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After waiting for so long for baby number 2 and then being completely surprised by him just when we had given up hope, it kind of put a lot of things into perspective and made me just want to really soak up every bit of this first year and we have loved it! Also, I started a new project at work after being very part time for several years that has turned into something that is a lot less part time and consumes most of my free-time during the day. So between balancing working at home with a busy toddler and a busy nine year old, there hasn’t been a lot of time for much else. I was telling a friend the other day that I think I’ve done more around our house in my little hiatus, than I did over the past five years–like substantial changes that we’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and I haven’t bought a new pillow in like almost a year

Christmas break was short here, so we crammed all of our festive activities into the few days before, then had a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas with just our little family of four, and partied it up on New Year’s Eve with games and a 10:00 bed time. If I’m being honest, a lot of times it gets a little discouraging that there’s not some big reveal, but that’s not how real life works and not how a home happens–at least not around here. Our Master Bedroom will be our first real room undertaking this year (if all goes according to plan) because it hasn’t really been touched since we moved in and I’m feeling like it’s time to make a little space of our own to retreat to. Also, if we can ever keep it clean long enough to do anything else with it Finishing my daughter’s room, which has been years in progress, and maybe, but I’m not holding my breath, we’ll get to start on the kitchen overhaul that’s been on the list for three years running.

I’ve had so many questions over the last couple of weeks about whether there would be updated calendars and I have to tell you, it’s such a good feeling to know that people are using and loving your creations. If you’re newer here to MFL, these are a staple in my gift-giving to the husband and grandparents every year and are SUCH a great way to do a little compilation of some of your favorite photos and moments from the past year! Anyway, I wracked my brain for a new calendar design this year, and I may actually have one before January, but since we’re coming up on Christmas (how is it 13 days away? ! ! ) Some of these are photos from years past, so the dates are off, but have been updated on the new calendars.

So if you’re like me and the gifts are all still sitting in their shopping bags in a dark corner of a closet, hopefully you come away today with a little inspiration for your holiday wrapping. Instead, I hit the everyday gift wrap aisle and use “ribbons and bows” from my everyday stash of stuff, then add a little Holiday feelin’ with little embellishments. This year, I loved this gold and white paper that was on the Christmas aisle, but I paired it with a black and gold from the birthday section and some kraft paper that I’ve had a giant roll of for like two years running now. For embellishments and ribbon, I used black velvet ribbon and some green cottony ribbon (I’m obsessed with it) from the fabric section at Hobby Lobby, along with some big, thick yarn and some leather cord.