My How We've Grown

Something about Christmastime makes me nostalgic.  I think a lot about Christmases past, where we've been, what we've seen, and how our little family has grown over the years.

2007, Christmas in Tokyo. Can you say ready to pop??

 2008, Christmas in Annapolis.

2009, Christmas in NYC.

2010, Christmas in Connecticut.

2011, Christmas in CT.

2012, Christmas in CT.

And I'm very, very excited to report that next Christmas, there will be a new little face joining our family!! Say hello to Eich Baby 3.0, the 3rd and final installment ;) I'm about 14 weeks along now, the baby is due June 25, 2013 (of course add a week to that since historically- I've still been pregnant at the 41 week mark. Not that I'm still bitter about that of course, haha.)

The kids are both beyond excited about this. Connor really, really wants a baby brother, Leyla a sister. We're going to keep it a delivery surprise this time! Yes, next year my hands will most definitely be full, but we're feeling more blessed than can possibly be imagined this Christmas!!!!

Decorating the Tree 2012

As usual, one of my very favorite nights of the whole year!!

Silly kids.

I heart matching Christmas PJ's :)

The kids were really into asking about all of the ornaments this year- where they came from, etc. Here Connor was showing Leyla one I got the Christmas she was born. It's one of my very favorites!

 

I told the kids they had to be extra careful with the glass ones. So then of course each one that Leyla picked up she would ask "is this one made of glass?" as she is doing here.

Reindeer Connor.

Tada... she's a beauty!

So excited to host Christmas this year! The whole gang will be here, even Derek in from Denver. So excited to see him!!

Family Christmas Pictures

And now to catch up on some of the great pictures I've been meaning to share! We've been busy over the last month, I'm going to work backwards. We've been in need of some new family pictures and being that Christmas is our favorite time of year, we had someone come and snap some pics of the kids (and a couple of all of us) in front of our tree. It was just a quick 25 minute "mini" session but I am so happy with how they turned out! My kids sure don't mind smiling for the camera. One of the things I like most about this photographer (other than that she's inexpensive) is that she gives me the CD of proofs with full printing rights. So family members please note- you'll likely be getting one of these framed as a gift this year so I really hope you like them too!

Here are some of my faves:

These two could not possibly love each other more. Seriously melts my heart.

I adore Leyla's sweet face here!

This one is my very favorites. Connor carries Leyla around like this a lot (they call it "the koala") and she really loves it! It was the picture I was hoping for, and a pretty easy one to get (it became our Christmas card).

Connor could not look any more proud to be posing with his Dad! Oh man do I love those boys so much :)

 And then me and my favorite girl!

 A little bit of cheese if you please:

A Word About Sandy Hook

This blog has been neglected. I had planned to spend last Friday afternoon working on lots of updates (Connor naps on Friday afternoons too) but instead I spent it curled up on the couch holding my kids and trying to keep from sobbing like crazy in front of them. I was thankful that Andrew came home from work early, because I had a really tough time keeping it together. The rest of the weekend was a blur as well. Friday was among the saddest days I've ever seen. I'm not sure if it's because it happened literally so close to us, in a town so similar to mine, or because I have a child so close to that age but this hit way too close to home on so many levels. I'm not sure that my world (or anyone's world?) will ever feel the same as it did before Friday. Church was tough this past Sunday but my faith has also been an enormous source of comfort. Faith really is a gift. In the past week we've participated in a few different ways to remember the victims and to support the town of Newtown. This Sunday evening New Canaan will be holding a town wide candlelight vigil for Newtown, Andrew and I will definitely be going. We will never, ever, ever forget those beautiful babies and faculty that lost their lives that day. So unbelievably sad and tragic.

Someone in my neighborhood put up this memorial just after it happened. Whoever did this has changed out the balloons (there are 26) several times because they are always flying high, they should have run out of helium long ago. I tear up and say a prayer each time I pass it.

The principal at what will be Connor's kindergarten next year posted this online today and it gives me hope: 

“Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, the longest period of darkness. Let us hope together that as the days lengthen so too will the light in our hearts. Reach out to family and friends. Hug your wonderful children.”

I have never been one to take a single day with my kiddoes for granted. I always try to make the most of my time with them because I know each day spent with them is a gift. So not much has changed there. But there have been near constant hugs, kisses, cuddles and so many more I love you's (even more so than before). Earlier in the week Connor actually told me he needed his space for a bit, ha. I just can't hold them enough.

We support Newtown and mourn it's loss as if it were are own. God bless us all.

Random Pics

From the last couple weeks...

Leyla washing her hands at Connor's school. She wants so badly to go there herself!

 Leyla frequently tries to get away with riding on Connor's lap rather than in her own carseat.

Two peas in a pod.

 Our favorite pottery painting place- the little artists!

 Helping me pump my gas.

 At Jennette's son Landon's 2nd birthday party. Missing 2/3 of our kids in this picture!

Driving Miss Daisy.

Playdate with our (Tokyo friend!) Brendan. I had the boys make black cat cookies for Halloween.

Painting superheros at home.

Leyla's painting the bad guy.

 A blurry picture but I love her sweet smile here.

Getting ready for guests (the Albinos). Disregard the Yankees shirt that Connor is wearing. It was in his drawer and he really wanted to wear it. It's not like we let him out in public in it or anything.

Andrew and Rob took Connor and James to the local nursery to pick out pumpkins to carve. While there they also got to paint some pumpkins (and have their faces painted too.)

 The boys with the pumpkins they chose to carve.

 Our jackolanterns!

More Halloween cookies. My boy really loves making cookies with me!

 Spider cookies loosely based on the chocolate no bake cookies I make every Christmas, yum.