change. {new} management

Well for those who know, this has been a not so long time coming - but I have an announcement.
As of February 7, 2014 I will officially be under new management...they happen to be younger, less qualified, and much more demanding than anyone I've been employed by in the past. It's a HUGE change for our family and a significant change in my career trajectory to date...but I couldn't be more thrilled and nervous all at once. If you haven't guessed by now, after much thought and prayer and consideration, we have made the decision to say goodbye to my job of almost eight years in corporate America.  For the first time ever, my new title will be full-time, stay-at-home mom.  That's right, not full time mom/full time worker outside of the home. Now, stay.at.home.mom... [gulp]
So that being said, this was not a choice we made flippantly or even completely recently.  Well, obviously the decision was communicated recently - to my Employer, friends, and now you all...but this has been one of those daily life morphing journeys since we learned we were expecting our first child 3+ years ago.
That being said, I will be the first to admit I am torn between feeling VERY afraid with the decision - mostly because it's unknown and I am a planner...this is about the opposite for me.  Thankfully that fear is almost silenced by the joy and peace I feel having made the decision to leave my corporate job and focus on our family.
I can now see that The Lord has been working my heart to come to this place. I can clearly hear myself even nine years ago letting you in on my master plan - move to some faraway land, get the dream job and succeed my way through life.  I was bound and determined to continue my record of 'self-produced greatness' to prove my worth.
While I can't say that I don't still wrestle with pride, I can say that The Lord has used each moment since to make this choice clear for us now.
I'm definitely not naive enough to think all of my other stresses and stressors will disappear now that I can wear sweatpants everyday...(let's be honest, I have two little girls, so there's always an element of drama).  I'm not going into this thinking it will be the as me as the life of motherhood I've experienced so far either.  I'm fully aware that I will not receive any type of bonus for my performance, much less a thank you from these two each day for every move I make.  To be clear, I only half joke about these two becoming my new managers - only to set realistic expectations for myself as well.  I know my time home will not be just mine and am attempting to allow myself some time to figure out how the three of us work together, full time.

That's the update for now. I am still working through the reality of it all as I count down my final days at work.

Here's to change, adjusting, learning, adapting, and taking each moment as it comes.

it goes so quickly...Adi is 3

 

Universal new parent advice - "enjoy the moments, because it will go SO quickly".

Those words are burned in my brain from the amount of times others spoke them to me as soon as I was visibly pregnant.  I found that I went through stages of emotion with my response to that advice.

Pre-baby: 'oh that's so sweet, I'm sure you have such wisdom to pass on to me from raising your own'

New baby: 'I definitely agree, I never want this little girl to grow up'

4-5 week old baby: 'are you kidding me?! I only sleep for 1.5 hours at a time, can this go a little faster..?'

2 month old baby: 'you're growing up too fast, please slow down'

6 month old baby: 'how are you already half way to one year old?!'

1 year old: 'my little baby is no more...you're a real person now'

3 year old: 'how in the world are you 3 years old and how can I turn back time?!'

 

Well, we officially have a 3 year old and I am officially joining the club of asking every expecting parent to CHERISH every moment, because it will surely go too quickly!





 

Adilyn Rose Powers - we are so blessed and grateful that the Lord has given you to us.  Since the day you came into our world, you have kept us on our toes and changed our hearts.  You are truly beautiful, inside and out.  You are loving, caring, and thoughtful.  Your sense of humor cracks me up on a daily basis and I am so thankful for that.  Your smile brightens everyone's day - especially random people out and about. We have so loved watching you grow, learn, and become a little lady this past year and hope that we will continue to help you do even more in the next!

We love you!!

Now - for those who are interested, the birthday party details (or deets as I would say it):

The theme was Pajama party - so EVERYONE was asked to wear their PJs (or acceptable loungewear for those adults who didn't feel like busting our their ratty t's and/or boxers). 

I went for simple/paper product/throwback good 'ole fashioned sleep over decor 

Adilyn helped me construct those chain link garland - picking the order of the colors 

I forgot to take more detailed shots of the food - but we served French Toast Roll-ups, YoYo Donuts (specialty donut shop nearby), Fruit skewers, Sausages, Yogurt parfaits, and Cupcakes (with homemade chocolate frosting)

we of course had to have chocolate milk on hand too - one of the birthday girl's favorites 

A+C with Grandpa Bruce

{if there were a prize for best PJs, this guy would have gotten it in his funsie} 

the girls with their Grandmas 

she's not one for all eyes on her, and got a little shy when it came time to sing happy birthday...so Dad offered some of his air to blow out the candles

me snuggling up with the guest of honor

 

not that I needed one, but we threw Adi an 'after party' with some close friends later in the evening as an excuse to wear PJs all day!

we let everyone make their own pizzas - with all of the fixins 

I think they went over well! 

we passed out some of Adi's favorites to her friends to thank them for coming

{Pirate's Booty popcorn / Gummy bears / and bubble gum}

{what can I say, the girl likes candy}

 

Dan was set on giving her a pair of cross-country skiis for her birthday gift.  I will be honest and say I was definitely thinking these would go back or that we'd need a back-up present...

 

BUT - I was SO wrong.  We took them out for a spin in the yard today to take advantage of the 40 degree weather and, she LOVED it!

 

She is a natural! She trudged through the snow like a champ - and even went a decent distance without the help of dad, just one foot at a time.  We were SO proud of her for giving it a try, and even coming to find she enjoyed it.  She said she'll definitely do it again with her Dad!

DP = 1

 

 So the next time someone tells you to cherish these moments, because they go quickly - please don't roll your eyes at them. Each of these milestones forces me to step back and slow down and ENJOY each moment - instead of wishing some away because they're difficult.  Persevere in even the littlest!

 



 

cherishing the Season

I am fairly confident that there has not and will not soon be a year that I say, 'boy Christmas really dragged on...wish it would have passed more quickly'.

Yet again, this year we found the anticipation leading up to Christmas felt so much longer than the time to actually celebrate truly one of the most wonderful times in a year.  Even through the frigid temperatures here in Minnesota, we were able to force ourselves outside to prepare for gatherings with friends and family.  Since my last real post was December 4, I will just do a quick recap of our Holiday celebrations...

This was our first Christmas in our new home, so I had to take some time to consider where all of the Christmas decorations belonged.  I quickly realized that we are now without a fireplace + hearth, so we had to get creative with that...we ended up hanging them up higher to remove the temptation for Claire so the stockings were hung somewhat haphazardly from the curtain rod. Gotta do what you gotta do...
The girls both helped 'trim the tree' - so most of our ornaments ended up in basically two sections on the lower 1/8 of the tree. It was beautiful once I fought everything in me that wanted to re-arrange them to be more evenly distributed. 

December 8: the girls' daycare had a Christmas program for all ages to participate in.  Claire did great being wheeled in down the center aisle - taking in all of the faces staring at her.  Adi had a little bit of stage fright and burst into tears early in the walk down the same aisle, and ended up watching her friends sing the songs she had rehearsed for us.  I felt for her and we tried not to make it a big deal. Maybe next year she'll be a little more prepared for what happens at a Christmas program.

December 14: attended an 'ugly Christmas sweater party' for which we had a difficult time procuring said sweaters of the ugly nature and ended up with some ladies fleece winter apparel.  There is a picture of the hubs wearing his sleeveless fleece (without an undershirt), but I still cannot bring myself to post it anywhere 'on the line' as he would say - just seems like only bad things would come of it.

December 15: Christmas celebration with my side of the family (my Mom and Sister) at our house.  We made cookies, danced to classic Christmas tunes, and opened gifts together. 

 

Claire drumming away - without any instruction 

A + Grandma wearing their matching robes 

Claire with her new backpack to match her big Sis... 

...which apparently made her unable to walk 

after about 15 outtakes, I settled for this one...girl's gotta eat! 

Adilyn with her new kitchen!

 

 



December 21: Christmas celebration at G+G Powers house.  We relaxed, ate great food, opened lots of gifts, and spent quality time with each other and wonderful visitors!

Claire (10 months), Adilyn (2+), and Jacob (1)

 

 

 

December 22: we took flight and headed from - something degree weather in Minnesota to sunny, 80ish degree Orlando, FL. This was Claire's 1st flight and Adilyn's 2nd. They both did great on the way there and back - no major outbursts, or blow outs, or scene making. 

We spent seven wonderful, relaxing days in the warmth paying a visit to Downtown Disney, Legoland, the pool, and of course fitting in some quality time with the fam.

packing for 4 for 7 days...and I definitely ended up with too much for the girls

thankful for airport play areas before boarding 

little goof-ball on the plane before we took off  

what we were greeted with the first morning in Florida 

learning a little pool from the 'shark' himself 

this is how we roll in FL 

still have Christmas spirit 

warm day at the pool 

our little fish - couldn't get enough of the water 

cuddle time with Papa 

building gingerbread houses with Hannah 

 

the completed masterpiece

 

enjoying some time at the park... 

this girl LOVES the beach!! 

this girl may have been trying to eat the sand...? 

trying to help me get a good picture 

my heart could burst :) 

love these crazies 

Christmas Eve - opening gifts 

visit to Downtown Disney 

we had to find Mickey + Minnie 

pooped after a day of adventure 

we visited Legoland too 

Christmas dinner 

on our way back home...thankful Claire slept about half of the flight

 

 

It seems a post about our Christmas celebrations wouldn't be complete without the 2013 send-off picture.  We spent NYE at a good friends' house partying it up all night!

 

 

I think it's safe to say we are officially full swing into 2014 - so I truly hope you all were able to spend time cherishing the Season and those you love.  I also hope that your resolutions involve continuing to do the same, every day in the new year.