobe to take mama´s shoes and walking in them.

And babies... I have the feeling that my babygirl is as much in love with babies as I am. Playing with her dolls, undressing them, covering them with blankets, kissing and wearing them, going for walks... that´s the favorite play. I´m really thankful to have this sweet girl as she shares my greatest passion with so much love and devotion!

Just a sidenote...

Today, 16 years ago, my husband and I met for the very first time. One single day later... the lovestory we still have started. I´m so grateful for this man in my life, grateful for my best friend!

Love,

Mama

Love,

R.

360/366 - 25. December 2012

Christmas Day

Spent the afternoon with great-grandmother... some cosy hours and two little ones getting gifts again and being perfectly entertained. We keep on to our plan having relaxed Holidays and family-focused time. 

Best decision...

This dog is cutest. Lina was tickling his nose and ears, stroking his paws and fur... she did so genly and this sweet black bundle enjoyed her love. So so sweet!

I think she was amazed in addition that there are dogs who are not barking like crazy when she comes closer... like our teeny tiny Yorkie does!

 

So... that we are in practice to open all kind of gifts ourselves... we keep on doing this... Thank you granny for Lina´s cuddly pajamas and one beautiful jumper for our boy!

Max showed granny one of his games he got for christmas. These two were laughing and giggling about the noises so very much... I could eat him because of his sweetness!

Fun day.

Love,

Mama

359/366 - 24. December 2012

Merry Christmas!

One of the things I love about christmas are the traditions. Since there is a little guy going with us and a little girl joined us too, I try to build up traditions around Holidays that work for us as a family.

Before my darling and I had babies we were not really busy around the Christmas Eve. We were celebrating with our families, I had all gifts together in time, I loved to cook an extravagant dinner for us, prepare yummy sweets and spent a relaxed, funny and entertaining evening.

Then, 2009, little Max came to us and completed everything we had. From this time on I don´t have the constant feeling of missing the most important thing in my life any more. So I wanted to have and make everything perfect... especially the time around Christmas.

The first year, my plans turned out quite manageable... Max was 6 weeks old and sleeping nearly all the time. Omi, daddy and I prepared our celebration.

The following year he was a one year old who was tirelessly exploring his world... and my world with the decorated tree, all gifts and the tidy house in it! Not so relaxed any more... but oh so wonderful with bright blue baby eyes!

2011 was the first year we were the four of us together under the beautiful tree. My heart was full of happiness... and stress because I wanted to create the greatest memories for Max and Lina. The whole family joined us... it was wonderful on the one hand but far too exhausting on the other hand. I was working all day and didn´t really have time for our family.

This year a change took place. I wanted this change especially after all the mishaps the day before. I had to take care that there would not not come up times when I would hate christmas because it was the most stressful time of the year. I wanted to keep up my antecipation I always felt as a child and I wanted this feeling now that I had little ones!

So I started to make things simple and family-focused and enjoyable because of this! I´m very sure my darlings prefer this light version as they get it from a happy mama. 

We got up quite early in the morning and had a relaxed breakfast together after daddy had gone to buy a beautiful (new) tree and yummy tarts for us. Then he decorated our tree together with Max. Missy had to wait in the cot. She was too curiously checking out the baubles.

In the meantime I did the last little steps in the kitchen and then we had fun time in the city again... driving the christmas train and visiting baby Jesus in the crib! So wonderful!

When we came home the babies had fallen asleep in the car. Before omi and opi came over to spend the evening with us I took a bath with Lina and daddy was showering and dressing Max. Everything was so peaceful and I enjoyed the time I could cuddle my babies, hug and kiss them and hold them tight instead of standing in the kitchen, cooking, washing and becoming more and more worn out.

About half past six omi and opi came over. Opi had prepared yummy food for us... I know... lucky us!

But first we decided to let the children unwrap some gifts to keep them occupied for the time we had dinner... this didn´t work like we hoped... they didn´t stop unrapping. It was the greatest fuss since ... ever, bahaha!

The evening was really awesome, entertaining, cosy and heartwarming! The children... although a bit in high spirits and too excited... were so cute, lovely and delighted!

I came to my senses and know now that family time is definitely the thing my babies will remember. They will not remember the four courses meal and three desserts, the tons of gifts and the perfectly clean house... of course I have to work for some points even more... but that´s my plan. Listing our Christmas traditions and keeping them flexible... the main thing is that they work for us! 

Love*

Mama+Papa

358/366 - 23. December 2012

Lights

The day before christmas is our actual preparation day. We tidy up and clean the house, do all laundry and usually do some shopping but not so this year because the 23rd is a sunday. Then I prepare all our desserts. I make Creme brulee, Mousse au chocolat and some Parfait. This year it didn´t work at all and... I was quite annoyed. Maybe I´m going to change them some day (or next year) because of all the yummy sweets I was collecting on Pinterest this year. We´ll see!?

In the evening, when the children are in bed, we are normally decorating the tree... not so this year because hubby did not buy the tree himself but somebody else did and so... unfortunately it turned out... freaky... totally curved and lopsided... I was quite annoyed.

So... we didn´t have anything else to do. To spend some good and relaxed time together as a family we decided to visit the Advent market in the evening to let the children take a look at all the beautiful illumination... and this was the highlight of the day. Nothing annoying... just love!

Confessed... I was really nervous wether all the things I wish and want for the Christmas Day and Eve will be able to get done. No idea!

I´m looking forward to the following days... I LOVE the Holidays even more since there are our darlings Max and Lina!

All my love to you,

Mama

357/366 - 22. December 2012

Beautiful

Just couldn´t decide which pic to take... this girl of mine is simply adorable!

Max wasn´t very keen on being photographed... but looked too cute anyway! Love him!

Thought I could show you our christmas card sent to all our family and friends... I´m quite happy with those lovely pics... and it was great fun shooting them too... 
so please take a look!

Love,

Mama

356/366 - 21. December 2012

Fun

Mama and babies had loads of fun in the evening... cuddles, jokes, tickles, giggles and laughter! Daddy was so lovely to take tons of pictures...

Missy is so funny. She already loves dressing and undressing... is always pulling down her trousers and tights, pulling up her dresses, draping round her shoulders everything she finds... she is indeed a little lady! 

My heart is bursting with love and pride to have a girl in my life in addition to my beloved son!

Max was in high spirits...

... and demanding for endless cuddles and kisses! Oh how I love this boy of mine!

Thanks papa for the sweet pics!

Love,

Mama

355/366 - 20. December 2012

Visit

Lina was quite little breastfeeding the last weeks... at least during the day... but since she was really sick last week she is demanding for her boobs now very often... is coming to me, stopping her play, pulling on my shirt and lying herself onto my lap. I simply love this... 

Auntie took some lovely photos of Lina and me during our cuddles... thank you so much Tini... you did a great job... love those pics!

 
That´s my girlfriend... spent the morning together because we are not going to meet before christmas again. Had lots of fun although our children were quite demanding and a bit whining. Nevertheless... some sweets and a children´s show on tv let us talk a little more, ha!

Love,

Mama