weaning from breast to bottle

I received a few questions yesterday about how we transitioned from breast to bottle so I decided to share our journey. Rosie was very disinterested in the bottle when I decided to start weaning her so I knew it would take a while. The most important tips I have are to be consistent and take your time.

We started by sub-ing one feeding a day with a bottle that was 2 oz formula and 4 oz breast milk. I usually gave her the bottle for her late morning feeding. Then she napped earlier in the morning and again in the afternoon so this way we didn't have to stop nursing to sleep. Again, she didn't care for the bottle and, in the beginning, would only take it if I was walking her around and singing to her during the feeding. After a few days I was stopped singing. We then increased to a half and half bottle and two bottles a day. Late morning and early evening for the same reason as above. About that time I was occasionally able to sit and feed her too (Thank God because my arms felt like they were going to fall off).

We continued to increase bottle feedings so that I was breast feeding her every 6 hours and giving her a bottle in between (she *still* eats every three hours). Oh, and that bottle was all formula. From there we just decreased the breast feedings and increased the bottle feedings until I was only nursing her at night. I would have to pump in between feedings to relieve engorgement but I would try to go for as long as I could so that my supply would decrease and eventually taper off. Obviously, with this schedule my milk supply did just that and we concluded our nursing journey well.

The whole process took about four weeks and we use tommy tippy bottles. I think that answered all the questions I got but feel free to ask any more if they come to mind!

xoxo
♥

nursing round two

Last night I nursed Rosie for the last time. While I will miss the closeness that accompanies nursing and I am happy with the decision.


When Lilly stopped nursing it was abrupt and unplanned. (she got teeth and was a biter. While we took a break to -ahem- let me heal, she decided she preferred the bottle and that was that) I was very emotional about it and cried a few times. I had feelings of guilt on top of the sadness and was just an all around mess.

This time I made the decision to stop. We needed a bit more flexibility in our schedule (and Rosie needed to learn to sleep through the night- that's a whole different post) We've been working on the switch since the beginning of the month and we took our time. I savored every drop of the end. I closed my eyes, listening to hear breath and nurse. I felt her chest rise and fall against mine. I watched her little eyes close and her little fingers twiddle her lovie. It was perfect.

She is a champ with her bottle and loves the freedom it gives her. I can hardly keep her still long enough to finish. She likes to drink a little on her back then scoot over to sit on my lap and have some there. Then turn sideways and recline in my arms, then sit back up and repeat.

I'll admit I was tempted to feel guilt again but I think it came from outside pressure. There are many moms who choose to nurse for the first year and beyond and while that is great it wasn't for us. This post from Danielle was super encouraging to me and helped me beat off that annoying feeling of mompetition and the accompanied guilt and/or shame I felt from trying to compare myself to other moms.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway- moral of the story is that we are all happy and excited about our new found freedom. Time to go on some adventures!

♥

ps- I am OBSESSED with those jammies. I found them at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store. They give me hearts in my eyes.

Stress Dreams

Yesterday Lilly told that there was an incident at school where she didn't get to color while everyone else did. Apparently a boy took her seat. (The nerve!)  I know better then to believe that this was as big of a deal as she made it out to be because she is three and doesn't share all sides of the story. (although my momma bear instinct did flare up a bit)

That night while I was sitting in the girls room feeding Rosie and Lilly shouted in her sleep, "I want to color!" It's those kind of moments that make me realize how big she is. Having stress related dreams is to grown up for her if you ask me. But I can't protect her from everything- and crayon related stress isn't too bad. Sometimes, as a momma, I forget that my end goal is to raise happy, successful and well adjusted adults. Not an adult sized child. It is better to allow stress into her life so I can teach her how to handle it then to keep her stress free. And it's better to teach her to be in control of her own circumstances (Next time just grab your own chair and color! Don't wait for someone else to make room for you!)  then for me to get in a fight with this neanderthal boy's mother, right?








or should we go get our pitchforks?

Just a mom.

Can I make a confession?  Some days I struggle with just being a mom. There are so many thoughts/ideas/plans swirling around in my head that I want to do now.

Some are little: crafts to make, things to learn, pictures to take.

Some are boring: nails to paint, food to eat, laundry to clean.

Some are big and exciting: trips to take, collaborations to make.

But for now most of these things are on hold because there is always someone who needs their mommy. And even though my pride urges me to pursue my selfish desires I know in my heart of hearts that I would rather be here to kiss scraped knees and tickle little toes. I know a time will come when I have all the free time I could want. And I'm told I will miss them terribly. Today I will just be their mommy and maybe after they go to bed I can paint my nails.

♥

The Mischief of Lillian Elouise & The Crayon

Last week Ben called me into the bedroom to see what Lillian had done. (Ruh Row.) Upon my arrival she confessed that she had colored on the wall.( Insert stern mama face.) I started to scold her until I saw what she drew. It was two people! Then I started to laugh/cry. I was so proud of her. (Insert confused toddler here.) 

Up until this point she had only drawn lines and the occasional circle. I was starting to become concerned (paranoid much?) because I saw other kids her age drawing figures. I eventually put my mom pants back on and told her how I was so proud of her drawings but preferred that she didn't do them on the walls. I started to make her clean it off which she actually enjoyed (fail) so I took the magic eraser from her and did it myself which made her cry (win?). 

I am one proud mama... I think.

( ♥ )

First Day

spaced out // re-focusing // genuine smile // proud girl

Yesterday morning Lillian Elouise walked through the door to her first pre-school class and didn't look back. I am so proud of my brave little girl. When I picked her up she told me that she "didn't have ANY fun!" then smiled the whole way home. Faker.

I did pretty good too. I didn't shed any tears (got them all out the night before) and managed to go grocery shopping. I did however have a mini panic attack when I realized that for the first time my parenting skills are going to be public. The teachers and other moms will see through Lilly's words and behaviors what kind of parent I am. I imagine her teaching the other children to call their behinds "butt cheeks". The teachers will know we taught her that! And what if I've missed something major! What if I pack her the wrong kind of lunch?! What if she doesn't have the right backpack or shoes?! I want her to be liked and I want to be liked as well! 

Thankfully, I was reminded that the expectations/standards I have placed on myself are just that. MINE. The other moms may not be as crazy as I am (hopefully) and probably aren't even looking at Lilly's shoes. Everyone has a first time going to school. I have a great kid. I am a good parent. We will get through this together. 

Did you have a first timer this week? How was it for you?

♥

Life lessons at the beach.

Towels? Check. 

Chairs? Check. 

Umbrella? Check. 

Snacks? Check. 

Swimsuit? Swimsuit... nope.

That's right. Last week we went to the beach, with our car packed to the gills, and forgot Lilly's suit. As a mom- I have developed this need to be the most efficient/effective I can be at all times. I can literally lose my mind over wasted time. I have trouble just relaxing and going with the flow. So when I asked Ben where Lilly's suit was and his face went blank- I almost lost it. No suit. At the beach. Without a swimsuit. 0_o

Ben suggested we just let her swim and play in her tee and panties. I'm pretty sure I stared at him for a good minute before I said ok. Did she look a little ridiculous? Yes. Did I have to swallow my pride? Most definitely. But here's the deal: who cares?!? She was happy. She was safe. Who cares that she wasn't in a swimsuit? (besides me...) 

I could have let this get to me. It could have ruined my day. Thank God that my emotions are not in control of me (most of the time). We all had a great day and I managed to take another baby step towards responding to surprise situations like a normal human being.

♥

SOS: Dresses all around

Stepping out Saturday actually Sunday on a Tuesday. I have a new baby. I don't have to follow "rules" like days of the week. For church on Sunday Lilly, Rosie and I all managed to look nice at the same time so I decided we needed to record the event. These pictures may all look the same but there are some very subtle/funny differences.

1. Lilly and Mom are smiling genuinely. Rosie is starting to lose it.

2. Lilly begins to space out. Mom is feeling the stress of Rosie crying. Liberty joins. 

3. Lilly is no longer present. Mom tries to shush Rosie.

4. Lilly returns due to the excitement of noticing Liberty is in the picture. Mom has readjusted Rosie and is genuinely smiling over how awesome her life is. (I really really love this craziness.)

♥

ps- Mom, Lilly and Rosie are wearing head to toe Target. It's a sickness.

Honey Badger Mom & LillyPup

Yesterday while at Target Lillian decided that she was going to be a puppy and crawl on the floor THE WHOLE TIME. I started to tell her to get up and walk like a big girl but then I didn't. I decided to take the Honey Badger route. Honey Badger Mom don't care! My kid isn't hurting anyone (besides possibly herself) and yes I did scrub her little hands in the bathroom on the way out. Yes that is my 2 year old crawling on the ground and barking. Go ahead and stare Target patrons! Honey Badger Mom don't even care. 

Choosing Happiness

A beautiful rose from our walk in the park.

Guess why I smile a lot? Because it's worth it. - Marcel The Shell

Last Thursday was the first day that Lilly, Rosie and I were alone. Just the three of us. Ben's mom stayed with us for the for two weeks after my cesarean and was so helpful. But Wednesday night she went back to MN and that was that. 

Thursday started out pretty smoothly- Ben went in late to work so I could sleep in a bit and get ready for the day. After he left I took Lilly and Rosie to the park. Things went less smoothly there. Lilly did a mediocre job listening. Rosie cried about 50-60% of the time. I'm pretty sure there was at least one person crying for most of the day. But you know what, it wasn't bad. In fact I wouldn't trade it for the world. I knew it wouldn't be all rainbows and kittens with a toddler and a newborn and it certainly isn't. But I am choosing happiness. When I am awake to watch the sun rise, I am choosing to be thankful. When I am exhausted and hungry I choose to be grateful. I have two beautiful and healthy daughters. What do I have to complain about?! (well- I do complain a bit which you already know if you follow me on twitter. but nobody's perfect)

The point is that this is just a phase. There are so many of them in life. Times when we feel beat down, exhausted or overwhelmed but it is just a season. And a time will come when we don't even remember the things that made us feel bad. I have been looking back on Lillian's new born days with stars in my eyes even though I KNOW I was very lost during that time. And I will do the same thing with Rosie... eventually.

I'm determined to keep my head up and be thankful for this precious and fleeting time in my life. The newborn phase. le sigh.

♥

ps- I hope you choose happiness too. It's worth it.

Baby Talk V.8

Isn't it crazy how things change all while they stay the same. The picture on the left was taken in April of 2011 and was used in my first baby talk post. The picture on the right is from this month. I have been compiling some of the "sweet" things she has been saying (sweet is in quotations because they are more like sassy and embarrassing) and realized that the name baby talk doesn't really apply to her anymore. She certainly isn't a baby. Anyway- here are some Lilly-isms.

-note: I just read back through all the baby talk posts and I basically say the above over and over. Ha. Moms, amiright?-

words:

• last night/yesterday- Lillian has no concept of time and refers to everything that happened in the past- whether it was this morning or 3 months ago- as either yesterday or last night.
• "foop foop"- aparently this is what I sound like when I whistle for the dog. Lilly is really into playing with Liberty right now and calls for her by cupping her mouth and saying/shouting "foop foop". It's pretty cute.
• pillow- hippo. Lilly got a hippo toy in her happy meal (judge away) the other day and mistakenly called it a pillow. She corrected herself that night but I sure enjoyed it while it lasted.

and more...

• While at Target I hear Lilly ask "Are those your big butt cheeks?" while walking behind me. I turn around feeling mortified thinking I'm about to come face to face with a very offended person to find her staring and pointing at my behind. Yep. Thanks, Lil. 
• After getting all dressed up for my baby shower (which I promise I will share pictures of!) I asked Lilly how I looked. She said, "Not good." Plain and simple. Once my husband picked himself up off the floor from his fit of laughter he scolded her and told me I looked very pretty. 
• While at Dunkin Donuts, Lilly very randomly turned to me and said "Are we safe in here or are there alligators?" I assured her of her safety.
• If you've ever been pregnant before (or around someone who is very pregnant) you may know that gas is just part of the game. Luckily, if you have another child you can just blame any potentially embarrassing public situations on them... or so I thought. At the park I may or may not have accidentally let one rip (I'll never admit it!) and Ben said, "What was that?!?" I replied, "Lilly." Lilly replied (in a very loud voice), "THAT WASN'T LILLY'S TOOT! THAT WAS A MOMMY TOOT!" Shamed in public by my own daughter. 

Like I was saying- these little sayings and stories are becoming less cute for me and more enjoyable for everyone else. Luckily, in a few months, I will have more cute things from a new child who still loves me- even in public.

♥

Mother's Day

jacket- old target

dress- thrifted

necklace- my wedding ring on a chain since it doesn't fit my fat fingers anymore.

Lilly's dress- H&M

I hope all of you ladies had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was very low key. Church in the morning, Five Guys for lunch (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm) with Cold Stone after (double mmmmmmmmm) and lots of rest and relaxation. I feel so blessed to be Lillian Elouise's mommy. I can't wait until next year when I have two little munchkins running around. Le sigh. Life is good. 

♥

ps- I'm linking up with the haps!

Maternity Pictures: Family

These pictures are my favorites. I just love my little family so much! We took this set in our back yard which is really a testament to Jordan's talent because my back yard is a MESS! That picture of Lilly with the huge/crazy smile makes me laugh so hard. There are so many like that in the proofs. I love being her mommy. 

♥

Click these links for part one and two of my maternity pictures.

wake up before your kids

Whoa. I know those are fighting words- but hear me out. Imagine a quiet breakfast. Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee on the porch in peace. Imagine washing your face and getting dressed without having a little someone trying to rub mascara on their lips or pull your underpants down. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, it is totally possible! 

For the past two weeks I have made it my goal to reclaim my mornings. I used to get up before Lilly all the time... before I got pregnant again. (Uhh- so 7ish months ago.) The difference it makes in my life is worth more then any amount of sleep. I am more organized, happier and (a biggie for me) more patient! In fact, while I am typing this the only sounds I hear are the clicking of the keyboard and the birds in my back yard. Yesterday, I actually did 45 minutes of yoga! Was it a hard habit to start? Absolutely. (I've been trying to get back into the habit my whole pregnancy for crying out loud!) But it is so worth it. I want to encourage you to just try! Here are some things that help me get out of bed. Maybe they can help you too.

• Reasoning- the average person needs between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. Plenty of successful people (and most mothers) run on 6 or less! That means if you go to bed before Midnight you should be fine getting up between 6am and 8am. Your kid gets up at 5:30am? Go to bed at 10:00pm. That is still 7 hours with 30 minutes of you time. 
• Snooze- I know that I probably won't get up at the first alarm. So I set another! I change the alarm sound too. I put it on the other side of the bed so I can't just roll over and shut it off. Can I tell you how many times I have been awakened by a poke in the face and thought what the heck happened to my alarm?!? Oh, I shut it off in my sleep. Oops. 
• Treat yo' self- Now that you're up and out of bed reward yourself! Put on some pretty lipstick. Make yourself a (gasp!) hot breakfast. Have a devotional you've been meaning to get around to? How about a shower?! Drive thru Starbucks, anyone? It doesn't have to be anything big but do something special for yourself. This isn't an easy habit to get into after all. 
• Technology- This is similar to treating yourself (at least it is for me) but use what you have! I set my alarm on my phone and then lay and bed and look at instagram after it goes off. I usually give myself an extra 10 minutes to lay in bed and mess around on my phone. I love social media so it's something I enjoy doing that helps me wake up and get out of bed. 
• Remember He is on your side- Proverbs 31 describes a woman who "gets up while it is still night". Pray about it. It will help! Trust me- this lazy pregnant butt wouldn't be getting out of bed early without some sort of divine intervention.

It gets easier every time. And you won't always be successful. I had a whole week where Lilly woke up about 3 minutes after my alarm went off. Every. Day. It was discouraging but she eventually got back into her normal sleep schedule. One of the greatest rewards for me has been the change in my attitude towards seeing my daughter in the morning. I always love her no matter what, but I sure do feel happier to hear her sweet little feet padding down the hall way towards a well fed, ready for the day me then when she sticks her finger up my soundly sleeping nose. 

I hope you feel encouraged and ready to take back your mornings. If I can do it, you can. Let's do it together!

♥

rage monster

These past few days have been rough for me. Lilly developed a little cold on Wednesday and -you know- I'm in my third trimester. It's a recipe for disaster. Wednesday was ok. Thankfully, Ben was off and shouldered the load for me. I woke up feeling unrested and achy (and emotional) so I was achy and crying most of the day. (On a side note: I don't know how you single mamas do it. God bless each and every one of you. I would lose my mind.) Thursday I woke up ready to tackle the day and feeling confident that I could deal with the ungodly creature that is a sick two year old. My patience held for the morning (we went to the park) but began to fade at nap time (or lack there of). By the time Ben came home I was feeling a little slap happy. 

And then there's today. You know how in the hulk movies Bruce Banner always says "You're making me angry! And you don't want to see me angry." That was me today. A crazy pregnant lady and a sick toddler are not a good match. I satiated the rage monster with a grande frappuccino (judge me) and have spent a lot of time praying and meditating on this bit of advice from Jordan May you see what lies ahead as obedience to the master – not a sacrifice to what you thought would be your life – for in obedience we see the beauty of who we are to truly be.

Part of the problem is that some days (like today) my ambition gets the best of me. There are so many things I want to do with my time, with this space, with my knitting, with my house and my life- but I am a mother first. I need to put my ambition aside (at least until nap time) and love my daughter the way she needs to be loved. I need to remember that when the kids are grown and I am left with an empty nest I will long for these days (right?).  

Anyway- here are some cute pictures from the park. Thanks for letting me get all that off my chest. 

ps- these gardenias smelled so amazing that I just about dug up the whole bush and brought it home. Too bad plant theft is discouraged in today's society.

♥

MM // life lessons at the berry patch

Over the weekend Amy and I took the kiddos to the berry patch. It was a beautiful and blustery day.The blueberry bushes looked like they needed a while but the strawberries (or as Lilly says, "strawbellies") were perfect. Amazingly ripe and juicy. Delicious.  

I even learned a little lesson at the patch. (hint: Frankie says to do it) More then once Lilly picked a green or overly ripe strawberry. I kept my eyes on what she was putting in her basket, making sure they were perfect, since I was paying for them after all. But after a little while I realized that I wasn't having any fun! I was so focused on getting the "right" strawberries that I was missing all the sweet moments taking place in front of my face. So I decided to RELAX and enjoy the experience I was having with my daughter and our friends. Life is so much more then having the right strawberries. While a ripe berry is delicious- it's important to enjoy the picking too. 

♥

Mommyhood Monday // No to no!

Hey! No making faces!!

As a mother of a toddler I find myself saying the word "no" more then any other word in the English language. (That may be inaccurate but let's just go with it.) Naturally, I can be a controlling person. I like things to go according to plan and I like to do what I can to make that happen. I didn't even realize this about myself until I became a mother and had a little creature at my sides all the time trying to derail my plans. As you can imagine- adjusting to motherhood took some time. To be honest, I am still adjusting!

 One major adjustment for me has been learning to say no to no. It is usually the first thing out of my mouth when Lilly asks me a question. But I have realized that I really need to question my motivation and think about her request before saying the N-O word. I've found that a lot of times I am simply saying to because I don't want to do what she does. I don't want to paint right now. It's too messy. It requires too much set up and clean up. I don't want to go outside because I don't want to find her shoes (and pants) and have to chase her around. I don't want to let her walk at the grocery store because she is more likely to wander off my desired path. I realized that a lot of times my motivation for for saying no was straight up selfish and silly. And it turns out sometimes we have way more fun when I say yes! Sure, I may be more tired at night (at least I don't have trouble falling asleep) or have more to clean up or take 40 minutes to do something that should have taken 10 but in return my little girl feels loved and has possibly even learned something. 

Saying no to no has honestly improved our day to day life. Sure, saying no is still a very necessary part of parenthood but I want to embrace those moments when its not. Why not say "yes" when I can!? We fight less and hug more. And that is definitely worth losing a little bit of that control I love so dearly.

♥

Mommyhood Monday // Resilience

If I recall correctly this photo was taken during Lilly's second time out of the day. It was definitely before 10am. 

One of the hardest things, for me, about parenting is the sheer tenacity you must have about discipline. There are so many times that I don't want to tell Lilly no because of the impending fight it will cause. The fact that I choose to use the word fight shows a lack of resilience on my end. There should never even BE a fight. I am the parent! It isn't like she has a valid argument: 

-No, Lilly, you may not have M&Ms for breakfast.

- But mama, I need M&Ms. 

-No.

-WWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I have read that toddler-hood is all about discovering boundaries and the role of the parent is to enforce these boundaries. It can just be tough, you know!?! Some days I don't want to have to tell her 45 times to not stand so close to the TV or to be the one who says no to sugar upon sugar upon sugar all the time. Some days I just want her to be happy with me all day and not think mama is a meanie. And sometimes a break is necessary (for example- the other night I dreamed that Lilly died and was really shaken up by it. The next morning I ran very late to church because of how long I sat and snuggled her in front of the TV.) BUT- I have to keep in mind the my goal in parenting is to raise a well adjusted, responsible, adult. Not an adult sized child. Therefore- I will continue to tell her no even if it isn't fun for me. I will continue to be the bad guy because I know she will love me for it in the future (Like when she has broken the habit of sticking her fingers in her crack all day long. She would not be a happy middle schooler if she couldn't help sticking her hands in her pants when she got nervous.) 

So a word to all the other toddler moms out there:

WE CAN DO IT!

No matter how much they fight.

All day, every day.

I promise.

♥

MM // Potty Training

Whoa. It's almost been a whole week since I blogged last. That is the longest I've even gone since I started this blog almost a year ago. What have I been doing you ask? Potty training and reading The Hunger Games series. Between the two of those things I hardly had time to breath let alone blog! I have lots of thoughts on THG but will save those for another post. zxxxzxzxxzxxzxXxjnmkml,........ (that last little bit was from Lilly.)

Potty training has gone remarkably well. We tried a few months ago and it was a disaster. Everytime she sat on her little potty it ended in a fight so, after my doctor's recommendation, we decided to wait. Let me just say waiting was one of the best parenting decisions to date. She has taken to it this time like a fish to water. Well, almost. Last Monday we went straight into big girl panties which she got in her stocking. She only had one accident on Monday then continued to go in the potty pretty consistently. She had one nap time accident so I decided to do training pants during sleep times which has been great. I think she only had 3ish other accidents after that. Pee Pee accidents, I should say.

Pooping has been a whole different story. She didn't poop at all Tuesday though Saturday. I knew she was just being stubborn but was fed up so I filled her up with apple juice and fiber filled cereal and that did the trick. She pooped on the potty once. Since then she has been very inconsistent. She poops a little on the potty but most of the big turds are reserved for her panties. It is sad/hysterical. It's like she can't feel it coming and then starts to panic. Full on high pitched screaming/immobility while clutching her butt. Haha. Hopefully she resolves that soon!

As for me, potty training has been easier then anticipated. I am naturally a worry wart. I was so full of anxiety about this! It certainly has been a learning experience. I have mostly learned to laugh more. I thought I would freak out over accidents. I was not looking forward to cleaning them up but it really hasn't' been a big deal. We even had once accident at the Goodwill that was my fault. She told me she had to go and we made it to the bathroom but I didn't pull her panties down far enough and put her too close to the edge of the seat so her pee when up and over the edge and into her panties. Amazingly, I got a good laugh out of that one. I have been so laid back! Who would have thought. ;)

Overall, we are happy and she is happy. She loves her panties which are Minnie Mouse, YGG and Tangled. She picked them herself. The lesson learned is that you can't rush potty training (oh, and that mom should relax). As a friend of mine told me, "When they're ready- they're ready."

♥

Mommyhood Monday // Christmas Presents

Christmas 2010

Christmas and kids. This is kinda a hot button issue with me. These days kids get a lot of crap toys for Christmas. Where do you draw the line? How much is too much? I don't really know the answer to these questions but I can tell you what we are trying to do in our home. 

Lilly usually gets one big gift (and by big I mean in size, not dollar amount) and then a few little things. Last year Ben and I (err... I mean Santa) gave her a tent and some blocks and... I CAN"T EVEN REMEMBER! That kinda proves my point though doesn't it? I can't even remember what we gave her that isn't pictured. She also received Christmas presents from her grandmas and aunts and uncles so she still had more then enough when all was said and done. I guess what my point is (since I haven't really stated it) is that as parents we should teach our kids that their are more important things this time of year then getting the newest toy. If we always get them the latest and greatest (and lots of other stuff too) aren't we setting them up to become greedy and/or materialistic? In the end gifts are fun but they aren't really important (I mean, sometimes we can't even remember what they were). Instead I hope to teach Lilly things like generosity, the importance of family and tradition, and what real joy is like. 

I certainly don't have it all figured out. She may be too young this year to grasp concepts like generosity but by setting a standard she will grow to understand when she gets older. My prayer for Lilly at Christmas time is that, in the new year, she will have a renewed spirit and joy. That she will be even more in love with her family and that she will understand that real and lasting happiness comes from the ones you love and not from what is under the Christmas tree.

♥