Hello again, still there?

Sadly, I realized my last post was from November. And there has been so much happening around here, but I was soooo very busy actually living life, to write about it. And sometimes that is a good thing. 
And sometimes it is time to return to the recording of it as well.

Christmas!

 What have we been up to? Well...since I have been absent from the blogging world,
we celebrated Sophie's first Thanksgiving, first Christmas (she got a push toy that was the beginning of her learning to walk). We celebrated Husband/Daddy coming home (we really celebrated that one!) and then Sophie's first birthday. And in between we celebrated in small ways all the little events that happen every day. Sophie putting random items of clothing on her head and walking around babbling until she gets our attention. Slinging shoes over her shoulder and putting them where she feels like they belong (to Daddy's chagrin when his shoes are found wet on the back porch). Walking the dogs and the adventure that can be. Sitting at a bookstore with my husband talking and eating cheesecake. 
Aside from all the events, I have been trying to work something out for myself these past few months, but more especially now. I love being a Mom, (even with the long hours, lack of sick days or vacation) but I don't want to be only Mom. Make any sense? For the past few days I have been trying to sort out things I love to do that are just me things. What makes me, me, aside from being wife and mom?

I "borrowed" husband's camera the other night and started just playing around. And then editing and playing with the results. It felt so good. I love photography but feel so far removed from it that even just taking a few somewhat decent photos (yes they were of Sophie, but she's an awesome subject) was refreshing. 

This is a true "Sophie" face,
but one she may have learned from me...

We looked at road bikes the other day, and I test rode one at a shop in town. Riding around the parking lot, remembering rides I used to do with friends, was again, refreshing. Now I am looking forward to possibly doing group rides again, maybe meeting people outside of mom/kid activities.
I am trying to find those things that were interests before Sophie came around, and maybe even find some new things just for me.
Sophie got hold of a cloth the other day and started using it to wipe the floor in random spots. It was cute watching her imitate something she has seen me do a thousand times, but what has stayed with me is that I don't want her to grow up seeing Mommy only doing laundry and wiping floors and cooking. None of these are bad things (and I mostly enjoy them), but there are so many other things I want my daughter to witness her mom doing. And so many other facets to me, that I need to find again.
More soon on what has been going on here , aside from my rambling thoughts!