WE MOVED!!

Hi there!

I just noticed I still have a few followers here...let's just hope you are as lazy in deleting your "following" as I am from posting that we have MOVED (as most of you I think came from DD where I posted the move EIGHT MONTHS ago...oops!).

So, if you missed it, so sorry!  We are still going strong with the 366 project (albeit always running behind, I am still posting July), and you can find us here: http://www.discoveringthesilverlining.com/

Love to all!

Milla 366

2/366

Milla is obviously quite comfortable with the new influx of paparazzi following her every move.  Her freshly coined phrase today? "Look at meeee!" Oh my.

Zen 366

2/366

A few days a week we have "movie-free" days.  We started doing this when we realised that even though we don't have TV, somewhere along the way we had digressed to just letting the kids watch movies for hours on a daily basis.  It probably coincided with their brilliant decision to start waking up at 4:30am. Some days will fly past and we wouldn't have even thought about watching movies, and others I have to fight the urge to just pop them in front of the happily waiting babysitter every hour. Seeing as Zen was sick and therefore watching movies all day yesterday, today we needed to get away from the screen.  Zen's not really much of a sit and do activities kind of boy, so finding fun things to do on movie free days can be quite a challenge.  Luckily, my mother-in-law is amazing and bought us the coolest toddler-friendly game.  It's the first time we've ever seen Zen really get into an activity.  It's called Bright Buttons and it encourages imagination and curiosity.  I was actually amazed at how focused and accurate he could be.  Feeling very grateful for fun games that the kids can enjoy, but mostly for more excuses to spend time with the little munchkins.

Zen 366

1/366

Today was not a terribly fun day for Zen.  He was sick and spent most of the day needing cuddles and lullabies.  Eager to start my 366 project on a high, I was hoping to do lots of fun and fabulous things with the kids today, to start the new year with a determination to make it a really great one.  Sadly, there are always many things that are out of our control.  Despite his sickness, however, Zen did not waste his new years day.  He spent most of it being ridiculously adorable, happy to snuggle and to speak fondly of his love for us.  The sweetest point was when he formed a newfound bond with his grandparents dog, Yummy. For years Zen was terrified of dogs but just recently he has not only overcome his fear, but begun finding real friendships in the canine species.  At many times today, while feeling awful, Zen would announce "I'm going to cuddle Yummy to make me feel better" and sure enough, after some quality dog-snuggling time, he would come back inside looking contented and say "Yummy made me feel all better".

It would be easy to focus on the sad parts of the day, but that would mean missing some truly beautiful moments in Zen's life.  Sometimes, when we least expect it, a dog can come along and brighten the heart of a child in a way that no human knows how.  Thanks Yummy, you really made a sad little boy a much much happier one.

Milla 366

1/366

Welcome to the new year!

Although feeling rather excited about what this year may bring, I couldn't help but notice a particularly significant lump in my throat as I lay Milla down to sleep tonight.  For the first night in her entire life, Milla is not sleeping in our room.  For the last 18 months, she has delighted us with her sweet sleeping baby face pressed happily against our chests, her cooing and babbling in the wee hours of the morning, her excited murmurs as she clambers from breast to breast feeding through the night.  She has never (really) been anything but pure perfection to share a room - and bed - with.  I could be happy to have her in our room forever, but sadly, I don't think she feels the same way.  With her brother pleading with us for months to let him have her in his room, and with the exciting thought that Nick and I could have a room to ourselves for the first time in four years, it seemed a really easy and natural transition.  Only now, looking down on my babies sweet, trusting face am I feeling a nauseating pang of doubt and anxiety.  I hope she doesn't feel rejected, I hope I am not failing her as a mother, I hope she'll actually enjoy sharing with her brother finally.

Thankfully, all doubts quickly fade as I remember the look of sheer joy on her face as she walked into Zen's room to see her cot beside his bed.  She looked in awe from cot to bed and squealed "Goes here! Goes here!"  Once in her bed, she gleefully grabbed her owl, said "Ni ni", laid down, pulled her blanket up and gave me a beaming smile.  Though I will still, will always, worry that what I am doing is right, I think I can rest assured knowing that tonight as the first night of our new year, Zen and Milla are having the time of their lives.

Documenting Delight 366 2012

Welcome everyone! Very excited to write the first ever blog post and even MORE excited to be writing it about the new project we are taking on in 2012.

Starting January 1, we (I!) will be taking a photo per day of my sweet babes and posting them to this blog. These kids are growing up so fast and I can think of no greater way to help slow it all down and remember the little things than by documenting an entire year in photo's and letters.

This is not going to be some schmarmy "we have it all together" blog, but simply a daily reminder of what we have got, how incredibly blessed we are and how we can appreciate each other more.

I have personally seen gratitude turn lives around, it can work miracles. In a family where we are on a constant roller coaster of highs and lows, we can always use something that rips us out of our mundane thought ruts and helps us see things anew, from a different perspective.

I am so excited about what this year will bring, and most especially excited to be forced into actually capturing special memories for a whole year. I'm lazy, I procrastinate, I am a full-time mother finishing a degree with three small side businesses I am running so...if I am dedicated for a day, a week, a month I will be absolutely impressed. If I make it further, I will personally be sending any readers a BIG fat kiss in the mail because it would have been you who spurred me on.

Thank you in advance and happy reading! Bring on 366 2012!!!