Almost 18 Months

I've been noticing over the past few months that Declan has grown leaps and bounds. His personality, vocabulary, fine & gross motor skills, eating habits, sleeping, comprehension, independence, tenacity, stubbornness, and sweet demeanor has all bubbled to the surface and is making him into this amazing little person.
As parents, we can find something to love (and not love) about every stage of our child's life, but I just feel that this stage we are in (he'll be 18 months in a week) is the best so far. He has been making us laugh at his stilly antics, swell with pride when he learns new words and phrases, watch in admiration as he determinedly tries and succeeds at a task, and sometimes, become consumed with frustration when he is stubbornly disobeying.
All of this to say, it's been a really fun, often challenging time of life and I find that I love him more and more each day that we are blessed to be his parents.

He asked to wear a hat on one of our walks last week

Playing in the snow on our day trip to Klamath Falls

Helping Mama dust

Truth

This is part of a blog post from a woman, whom I do not know, who just lost her eight year old daughter to cancer. It is beautifully poetic and thought provoking. It is the truth.
My prayer is that I remember these words of wisdom always, especially when life seems difficult. May they resonate with you as much as they have with me.

"My final request to all who read this blog: love. Love your babies, your husbands, mothers, sisters. Love each day like it’s your last. All you mamas out there, you have been entrusted with the precious gift of a human life who depends on you. Enjoy your gift. Breathe in the scent of your child’s hair, breath. Let them cook with you and make a mess of the kitchen. Play hide and seek with them, build sand castles with them, take them on picnics, read to them! Listen to them, value and respect them, never shame them. Your words they will carry with them their whole life and you have the power to give them wings or stunt their growth. Motherhood can be tough but it’s worth it. It can be exhausting, boring, tedious, but never for long. You blink and they’re grown. It has been my honor and privilege to love Daisy these last 8 years. I’m thankful for every minute; the joyful and the terrible alike."

Cookies, hearts, kisses, gifts & more!

Valentine's Day was a busy and fun celebration in the Connolly family this year. 

Our friend Mandy invited us (and other friends) over to her house in the morning for a cookie decorating party. While Declan is still to young to understand what the purpose of the gathering was, I know he enjoyed the activities, and of course, playing with his friends. 

Later that afternoon, Sean graciously took an hour off of work so that I could go see the chiropractor at Trillium (where I will be delivering baby #2). This particular chiropractor specializes in Network Spinal Analysis, or NAS, which is an amazing type of chiropractic care. I felt so relaxed and restored and can not wait for my next appointment.

And in the evening after Sean came home, Declan opened a package from his Nonna & Poppa, and we gave Dada the cookies we had made for him. Then Sean and I exchanged our gifts to each other. I gave him a homemade card and a gift card to Great Harvest (he treats himself there once a week). And I received ring. Not a brand new one, but that's okay because this is even better. 

For many years now I have been holding onto the wedding ring that was my mom's when she and my dad were married. I would have liked to wear it, but after taking it to jeweler, we found out that the diamond was dangerously loose in the setting and would fall out at any moment. So, my darling husband, took it out of my jewelry box without me knowing, and had the diamond reset and the whole ring cleaned. Now I can wear it an not be afraid of losing the diamond.

Decorating cookies

Emily & Dean

Cole & Sara

Kisses for Dada

Gifts!

My ring

Kisses from Mama