Quick Update

A nap for Violet after a long day of gift opening.

Nothing much to report, just a few pictures from the past couple days. The girls have received many, many gifts and we consider ourselves spoiled! We are thankful for all of the generous and kind and thoughtful gifts from family and friends all around the country! We are so lucky to have such love and support!

-a

Gingerbread outfit photo shoot drool outtake.

Gingerbread outfit photo shoot

An excited Audrey.

Grandma Dixie with Violet at snack time.

Puppy Love

Audrey is my gift.

Violet naps.

Walking

I went on a walk today while the girls took an afternoon snooze. It is chilly out and I found some comfort in my winter jacket and gloves. As the slight breeze nipped at my face, I found myself nearly frustrated at having to walk rather than run. I have been running for so long now that a walk seems almost a waste of time!

Running has been a source of new life for me both figuratively and literally this year. I enjoy very much the solitude it provides, or the companionship when running with a partner. Today, however, I find myself without my gear, and it is too cold to really run. Instead, I opt for a walk and bundle-up. As I settle into my stride, I found myself looking at things in even more detail. The cracks in the sidewalk, the rust on bumpers, signs, lawn decorations.

There are times, I realize, that is is important to walk rather than run. I get so used to running that walking seems a defeat to the pace I've been working so hard to attain. Slowing down is to admit that I cannot run forever. I think of ways that it might be possible to run forever, all winter, all spring, summer, and fall. But this walk is pleasant. I am savoring this walk. it is nice to not worry about time, about distance, or speed. Shifting my thinking towards my surroundings rather than inner concentration.

The true goal, I realize, is to keep moving in one form or another. To not stop is the thing I am really trying to accomplish today. It brings me comfort to understand that walking is OK. There are times I will run, and times I will walk. Both bring new thoughts and keep me moving forward and allow me to reach new destinations regardless of speed or pace. What is important is that I enjoy the time I have and what is happening around me as I move through time and space. The old cliche is true that it is not so much the destination, but the journey getting there that is most important.

These are a few of...

My Favorite Things:

Audrey laughing...not jus tlaughing, but full-out uncontrolled laughing.

Seeing Kim and violet snuggled in a pile of blankets asleep.

Running at night under a full moon.

Watching Phoebe the dog nearly catch a squirrel.

Being the only one awake in the morning.

Fresh coffee.

Working with kids.

Watching large snowflakes fall by the streetlights at night.

A good nap.

The smell of cinnamon and brown sugar.

Hot oatmeal on a cold, grey day.

My slippers.

Wearing jeans on a Tuesday at work.

Lounging on the couch with the dog, both kids, and my wife.

Daydreaming about my favorite things.

Violet. By Kim

From my view

From my view...

My daughter sleeps on my lap.

My oldest daughter plays in her snowflake jams in the living room.

My dog is curled up on the couch.

My wife is making tacos for dinner.

From my view...

The tree is lit and glowing in the dim living room.

The cold night pushes against our windows but does not seep in.

Our home is a home.

From my view...

The world is beautiful.

My life is beautiful.

We are so blessed.

Thanksgiving

A quiet Wednesday morning drive brought me to the parking lot, and the hotel shuttle carried me the rest of the was to the airport. Despite traditional news blasts of end-of-days traffic and security lines, I found O'Hare airport to be rather calm and fluid throughout the entire check-in and boarding process.

Traveling alone made movement unbelievably simple and nearly silent. With a phone and photo ID in pocket, my single carry-on bag was my only other item of transport.

Richmond, Virginia is timeless as I view it from the air. The fall colors linger and the warmth of memories to come seem to welcome from below.

Happiness and joy are words too simple and cliche to truly explain my feelings upon meeting my family on the ground, but they are an adequate place to start. Stories and smiles and hugs and laughter flow freely as we settle into couches and chairs and soft throw pillows with cups of dark coffee and snacks of granola and chips surround.

The beauty of being here is not really in the things we are about to do over the next few days, but rather in the simple fact that we are together no matter what we do. A board game holds as much merit as a French dinner downtown.

To see my younger cousins grow and be these amazingly intelligent and hard-working adults is truly a gift. Days of video games and all night movie marathons are past but not forgotten. Their transition into adulthood inspires and reminds me of memories now dusty with the grit of time.

My aunt and uncle are beyond words in their love for their family. Their hospitality is as wonderful as their conversation and intellect. I am reminded of the importance of passion and dedication to being a whole human being when I am around them. Recounts of their world travels cross with local politics and recent scholarly articles. All of this is then combined with puns and laughs and visions for the future and we find ourselves with hearts fills with gratitude and an overwhelming feeling of contentment.

While we are wrapped in our cocoon of family, our lives everywhere else continue to swirl, and I am eternally grateful to my family in South Bend for their support and love during my absence.

I leave Richmond with a calm sense of continuation. This tradition of travel and togetherness has been fulfilled for another year, and it will be again next year. While our time together always seems insufficient, it always manages to suffice for another year.

First snow

The last few days before my return to work are being favored. Late night bottle feedings, continual diaper changes, playing with my daughters, talking with family and friends, and discussing the future with my wonderful wife. I am so blessed.

Returning to school will be nice, and getting back to work provides some more focus for me during this fall transition. I now look forward to another Thanksgiving with family in Virginia.

The snow has started falling, the nights are colder, but the love is stronger than ever in our family.

November Memories

Our little family plays, sleeps, eats, and grows. While sleep is a precious commodity at the moment, smiles and love are abundant.

It was wonderful to spend a few days with my dad and sister and share a few moments in between trips to the hospital.

Kim's father and grandmother visited today, and again I found myself sitting happily as Violet and Audrey brought smiles to faces!

Included are a few photos of the past few days. Life is beautiful!

New November

Some more Picts of Audrey, Violet, Zadie, and daddy.

Violet

November Life

Welcome to the world beautiful daughter. Violet Orelove: born 11/1/11 at 2:32am. 8lbs 7oz. 21 inches long. Brought into a family of love, laughter, and warmth. You are loved beyond measure.

Happy Halloween

We are all waiting for the newest little goblin to arrive. It is nice to have my father and sister visiting, although I feel guilty not being able to stray far from the house. The fall is reaching its final stages and will soon yield to the bitterness of winter. Our family cocoons itself within our house and remains warm and content... Waiting patiently on this Halloween morn.

Falling

The days are shorted and the temperature rarely allows for a single layer of clothing anymore. While Mother Nature does her best to distract us with her brilliant fall colors and rich sunsets, it remains difficult to ignore the fact that winter looms just beyond the horizon and possibly within the single turn of a calendar page.

It has been two weeks since running the Chicago Marathon, and I find myself asking the question, "What next?". Obviously the birth of our second daughter and the upcoming holiday seasons will be more than enough to fill my plate. However, the experience of training and anticipation of a single moment or day was life-changing and I crave another goal. I am goal-driven by nature, which explains my continual drive in education, constantly striving towards another benchmark degree. So, it is with this same drive and determination that I open my eyes in search of a new goal or event.

Kim and the baby are healthy and now receiving weekly visits to the doctors' office to ensure proper development and adequate preparation for the birth whenever that child decides to finally enter the world.

Audrey takes everything in stride and is, not surprisingly, in good nature. Her sense of humor astounds me, and she is developing quite the sense for comedic timing...although I don't know where she gets it! ;-)

We continue to laugh, dance, read, draw. Build, and talk about everything. While the chill of fall engulfs our neighborhood, the warmth of our growing family wraps us tightly in contentment in our lives.

Fall Update

Falling leaves, reds, yellows, oranges everywhere. Only a couple weeks until our second child enters the world. Audrey is excited and wonderful. She is such a positive girl and enjoys the challenges of learning and playing. Kim is ready to get the kiddo out and continue to be super mommy.

It is strange not running daily. I am fortunate to not have suffered and injuries beyond soreness and dehydration. In another week, I will begin to run again and maintain a steady training schedule until it snows.

This weekend is about spending time in South Bend with family. I continue to undrestand the importance of family in my life. Whether near or far.

Happy birthday Grandma!!!

Chicago Marathon 2011

A great day, with a wonderful return home. The run was superb, and hot at the end. I ran through the beautiful city of Chicago, including 18 red light intersections with police officers watching! Sweat, pain, highs, lows, gatoraide, breathing, gazing, packs of people who have worked just as hard as me to get to today. 1.5 million spectators with signs and love and cheer and energy for us running low. It was a positive day with a beautiful finish that cannot be described other than dreamlike. While my bones and muscles heal, I sit, surrounded by my family, content with an accomplishment that will last the rest of my life. Thank you to everyone for your love and support. I could not have done this without you.

October happenings

The leaves are changing colors, their final stand before their cyclical release and fall to the earth.

Audrey is our everything, and in less (hopefully) than a month, we will blessed with two little everythings. Kim is amazing and she just astounds me with her beauty and strength.

The marathon is this weekend, and I am excited to be running in the Chicago Marathon, to which I found a ticket. I am excited, nervous, anxious...but above all I feel ready.

On the more microlevel of things, tonight consisted of chalk drawings and prints in the driveway, followed by pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes and mashed potatoes. Now we are mere moments away from a bubble bath, bed books, and nighttime dreams.