2011 you did not disappoint

2011 had a lot to live up to as it had to follow our first year as newlyweds, which was pretty fantastic if I say so myself. 
Here are a few of 2011's highlights:

we recorded one of our songs 
we dreamt about having a little monkey of our own

i sang with the Ars Flores Orchestra in Miami

my soul friend came home

i force fed that friend some sushi

we moved in with my mother after the divorce

we made a baby

we found out she was a girl

my belly grew and we had some awful chilli
my belly grew some more

i had a truly wonderful birthday

i got some bangs and made a silly mistake

mr. Murphy got shot

and he lived to tell the tale and turned 24

we witnessed an epic pregnancy reveal

we picked some oranges and made a movie about it

i had an excellent shower for my babe

we took some pictures in the family orange grove

we did christmas up in our baby's nursery real good

i hung some pictures in EJ's nursery

i had a freak out and then felt better

Dear 2012,


You are the year that we will become parents.
Try to go easy on us, we will be new at this.
And please try not to go as fast as 2011, we want to savor every moment.
No doubt you will be full of many firsts.  
I can imagine you being rich with smiles and gazes at our new baby, family trips, and perhaps a new home.
We can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

love,

R & J & little e


(see our letter to last year here.)

happy birthday jeuas

(an adorably misspelled list of favorite Christmas songs made by my 9 year old voice student Michelle.)


It is Christmas Eve and I have love and gratitude in my heart.
Mr. Murphy has gone out to do Christmas Eve shopping and the women are going to cozy up and do some cooking.


May the heraled angles sing of the birth of our sweet Savior, Jeuas.


Merry Christmas Eve to all.


p.s. this is beautiful.

perfect ten

10 things that gave me joy this season:

1. My husband bringing me his evergreen tree soaked hands and letting me take in deep breaths for as long as I'd like.

2. New York style pumpkin cheesecake ice-cream from Kroger.

3. Fresh clean warm sheets just on the bed on a cold winter night.

4. Being pregnant with my sister, every girls dream.

5. Picking oranges fresh off the trees and making Christmas wassail with them.

6. Feeling our baby girl roll from one side of me to the other and watching John's eyes get as big as silver dollars when he feels her too.

7. Seeing people with Christmas trees a top their cars.

8. An unopened pack of Christmas cards waiting to be written in and sent off.

9. Homemade ornaments on the tree.

10. The anticipation of adding a new little person to our family and trying to imagine how beautifully different Christmas will be next year and all of the rest of the years to follow.

(graphic)