Reflection (re fl eck shun)

I always get nostalgic around the end of the year... I think you are supposed to. I think of where I was last year and the events that have happened over the year. I think of the changes, the significant events that have shaped the year both personally and from a worldly view.

This was the year of Eleanor. From start to finish my life was completely engulfed in the existence of this sassy little redhead. From the pregnancy, to her birth, to adjusting to her growing... it's been an amazing year that has changed my life as well as my outlook on the world. The funny part is it has been a fantastic blur. I have been trying to think of moments that have defined her growth and they are a reel sliding past me from the moment she popped over the blue screen to the moment we rocked last night before she rubbed her eyes and fell asleep. I keep trying to savor her first year while balancing my lack of sleep and muddling through knowing if we are making the making the best parental decision.

Being a parent has also made me concerned about the activities of the world. The D APL pipeline protest has sickened me with what has been allowed by those who feel justified without reasoning while the law enforcement have been painted as the villains. The world has been presented a slanted message that ignores logic but instead listens to the screaming babble that is being spouted by paid protestors and biased media. I am glad that we don't have to have these hard talks with Eleanor to explain to her what is happening or explain why her daycare is on lockdown.

The other topic that I am glad that I didn't have to take on to explain or justify is the election...Clinton versus Trump. Seeing a woman run for president was a momentous event that I've been waiting to see but that didn't make my vote easy. I had problems with both candidates and their polarizing view points. I understand the shake up that America wants to see, which was similar on our state level. Our newly appointed governor is not familiar with the political arena like those he ran against. I'm curious to see what these changes will do to my world and impact my daughter's future.

Finally as I sit and watch the snow build and pile in the yard, I wonder about the coming year and what's coming for my little family. What will we look like? How will we function? Where will we go? I always like to play the whatif game in my head:
Whatif we leave Bismarck?
Whatif we are blessed with another child?
Whatif we have to say goodbye to someone we love?
Whatif we still have Eric living in our basement?
Whatif we get a different car?
Whatif we get to go on a wonderful trip - where will it be? Texas? Kansas City? California? Boston?
Whatif the Cubs win another World Series?
Whatif Matt lets me get another cat?
Whatif we finally have a family party/picnic at our house?
The happy whatifs make me smile and dream, the sad whatifs chill my heart... I don't want to think about tragedy, illness, fire, hurt, pain, grief... but those are whatifs that also play against the sunshine and rainbows that we prefer.
The only thing I know is that things won't stay the same there will be change. Eleanor will take her first steps and say her first words, Matt and I will plan more trips (taking them is another deal), the garden will grown, Matt may finally get to his landscaping project, I will find a project to focus on in the house,

May this peaceful time of the year also give you time to reflect on your world... Happy New Year from my beautiful family to yours.

List (l Ist)

This year's Christmas Wish List. 
Eleanor

• Toddler bed guard rail for her bed/crib
• Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Crawl Around Activity Center.
• 18 month sleepers (light and heavy)
• Blocks
• Christmas books
• Large Ball (maybe basketball size)
• 3-in-1 Bounce, Ride, Stride Elephant from FP
• VTech Magic Star Learning Table

Amanda

• Tieks - size 9, matte black
• Kitchen Helper stool
• Set of 6 wooden bowls for salads (individual not big)
• Velvet hangers
• Sanded down, 6' 2x6 board
• Gift cards to Hobby Lobby that I can use to frame pics for the stairway
• Long Bathrobe

Matt

• Stanley camo thermos
• Meat Lug Totes (with covers)
• Cubs attire (XXL)
• Cubs, World Series Champs items
• Goose and Duck Decoys
• Boat Anchor
• Craftsman Gas Powered tool, Lawn trimmer attachment, Edger attachment, tiller attachment
• Lansky Knife Sharpening Kit
• Hells Canyon Base Hunting clothing, found at scheels
• HookUps, spotting adapter

Yule (yool)

Baby's first Christmas... well, Christmases. We already had one Christmas under our belt but this weekend - it was the real deal.. the big show... the official run. We started it off on Christmas Eve at the Dagman's. We were ready, we were prepped, we drove around the neighborhood before arriving to hopes of prompting someone to nap so we could be festive and happy!

When the eating begins at 5:30 and presents begin at 7:00 and the baby tends to go to sleep around 6:30 - that timeline tends to not work the best. We were a happy baby for a good portion of the time including arriving, being held and loved by all family members, and meeting some of the cousins. Laramie -  who is closest in age to her seemed to take an interest in the "baby" but she was perfectly content crawling around in her skirt and attempting to stand. She began fading fast just in time for present opening. She got some cute things from the Great Aunts including a pink camo bib and moccasin combo, a stuffed kitty, princess snack cups, and a cell phone. After we put her to bed... we also go to participate in the gift exchanging. We got some really nice gifts this year. My favorite has to be our wedding book that Aunt Descie put together. She had given it to us as a gift for our wedding but the time and energy she put forth to put it all together was very touching. It was a great night to visit with family that we have gotten to only see a couple times a year, see their changing children, and laugh a bit. It would have been a near perfect night if "someone" wouldn't have insisted on stealing my gift during the women's exchange. She shall remain nameless.

After food, drinks, and talking, we woke up Len and headed home to prep for Santa. The next morning we were almost allowed to sleep in. The new sleeping in is 8:00! We headed down the stairs and had for our little family Christmas Christmas. Matt and I often go overboard for each other... this year was no difference. He got me a Google Home, a Spyder jacket, a Caribou card, and underarmour unmentionables. I got him a cordless Dyson that he's been talking about adding to our family for quite some time. Eleanor got a set of crocheted fruit that she dug right into... includes cucumbers, oranges, lemon, beet, radish, eggs, etc. Her favorite of the set is the carrot. 

From there, we bundled up and headed out to the farm for the day. It was a

wonderful morning and great day. Matt and Dad finished chores before we took turn opening presents. Eleanor's favorite part of the whole ordeal was using Grandma's presents as a standing base. Alaina also got Eleanor her first pony - I'm not sure who was more excited; Eleanor or Alaina. Afterward, we sat down for a prime rib dinner. This was a bit different than we've done in the past but it was a nice meal to share with the family. Due to the storm moving in, Alaina took off a bit early. We waited for Eleanor to wake up and took off. Due to getting home earlier than normal, we spent some time setting up or playing with our presents... from the vacuum to the Google Home.

Due to the storm, Matt went in to plow snow at the airport. We got 12.5" in Bismarck and left Eleanor and I to watch Matt attempt to find places in the yard to put snow from the deck, driveway, roof, and sidewalks.

The neighborhood was pretty quiet aside from buzz of snowblowers all attempting to free our driveways. Eleanor and I stayed warm inside and supervised the snow removal. Matt was pretty busy all day from working the night before, clearing our own house, handling social media, and catching up on some needed sleep.

Best meal: I like the relaxed pace of the Christmas Dinner... was nice to take some time. And the left over sandwiches the next day was a nice add too.

ALR comes around the corner of nursery room
ALR gasps: What are you doing?
EER falls... crying begins
ALR picks her up.
EER cries so hard that it becomes soundless.
MJR comes into the room: What happened? You guys were just sitting in the rocking chair?
ALR sniffles: She fell in her crib, bumped her face and smashed her head.
MJR: Okay, that's why she is crying, why are you crying?

While opening presents at Grace's on Christmas Eve
MJR opens his presents, looks at ALR: Your family just gets me.
ALR: What a relief.

2016 Christmas Card

2016....it's been a "changing" year.

So much has changed in such a short period of time. Below is in no particular order.

1. I changed shapes. 
I went from a recognizable form to a very uncomfortable pregnant lady. April was the longest month ever - I've never groaned so much in my life.

2. Two became three! We welcomed Eleanor into the world! 
She's been the biggest change of all, changing our household, our family, our world, our house, our travel plans, EVERYTHING.... you name it, she's impacted it. We laugh at her growth and changes and find ourselves sometimes just sitting and watching her. Sure, we don't get as much done, we don't sleep as much, we more laundry loads, we use more stain resister, and we snuggle more. And she's a big fan of the raspberry.

3. We said good-bye to TonyDanza. 
This was a hard one for me. He just wasn't doing well and I hated to see him suffering.

4. Political change and protests
During the last couple months of the year, we watched the world change. Between the DAPL protest, the presidential election, and the new governor... we watched the things we knew shift. Matt and I've had a lot of conversations about the impacts and ramifications all of these decisions have on our community. It's been an interesting time and as a first time parent, I am already worried how to shelter our daughter from the hurt and meanness of our world.

5. We became a dog household
We rescued Sam in November, a 7 year old English Pointer, who needs some work. He has a few things he needs to learn (like his name and some basic commands), and his shortcoming, just as his deafness are hard for him but we see this as a good test to if we are "dog people."


6. We welcomed Eric to stay with us while he finds his place in ND.
Eric moved into the basement in September after moving home from Mississippi. It's been good for the family as he gets to know Eleanor and I a little better and become more comfortable with her. He's quick to help out when asked.

7. We learned to travel with an infant.
I didn't say we were good at this or that we've mastered it. We just learned how it's so different. Now things include multiple bags or items and we don't just pick up and go like we'd like.

8. We made major improvements to the house.
Starting the first of the year with backsplash, wallpaper removal, shower door removal, painting, nursery designing, to new flooring, new lighting, new furniture, 2 tvs, a slew of baby equipment, and probably my favorite, some pictures up on the wall! This is the longest we've been in a house together and it feels amazing to make it ours.

So from our house to yours... may 2016 have been a wonderful year for you - it's one we will never forget - no matter how it blurred by!

Love, the Remynses 
Matt, Amanda, and Eleanor

May 2017 have more changes.

Tradition (truh dish uhn)

This week started off with hero Aunt Descie! She came for two days to spend with Len. It was SO nice! I realize when I finally get to spend one on one time with my family how nice it is and how I wish I could do it more often. She did such a nice job with the gingersnap! And when someone went down at night, we got to visit and catch up. I'm very lucky to have an amazing Godmother in my life, who has stayed active, involved, and interested since day one. When we chose Eleanor's godparents, I looked for godmothers that would also have that same energy toward "the job."
For the rest of the week she spent time with Auntie/Grandma Di, Mom at Work, and Dad took an afternoon off.

Len's newfound mobility has been beautiful in the beginning stages... right now when Matt comes home and if she's playing on the floor and she sees him, she'll take off toward him but gets too excited and faceplants into the carpet. This doesn't deter her excitement level tho... there she is laughing and giggling, face in the carpet as he meets her in the middle. It really does warm my heart to see the relationship that they have - even if I'm chopped liver.

On Friday night, we introduced Eleanor to one of our traditions... we go out to eat at Taco John's and have Nachos Navidad and then go out and take in the Christmas lights. This year we knew it would be more difficult because Eleanor may not have a fine appreciation for luminary displays. So we decided to hit it all in one stop. We hit Chmielewski's Christmas Corner which is always a highlight for Matt and I. Someone was mystified. All she did was watch. It didn't help that the temp had dropped and she was probably getting a bit chilly but she watched the ski lift and the ferris wheel with characters. It was all so magical and to watch her face in awe warmed my heart.

There's something about the deliberate making of memories during this holiday
season that has reminded me how lucky I am. We've been waiting and wishing for Eleanor for so long that for her to be here for this Christmas season seems like so many dreams come true. I want to remember this season of her first Christmas, the Christmas where we became a family. Matt and I have had so many deliberate talks about traditions, past happenings, Christmas memories, and more. We are probably over thinking things but I'm okay with that. We waited so long to have these talks that I never get sick of them.

Best meal: I do like nachos navidad - not because the nachos are good - it is Taco John's afterall - but because of the tradition that Matt and I have created in this.

8:10
MJR: Um, where is Denise?
ALR: She went to Sam's Club.
MJR: Well, wasn't that like at 7:00.
ALR: I think so.
MJR: Sam's isn't that far away.
ALR: I know, I'm aware of Bismarck geography.
MJR: What do you think is taking so long?
ALR: It's Sam's Club, maybe she had a lot to get.
MJR: Hmmmm.
8:22
MJR: You haven't heard from her?
ALR: Who?
MJR: Denise.
ALR: No, Should I have?
MJR: Well, she's out still.
ALR: I know, she is a big girl - maybe she had other running around to do.
MJR: Did she tell you that?
ALR: No. But I told her that we'd give her the nights off so she could do anything that she needed to.
8:35 
MJR: I just think it's been an awful long time, what if she got lost or disoriented.
ALR: Do you want me to text her and see what's going on.
MJR: Yes.
8:37
ALR: She responded, she's alive, she'll be home in a bit. She probably wasn't aware of her curfew that you imposed. 

Shock (sh awk)

Today made me cry... took my breath away... caught me by surprise. It's hard to surprise me, I catch on to a lot of things and can often see things coming. It's even harder to provide me shock, joy, fear, and disbelief in one telephone call. But Jen from the clinic did.

I had some routine blood work that I needed done and I started watching the results come in between meetings, I didn't think twice about them... they are just numbers, nothing too crazy, the clinic was going to call if they needed any follow up steps done.

They called... one test came through while I was in a meeting. They called to tell me that we were pregnant, which explained some of the numbers and that final test was the dead giveaway. I don't know what's in store for us over the next 40ish weeks but I won't forget that phone call.

What's even more amazing to me is that this day has been lucky for me two years in a row... on the 22nd in 2015, we got to see our beautiful Eleanor and find out that she was a girl and that she was perfectly healthy.

Phone rings:
ALR; This is Amanda.
Jenn: Hi Amanda, we got your test results in. Did you have a chance to look at them?
ALR: Yeah, I did, I wasn't sure what some of the numbers meant.
Jenn: It means you're pregnant.
ALR: 
Jenn: Merry Christmas.

Later that night.
ALR comes home
ALR: Eleanor, did you have good day with Dad?
gets on the floor with her
ALR uses EER's hand to point to MJR: Dad
ALR uses EER's hand to point to ALR: Mom
ALR uses EER's hand to point to MJR: Dad
ALR uses EER's hand to point to ALR: Mom
ALR uses EER's hand to point to EER: Big Sister
MJR looks at ALR: You're pregnant?!
ALR nodds.

**This post was post-dated and released at a later date for reasons determined by ALR/MJR 

Festivity (fes tiv ih ty)

It's beginning to feel a lot like CHRISTMAS!!! We are getting closer and the planning and whatnot is in full effect. Sure I'm a bit behind on baking, the only thing I've made to date has been a complete flop, dang caramel corn. 

We've officially made it through one of the harder weeks of the no-daycare situation. This week here was the schedule. Monday with Kaplas down the street, Tuesday with Mom in the office until Len got too crabby, Wednesday with Candy until 2 and back to the office with Mom, Thursday was Dad/Daughter day, Friday was with Auntie. We both are ready to go back to daycare for the schedule and consistency. It did break my heart on Monday as she had so much fun with Evan and Arianna that she's been missing out on the kid interaction and that's something we haven't been able to consider. We don't know yet when daycare will open up again from the construction but I'm hoping it's January 3rd - I have really high hopes. 

This week we also partook in our first big child Christmas rite of passage, Eleanor went and saw Santa! She was so dang cute! She sat on his lap, looked at him and began to smile, laugh and clap her hands. No meltdown, no fuss, even one of the elves exclaimed how cute she was and asked to hold her. Afterwards, we went to Hallmark and picked out her very first ornament. Matt is big on providing choices for her to choose. So there she was with three options... teddy bear, boots, and sheep - she had her favorite right away! She held the box, gummed it, and we had a hard time getting it out of her hand to purchase. She also won over the ladies at Hallmark who were excited to help her. It was a special night that made my heart sing for my little girl and her first holiday season.

We were busy and on the good for the weekend too. We visited

Mom in the hospital on Friday and Saturday. She had gotten an infection after her surgery and it creeped up into her eye. She was happy to have guests and it was a short stay, she was released on Sunday. I'm glad she was in the hospital for this short stay... finally forced her to calm and listen to her body and also got her out of the cold. It has been very cold here for the past weeks with temps in the negative 20s. We are hoping to just be above 0 for a bit to give us all a break. Saturday was a day to get stuff done around the house... cleaning, vacuuming, shoveling, and whatnot. Sunday was the Moser Christmas. This was Eleanor's first family Christmas celebration. She got tuckered out by the end of the day but she opened up a few presents, watched her cousins play, was passed around by the family a bit, had dinner, and then we crashed at home. All in all in was a nice day with the family and a wonderful start to one of my favorite seasons.

Best meal: Lynn did a nice job putting together the meal for the Christmas. I contributed mac and cheese with a lettuce apple salad to her ham, green beans, potatoes, and garnishes. 

Berklee watches Eleanor playing on the floor in true Eleanor fashion, comes up to her and raspberries.

Berklee's mom: No, no, Berklee we don't spit.

Berklee (who is tired from three days of Christmas fun) meltsdown: But I was just playing!

Berklee's mom: when you spit, you spread germs.

EER: Plllllb!!!!

Berklee meltsdown again: SOb, But she's doing it... waaaaa!

ALR looks at EER: You aren't helping this situation.

EER: Plllllllbbbb!

Septenary (sep Tuh ner ee)

So... we had another blizzard... the last one was named Blanche. I don't even know if this one had a name or if this was a continuation of the first one. But the result was more snow, more wind, lower temps. Matt and I had a romantic throw back in this snow... it was like our second date all over again.... I put on my snowpants, he grabbed his shovel and we shoveled snow together. The big difference this time is that Grandma stayed inside with Len in the warmth and I tied the dog around my waist so he wouldn't run off. AND we didn't stay up talking until 3:00 in the morning afterwards! Ahhh, memories.

This week's hero was Michele - she came and saved the day by spending the week at our house. It was so wonderful to know that she was safe and sound at home. That we didn't drag her outside in the cold and snow and that she wasn't being shuttled anywhere. I'm anxiously waiting for daycare to say when they are opening again but this week's saving grace was Michele.

Aside from putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree, we did a few more things... I put up a few more decorations, we bought a few gifts, and we even started to make some of Len's Christmas presents. She needs a bit of help this year but I anticipate her to take over more as she gets old.

Len had a couple big updates this past weekend... Matt walked into her room and someone was sitting up and ready to go... that forced us to drop her crib and pack and play down. Now she's even more of a jailbird! She's also celebrated her being 7 months this past weekend. Another reminder that my baby really isn't a baby but a toddler in training. Some days I feel her growing and developing like sand slipping through my fingers. It's so bitter sweet for me... I love seeing her grow and learn but it's almost scary how fast it happens.

 

We also had a picture hanging party and gave my Grandma her Christmas present. Instead of items, I take her out on the town for a night... we go to dinner and then to a show. This year we started the night off with Johnny Carino's as a family and then her and I went to the ballet. It was a lovely night and a beautiful show. Act II was my favorite, seeing the dancers with such grace. I got home that night and Matt busted me trying to go on pointe.

On Sunday, we headed out to the farm to check on Mom who had facial surgery. She hasn't been doing well but then again she's never had a surgery that's been a breeze. 

Update on the protest: They are blaming the ND government for creating the storm... geoengineered weather warfare, which according to them has been going on for years citing examples like Occupy Wallstreet and Woodstock. They also say that China has been doing it for years and this was likely created by weather balloons or drones. It's awful coincident that they day they were told to leave was bookended by storms.

Best Meal: Matt and I had a date night out Wednesday, we went to JL Beers. We didn't do anything out of the normal... had our usuals. We always enjoy their burgers... from there we went to Target and Scheels. Awww, the lives of young parents.

MJR: I think my mom is disappointed in us.
ALR: What? Why?
MJR: Because of all the places, we went to JL's.
ALR: But we never get to come here, because we can't bring in Sassafras.
MJR: I know.
ALR: And it's just not the same to pick it up and bring it home.
MJR: I know. 
ALR: Well, I don't want to disappoint her,
MJR: I know.
ALR: I don't feel like you are listening to me.
MJR: I know.