Just Slow Down

 

Dear Xander,

I remember the day pictured above so clearly. After a long struggle with high blood pressure all summer and being forced to be on bed rest the last month you were growing, I was just ready to meet you. I was so curious as to what your features were going to be, if you would be even-tempered or a little wild spark.

Your entrance via emergency c-section could not have been more opposite of your sweet disposition. I remember freaking out that something was wrong because I did not hear a cry when you came out. Then, I saw you in your daddy's arms. You were so content just being. You didn't cry and in fact, we thought something was wrong with you because we didn't hear a real cry for almost a month! And now, here you are my sweet, sweet child. You are even sweeter than that first day and just get even better day by day.

 

 

 

 

I constantly find myself taking pictures of you sleeping, taking in your sweet baby scent, and rocking you a little longer each time. I want to remember you just how you are, peaceful and sweet. You will be five months old in just a few short days and it makes me want to cry  that we are almost halfway to your first birthday. You are my baby, why can't you stay my baby forever?

 



Inevitably, I know you must grow. All I am asking is please, just slow down.

Love,

Momma

New Years Superstitions

Happy New Year! I hope all of you are starting off on the right foot this year! At the very least, I hope you're putting all those tell-tale hangover remedies to good use. Our New Year's Eve was spent at home with the boys, while Preston was working, so we had a relatively quiet NYE. But now, as I'm sure most of you are, we are preparing for a day of going to my parents' house for a yummy feast to help bring in a little (hopefully a lot) of good luck for 2013.

Growing up in a Southern household, with a very superstitious grandmother, I couldn't help but catch a few of the superstitions myself. It was always just known that on New Years you didn't do certain things or ate certain things to ensure a very lucky year. Here are a few of my favorites, a few for your children, and a few that are out there even for me!

When the Clock Strikes Midnight...

1. Kissing Someone You Love - This is said to ensure affection all year long.
2. Making Lots of Noise - We make lots of noise at midnight to ward off the Devil and Evil Spirits. It is said he hates loud noise, so that is why we shoot fireworks, shout, "Happy New Year!", and celebrate with family and friends.
3. Finishing Off That Bottle Of Liquor/Wine - Nursing a colossal hangover this morning? It may not be in vain. It is said to finish off the last dregs of that bottle to ensure a healthy, happy year. 

New Years Foods

I'm sure if you belong to any family you eat some sort of feast on New Year's Day. If you live in a household like mine, you eat certain foods to ensure a great year.

1. Cornbread - this is a Southern New Years staple. It is said to symbolize gold because of its yellow coloring and is traditionally eaten to symbolize having spending money in the upcoming year. So, if you want spending money, eat some cornbread. My family tends to spruce this up a little bit by making dressing instead of the traditional cornbread.
2. Black Eyed Peas - This is another Southern staple that is said to symbolize wealth. As we speak my mom has a big pot cooking and although I hate them (cabbage, too) I will eat at least a spoonful to ensure a wealthy year.
3. Pork - It is said to choose pork on New Year's Day versus chicken or beef because pigs root forward, while chickens scratch backwards and cows stay still! So if you want to go places in 2013, make sure you have a nice helping of bacon, sausage, or even a ham sandwich.
4. Collard Greens/Cabbage - You are supposed to eat a "helping" of greens to ensure a wealthy New Year. This is something else I detest, but you better believe I will be choking down boiled cabbage when we eat today.

What To and Not To Do On New Year's Day

1. Do NOT Wash Dishes/Clothes - By doing this you are said to be "washing" someone out of your life and it symbolizes a death in the New Year. This is one I take VERY seriously. Why? The one year I washed clothes on New Years FOUR people close to me passed away. I haven't washed clothes or dishes on New Year's Day since.
2. Have Cash In Your Wallet - This is said to ensure you will have money in your wallet all year long. There sure are a lot of superstitions with money, aren't there?
3. Do NOT Pay Bills - It is said you will be spending money on debts all year if you do.
4. Wear Red - As the Chinese symbol for luck and love, it is said wearing red on New Years will ensure luck and love all year long.

Superstitions for Your Little Ones

If you want to have a little fun with your kids on New Years, here are a couple of superstitions for them:

1. New Years Day Babies - You get more than a years' supply of diapers if you're the first baby born in the New Year! All babies born today are said to be the luckiest throughout their whole lives.
2. Jump! Jump! Jump! - It is said that if children jump today, they will grow tall in the upcoming year.
3. No Crying - It is said crying today will set the tone for the year, so children are not to be spanked or disciplined today. Let's see how many of you can refrain from doing so.

Out There...Or Not?

Lastly, here are a few superstitions that even I find to be a little out there.

1. First Through The Threshold - It is said that the first through the threshold must be a man, cannot have flat feet, or eyebrows that touch, and cannot be a female, blonde, or red hair. It is said if any of these are the first, it will ensure turmoil in your house. For the Moss household, that rules everyone out.
2. Washing Your Face With Money - No, really. In some cultures you wash your face with water where coins have been soaking to ensure a wealthy year.
3. Dancing Around A Tree - If you dance around a tree you are said to ensure your health for the entire year.

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So, there you have it! What New Years Day superstitions do you follow/believe? Will you be choking down all of these foods, or will you continue to wash your clothes and pay your bills like today is any other day? As for me and my family, we are sticking to the "better safe than sorry" method.

Either way, from my family to yours, may 2013 be the best year yet for you!

Another Year Down

2012 was another year of great changes for the Moss family. We welcomed a sweet baby, made a big move, and started new jobs. We finally came into our own as parents and I believe that we really made a big impact in our relationship, too. Here are a few of my favorite moments of 2012 in no particular order:
 
 
1. Welcoming Alexander Reid Moss
 

 

On August 20, 2012 we welcomed our newest addition to the Moss family. After a world wind delivery via emergency c-section, he arrived at 3:44 a.m. He was 7lbs 1oz of pure joy. Always happy and smiling, even from birth, he is so much and so unlike his big brother. We love our baby Xander and wouldn't trade him for the world. We are so happy to have him as an addition (most likely our final one) to our little family.


2. Gavin Finally Gets Christmas

It was so much fun with Gavin this year as far as Christmas is concerned. He understood how to open presents and that Santa meant new toys, magic, and all around fun. I didn't participate in the Elf on the Shelf craze, however, because I feel like he's still a little young to grasp the concept. Christmas morning was great! He got his own phone (Leappad 2) and a red dragon (This one from Imaginext) and for him, Christmas was over. He showed no other interest in presents until later on that evening.

3. Moving Back Home

I won't deny that Dallas was fun. I had a blast, learned a ton, and met really, true life friends. That being said, it was always so hard to return to Dallas after a weekend or even a day of being with family. Preston's mom was there and that was great, I still miss her, but the look on Preston's face and the tears in my eyes each time we had to drive away, it finally got to us. Around the time Xander was born we were given an amazing opportunity to be able to move home and we took it. There are things I miss about Dallas (shopping, my job, and the friends), but overall I've learned to appreciate the little things about being home. Living a street over from my parents, reconnecting with my lifelong friends, and being able to get a house are just a few of my favorites.



So there you have it, my top three moments of 2012. Who knows what 2013 has in store for us, but I look forward to finding out! My only resolutions are to laugh, live, and love even more in 2013 than I did in 2012. Which, in itself is pretty big shoes to fill.