While I was out visiting family in Eastern Oregon, I was able to convince my grandmother to make a batch of cookies with the kids and I.  I have been making cookies at the side of my grandmother for as long as I can remember, and I enjoyed doing it as an adult while the kids helped.  She is still using the same mixing bowl, which makes me smile.

Daphne got to help measure out the ingredients.

Once the cookies made it into the oven, there was no haulting the excitement of the cousins waiting for the treats to be done.

And yes, I even got excited about the baking cookies, and I sat in front of the oven with Cyprus watching them cook to perfection.

I know you see photos of my kids all the time, but I have these two extras to share.  Aren’t they just amazingly cute?

I finally decided that this hat is too small for Cyprus.  I have since passed it on to Beckett to use.   I will miss the hat for sure, but it is just a sign that I need to make another one, pronto.

I was going through some old photos and discovered I hadn’t shared this sweet one with you.

Back in December Cyprus was entertained at the table while we ate as long as he had fruits and vegetables to keep him company.

I enjoyed when Persimmons were in season. They were incredibly delicious, and they provided ample entertainment for Cyprus!

Cyprus is so easy to make laugh. I really enjoy when he is in the mood to be amused by everything around him. He thinks that sneezing is really funny right now as long as you do not surprise him with it. If you surprise him when you sneeze he thinks you are yelling at him, and it upsets him. Clearly, this is not the case here.

Cyprus is such a happy baby. I grabbed this video of him and I laughing together while I held in the Mei Tai carrier that I like to carry him in. I just adore the baby belly laughs.

I took this short clip showing Cyprus sitting in the sink with Daphne taking a “bath.” Daphne was so interested in helping her brother take a bath. She is a really good big sister.

Cyprus is working really hard on his core muscles so that he can learn to crawl. I was trying to make the bed one day, so I put him in the cradle to entertain himself. He was almost pulling up to standing so that he could check out his cool toy.

I was going through some old photos recently, and I started to wonder who Cyprus looks more like, Jared or I. I finally dug through and found some baby photos of each of us to make the comparison.

This is Cyprus now.

This is Jared.  I think that Cyprus looks a LOT like this (props to Paula for using cloth diapers).

This is a photo of me when I was a baby.  I also see SO MUCH of Cyprus in this photo as well.

And just for kicks, here is a good photo of Daphne’s face ( minus the dots of course).

My opinion at the moment is that Jared and Cyprus look very similar and that Daphne and I look very similar.  The truth is that they really are a mixtureof the two of us.  We both have strong Northern European heritage so the genetics are very similar.  One thing is for sure, we have very Scandanavian looking kids!

Dear Daphne and Cyprus,

I sit here in the final hours of 2009 looking back at all that we have done over the year.  I get a chance to sit down and write about our accomplishments in the letter I send out at Christmas, but the beginning of a New Year seems to be the time to close out the old and make some fresh, new starts.

I can say with sincerity that 2009 has been one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding years of my life.  I have had so many incredible adventures in my life, each one adding to who I am as a person, but none of them  have been more rewarding, more challenging and more fun than the adventures I have been through with you two.

Daphne, it has been such a pleasure this year  to see your babbling turn into words, your words turn into sentences and your sentences turn into imagination.  I can step out of the room now and when I return you have transformed the room into your own new world.  You play dolls, read books and even take the time to entertain your brother.  I am watching even when you do not think that I am, and most of the time, I am smiling or laughing to myself about the games you play.  I feel so honored to be able to share your life with you.  I know that it is difficult being 2 years old.  You are trying to explore the world, yet you don’t totally understand it.  I am here to guide you.  Though I am not always the best guide, I can say that I at least kept you near the path these past 12 months.  I hope to hand the guidebook to you in the coming months and see where you can take me.

Cyprus, you have given so much to me this year.  People called me crazy for wanting to go through the hell that pregnancy is to me.  No one seemed to understand but you.  You kept me company, and from the moment you entered my life, I KNEW it was all worth it.  You give me strength in ways that I never knew were possible.  Thank you so much for bearing with me through our difficult pregnancy.  Most importantly, thank you for taking the journey to VBAC with me.  The 6 hour labor we experienced together was one of the most strengthening experiences of my life.  I walk with greater confidence because I traveled through great adversity with your help.

Additionally, Cyprus, the sweet sincerity you bring to my life every moment brings me joy.  When I am tired or hungry or overwhelmed, I just have to lay you down to change your diaper and the smiles and giggles you give me turn it all around.  Your desire and ability to communicate has shown me just how powerful the beings in this world are.  Your communications are so crisp and so clear that I have never doubted how godlike you really are in that tiny, perfect body.  Thank you for teaching me that and for letting me walk among the gods.

You two bring me pleasure in more ways than I can count.  When the rest of the world is out worrying about taxes and car insurance, cleaning gutters and commuting, I am sitting on the living room floor with you pretending to drive a car or grocery shop.  You keep me young and remind me every day that I have so much to live for.  You have also taught me that the spirit of life is easily found in the laughter of children and that one need not look far to find it.

I am here to help you find your way in the world, but I never imagined that you would help me find my own way.  Happy New Year to both of you, I look forward to our adventures in 2010.

Mama

On Thanksgiving day, my sister went out and saddled up the pony for some riding time.  Of course, Daphne really wanted to head out for some fun.  These photos were stuck on my mini until I ran into them the other day.  I completely forgot that Cyprus ALSO went for HIS first ride that day!

He is a natural rider.

Isn’t Daphne doing an awesome job leading Rosita for Cyprus?

Daphne was a little shy this time about riding, but she really wanted to help walk Rosita around. Lucky for her, Rosita is pretty mellow and obliged.

Daphne finally warmed up to jumping on for a quick ride.

We even manged to get both kids on the pony at the same time!