I took Amy's idea of a Word for the New Year and started thinking and praying for mine. I loved this idea so much better than resolutions, I was never a fan of resolutions. It just seemed like a joke. But dedicating a word for the whole year is awesome. There were so many words that would be perfect...organize, family, reading, and the list goes on.
But the word that has touched my heart is...WANT(s).
Christmas really made this even more clear as I looked around at kids, family, friends, co-workers and saw the greed of wanting presents and things. Then how empty they still felt and it wasn't enough. More. Things. Stuff. Junk. I have been in purge mode since I brought out all the Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving. I purged alot of my Christmas decorations that I've had forever or just wasn't my taste/style anymore.
So why WANT? Well, things don't bring happiness and sometimes things take your attention away from what is important...Brad and Chase...family. The more stuff I have, the more that it takes my time. My house if fairly clutter free, kind of, but I want it to be minimal. Simple.
I want my life to be...Less Is More. But to have this, I need to pray that my WANTS are held at bay. I do pretty good for the most part, but when I go shopping something always catches my eye. And now with Chase, I love to buy for him. But not anymore.
So I am dedicating my "wanter" so that stuff and things don't call out my name when I am in a store, garage sale or screaming at me from the clearance rack.
Happy New Year!
Chase in his new (used) walker. CJ tried it out a few years back. 
Only 7 1/2 months and he is already into all the gifts. :)
I was told just to give him a box and he will be happy. And here he is after we took Pooh out. 
A little much with the flash. But cute nonetheless.
As the days go on, I am amazed on how much you've learned and continue to learn. I've been told that time doesn't fly until you have children and they just sprout right before your eyes. That is exactly how I feel. I can't believe how much you've grown in just 7 months. I feel like you were just in my tummy a month ago. 
Life's been so busy with the holidays and I've been caught up in the commercialization of Christmas...gifts, wants, gifts...that I missed you changing right before me. So tonight I stopped the chaos and just spent the entire night with you. We played with blocks, I built them high and showed you how to knock them down. You were having so much fun knocking them down, mommy couldn't build them up fast enough. After blocks it was time for dinner. You love to eat. As you were eating mommy sang some Christmas songs...Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman and the ABC song. 
I love you so much baby boy. I never knew I could love someone so much. I love your daddy so very much but everyone always told me that a mother's love is different and so strong. I love your sweet baby smell, beautiful smile, laugh and babbling, your wonderful personality and the way you look at me and love me. I just can't imagine how I could love another child just as much. I know God makes a mommy and daddy's heart special so that we can. So when God decides to bring you a brother or sister, we'll love them just as much as you. 
But one thing...I do wish you would sleep better at night, at least longer than 3 hours at a time, 5-6 would be nice. You're such a social butterfly, you don't want to miss out on anything. As I finish writing, you are crying, you've only been sleeping 3.5 hours. Daddy is trying to sooth you, I guess mommy better come to the rescue. 
It finally snowed on a Saturday when I could take Chase out during the daylight. After relaxing inside all day I finally bundled Chase up in his snowsuit and outside we went. He was so funny. The dogs were so excited we were out "playing" in the snow that they wanted to play too. I had to guard them from knocking Chase over.
Chase Andrew Salatino
