looking forward

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a relaxing holiday, or, if not relaxing, exciting. We’re just back from my mom’s cabin, where we spent a few days skiing and cuddling and skiing and cuddling. Stella got cross-country skis from Santa (you gotta love that guy), and she was all over the skiing. I was actually worried she wouldn’t like it because a certain amount of falling is inevitable (ask my sister’s new husband, who tried it for the first time). But she wasn’t fazed by the falls, and was even able to pick herself up most of the time. She chattered the whole way: “We’re on the same team, aren’t we? Look how fast I’m going! Watch this, dad! Look at me, mom!”

Skiing at the cabin is one of my favorite things, and one of the only things that makes our Minnesota winter bearable for me. There are trails on the other side of the road, so we can ski down the road and head straight into the woods. There is no one else around, so all you hear is the wind in pine trees, dead oak leaves scratching against one another, and the swish of skis. Snow clings to branches, and the sky, when it’s clear, seems impossibly blue. It’s lovely, and I always feel so hopeful when I’m there, gliding through the forest. My favorite section of trail is under a tall stand of pines. It's dark and the snow is littered with pine needles, and there is something about it that reminds me of a fairytale. Emerging into the bright snowy field on the other side is always a shock (albeit a lovely one.)

So the cabin was wonderful, but now we’re back, and I’m having a difficult time facing the fact that there are still three (and maybe even four) months of winter left. Zoë came down with a bad cold up north, so of course I am now sick again, as well. It’s snowy and very cold here, so even if I felt up for it, I wouldn’t be able to take the little bugger out for a walk. (Not to mention how difficult it is to push a stroller through snow and ice.) So I’m trapped inside again, sniffling and getting snotted on. (Did I mention how much I love January in Minnesota?)

Alright, I’ll stop whining. Instead, I’ll list a few things that I’m looking forward to this year:

• My grandpa’s 100th birthday—we’re having a big party on the 17th (more about him later)
• AWP—I will be on a panel of writers who write about their children in February in Chicago. I’m a little nervous to be away from Zoë for a whole weekend, but I’m so excited to sleep through the night and talk writing for three days!!
• Zoë’s first birthday (though I hate how fast she’s growing!)
• Launching an online version of Mother Words (stayed tuned for more on this)
• Selling my book (this is me being hopeful, but I thought including it might help)
• Stella starting kindergarten (again, I think this will be a difficult transition for me, but she’s ready)
• Going away for a weekend—or even a night—with D when I’m done nursing (I don’t know when this will happen, but it must)

May the new year bring each of you many small and large joys, much laughter, and stable personal finances.