Tears, Tears, Tears

Separation anxiety is the pits. I feel bad for her and bad for myself all at the same time. My baby has it VERY bad. She cries every time she can't see me. Even in the car. If I am not in the back seat with her she cries. I don't mean a little whining either. I mean absolute panic attack with crocodile tears. We had her birthday party and she was just fine. I think she feels safe at home and with our close friends. When we are somewhere else is when she gets upset. And if someone tries to pick her up she absolutely freaks out. It is almost as if she is afraid they are going to take her. My husband and the pediatritian think it is mostly stemming from the trauma of the surgery combined with her developmental stage. And I just have no idea. The bottom line is... I am exhausted. Now that we are on vacation visiting in the in laws who she doesn't really remember we are at an all time low. Tears most of the day. If I take a shower she tries to stand outside the bathroom crying and banging on the door. She is only happy when physically attached to me and that is a lot on a person. I want to encourage her to basically get over it, but we are also in a new environment with people she doesnt know and I don't want to make it worse. It is a difficult balancing act. I love and adore her, but I am desperate for this to all pass. I miss her being happy all of the time. Sorry for my rant. It's sort of all that my mind has room for right now.

She's ONE!!!!

I can't believe it. One year ago today, my baby girl joined the world. I am sad and happy all at the same time. I hate that I have to admit that she is very much a toddler and not a baby. I am also so proud of her. My oh my the things she has done in a year. It's unbelievable.

We spent the day as a family and it was wonderful. We started by heading to Children's Hospital Boston to have her cast removed and get a splint made in Occupational Therapy. It was exciting. She now has 10 fingers like all the other kids and she has already started putting those two fully functioning hands to work destroying the house :)

We gave her a cupcake to dive into after we sang happy birthday and blew out the candle. It was a joyful moment. My heart is so full it could burst and at the same time I feel like there is so much more room to love. I feel accomplished. Ben and I made it. This isn't just a birthday, but an anniversary of the day we became parents. There have been great days and awful days. In the end everything was worth it. We all made it and we are happy with our beautiful family. It makes me hopeful for our future and excited to see where our life will go.

Here are a couple of photos of our day!

Discovered with two hands she could really do some damage!

I can't believe it. One year ago today, my baby girl joined the world. I am sad and happy all at the same time. I hate that I have to admit that she is very much a toddler and not a baby. I am also so proud of her. My oh my the things she has done in a year. It's unbelievable.

We spent the day as a family and it was wonderful. We started by heading to Children's Hospital Boston to have her cast removed and get a splint made in Occupational Therapy. It was exciting. She now has 10 fingers like all the other kids and she has already started putting those two fully functioning hands to work destroying the house :)

We gave her a cupcake to dive into after we sang happy birthday and blew out the candle. It was a joyful moment. My heart is so full it could burst and at the same time I feel like there is so much more room to love. I feel accomplished. Ben and I made it. This isn't just a birthday, but an anniversary of the day we became parents. There have been great days and awful days. In the end everything was worth it. We all made it and we are happy with our beautiful family. It makes me hopeful for our future and excited to see where our life will go.

Here are a couple of photos of our day!

I am grateful for...

I am grateful for...
my husband who loves me despite my faults,
my daughter who can always make me smile even when she's getting into trouble,
baby giggles,
my home that is safe and warm and filled with love,
our friends who have stood by us through thick and thin,
cupcakes (I just love them),
night time prayer with daddy and baby,
a warm fall (love 60 degree days in December),
coffee at all times a day,
the good health of my friends and family,
our neighborhood that has most everything in walking distance,
a God who thought I was worth it,
and everything I am sure our future has to offer us. The potential is amazing!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We LOVE Christmas here at the Wood household. Just decorating makes me more cheerful. At first, I thought having a Christmas baby would be steal some of the birthday joy, but it turns out it makes everything just more cheerful.

My favorite part of Christmas decorating... being with my family!

side bar: This is not even giving you a real glimpse of the amount of Christmas decor that has taken over our home. It's wonderful.