HELLO new year!

I am going to blame the hormones again as I'm feeling quite sentimental today. It could also be the excitement and appreciation I have for my parents who offered to take Amélie for the evening so that Craig & I could have a "date night" on NYE! Yes, New Year's Eve! It's quite amazing and selfless of them - even after I warned them of Amélie's tendency to scream bloody murder at 4am requesting a bottle; they didn't seem to mind, go figure. This is just how grandparents act, I guess?! Well, it got me thinking back...

Picture this, approximately 20 years ago: Craig wearing his neon snow-pants (it was the late 80s/early 90s, folks) either out on the hill snowboarding or dreaming about snowboarding. It is highly likely I was sitting at my grandma & grandpa Taylor's house begging my grandma to give me a perm (it was the late 80s/early 90s, folks). I highly doubt either of us would have imagined ourselves as parents (to a dog, cat, and new baby girl) or even as a husband/wife.

Boy, being 10-years old sure seems easy... when your biggest worry is if you'll get to snowboard that day or if you'll get your hair to resemble a spiral-curled poodle. Today, even though we don't have much in the worry department as we have it pretty easy; Craig probably never thought he'd be changing a diaper instead of changing his boot straps and I never would have imagined my grandparents would have passed so early from my life, leaving me to miss them almost everyday. These thoughts are especially striking now when Craig & I are in the midst of building an amazing family of our own.

I mean, Indie is the best dog we could have ever ended up with and even Goomsie isn't too bad. However, it's this most amazing kid chilling next to me that gives me goosebumps. Today, as we say goodbye to 2007 and Craig & I move farther away from our childhood memories and as we start the new year - we will be adding brilliant new ones for Amélie. Many of the new memories will include our awesome family as both sets of grandparents have already shown us how amazing, helpful, supportive, caring, and genuinely obsessed they can be... even over the span of three, short weeks of life.

So, as we readily accept the offer from my parents to have a "date night" on such a special evening... we'll be sure to bring in 2008 both with anticipation of these awesome new memories and especially thankful for the old. Oh, and I will be drinking a beer (outside of my living room and not smelling like rotten milk) tonight - finally.

Happy New Year!

The Daddy RoCKS!

This is a tribute to the best new Daddy ever born!

I've been begging Craig for days to change my banner. I think the new one is amazingly adorable. It totally shows off those delicate little fingers that are constantly being kissed. Craig has such a knack for being creative and fun. I blame it on his being left-handed. I hope Amélie gets his creativity.

Craig has also been waiting on me for the last week or so. In such a way that when I need a glass of water, he's already filling the glass before I ask. When I need my glasses that I left upstairs on the dresser, he's on his way to get them for me. When I realize that I cannot believe I have to take two finals within the next two weeks, he's right next to me comforting me and telling me that it'll work out. I hope Amélie gets his caring and genuine personality.

Amélie secretly told me this morning (when Craig took a couple hours to go snowboarding) that she was so happy to have a daddy that is teaching her how to smile, laugh, and be happy. I'm a bit stunned at how Craig has jumped into the role of daddy... immediately. As soon as the nurse placed her in the warming basket in the hospital, he was by her side helping to bathe her, swaddle her, and tell her stories about how the world works. I hope Amélie gets his positive and smart outlook on life.

When I first saw Craig change Amélie's diaper, I giggled at the care he took with each movement. He slowly unbuttoned her onesie, softly lifted her legs, delicately untaped the diaper, and carefully replaced it with a new one. Now, after I've come to watch him with Amélie over the last week - I realize that he is just that delicate in all respects. I've had a realization that this is Craig's nature; there is no haste or hurry. He is calm, respectful, and such a great role model. I hope Amélie and I inherit these most important values and traits.

I owe SO much to my baby's daddy. He is amazing and I love him more than I thought I ever could... Seriously, how did I get to be the luckiest girl? I have the nicest, sweetest, smartest, most caring, handsome, and creative beau... ALL in a package carrying such a fine toosh?! Not to repeat myself, but I hope Amélie gets his fine toosh too.