Here I am, ready to recap because we are finally catching up from 2020! Holy smokes it’s been a long time since I’ve just sat down to write. Last year was one for the books, that’s for sure. We are all navigating life as each day comes and goes, and hopefully you’ve had time to sit back and reflect on things that have happened. Do you do that? Take time to reflect and pause, to think about what you’ve experienced? From baby to maternity leave to quarantine to moving to coming back to school to moving back to distance learning, last year really has run the gamut. But here we are.
2020 Baby #3: Maggie Mae 
Oh my gosh. 2020 started out with so much anticipation! My pregnancies, (I’m lucky!) have all been enjoyable and this last one was one that I intentionally paused on wishing away because this one would be our last. Having a baby last year, although it might sound crazy, was a godsend! If you didn’t get a chance, Maggie’s birth story is short and sweet! Our sweet little Maggie has been the easiest, coolest, and most adorable little squish to make a super dark year a whole lot brighter. We were able to bring her into this world with both of her loving and supportive grandmas cheering me on. Just a few short weeks later we would begin quarantine, and I’ve had time to reflect on that.
It was a whirlwind. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember feeling so incredibly thankful that I was able to be home with all my babies for an extended period of time. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was absolutely and incredibly exhausting. Trying to navigate what was happening in the world around us in addition to nursing a teeny babe and catering to the demands and throughs of my toddlers, was really hard some days. New mamas out there in blog world… how are you doing? One of the biggest things I struggled with was my lack of human contact and interaction with everyone I love. I struggled because I am a people-person and I missed those hugs and kisses for both me and my kids.
How We Did It
How did we get through it? I read my devotional (most mornings!), we listened to a lot of music, and we spent a lot of time outside. I don’t know if this is true for your kids, but my kids are happier out there. It’s like they have a sense of new air that propels them to fight less and play more. And he we are, frozen indoors for the foreseeable future. Yuck! One of the first big purchases we made last year was a furnace for our garage. You guys. It has been SO amazing to have the extra space for the kids to ride their bikes and play! They chase each other around in circles, but hey! They are able to spread their little bodies out a little bit. Of course we’ll get outside when the weather allows for sledding and snowman building, but you know how that goes in MN. It’s been hard because Maggie is so little still so our time outdoors is usually quick after work, if at all.
2020: Let’s move!
Oh! And in addition to having a third little babe, we moved! We sold our cute little home in NE Minneapolis and traded it for an acre lot in the northern suburbs near our families. Somehow I/we managed to pack up our house and everything in it, sell it in like record time, and move three weeks later. Ask me how I did it and I’ll probably shrug. I have no idea! Each day I vowed to pack up a few more boxes and store them in our holding area. By the time moving day came, we had just an air mattress and a couple beers to enjoy our last evening there. It was peaceful and perfect! We were lucky to have the Hanson Severson Real Estate Group helping us prep, list, and sell our home. Wasn’t it so cute? 
Space to Move!
We have thoroughly enjoyed all of the newfound space and room in our new home. Ross finally got his riding lawn mower and the kids have a little John Deere they ride around on in the yard. Ross and a family friend, along with our families, built our beautiful deck… which we can’t wait to enjoy next summer! We are hard at work finishing the basement, which has been a lot of fun to design. It’s so different when you have a completely unfinished space– you have a vision! In the old house, everything was always demo first to deconstruct and then somehow, magically, it all came back together.
Roommate Life: Brooks
With the move came reorganizing our living space. Brooks and Julia are now sharing bunk beds, and it’s so cute to tuck them in together–one on top, and the other on the bottom. Brooks turned 3 last year on Christmas! The kid is a character. He’s naughty one minute and then hugging you and kissing you the next. I just love toddler boys! We are potty training and practicing numbers and letters and all the fun things! His current obsession is anything tractors and tools. He will literally ask me to turn around in the car to get another good look at a tractor we pass by. I got him the coolest tractor book for Christmas and he wants to read it every night. If you want to learn more about the Massey Ferguson, just ask me because I’m now the resident expert!
Miss Julia Jo
And of course, Miss Julia Jo turned 4 last year! She is the best big sister to Maggie and just loves being a little mama. She is currently obsessed with practicing her letters and numbers and being “teacher” which of course, I adore! Her interests lately surround spending time with her cousins, playing dress up, and helping me with whatever it is I’m doing around the house. Her sweet and tender spirit is very like mine! Jules’ independence has also soared in the last few months. She’s a big girl now so no more sibling baths, she’s brushing her hair and teeth in the morning without being told, just all the things that signal how ready she is for kindergarten next year. We open-enrolled her in the school closer to our house, which also falls within our daycare boundaries, so that way all three kids can be dropped off together and she’ll get on the bus there each day. I can’t believe this is happening later this year!
From Band of Mamas to you, I hope 2021 has started off to be a great year for you and your families! I can’t wait to share some of the fun things on the agenda for the blog this year.
XO,
Linds
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