White Stuff

Today we woke up to about an inch or two of powdery snow! It was beautiful. I happen to love winter and cold temperatures and of course snow is a big part of that. We unfortunately {in my opinion} don't get much snow here so it's extra exciting when we do! Schools were closed today so that gives you a good idea of how we {don't} handle snow around here. I took Zoe out to play in it this morning and she really enjoyed it. She will fit into this family just fine :)

Zoe's Winter "One"derland

 

The beautiful birthday girl

I'll admit, I had a hard time deciding what theme to go with for Zoe's birthday party. At this age, she doesn't really have any big likes or dislikes to help guide me, and have you ever searched for party ideas online? There are about a.million. of them! So after a few times of changing my mind I went with the winter "one"derland theme, figuring I should embrace the winter birthday~ and knowing that snowflake decor would be abundant and {more importantly} on sale after the holidays :) Plus I had picked up a sparkly silver tulle skirt for her last year that I thought would fit right in. And since Zoe will have no recollection of this party other than the pictures, I knew I had no reason to get carried away with it. Ultimately, I wanted it to be a fun time to celebrate Zoe with friends and family that was simple and low-cost. I think I achieved my goal.

I used scrapbook paper to create a birthday bunting

we hung white streamers and silver snowflakes from the ceiling to create a winter wonderland

I kept the food simple with chocolate dipped pretzel rods, vanilla and red velvet cupcakes, fruit, cheese and crackers, and meatballs, and I served coffee punch. I made cupcake toppers out of the leftover scrapbook paper. This was Zoe's first cupcake and she seemed to like it, especially the icing~ she ate it very daintily and left half of it. Her favorite part was probably playing with the other kids. She got some great gifts including clothes, books, videos and toys. Later that day she came down with a fever, so the rest of her birthday she was kinda pitiful, poor girl. Zoe, we were happy to have an excuse to celebrate you. You have given us a year of smiles and laughs, sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and love beyond comprehension... we've never been so dependent on God or each other... and we cannot wait to see what you've got in store for us this year! We love you.

12 months never went so fast

Happy Birthday to my precious baby girl! Zoe spent her birthday surrounded by friends and family, and I'll post pictures of her birthday party soon. But first, what she's been up to this past month...

So-Funs at 12 months:

- Zoe says "hi," "ma ma," and "da"; she also says "noiy"a lot but we don't know what that one means...

- She helps get herself dressed, putting her arms through the shirt sleeves

- Zoe loves music and does quite a bit of dancing- she also loves to entertain

- For the most part, she is sleeping great, but she does fight her morning nap on occasion

- She gives lots of kisses these days and is great at waving and doing "so big"

- She uses lots of things as a phone, holding them up to her ear (the remote, toys, blocks) which I find particularly funny because she hardly sees anyone talking on the phone

- She makes the "bub bub bub" sound with her fingers over her lips and thinks she's pretty big stuff

- Zoe loves her Animals Around Us movie from Baby Einstein -- this is great because I can usually get dinner started in the 25 minutes it plays without worrying about what all she is getting into :)

Not-so-Funs at 12 months:

- Defiance. Man it starts early! Touching the trash can over and over, throwing food on the floor, pulling at cords all while watching my reaction... I wasn't prepared to have to deal with this yet. Recommendations at this age?

- I think its partly that her appetite is decreasing, but meal times are much more of a struggle. She often doesn't eat more than a few bites of any one thing, and then it goes over her tray and on the floor. Piece by piece. While mommy repeatedly says "no, food goes in our mouth." As soon as I start taking her tray away, she eats something and then we start the process all over again. But, she likes a wide variety of foods and doesn't spit things out usually. Until she's done with her yogurt and sprays it all over herself and mommy...

- She still loves bath time, but yesterday she stood up in the tub for the first time. Here we go... 

- Poor kiddo got a fever on her birthday and has been sick ever since. She doesn't have any other symptoms other than being a little more lethargic and cranky at times, but its still not fun. But, she has been so healthy this first year that its really been an opportunity to be thankful.

We can't believe you're already 1, little one... we're so thankful to be your parents... you give us such joy and laughter... we love you more each day and can't wait to see what God has in store for your life!

2012 Review... Sort of

I've been wanting to do a "recap" of 2012, showcasing the highlights and remembering how God got us through the not-so-"highlights"... but as I sit down to do so I've had a difficult time deciding what to write. Or rather what not to write. As I look back on this past year, all I see are blessings. We became parents. We celebrated 5 years of marriage. We traveled to Wisconsin, Mexico, Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Williamsburg. We spent lots of time with family and friends, who have all poured out lots of love on Zoe. My sister moved nearby. We continue to be part of a growing body of believers through our local church, where love is put into action and the truth of the Gospel is proclaimed. We've been relatively healthy, Geoff continues to have a secure job which did not take him away from home much last year, and I've been able to stay home with Zoe. Sure, there were sleepless nights filled with incessant crying, less freedom and more demands on our time, no more sleeping in, never ending tasks that never seem to get done... but nothing we could fathom exchanging for the grins and giggles, cuddles and coos or all consuming love that took hold of our hearts the second we met our little girl.
Don't get me wrong. There are days I complain. I get impatient. I even get mad. I have a bad attitude and desire an hour of "me" time. Parenthood has certainly shone a light on my selfish desires and sinful heart. As I reflect on this past year, I'm ashamed of the audacity of sin in my life when everything I have been given demands only a grateful and humble heart. Mommyhood is such a privilege and there are times I forget that. But then a little hand grabs my arm and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. What did I do to deserve such a blessing? The answer is absolutely nothing, but God has given me this gift anyway, because He is good. And His gifts require much rejoicing on my part. I have made a list of goals for 2013 which I will eventually share, but my main goal for this year is to truly rejoice in everything, to give God the glory everyday like He deserves and to be consciously grateful for the blessings (big or small) that He bestows on me each day.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice {Philippians 4:4}
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it {Psalm 118:24}

U.S. Botanic Gardens

As we sat around on New Years Day, full from brunch and with nothing planned until dinner {is it just me, or do holidays always revolve around food...}, we decided we wanted to get out and about for a bit but didn't know where to go. Then I remembered that the U.S. Botanic Gardens had a special winter exhibit -- we had tried to go see it before Christmas when we went to see the Capitol tree, but it didn't work out since the Gardens closed at 5pm. New Years Day happened to be the last day it was open so it worked out perfectly. The big attractions are (1) a train exhibit and (2) national landmarks made out of plant materials. We're talking pine cones and acorn tops and twigs coming together to form replicas of the national monuments, White House and Capitol. The building was pretty crowded so we were glad we decided against the stroller (Geoff carried Zoe in the Bjorn) but we also probably picked a busy day to go. It was neat exhibit and something I think Zoe will really enjoy in a few years. These pictures won't do it justice as you miss all the tiny details, but just to give you an idea, here are some of my favorites:

U.S. Supreme Court

Capitol

 

Mr. Lincoln

The White House

Video: Zoe, the Entertainer

{1.2.13} Without coaxing or seeing anyone do it that we know of, Zoe started doing this last night. She found a new way to entertain herself, and us too :) She's such a ham.

Merry & Bright

We visited the Capitol tree this year

Its almost hard to believe Christmas and New Years have come and gone already and we're back to life as normal, another year gone and a new one full of possibilities and plans and hopes and goals. This was our 6th Christmas Geoff and I have celebrated as a married couple, our first one as parents. We have a tradition of celebrating as a couple (now a family of 3) on a day separate from our celebration with extended family. We make a special meal to share together and exchange gifts, and this year we did some sightseeing too. Then we spent 5 days in Pennsylvania with my family over the actual Christmas holiday, seeing family and friends, eating lots of food, shopping, and even enjoying some snow! It was a wonderful time of making new memories with family while remembering the most important gift of Christ's birth~ come so that He could give the ultimate gift of His death to purchase eternal life for those who accept it. Joy to the World, the Lord is come... let heaven and nature sing!

Liking what she found in mommy's stocking...

Someone had a hard time keeping her hands off the Christmas tree

ready to dig into our traditional dinner of Cornish hens, passed down from Geoff's family

Love the beauty of snow on the trees {me & my brother}

 Somehow we failed to get a Goodling family photo this year~ oops~ well, except this one of our feet...

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a joyful start to 2013!