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From Our Front Porch Looking In


Abby has this thing lately: throwing blankets over her head. We don't get it, but hey, she's a mystery. We also live in a teeny, tiny apartment. So, she basically get's free reign of the whole space. I mean, hard to limit her to two square feet. 

Anyway, apparently she was jumping on our bed (with a blanket on her head). And fell off. This isn't the first time this has happened (side note: keep the bad mothering comments to a minimum), the girl is a wild two year old. Of course I rushed to her, scooped her up and tried to console her. A few seconds later the crying completley stopped, eyes rolled back, and what looked like a seizure was happening. Traumatized, I freaked, really freaked. Naturally. And rushed her to the hospital (she came to within a few seconds, and was back to normal behavior within a minute max, and returned to normal behavior - sans a little lethargy). After being checked out, she bounced back seemingly well, no vomitting, or abnormal behavior, ate a Popsicle, played with the complimentary teddy bear (complimentary: very, very expensive), and jabbered to all the doctors and nurses. 

The neurological exam checked out fine, with a slight concussion, that apparently can cause seizure like activity in kids. But, man. We were ruined. I insisted she sleep right next to me that night, while I checked her breathing every few minutes. Because, I overreact and I'm ultra emotional these days.

And since, she's been doing headstands, we attempt to limit the blanket-on-the-head activity, and everyday she asks to go back to the doctor for a check-up, a Popsicle, and to wear the Anna dress (the hopsital gown). 

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Girlfriend started her first ballet class last week. I mean, I was never a dancer (ooooobviously). But, this girl dances (and sings) non stop. And, really, show me a mom who doesn't swoon at the idea of her dance-loving-toddler putting on a leotard and prancing around? 

As expected she adored the class. And her teacher is incredible. Thank goodness for the word of advice and recommendations that travels through Mormon wards. Better yet - it's full of her little friends. 

Abby listens so well (shock!), waits her turn (more shock!), and hasn't hit anyone yet (i mean!!!). She despises leaving, and bawls every time. She's a passionate child. She has declared it her goal in life to be a ballerina. 

We are so excited for her to have something of her very own (especially at this time in our lives!) and something she loves so much. Her plie is getting better and better. Someday it may look like a graceful plie and not like the Hulk doing squats. I catch her leaping around the apartment singing, "chasse, chasse..." In other words: she already shows so much more potential than her mother. 

^^and one from instagram. because, I can't get enough and i really am that mom.^^

^^and on the note of her special time, she and i took a little date to mcdonalds for lunch following her first class to celebrate. and she refused to share the ice cream with me. always a tender moment with this one.^^


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New Year's day was super low key around the Ackerman household. New Year's Eve even more so. We dropped Aunt Lacey off at the airport (who was so nice to spend her christmas break chilling with us on the east coast! abby asked for her for another week!) on New Year's Eve, ran a couple of errands and then we partied like it was 1999! 

Believe me? Good, because really, I was asleep by 10:30 pm. Party! We woke up on the first day of 2015 to some loot left by the New Year's Fairy and then we were off to party more! Really, we cleaned out the nursery while D. played basketball. And then we carseat shopped for the new babe. Followed by a ginormous dinner at Olive Garden. I've been craving it for months, and finding chain restaurants like that from home is not easy. 

Really though, a great party for a home body like me. Especially a nine month pregnant homebody like me. Bring it, 2015. It's gonna be a good one. 

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When I think about 2014, I think: roller coaster. There were so, so many ups. And, there were so, so many downs. When we were up, we were really up - unstoppable, and nearly flying. When we were down, we were low. Low, low.

Yet, I find myself having a hard time saying goodbye to 2014. Looking back at the pictures of the year, I could hardly believe how much changed. How much Abby changed, how much our lives have changed.

For a good chunk of 2014 we lived in limbo, waiting on word if we were going to move our little family cross country. And, while that was one of the most frustrating times for a person with ultra high anxiety levels (me, if you needed clarification) we lived happily. We adored where we lived, adored our friends, and we were content. Our family was nearby and Abby and I were in a routine. D. liked his job, and we had plans for graduate school in the near (ish) future.

Word came that we would not move, and we were bummed. Bummed to miss out on an adventure, but happy that we would remain in our comfort and happy place. And then, 24 hours later, another offer, and a whole lot of tears (remember, the anxiety issue) later we were moving. Not staying, moving.

We packed, Abby turned two - two! (and grew like a beanstalk), there were graduations, and celebrations all to break up the chaos of stress.

And within three weeks, a weekend trip to find an apartment, and way, way more tears, we were on a flight (following the ever amazing in laws who were driving our car) to settle in our new teensy apartment.

And then, a week later we were witnessing a positive pregnancy test. Ecstatic, emotional, and overwhelmed, we were looking at a positive pregnancy test. The summer was filled with much vomiting, crying (more, more crying), and claims I'd never been that sick in my life. I was surely going to die.

We had visitors (yay for family willing to visit us! lifesavers.), made new friends, and took a couple trips home (it is so, so much fun to go home! truly a vacation.). We experienced so many things as our little family of three. We've gone to D.C. and Boston and everywhere in between. We fell in love with Fall in New England. We celebrated Christmas and rang in the New Year - just the three of  us. And, we've anticipated the arrival of the new little lady due to claim her place in our family early in 2015.

2014 gave me a whole new meaning to bitter/sweet. Ups and downs. Really, a roller coaster of a year. A year of changes. A year for the books.

If possible, I fell even more in love with my little family.
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Christmas this year was magical. (hashtag: cliche) But really, our first as our little family and it rocked our socks off. Christmas Eve kicked off with a visit with the doctor to check on Baby Sister, one last visit to Santa, last minute grocery shopping, delivering gifts to friends, and a reenactment of the nativity (in which mary was dressed like elsa, and baby jesus had long flowing blonde locks). And then a great big ham dinner. Oh, and of course, opening a gift on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas morning was leisure and everything we wanted it to be. Abby was thrilled that Santa found her, ate his cookies, drank the milk, and the reindeer ate the carrots (apparently my husband has never heard of leaving carrots for the reindeer. what?!). 

The kitchen was definitely a highlight, which she refused to stop playing with for an hour. We orange rolls for breakfast, as we slowly opened our stockings, and gifts to and from one another. We finally got Girlfriend to open her last gift at 6:00pm. She wanted to stop, play, and adore every gift. And, with no schedule - that was just fine. The excitement over the little things was contagious, really. We snacked all day on leftovers and Santa food. Also, so much Lego playing went down. So, so much Lego playing. This dad gets even more wrapped around her little finger every time she begs to play Legos. And, to top it off, a face time call, during a Skype call, with our current favorite missionary! 

Really, we missed those we love most, but living cross country sure has made us love this time we have just the three (almost four!) of us. I may be extra emotional (ok, i'm super duper extra emotional) but Christmas 2014 will always, always be a special one. Simple, leisure, and extra full of sap. laughs, and plenty of loves. 

^^christmas eve dinner. that fake smile. yikes.^^

^^the anticipation of waiting for the present to be in working mode.^^


^^as per tradition, santa left a table full of food!^^



^^i ate a whole lot of noodle soup, pizza and cookies that day.^^


^^i mean, really she was so excited about everything. it was priceless. even the excitement for my new diaper bag. (ps, dustin rocks at gift giving. it was the one i'd been looking at! how he knew, i'll never know.^^


^^all the legos and the happiest kids on the planet!^^

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^^required sugar cookies cut into shapes somewhat resembling stars, candy canes, and gingerbread men. abby attempted, and succeeded, in rolling the world's thinnest cookie.^^

Leading up to Christmas this year was a whirlwind of excitement (obviously), finals (for me, the eternal student), recovering from a fabulous trip to Idaho (it seems the more fabulous the worse the recovery), and a severe case of nesting (the way it was handled, you would've thought that baby was coming two weeks ago). 

But, we did manage to throw in a bunch of Christmas festivities. Many of which took us to NYC, which, in case you were wondering really is magical at Christmas time. Freezing, but magical. 

And, since everything else was prioritized over this blog - I'm combining a whole bunch (a whole, whole bunch) of pictures into one post, documenting a few of our Christmas festivities. 

^^grand central station after a train ride to the city to see the radio city christmas spectacular. abby adores the train, and spends the whole ride attempting to act like and resemble a business man on her commute home from work.^^

^^a quick pass by the rockefeller center tree on the way to the show. and then my phone died. and that combined with the freezing rain and lack of stroller ended the documentation of the night.^^

^^more cookie baking on a sunday evening. it was that or have our apartment torn to pieces by an incredibly bored toddler. also, they were a recipe from great-grandma isbell. all the better. ^^

^^a trip to the city with friends, led to a stroll through the markets set up in columbus circle. how we didn't eat, i'll never know. probably  too many choices. but i'll tell you - my pregnant self is kicking my own butt right now.^^ 

^^and then a quick subway ride to madison square garden to see the grinch. abby also adores the subway (it makes me cringe every time she touches anything), the busier the better.^^

^^post grinch, with a much more cold, exhausted toddler.^^

^^and then we realized how smart we were to bring this snuggie for her. and that's where our genius ended, as she attempted to fall asleep in this teeny, tiny umbrella stroller. which we had thought was the smartest idea.^^

^^post shake shack (a must!) stroll through times square with an even more freezing and exhausted toddler.^^

^^look what we found! prime spot, too. really awesome. the people behind me did question very loudly why we were photographing that particular display.^^

^^and another walk by the tree. because, we just had to. it was only a little busy (ha!) also, my coat no longer zips. needless to say, i was also a  wee bit chilly, too. ^^



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About Me

Hi! I'm Alyssa, the voice of this blog. I'm a passionate homebody, lover of Diet Coke, good books, and laughing until I cry.

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