The Ojos lately

 Lately, we've been...

Painting...



Picnicing...



Hanging upside down....



Potty training.... (or not)

 

Sharing her first hot chocolate...



Decorating our Christmas tree....



And wearing our Christmas socks....



Enjoying holidays with family.... and loving life.  So much. 

This year has been.... not a rollercoaster, per se, but more like a journey by hot air balloon.  We're soaring, the scenery is changing rapidly. I am nervous and breathless and exhilarated.  What a ride.

My husband starts a new, full-time job a week from tomorrow.  This has been a long time coming and is a welcome, and necessary, change.  It will also double his commute time.  The whole family will be adjusting - Amaliya will be in daycare four days a week now, instead of two.  She and I will be on our own in the late afternoons.  My morning runs, if they happen at all, will need to wrap up by 6:15am.  This is forward motion and is bringing us closer to our long-term goals as a family. No change is ever without stress, though, so I am bracing myself for some potentially difficult months ahead.

I'm feeling more or less settled in at work, four months into my new career. Post-marathon recovery went smoothly, and I am looking forward to training again (I'm starting a half marathon training plan tomorrow, and hoping that I can make it work with the new schedule).  I've taken up oil painting, which deserves a post to itself, but suffice to say that this blog has unfortunately taken a back seat while I pour my creative energy onto the canvas.  I have no plans to abandon this space and hope to start posting weekly again soon.  Thanks for sticking with me while I find a new balance.

Amaliya is doing wonderfully, of course. She's made another massive growth leap in the last two weeks - she looks different, her sentences and thoughts are suddenly more robust and complicated, and her attitude is off the charts.  Potty training was a bust for reasons I did not expect, but more on that later.  She is super excited about Christmas trees and snowmen and carols, and comes downstairs every morning proclaiming, "Santa Claus is going to be here!"  Holidays are infinitely magical through the eyes of a child.


I hope you all are doing well and enjoying a fabulous holiday season. 

How is your December going so far?  Any fun traditions you're starting with your family?