Dangerous driving conditions aside, I cannot think of one reason not to like snow. Ok, truly I cannot understand why anyone would not LOVE the snow. But online posts from various friends prove me wrong: many people dislike winter’s best treat. Do they dread the falling of the leaves, the budding of new plants, and the hot sun beating down as well? I wonder…

Have they never blazed a new trail on a fresh landscape of white? Never felt the thrill of a sled ride or built a snowman? Certainly they must have missed the pure joy of taking a night walk in the snow, particularly while it’s still falling. Perhaps the shapes of things (trees, shrubs, even cars) wearing a coat of white has escaped their notice. Maybe they were not allowed to taste this wintry treat or play in it until their cheeks were red and their bodies numb with cold. I’m sure they did not grow up with a parent who delighted in snow as much as his chidren did. And I know that they do not remember being children (snow days!) nor do they currently work as teachers (snow days!).

Admittedly, I enjoy the snow more than the average person. My intense love of snow might even lead me to make poor parenting decisions. If I had not given Hannah an early bath and ignored my ringing cell phone while I was reading her bedtime stories, I would have known that our second snowfall of the season was taking place right outside my window. I would have bundled us both up so we could greet the falling snowflakes. I did manage to hold myself back from getting her out of bed (sigh) when I finally saw the snow.

Even so, I’m planning our morning adventure in my mind: her enthusiasm makes the snow even more magical. The forecast predicts this gift won’t last long, but we’ll be making the most of it.

We’re expecting a new baby on the 4th of July!

Hannah is completely convinced she’ll be getting a baby brother.

We are delighted!

Nothing beats gearing up for Christmas with an excited toddler. Hannah’s anticpation started in October when she saw Halloween lights and noted, “we don’t have any Christmas at our house.”

Yesterday we set up the ceramic Nativity set my grandparents painted for me. Baby Jesus has a chipped hand from last year’s loving, and she shows no signs of ignoring Him this year, either. When we unwrapped baby Jesus, Hannah immediately asked where His mommy was and then wanted me to find Daddy, too. She tried to put Him in His mother’s arms- a better place to be than that straw bed. Already the baby Jesus has taken a tumble onto the kitchen floor so I plan to set up a more child friendly Nativity soon.

We put a little tree in her bedroom. When I strung the lights, Hannah exclaimed, “it’s so beautiful!”

She’s fascinated by the lawn snowman and reindeer at Grandma and Popsy’s and though my mom told her they could belong to her as well, she insists we go and get one of each at the store for her own house.

A Santa Claus standing on the sidewalk in front of a store both intrigued and terrified her (and we were in the car). She’s confident that the next Santa we run into will have candy.

Every tomorrow brings the possibility of Christmas (in her mind) and the chance of snow.

Happy, happy holidays!

This week marks one year of trying for a second baby. We have reached the textbook definition of infertility: the inability of a healthy couple to conceive within a year. I just read that 85% of pregnancies are unplanned. This percentage spurred my desire to run my own analysis.  Although I’m not a numbers person, I thought these figures put things in perspective.

Number of women I know who have miscarried: 20 (most I never knew about until my experience)

Number of women from above figure who have gone on to deliver healthy babies: 16

Number of women I know who have had babies born in the last year: 22

Number of women currently pregnant with whom I have contact: 11

Number of women I know who are also trying to conceive at this time: 5

Number of dollars spent on pregnancy and OPK tests: $150

Chance of miscarrying after seeing a heartbeat: 4-5%

Age our baby would be if we had conceived last October: 3 months

Number of weeks until my due date had I not miscarried: 6

Number of people supporting us and prayers said on our behalf: countless

Both of us shower fresh,

she sits on the counter,

while I dry her hair.

Her arms wrap around

my waist, her face pressed

against my bare chest.

She doesn’t seem to notice

my imperfect body.

I lean down expecting

to smell her shampoo,

but breathe in acceptance instead.

After Hannah gave me a kiss, apparently I licked my lips because she exclaimed, “Mommy, don’t lick the kiss off!”

I want Daddy to come home and then he will take his shoes off.

When Tally grows up, she will talk. When she grows up, she will have a hand. When she grows up, she will be tiny!

Tally should come inside. She is cold outside.

After I broke the news that Tally shouldn’t be on the bed: “No, Tally SHOULD come on the bed. I like her on the bed. She is cold on the floor.”

At the library book drop: “Mommy, why are you putting the books in the garbage can?”

And weeks later when I assured her that we could borrow one of her favorite books at the library again sometime: “No, it’s not at the library because you put it in the garbage can.”

I don’t want to sleep. I will pretend. Open your eyes, Mommy.

Why is the song in your mouth?

Can I pee in the bathtub? Is it ok to pee in the bathtub, Mommy?

Being in the trenches of potty training has its rewards. And its laughs. Take today for example. Hannah was pulling at the back of her undies and scrunching up her face.

“Something’s not right” she told me. When she turned around, I laughed out loud. Her panties were on backwards and they were fitting like thong underwear.

Even a toddler can see that’s not ok!