double great.

This afternoon, my mother, sister, myself and my somehow-ended-up-without-pants child drove down to visit Ethan's great-great-grandmother, Jennie. It's always been hard enough for me to find cards from adults to their great-grandmother but now we get an additional challenge as Jennie gets to tack another "great" onto her title.

My great-grandfather married Jennie when I was extremely young and so I never remember a time when she wasn't there as a grandmother figure. My great-grandfather, Nonno, is the man who Ethan is named after. Then there's the always eerie (but in a heartwarming way) story about how Ethan surprised us all by deciding to be born when I was only 36 weeks along right on Nonno's birthday. One of the last things Nonno ever said to me before he passed away was that I'd have a son and we would know that he was here with us when I did have my son. I guess it was Nonno's will, because my water broke and then Ethan made his way into the world at 11:45 p.m., with fifteen minutes to spare in sharing a birthday with Nonno.

It's always been hard to accept that Nonno won't physically be here to meet his great-great-grandson and get to snuggle and cuddle him. Still, I am thankful that Ethan gets the opportunity to snuggle with his great-great-grandmother because not many children are lucky enough to say that. He'll get to waltz his way into Nonno and Jennie's home and get greeted by an outpouring of love just like we always got to as children and for that I am so very thankful.

baby, it's been unfathomably cold outside.

Yesterday was not cool. Well, I mean, it was freezing outside but inside? It was all about the meltdown (after meltdown, after meltdown). There was absolutely nothing that could keep a smile on Ethan's face yesterday. Sleep deprivation was the obvious culprit and for good reason. (No, it's not teething.)

My friends, the time has come for Ethan to sleep in his crib. And this does not make him happy.

My plan was to have him sleeping in his crib by five months...and then my goal moved to six months. A couple of weeks ago I said by seven months, I'd like him to be mostly moved over to the crib. Now I've learned that I will never set another goal again in regards to the crib.

Ethan has developed his own technique for fighting the crib transition and that is denying any all sleep until it's almost eleven o'clock at night and he just can't keep those eyelids open anymore. (At which point, he wakes up every couple of hours, notices he's in his crib and presents himself in a mood that sets the tone for the entire day. Like yesterday.)

It took him what felt like an eternity to forgive me for even placing him in his crib while I ran to get a ringing phone. It took what felt like an eternity for yesterday to end. The fact that he no longer fits in his bassinet is an apparent non-issue for Ethan. I get it, I really do. I hate change, too.

Today? Today was better. It was much better. Ethan slept in his crib until four this morning and took a two hour nap this afternoon. We spent the day with friends and family. The weather was warmer, we were able to leave our sweaters inside for the first time in a while, the sun was shining -- but the warmest part of the day was seeing that smile back on Ethan's face.

Yes, today was a good day.

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Abbey from Life Treasured

Hi, 'You Are The Roots' readers! I am so excited to be guest blogging over here today. My name is Abbey and I blog over at Life Treasured.

My Husband and I are high school sweethearts and have been married for a little over 4 years. We were in engaged 6 years ago on New Years Eve. It was such an unexpected surprise and I couldn't wait to begin planning our wedding and then soon enough become a Mrs.

It is funny how things turn out in life. I mean, as a teenager you never imagine marrying your high school boyfriend. That's why life is fun and so unexpected. You never know where love or life will take you.


We were married on a rainy day in June and began living the carefree life of newlyweds. We bought our first house and made it our home, started our "big kid" jobs and enjoyed the simple things in life. Fast forward to 3 1/2 years later.....we were ready to begin a new adventure in life and that was to begin a family. We envisioned a few kids within a few years apart and we were excited about expanding our family.

We were beyond thrilled when we were blessed with a positive pregnancy test. The wait to get into the doctor for an ultrasound seemed like an eternity, but we waited and dreamed. We dreamed about the little one developing in my belly and the parents we hoped to be. When it was finally time for our ultrasound we went in with high hopes and fingers crossed that our little one was on track with development and off to a great start. Then life did a funny thing and took us on a path we never could have imagined. The ultrasound revealed that we would be having twins! We were on cloud nine and our emotions were on an all time high. Three weeks later we went in for another ultrasound. I still can't believe what the ultrasound tech discovered. After a long uneasy silence, she announced that we would not only be having two babies, but THREE! Three identical little ones! We laughed...it was all that we could do with the amount of shock that ran through our bodies as we discovered we would be bringing triplets into the world as first time parents.


From that moment forward our life changed....for the better. It was another example to prove to me that no matter how much I think I have it all figured out, life takes you on an unexpected journey. One that isn't necessarily in the "plans," but a journey that you could never imagine your life without. No one dreams about starting a family off having triplets, but I am in love with this new reality and I couldn't have planned it out any better.

So weather it's not knowing when and where the love of your life will find you or how your family will take shape...life has a funny way of working out and it takes you on some amazing journeys!

and then there were greenbeans.

Today was Ethan's very first day of solids. (And, yes, we are those people who still have the Christmas tree up. I promise, I'll be taking the ornaments off tomorrow!) Greenbeans were on the menu, as you may remember from my great organic greenbean debacle. I prepared the first batch last night and anxiously awaited for this morning when he could have his first tablespoonful. Part of my oh no, I'm not ready for this yet anxiety was quenched when I realized it was pretty fun making Ethan's food on my own. We'll see how long it stays fun, but right now it's pretty fun.

Making Ethan's food wasn't the only unexpectedly fun part of this whole endeavor. I'll admit it, the actual feeding process was pretty fun, too. I have been dreading it for so long that it never occurred to me it may be an enjoyable experience.

So how did Ethan enjoy his greenbeans?

Okay, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. Don't let that face fool you. It was the spoon he wasn't a fan of -- the greenbeans he eagerly lapped up. I was pretty surprised how quickly he got the hang of the whole thing and a little disappointed he didn't end up covered head-to-toe in greenbeans for, you know, the whole full effect.

and it's 2012.

As 2011 transitioned into 2012, I was taking comfort in the tranquility of nature. I decided on a whim that a little spontaneity wouldn't kill me and before I knew it, I was throwing bags of my clothes and Ethan's clothes into my parents' car and we were all barreling up a highway en route to our lake house. With my husband's work schedule overlapping New Year's Eve and it's accompanying weekend this year, it only seemed like a great idea. It was. I mean, spontaneity isn't my friend and on my quest to find solace amongst nature and family I ended up misplacing my car keys indefinitely and requiring the assistance of a locksmith. But that aside, it was a great idea. And as luck (what's that?) would have it, my husband ended up having Monday off and so he drove up on New Year's Eve night, arriving two hours before 2012 made it's grand appearance. While my parents and sister headed back home yesterday, my husband, Ethan and I were able to squeeze in some more relaxation and family-time today. It ended up turning into a nice long weekend.

It was a long weekend filled with love and laughter and family and nature, with snuggling and singing songs on a dock overlooking the lake, with belly tickles and belly laughs.

This time last year, I was hearing Ethan's heartbeat for the first time as my doctor held the wand against my belly and the speaker up towards my ear. As magical a moment as it was, I much prefer the way it is this year, holding Ethan tight and being able to kiss and snuggle him anytime I so desire. (Which, you know, is all of the time.)



It was a weekend of staying in bed extra long in the mornings just to cuddle a bit longer as the birds sing in the tall trees outside our window, of feeling the crisp coolness of not too cold Florida weather subtly making it's way inside through the glass. It was a weekend of silly pajamas and an excuse to stay in them longer than usual without getting up and dressed.


And, really, if you ask Ethan, it was a weekend of toes.

I can't say I'm not sad to see 2011 go (it was the year that gave me Ethan, of course) but I'm pretty eager to experience all of the love and magic that 2012 holds. Bring it on, 2012. We're ready for you.