Auntie Lex | Lex and Learn

Resurfacing

I haven’t blogged in a week and to be honest, I haven’t had a second to miss it until today. Unpacking our new home has been overwhelming and just when I started to see the light at the end of the boxes, Christmas happened. We enjoyed two wonderful days just up the road in Niwot with Mike’s family. Our holiday was filled with tons of food, laughs and love.

Yesterday (the day after Christmas) we came to Breckenridge with friends visiting from San Diego. I fought off an impending cold by skiing all day yesterday, but finally lost the battle today and am catching up on blogs from the warmth of our condo to avoid being sick for my entire vacation. Have I mentioned that my office is closed until Jan. 3? Amazing!

We have been really bad about taking pictures since the move so definitely look at Mike’s sister’s blog, Block Party, to check out the cuties who made our Christmas day unforgettable. Hopefully Kelly will also post better pictures of the delicious breakfast she and I prepared below — Overnight Blueberry French Toast. This picture is just from my “dying” 3G iPhone.

The prep on Christmas Eve was so simple and the result was well worth the calories. I think any breakfast item that can be prepped for a large group the night before is genius. It keeps the hosts hosting rather than cooking all morning.

I am eager to get back to blogging (our Internet at the new house is finally working) and start documenting “before” and “after” photos of our progress.

Wishing you all a belated Merry Christmas!

I Was There…

Credit: 5ive Photography

11:50 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2011. I was there. I was there the exact moment Cooper Martin Block entered this world (our second nephew) and was there for hours before as Kelly made labor, and all its pain and stress, look easy.

When Kelly invited me to be in the room, “if I wanted,” a few months before Cooper’s arrival, I wasn’t quite sure. My first instinct was absolutely not. Later I was somewhat curious, but still scared. It was my aunt Jan and mom who convinced me otherwise. They both separately assured me that it was an incredible honor, and that the “icky, scary parts” would not seem at all like that in the moment.

How right they were. We (aka women) are amazing. I cannot put into words how strong and brave and powerful we are. Hearing Cooper take his first breath and fill the room with his cry is a moment that will bring me to tears for years to come. When the doctor yelled out, “it’s a boy,” I cheered loudly without actually even hearing what she had announced (I had to ask a moment later). He was breathing and healthy and perfect…that is the only thing that mattered.

I still cannot believe that I was welcomed by Kelly and Nate to witness such a miracle.

11:50 p.m. on Sept. 7 ~ my heart has never been so full as it was in that moment.