I was going through things in the basement and came across this ceramic heart dish that my grandmother made the year I was born! Perfect timing since it’s almost Valentine’s Day and my daughter had just come home with candy from her Pre School party. In our house, we essentially celebrate Valentine’s Day every day. The love flows freely and we are super lovey dovey with each other. It’s just who we are. And for that…I’m thankful!

Around this time of year, Michael and I start thinking about where we want to vacation during the year. We always take one tropical vacation with just the two of us and then we take a family vacation with our beloved Lily. These trips are something that we always look forward to and are much needed to relax, regroup and reconnect. As parents, our tropical vacations mean even more to us as a couple since we don’t get much alone time any more. It’s wonderful taking in the sites, not having to go by any kind of schedule, eat any kind of cuisine we wish, have only adult conversation and just enjoy our company fully without interruptions. Of course we talk about Lily quite a bit – wondering what she’s doing with the grandparents, wondering if she misses us as much as we miss her, hope she’s having fun and is sleeping OK and envision what she’d be doing in the ocean and sand if she were with us. This year we’re planning on taking our family trip to a tropical location. Lily’s been talking about the ocean and beaches for a couple years now and I think she’s at an age where she’ll really enjoy herself and remember everything as she gets older. I can’t wait to see Lily’s reaction to that beautiful environment – the sand, salt water, tropical breezes, fish, palm trees, boat excursions, the food and just the whole experience. I’m so thankful that we’re able to travel and I’m looking forward to showing Lily the world and experiencing travels through her eyes.

{I took the image above at Marigot Bay in St. Lucia a couple of years ago. Nice little reminder that warm weather isn’t too far away as we sit here surrounded by ice and snow!}

When I was pregnant, I searched for that perfect baby journal. A month before I gave birth to my lil’ Lily, I found exactly what I was looking for! I absolutely love Lily’s baby journal. It’s simple, classy, timeless and has plenty of room for my notes, pictures and special mementos. I love going through her journal and taking in all of those moments again. Perfect way for me to remember that time in our lives and how much has changed since then. This morning, I was reminiscing about Lily’s early days, with the help of this book, and I came across the hand and foot prints of our lil’ baby. She was three days old and we had just came home from the hospital. She was sound asleep and we decided to start filling out her journal. I wanted to do her hand and foot prints first because I was afraid she’d grow too fast and we’d miss documenting how tiny she was {as if she would grow within a few hours…} Michael got a stamp pad and I held Lily in my arms in amazement. We got the foot print perfectly on the page, but the hand was a different story… She wanted to keep her hand in a fist, so it was hard to get her hand flat to get the ink on there and then when it came time to print her hand on the page, it took three tries. Michael and I laughed about the whole ordeal while Lily just slept through it all. Didn’t phase her one bit. Of course immediately after, I had a lil’ freak out while wondering if the ink would come off her skin, but just as Michael promised, it came off without a problem. {give me some slack…I was a new mom!} Looking at those lil’ prints today brings back so many memories and I’m just amazed at how quickly she’s grown and how fast things change. Lily is such a blessing to have in my life and I am so thankful to have this baby journal as a keepsake – not only for me, but for her as well.

Edited to add: Since writing this post, I’ve had several people write to me about where I found Lily’s Baby Journal. I got it a little over four years ago at Barnes & Noble, but after some searching, I found it on Amazon this evening! It’s simply titled “My Baby’s Journal.” Enjoy!

I’ve been looking forward to a good snow in St. Louis for quite some time now and I got my wish! It started snowing last night and this morning I woke to about six inches of snow. YAY! I felt like a kid who couldn’t wait to go play outside in all that glorious, beautiful snow, but the best part is seeing Lily’s reaction to it all. Totally makes my day! I made a nice hot breakfast for Lily and I and then we bundled up before heading outside. I spent the majority of the time shoveling while Lily dug tunnels in the big mounds of snow I was building, but after that it was all snow angels and snow fights. It’s so nice not having anywhere to go today so that we can just enjoy ourselves and the beauty wonder nature has brought our way. For those of you who aren’t quite as lucky…drive safe and try to enjoy the views before it’s all gone.

I just adore family heirlooms. So much history and sentimental meaning. These gifts passed down through the generations are truly priceless to me and pieces that I will always cherish. This piano was Michael’s Great Aunt’s. It was such an honor to have this musical instrument passed down to us. Every time I see it or it’s played, I think of Emma. I can visualize it in the corner of her living room and Lily trying to play it like a big girl – turning those pages with her chubby baby fingers gingerly before pounding on the keys. I think of the stories I had heard of Emma and her sister playing piano and how they even had the piano bench reupholstered to match their wing back chairs and couch. The piano doesn’t look like it’s aged much even though it’s been in the family for years {Emma was 100 years old when she passed}, which is proof of how much love and care was given to this beauty. It brings me such joy having this piece of history in our house and I feel that a part of Michael’s family runs through my fingers every time I play this Cable Nelson and for this…I’m thankful.

St. Louis Product Photographer

It’s been a wonderful Holiday season and it was a blessing to head back home to celebrate with family. Michael and my parents used to live in the same town, a mere mile from each other, so it used to be so easy to share family time when we’d head back to Kansas. Not the case anymore. My parents have moved on to Clinton, MO while Michael’s family still resides in the military town of Leavenworth, KS. We weren’t sure where we’d spend Christmas this year. My husband decided that we could still fit in both families, but it meant more traveling and that we’d only see one set of parents on Christmas day. I know how fortunate we are to have family close enough to visit for the Holidays and I don’t ever take it for granted. I know that not everyone gets to spend time with loved ones on special days like these. Many don’t have an option to get in a car for a road trip or board a plane to get to those that are dear to them. Even if we didn’t get to travel for the Holidays, at least I’d know that I had my husband and daughter with me to share the joy of the season. I’m so thankful for that fact. We had a great time with our families and Lily was thrilled to have Santa visit her THREE times! {What a busy man} We enjoyed the quality time we shared with those we love – singing, eating, exchanging gifts and watching movies. It may have been a short visit, but every minute was cherished and will be remembered for years to come. Hope you all had a blessed Holiday season and that the new year brings you much joy. See you in 2011!

Growing up I always wanted a fireplace, especially for Christmas. As a little girl, I worried that Santa wouldn’t be able to deliver our presents since we didn’t have a fireplace and I wanted a place to hang our stockings that would be a bit more suitable than in a doorway. It’s what I always saw in all those Christmas movies and in my favorite books and it was something I envisioned for myself. When Michael and I were looking for our first house many years ago, one thing that was a MUST was a fireplace. We both wanted a place where we could cozy up in the cold winter months and of course, a place to hang our stockings with care for the Holidays. Well, we got our wish! For our first Christmas in our new house, I sewed up some stockings for our fireplace and after Lily was born, I made one for her as well.  Every year when I look at those beautiful treasures, hanging from our mantel, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have this simple tradition for myself and my family. I think of how I yearned for this as a little girl and how wishes really do come true. Santa can now come down a chimney to deliver our presents and on Christmas morning we’re able to open our stockings to find those lil’ surprises that only fit in these tiny gems – just like in those movies and books that I love so much! Santa, we look forward to your arrival. We’ll have some yummy cookies and warm milk waiting for you and don’t worry…we’ll remember to put the fire out so that you have a safe landing.

The other day Lily and I were playing piano and she asked me to play some Christmas music. I didn’t know any from heart, so I opened up the piano bench in search of some Christmas sheet music. To my surprise there were a few different books of Holiday tunes sitting there that were passed down from my mom. You can tell they’ve been used a lot and I love that her handwriting is scattered throughout the music as well. A smile came across my face as I remembered all the times my mom played this very same music in our house growing up and how we’d all sing along. Great family memories that I can now pass along to my own daughter. My piano skills aren’t quite what they used to be, but I was able to play many of the tunes just fine and Lily was delighted. We’ve been playing Christmas piano tunes every day now and nothing else gets me in the holiday spirit quite like this. I’m so grateful for these pieces of sheet music. It’s something being passed down through the generations of my family and for that…I’m thankful!

Nothing warms my body and soul like a good cup of hot cocoa in the cold winter months. There’s something a bit nostalgic about it all. Reminds me of those winter days where I’d play out in the snow until I couldn’t take the cold any more as a lil’ girl. I’d come inside take off all my layers; carefully place my wet mittens, scarf and boots on the radiator so that they would be warm and dry for my next outing; rub my hands together before placing them over my mouth and nose to warm up my nose; and then the best part…the hot cocoa waiting for me with marshmallows and perhaps a candy cane to stir it all together. Ahhhhhh… Great memories. I still enjoy my hot cocoa, but now I get to create memories with my daughter over a great mug of chocolaty goodness! For that…I’m thankful!