Our Snowy Day

When I was a kid, I loved Ezra Jack Keats' book, The Snowy Day. Recently, we bought a board book of this classic story for Sydney (never too early to read!) and the vivd, colorful illustrations brought back memories of childhood reading. (I always loved the page where the big kids are having the snowball fight.) Today, we are having a "snowy day" here in St. Charles, with 9-inches falling. We are cozily snugged in here at home as a family and enjoying the day very much.

(So is Bailey, whose Wisconsin puppy-roots always come out when he has the chance to roam in the backyard with the snow all around. He becomes "wilderness-trek" dog and spends hours out there sniffing, rolling, running and generally enjoying life as a dog.)

Sydney is four weeks old today and as a gift to her parents, she decided to sleep through the night. We have been implementing a sleep routine and our pediatrician gave us the thumbs up to let her sleep at night. So, last night a sweet, snuggly Syd was bundled and soothed and put to sleep at 9:00. It was night three of the routine. We followed at 9:15 ... and my eyes opened again somewhere in the middle of the night and then again at 4:45AM (my ears never really turned off, of course).

We were stunned. We ran to the bassinet and there she was, content and STILL SLEEPING. She finally roused at 5:15. She gave us 8 hours of sleep. Delightful baby girl. We couldn't believe it and honestly feel like we could take on the world today. Of course, we know better than to bank on this happening again in the near future. If it does ~ super! If not ~ we'll keep forging ahead. But we gotta say, last night was great.

It's the little things, isn't it? Like ... sleep. Like ... snow falling on the last day of January and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup for lunch. Like ... a fire and hot cocoa; homemade chocolate chip cookies baking; the smell of wet wool mittens on the radiator and ice cold noses.

Like packing our pockets with snowballs for tomorrow ... I think I need to stop blogging and go out to enjoy the deep, deep snow!