Merry Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful. My picture taking skills are not. I did remember to snap a few, though!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saralouisel/sets/72157632229748201/



What stands out to me about this holiday season is the little person that has emerged from my tiny baby. Olivia seems like such a little girl, I almost don't recognize her anymore. She has opinions and choices and feelings that are all her own.

She received a purse and fixin's from her aunt and cousins, and she just looves to take her purse with her. "My purse! My purse!"



Not to mention the stroller she received for Christmas. She strapped in her kitty-kitty so fast, and now we have to take that kitty for walks constantly. When we leave the house, she even wants to put the stroller in the cargo area with her real stroller.



Yes, my mind is blown by that last picture. Who's that person in my photos?!

7: An Update

Do you remember this post and this post where I talked about 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker?

Month 1 went really well! I cheated a few times and took some liberties, but it really taught us (me) about how little we need to survive and how to enjoy the basics. It helped to hit home about, "Eat to live, don't live to eat."

Well, as usual life got in the way, and I blew off the rest of the plan. However, I've noticed myself spending more and more time on my phone when I should be playing with my daughter. I picked the book back up to read the chapter about a month without technology, but fell in love with the chapter on belongings.

So my goal for December is to give away 7 things a day. This is not going to be easy, only because I had a massive garage sale/freeby Craigslist giveaway about a month and a half ago. I sorted, decluttered, and cleaned out my whole house. So now, I'm going through things I already sorted through and picking things to get rid of. A few things I've sold, but it's going to be 90% charity.

I've found that the less we have, the cleaner my house is, and the cleaner my house is, the happier I am. I don't need all these possessions to make me happy, and what better time of year to focus on family rather than belongings?


Happy Holidays!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saralouisel/sets/72157632247336100/

Just Because

... She's so cute. Beet juice!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saralouisel/sets/72157632229748201/

Bang

The last pictures I uploaded here were before Miss O had bangs. Since those photos were taken, she had bangs cut, I had to trim them twice, and they are already in her eyes.

In related news, I'm working from the office again!



Will my blog see a revival? Surely.
Am I happy to be back to showering daily and leaving my house? Yes
Do I miss my baby girl? Absolutely.