Superbowl 49 (AKA your first time staying awake past 10pm)

Dear Em,
We moved into our house almost six years ago. This home has seen a lot of heartache in the months of January & February ever since. Not just because it's winter, our least favorite New England season, but because we've suffered through some gut wrenching Patriots playoffs losses during those months. It took five long years for you to see your first Patriots Superbowl Championship. The best part is that you actually saw it. We let you stay up for your very first late night sporting event (we will likely be paying for it this week), & I'm so glad we did. Victories are so much sweeter when we get to share them with you.

We made lots of yummy food & put our jerseys on before game time. You watched opening ceremonies & the kick-off, but then you headed into the family room to watch cartoons & movies. You joined us as you heard Daddy & I cheering for each Patriots touchdown (which did not happen as often as you liked). I picked you up, & we would run a loop around our downstairs- one loop for each touchdown. You slapped Daddy high fives as we passed him each time, cheering all the way.

You snuggled in with us to watch the Katy Perry half time show. You loved it, singing along with some of the songs. Your favorite part was when surfboards, beach balls, & sharks danced & sang along to the lyrics.

The Patriots were tied at this point. "It's an emergency," you declared. "I didn't dress my girls in their Patriots outfits. I have to dress them in their Patriots outfits, & then the Patriots will get one touchdown, two touchdowns, three touchdowns, four touchdowns, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." You counted the touchdowns you were sure they would score off on your fingers.

Unfortunately, that didn't seem to do the trick. The Patriots were down by ten points when the fourth quarter began. Daddy moved to a dining room chair he was sitting in when the Patriots won against the Ravens. I put on my Patriots beanie that I had worn when the Patriots won against the Lions. You, our little lucky charm, joined me on the couch for the last quarter. Even Charlie laid down in his lucky spot.

We watched the Patriots bring the ball down the field & score two touchdowns. You were thrilled. You were sure your team was going to win. I shook my head in fear. "They left the Seahawks with too much time. If the Seahawks score now, we won't have enough time to get the ball back. We'll lose."

Those words left my mouth, & we watched my prediction come to life. Daddy grew more & more frustrated. With very little time left, it was almost inevitable that the Seahawks would score. All they had to do was run the ball into the endzone. Daddy walked away defeated, frustration & sadness painted across his face. You had mostly given up on the Patriots too, sitting on the floor with your American Girl Dolls. You were practicing the "after Superbowl show" your girls would be performing.

I was the only one watching that next play. I couldn't believe my eyes when the Seahawks threw (instead of just running) the ball & the Patriots intercepted it. I just started screaming. I picked you up & twirled you around. Daddy came running back over to the TV, & we all cheered together. When the Patriots had officially won, you & I ran ten loops around our house, giving Daddy ten high fives as we went.

"This was the best night ever," you exclaimed as you put on your "Superbowl ring" (which we had gotten from a package of grocery store cupcakes). Between staying up until 10pm for the very first time (we are so going to have to pay for this later this week), watching our Patriots play & win in the championship game, & getting to celebrate together, I had to agree with you. It was a great night.

Thanks for sharing it all with us last night & for being the Patriots' lucky charm.

I love you so,
Mommy

Throwback Thursday: Our Little Patriots Fan

Dear Em,
You owned your first Patriots Jersey before you were even born, a Brady one, just like your Daddy. You were only four days old the first time you put it on. Daddy & I couldn't be happier. The Patriots were in the playoffs, & we were watching them play with our adorable, squishy little baby in our arms. You didn't really watch the game. You mostly slept...& ate...& pooped. It's probably good that you don't remember that game. The Patriots lost, & that ended any hope we had for a Patriots Superbowl that year.

Five years later, you still wear a jersey on game days. You grew out of your red one a couple years ago & now run around in a blue Brady Jersey (still just like your daddy). Sometimes you dress up your dolls in team colors (& I dress up our cat, Charlie), ready to cheer for the Patriots. You still don't exactly watch the games. Someday we hope you'll be able to watch full games with us. For now, you prefer to play in the next room & come out occasionally for moral support for Daddy & I. You give us hugs, tell us you love us, give a little "woooo" to the Patriots, & then go back to your movie, playing with your dolls, coloring, or reading to Charlie.

You make sure to join us every time the Patriots score (you know that they've scored by the obnoxiously loud yelling & clapping coming from Daddy & I). We pick you up & run you around the house, wooooing & cheering & laughing all the way.

This is how you will find us again this Sunday, sitting on the edge of our seats for every heart pounding moment. I freaking love it, & I freaking love you, our little Patriots fan.

I love you so,
Mommy

Thanksgiving Recap 2014

Dear Em,
Wow. We had one whirlwind of a long holiday weekend. Although we weren't technically traveling this year, we only spent one day at home. Midway through the weekend, we all found ourselves a little exhausted. Everyone seemed to have a grumpy moment (or two or three), & I realized we had overextended ourselves (again). Daddy put his arms around me & said, "at least we're overextending ourselves with wonderful things." He was right. In the midst of overtiredness, we chose to be thankful for our busy itinerary & enjoy these precious moments with family & friends.

While we typically celebrate Thanksgiving with Daddy's family, this year Uncle Jared joined us too. He came to visit us on Monday & we were excited to celebrate his birthday with him. By Wednesday night, we were all in the middle of Christmas crafting & house decorating. We always wait until after Thanksgiving to start decorating for Christmas (Daddy has strict rules), but with our schedule being what it was, we started early this year. I didn't sit down that night until well after you went to bed, but it made me smile to see Christmas lights twinkle in our house again.

We woke up on Thanksgiving morning excited about watching the parade together. I had stuffed mushrooms to prepare, & you updated me on what was happening with the parade until I could join you (you love the Broadway musical performances). I am so thankful to have a parade watching buddy & enjoyed every moment snuggled in with you as we watched the floats go by & listened to the music.

While we couldn't be in North Carolina with my family, I'm so thankful we got to see & chat with them all via skype. We took a quick Bixby family photo before heading to Daddy's Aunt's house for our holiday gathering. Including children, there were more than 30 of us. Conversations were buzzing throughout the house while yummy food smells filled the kitchen. You had a blast playing with your little cousins. As we stood around the buffet table full of food, holding hands to say grace, I was so incredibly thankful to enjoy that tradition with our big, amazing Rhode Island family. Our day had been filled with music & food & laughter. I was so thankful to be surrounded by family & love & happiness. It was such an amazing holiday.

Friday morning, we joined Grandma & Papa for brunch at T's Restaurant to celebrate Papa's birthday. You were hungry & tired & cranky, but playing a game of telephone kept a smile on your face as we waited for our food. We had fun celebrating Papa together.

Next, we went to Shartner Farms to cut down our Christmas tree. This was the fastest we've ever picked out & cut down our tree, & I was thankful for that because we were all feeling tired at that point. We brought the tree home, & Daddy put the lights on the tree while Jared worked on the lights outside. We had planned to put ornaments on the tree, but after multiple cranky outbursts, you put yourself down for a nap.

We woke you up, loaded into the car, & headed to Worcester to have dinner with some of my family. When we arrived, we were so surprised to see how many people were there. A room was filled with my aunts & uncles & cousins that we hadn't seen in a long time. We ate & talked & laughed. You decided you were a bunny & "burrowed" yourself under the table. At that point, Daddy & I were happy that you weren't screaming or crying & let you enjoy the night half under the table & half being our very own photographer. We got home late that night & carried your sleeping little body from the car & into your bed.

We woke up early the next morning. We would be hosting Thanksmas Swap that evening. There was cooking & cleaning & more decorating to be done. You were happy to help. You decorated the back doors & chalkboard wall. You & I hung the ornaments on the tree while Daddy baked the turkey. You were so excited when our guests started to arrive. This year's group was smaller than most years, but I think smaller is exactly what we needed. We're so thankful for the support & love of our friends, & it was so nice to enjoy time spent with them this holiday season.

On Sunday morning I think we all could have laid in bed all day, but we all had adventures ahead of us. We said goodbye to the last of our guests. You, Jared, & I headed to Patriots Place, & Daddy left for a concert. We had two goals. We were going to meet Santa, & we wanted to show Jared around Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play. They were actually taking pictures with Santa on the field. How freaking cool is that?! Except that when we got there, the line was wrapped around the stadium. I guessed it was a multiple hour line & there was no way we were going to stand in it. We wanted to enjoy our time at Patriots Place, not spend the whole day standing in line. We headed to Bass Pro Shop instead, & they immediately handed us a card to come back at 5:30pm...almost four hours later. Whomp Whomp.

At least we wouldn't have to wait in line for four hours. We changed you out of your dress clothes & took Jared to the Patriots Museum. I love that museum. It's so interactive & fun. You & Jared kicked field goals, pretended to be linemen, jumped as high as you could, & stood in a Patriots huddle (where you hugged Tom Brady tight...you are so your father's daughter). It was an awesome afternoon.

We had a blast, but you were all over the place. Your "listening ears" were pretty much non existant. You were running every which way except for the direction I told you to. We went to grab some dinner, but I worried you wouldn't make it to 5:30 for your meeting with Santa. Luckily, Bass Pro shop was running ahead, & we only had to wait in line very briefly. You had a tiny tantrum in line. I couldn't really blame you. It had been a long, long holiday weekend. We were all a little exhausted. Luckily, you pulled yourself together in time to meet Santa. You & he had a nice chat. I got a nice photo. Everyone was happy.

I listened to the Patriots game on the radio while you fell asleep on the way home. Daddy had been right. It was a truly wonderful overextended weekend. It was spent with family & friends & food & a little bit of adventure. I was exhausted, but I wouldn't have traded any of those moments for a few more hours of sleep. Plus after a marathon of holiday celebrating, we have very little planned for this upcoming week (other than the typical work & school). I plan to do a whole lot of relaxing, listening to Christmas music, enjoying Christmas lights, & snuggling an adorable almost five year old who will never be almost five ever again.

I love you so,
Mommy