lola rose.

January is kind of "blah" month. I mean, it starts in October. All the fun. Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas. Then topping it off with New Year's. It's a few months of just pure fun and activities. Then January comes and it's kind of just "blah." Nothing to really be excited about really. 

Except for me. 

I had my last baby in January. 

And today she is two! 

I can't believe it has really been two years since I had her. I love that she was born in January. It gives us another excuse to do something fun and to be excited about something. She has started to recognize so many things lately, which makes it so entertaining to be around her. Mostly, I love that she loves to sing the birthday song, particularly when we get to the part that we say her name. She is a feisty little person. Since she was tiny, it has always felt as if she was a big girl stuck in a baby's body. She wants to do what everyone else is doing. 

Lola is social. 

Lola is happy.

Lola looks like her dad.

Lola is definitely the baby of the family.

Lola has two mommies.

Lola loves shoes. 

Lola is a princess. 

I'm so glad she was born...Miss Lola Rose. 

 

back at it.

The holidays came.

The holidays went.

Too fast.

But we were able to be home in Arizona and it was perfect. We stayed with my sister for the entire visit, which was totally insane, but I will always treasure it. I had the privilege of attending both of my cousins' weddings and being a bridesmaid in one of them. My kids got to spend Christmas morning with Grandma and they were so happy. I enjoyed time with my family members, time that it very special to me. I got to be with my friends, which for me, means more than they could imagine. Being able to do all of this was enough to fill my cup. And this time, it was hard to say goodbye again. I'm not sure why, but this time, saying goodbye, was harder than ever.

But we are back at it here in Guadalajara and it feels good to be back in our own place. It feels good to start a new year. A new year means new goals and new projects. 

So I have to make a conscious decision, sometimes every.single.day. Which is, I cannot walk away from this experience thinking of it as the worst time of my life. What a waste! I want to speak Spanish better. I want my kids to know Spanish. I want my kids to make friends and be happy here. I want my husband to be successful in his endeavors. I want to accomplish so much. I want to walk away, bigger, stronger, smarter, happier. I have to chose this. Every.Single.Day. 

Hardest thing.Ever.

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

Happy January. 

Happy 2012.

 

Good: I can run again. I mean it just feels good to run. And I need to do a lottaaa runninnnnnn!

Bad: They say this year is the worst year for medical school. Hmmm..what do I even say to that right now?!

Loving: One more time...

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

XO