2012: A reflection

Its New Years Eve as I start this blog post and Steve and I are staying in. With Henry it is too much trouble to try and party so we have created our own party. We have a variety of cheeses, crackers, a decadent chocolate mini cake for two and strawberries. For entertainment we have The Dark Knight Rises and Step Up Revolution. A quiet evening at home seems the perfect close to one year and start to another year.

This year has been fantastic. I never got around to including a newsletter with our christmas cards but now as I am reflecting there is much to be grateful for and much to reminisce over in 2012. We went camping in Florida and touring in Savannah. We traveled to see family all over the US and had some quality time with our little family too. I feel like we have come to our own as a family here in Georgia. I also am so grateful for the friendships this year has brought me, you know who you are.

Henry has grown immensely this year too. Just this time last year he was finally saying "Mama" and now he is out of control. He won't stop talking or singing and I love it. Now instead of babbling it is complete sentences. He has full songs memorized and continues to spice things up by substituting his own lyrics. And this Sunday he will be a Sunbeam. I have a child in Primary!

And for me this year I am constantly amazed at what I accomplished. Not bragging but almost in awe. I did some things I never thought possible. Some because of determination and hard work but others because of luck in circumstance. Both ways I feel so blessed by the confidence I have gained in myself and the opportunities I seized. I feel stronger than ever that I am on the right track not only in my business but in my personal life and goals. Its comforting to have a little piece of mind even if it might be fleeting.

So thank you 2012 for a wonderful year. I truly enjoyed you.

Watch out 2013, here I come!

Legs Trio

And just to show you how Henry has grown here is a visual comparison

 I have prepared for your enjoyment. From not even being able to stand on his own, to not being able to stand still, to being able to jump.

Family Pictures 2012

We went to Chelsea again for our family pictures and were AGAIN very pleased. These are some of my favorites. Mostly I cannot get over how big Henry is. Not at all a baby anymore. He did really well posing too not like last year where he was super distracted. You can find our pictures from last year here.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We hope you are having a wonderful day with family, friends and feelings of Joy! And one last video from Henry.

Henry turns 3

For Henry's actual birthday we kept it simple and just our family. We had presents, balloons, lots of fun new toys, and plenty of Snoopy fruit snacks. We spent the afternoon doing things Henry loves to do. We went to Memorial Park and fed a whole loaf of bread and some hamburger buns to some feisty ducks. Henry loves doing that and the ducks were starving. We also went and rode the train at the mall. I never have cash so it was the first time we were able to go. Plus the conductor gave us his ride for free since it was his birthday. Then we ate dinner at McDonald's (Henry calls it Old McDonald's and loves their chicken nuggets) and Henry played in the play place. It was the perfect day.

And I have successfully spent 20 minutes learning iMovie which our old Mac didn't have. So now you can enjoy a video montage of the day. And I did try out lots of text and transition styles for your enjoyment.

bexcaliber: Atlanta Parent Magazine

A couple of months ago I was approached through etsy to do an interview for Atlanta Parent Magazine. I guess I was one of a handful of shops in the area whose owners were also parents. Not a lot of crafty etsy moms in Athens-Atlanta. So I lucked out and they featured me and my shop in their November issue. It was fun doing a phone interview and being asked to consider all the aspects of having both a business and a family. Plus the article makes me seem cooler and way more put together than I really am which is a definite plus. Hooray for more free marketing!

I seriously doubt I will be able to top three magazines in 2013. New Year's Resolution?

Oh and the picture of me is super vibrant but they print on a duller paper so I am not so intense in the physical magazine they sent me.

You can read the entire issue here.

Video Viernes: Rudolph in the Tub

Henry loves singing in the bath and he loves Christmas songs. I took the opportunity to film a little christmas cheer from our bathroom.