It’s amazing how much things can change in a year.
Last year at this time, we were new parents, barely sure of what we were doing (now, we’re mostly sure…sometimes). Last year, we sent out a Christmas card that was just one big picture of Miss Nora. We were nowhere to be found on that holiday card, because we thought that she was all people cared about – she was all we cared about, any how. It is surprisingly representative of how our life was at that point.
We have come very far since last Christmas in so many ways: last year, I had just returned to work, and though I was excited about my new job, I was missing Nora desperately. Chris and I were living mostly separate lives, on completely different schedules, an hour and a half in opposite directions, which meant we often traded off acting as single parents. I took care of Nora on my own before and after work fours days per week and all day Saturday.Chris had Nora all to himself on Wednesdays. Most days I left before he woke up and he came home after Nora and I were asleep. We only parented together 1.25 days per week. It was exhausting and it didn’t feel much like a family. But then, miracle of miracles, Nantucket happened. Chris received an amazing job offer, I quit my job to be home with Nora, and we moved to an incredibly fantastic place. With lighthouses.Now, Chris and I see each other for more than an hour each day and We parent together every day. We became the family we wanted to be. It just took 9 months.
When Chris asked me this year if I was going to send out Christmas photo cards, I couldn’t have said yes more emphatically. I think it is important to slow down and stay in touch with the people who are important to us – not just through email and the web, but through a tangible thing. It’s important to remember that not everyone is on Facebook or is reading my blog. This might be the only picture they see of our family and well wishing they receive from us all year. (Chris’ aunt actually sent us a letter back last year stating that they hadn’t even known we were expecting a baby until she received last year’s card. Ooops.) Because of that, holiday cards are something I will always send out.
So imagine my excitement to see that I could get 50 free cards from Shutterfly, one of my favorite photo websites, just by doing what I would do anyway – telling you about my holiday card plans. Last week, I spent way too much time poring over cards on Shutterfly and saw their promotion for bloggers. Shutterfly really is great; I’ve been slowly working on a photo book for Nora on there. Someday I’ll have time to finish it and order it. Besides the books, they have the cutest cards for Christmas and birthdays, and they also print photo calendars.
Tuesday, my friend Logan was kind enough to take some family pictures for us at Brant Point in front of the lighthouse, which turned out great. And is the perfect representation of our family now. (Thank you, Logan!) The hard part will be choosing which one of Shutterfly’s hundreds of adorable cards to use.
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