#1: Today is our four year wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe it. We started to date in early 2004 and were married in 2009. We’ve gone from this…
To this… (Fun fact: this wedding photo was not taken on our wedding day… not even close… here’s why!)
To this…
To this in the blink of an eye.
I’m a lucky woman. I married an awesome guy.
#2: Our anniversary is always tricky when it comes to gifts because it’s so close to the holidays. We usually don’t give each other ‘real’ gifts. This morning, I gave Kristien a list of 64 reasons why I love him (four for every season for four years), and he gave me a surprise weekday morning off baby duty and breakfast in bed, which as you all know, is one of my favorite things ever. Score!
#3: For the past two days, I have gotten dressed in workout clothes and proceeded to do nothing but loaf around on the couch. Right now, I’m wearing the same outfit yet again, and this time, I really, really plan to go run. It’s just SO hard to get motivated in the cold, you know?
#4: Last night, I spent two miserable hours ‘undressing’ the house from Christmas. One of those hours involved playing referee as Henry tried to eat ornaments and tree parts. Lesson learned… water the tree. Or else it sheds pine needles EVERYWHERE. Also, no matter how hard I try to ‘get’ all the decorations on the first pass, Murphy’s Law says that once I box everything up and haul it into the attic, I will find one more Christmas item. This time, it was a Santa soap dish.
#5: SUPER exciting news! My new book, Operation Beautiful One Note at a Time, won the New York Book Show Award for Children’s Trade Paperback. Logistically speaking, I have no idea what that means (I simply got an email from my publisher with the news), but it’s very cool regardless. Buy a copy for a girl in your life today!
#6: I hate to admit this (I really, really hate to), but I really like Lana Del Rey. Her lyrics are ridiculous, but I feel like a old school gangsta when I listen.
#7: Speaking of music, this is Henry’s favorite song. I let him watch the video on my iPhone when I need a minute (or three), and he stares open-mouthed and transfixed. Now, I can’t stop saying things like, “Dogs! I like dogs! I like the way they sit on the windowsill and puuuuuurr!”
That’s my ‘brain dump’ of the morning. What’s on your mind?
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{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats on your Anniversary, AND your book! And I’m all about wearing the same thing two day sin a row…
Happy Anniversary! I’m glad that you got a morning to yourself
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I got married recently and we were all running around trying to beat sundown and we didn’t really have enough time for photos of just the two of us. I remembered though that you had retaken your wedding photos (I haven’t heard of anyone else doing this yet) and it made me much more calm the whole time knowing if we didn’t end up liking them, we could just take them at a later date with more time.
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! Same thing for us — started dating in 2004 and married in 2009 (except we’re having a baby in 2013 not 2012). Have a Happy Day!
Good Lord that is a terrible song! But I can see how the video would entertain a baby (I just might try it because my 6 month old loves anything having to do with a cell phone).
Happy Anniversary and congrats about the award!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! I remember checking your blog like 10 times waiting for your wedding recap from Meghann to come up in 2008
Hope you guys have a great anniversary!
Happy anniversary! Sleeping in sounds like a wonderful gift. And wow, you look so young in that first picture that I barely recognized you!
And a big congrats on the book award! So cool!
Do you worry about letting Henry watch videos on your phone? I know the AAP says absolutely no screen time under the age of 2, and we’re trying to stick to it pretty strictly. The TV is easy since we rarely watch it at all, much less when our daughter’s awake. But phones are tricky! We’ve already had to make a family rule to stop checking dumb stuff like blogs/twitter/websites when we’re playing with our daughter because if she sees the phone she’ll immediately want it. It’s been a tough adjustment, but what’s really nice is that I feel much more present and happier without my phone on me 24-7. I now just have a few set times a day when I check my email and things, and I make sure to do those on my laptop instead of my phone. It’s made a big difference in our day-to-day quality of life, I’ve noticed.
Honestly… Not really. He watches maybe 15 min of screen or tv time total a week and only when I am desperate for peace (usually when pumping). I have bigger fish to fry
Happy anniversary! You have an adorable little family. How old were you two when you started dating/ how did you meet. I always love to hear those stories.
Haha…I too am ashamed by my love of Lana. It happens.
Congrats on your anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to you and your husband! You both look so young in that first photo! Hope you blow that run out of the water.
Happy Anniversary and congrats on the book!
Happy Anniversary! It is so fun to look back at how things have changed over such a short amount of time.
I always find one more Christmas item after I get the boxes away too. This year for me it was a little magnetic countdown to Christmas calendar.
Happy Anniversary! What a great way to start the day!
Our anniversary is Saturday, and we’re pretty similar in the gift department. We’re using a coupon to get massages instead!
That picture of you and Kristien seeing Henry for the first time is one of my favorite pictures ever. I’ve showed it to so many people. The look on Kristien’s face kills me.
Happy anniversary! You’ve come a long way in four years.
Congrats!! And love love Lana, her lyrics are definitely crazy but her voice is addicting
We took down our Christmas decorations this weekend, too.
It’s crazy how quickly the holidays passed; it seems like yesterday “Elf” was on TV everyday. *Sigh.* Happy Thursday!
Happy Anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Happy Anniversary and if it makes you feel better I am also enjoying Lana Del Rey and I’m 41 years-old!!!
Funny! Today is my 4 year wedding anniversary too! Happy anniversary!
Congrats on your book news! And Happy Anniversary to you!
Lots of love!
Wait…is there a negative connotation associated with Lana? (I am so out of the know.) She is so talented (maybe I haven’t listened to her lyrics closely enough?). And happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!!
Lol, I thought you meant he loved the Lana Del Ray song. I was like “wha….?”
I noticed the gate you have around the Christmas tree, and was wondering, which one is it, and how do you like it?
We need to babyproof, as my 10 month old daughter is walking now, and we have been looking at similar styles of gates.
How does this one work on hardwood floors? Is Henry able to push it around and topple it over ?
It’s the north gate super yard. You can find it on amazon. It’s really nice and sturdy. No complaints whatsoever!
happy anniversary! I love seeing the photos of you guys over the years!
Happy Anniversary!
So I might be sitting here at the computer reading your blog instead of taking down my own Christmas decorations. I have the boxes pilled in front of the tree. I feel like that is real progress. Just waiting to see what I overlook’ in my ‘undressing’ Christmas this year. I just work it in …who doesn’t want to look at jolly Santa soap all year, right? I drank out of two overlooked Christmas mugs all last year. There is NO WAY I am unpacking these boxes until December 2013!
Congrats on a big day!
I was disappointed by our wedding photos too. We got married six months ago. I sort of did the opposite. I was so concerned about the budget that I didn’t splurge on a photographer like I should have. I just went for a cheaper one. There were a few good shots but they don’t have the amazing quality that I coveted! The good shots are great though and I’m thankful for that at least. I may use your idea and have some redos done. It would be so fun to put on my dress again! Plus my husband bought his tuxedo so that would be easy. Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
And you’re the first person I’ve ever heard of that knows of or loves Lana Del Rey. Her music came on my pandora station and I LOVE it! I made a new station just for her. The lyrics are funny to listen to but I love the feel and tone of her voice, its pretty bad ass.
those asics socks, i have some, love them!
How about a critique of Lana Del Rey through the lens of Operation Beautiful? A major record company rebrands a young woman in ever way, including changing her name and physical appearance.
How cute, I love this post! A baby gate around the tree, haha
I’m crazy obsessed with Lana Del Rey! I literally just started listening to her about 2 weeks ago. I can’t get enough of “Blue Jeans” original and RAC mix and “Born to Die” is crazy good. Like, I texted my husband “come and take a walk on the wild side, let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain” and he told me it was the sexiest text ever. I just thought it was a good line LOL.
Congratulations on the book success, and happy anniversary to you two lovebirds! I can’t believe how fast time flies!
Congratulations Caitlin and Kristien!
Happy Anniversary!! I bought the Operation Beautiful book today at a local bookstore…saving it to give my younger sister for Valentine’s day!
Thank you!!!
Happy Anniversary! You guys are such a wonderful couple.
Have you ever heard the song January Wedding by the Avett Brothers? I think you would like it
Why don’t people like Lana del Rey? I’ve heard that before and don’t know why though. I like her.
Congrats on your anniversary. I remember reading your blog when you got married!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Also, thank you for sharing that video. It is adorable and I really believe my son will be obsessed with it.
Happy Anniversary!
Aubrey and I always celebrate our dating anniversary (in addition to our wedding anniversary) since it falls on NYE/NYD, and we celebrated 10 years this year. I totally get not wanting to spend money on gifts since it lands so close to the holidays. We usually go for a fun experience together.
Happy Anniversary!!
Awww…I LOVE your anniversary gifts – those are definitely real gifts in my book! Happy Anniversary!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knp9-GY6fHE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Also, I actually loved Henry’s favorite video (not sure what that says about my maturity level)!
p.s. Congrats on the book award!!!
Happy anniversary!! Such a great journey you 2 are on!
I just heard about the Anne Hathaway “oatmeal paste” diet thing and wondered if you were going to post about this. Very controversial, but also kind of commendable for her lack of comment on how she lost all the weight. (Other than the oatmeal paste…) Also… unrelated, but I always read your blog on my phone but now I’m on a computer and for the first time I’m seeing the little messages on the letters of the Operation Beautiful book! Too cute! I love it.
I haven’t heard about it. Sounds like just anothervHollywood gimmick though.
Happy anniversary!
I really dig Lana del Rey too. She gives me something to dance to at work. I’m a fan of fun lyrics.
Here you are 2013, fours years after that wonderful wedding day – and life is sooo good for your beautiful family.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!
Much love and happy memories are wished for each of you.
Happy anniversary! Your new book just arrived and I can’t wait to read it! Then it will be saved for when my daughter is old enough.
Where did you get that kids song video? Was it an app? I would love something like that to entertain Maya for a few minutes!
happy anniversary!
putting christmas stuff away is the saddest, most miserable thing.