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I adore jammies.
(Yes, I called them jammies. Kind of like cuppycakes. DEAL.)
At night, after Harrison is in bed & my run is complete, I tiredly pull on a pair of Nate’s pajama pants, throw on a tshirt & a hoodie, & curl up with my computer. I sit cross-legged at my desk, writing out a story while Nate watches re-runs of How I Met Your Mother. It’s quiet, except for the television & the tapping of my fingers on keys. After a little bit, I join him on the couch & tuck my toes under his butt to keep them warm, happy to be close to him.
Sometimes I worry that we’re getting old & lame & stale & that someday, we we will look at old pictures & not even recognize the couple holding beers on Thirsty Thursday, surrounded by friends. But I also know that at this time in my life, my joy is found in the little moments of the evening while I’m wrapped in flannel – it’s found in wiggling my toes under Nate to make him laugh, or a funny Tweet from Karen. Joy is found in small bowls of peppermint ice cream & bending over a crib to feel a warm cheek with the back of my hand.
& so I ask…where do you find your joy at this stage in your life? Is it different than where you thought you would be?
leave a comment & you’ll be entered to win a pair of Jockey flannel pajama pants, retailed at $28.00!
also, Jockey is hosting a Spread JOY contest on their Facebook page, full of holiday photos that deserve a special place on Awkward Family Photos. upload a favorite picture & you’ll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree. let me know if you did so I can vote for you!
I find joy in cuddling on the couch watching a show on Netflix. Sometimes it’s accompanied by wine or decaf coffee.
My joy is found weekend mornings when my toddler wakes up and I bring him into our bed and we all roll around before heading downstairs for breakfast
Joy: wee little blond in his jammies with feet all snug in his crib. Hubs working on the lap top, music & tree on. Wine & stretchy pants.
Ahhh we may still get dolled up and go out for drinks but
Home is where the heart is!
I find joy this time of year in Christmas music!!
My joy is in tickling my son’s feet so that he’s laughing so hard he’s gasping for air. It’s in him wrapping his chubby arms around my neck. And it’s in the three of us snuggling in bed on Sundays before church, knowing that my entire life and heart is lost somewhere in that down comforter and I don’t care to ever get it back.
I find joy in sitting in front of the tree and watching the fire!
Watching my little man wiggle his butt while he dances to cartoons. Late night snuggles when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Movies with the hubby.
It’s the small things sometimes, that make life great
My joys are toddler kisses, and hubby snuggles, and a warm pup sleeping on my toes.
I totally find comfort sitting on my couch in my jammies after a long day, watching TV or a movie with my husband. I have always been sort of a homebody, so I guess its not that different than I would have thought.
I find joy in Thursday Donut Day at the office!!
I found joy in my husband and I’s nightly skype dates. Sad, but true. He’s in the military and has been gone for the past year, and the only time I get to really see or talk to him is every night at 10 when the nugget is fast asleep. I cannot even explain how happy it makes me to hear that little skype phone call noise! I never, ever thought that when I married my husband or even when we had our daughter that he would be gone for a year. A WHOLE FLIPPING YEAR OF OUR LIVES! But it’s what he wanted, and the military perks aren’t half bad!
I find my Christmas joy when my son wakes up in the morning and the first thing he asks is for me to “Turn Christmas on” I love that I have passed my joy for the season on to him and he can’t imagine his day without Christmas lights. Not sure what we will do when January rolls around!
I find joy in the excitement that lights up my daughter’s eyes when she sees a book. I grew up a bookworm (still am) & it warms me to my very core to see that piece of me in her. I only hope that she continues to find her joy in the world of books.
Joy is that feeling of “on the brink of peeing my pants” while laughing with my husband in bed, when we really should be going to sleep, but have the giggles!
My joy is my family. In the end they are what will matter. The time spent with them is what they will treasure.
Joy now is when my 2 year old lays down on the couch and snuggles with me when we watch Nick Jr in the afternoon. So sweet!
I love unprompted i love you’s and snuggles from my bigger kids and snuggles from my active 19 month old. And actually being able to sip and enjoy a coffee is priceless to me.
I find joy in cuddling up with E to Christmas cartoons. She’s finally calming down enough at night to snuggle under a blanket with…
I find Joy in the Lord and the sweet husband he’s blessed me with. And my adorable puppies
The things in which I find joy are a lot different than I ever thought they’d be… cuddling up on the couch with my husband, head to toe, his feet in my face. Spooning with one of the dogs. Watching the snow fall outside (as long as, you know, I don’t actually have to go anywhere). Winter is not my favorite or most active season, so I’ve been trying hard to find joy in the little things and not let the S.A.D. take over!
I find joy in my warm cup of coffee each and every morning, it is my peaceful quiet time each day.
I find joy in snuggling in with my husband on Saturday mornings while we listen to the babies talk over the monitor. Yeah….it is way different than I thought it would be.
My joy is going into my little boy’s room in the middle of a cold night, picking him and cuddling him for a few minutes or twenty just to listen to him breath, feel his sweet little body in my arms and to take in his freshly-bathed smell.
Then I pray to the high heavens that he doesn’t wake up screaming for Mama when I put him back down and try to leave… I’m a risk taker like that.
I find my joy in those moments when my son’s eyes meet mine, and he has a little twinkle caused by a big smile on his face. We just stare at each other saying “I love you SOOOOOOOOOOOO much” with just our gaze. It isn’t the girls’ nights out of yore, but it is heaven in those moments!
love flannel PJs! I find joy in cuddling with my son on the sofa with our “blankie”, watching Jeopardy. Then watching him get down off the sofa and run all over the house, coming back once and awhile to lay his head on my knee.
Complete joy.
I find joy in the few spare seconds that my one-year-old son will actually sit still and burrow his chubby cheeks into my neck. It’s so short but oh, so sweet. I find joy in snuggling up with my hubby after a long day at work, and longer day of taking care of our son. Those last few minutes of stillness and quiet at the end of the day.
I find joy in snugging with my husband in bed on Saturday mornings. We don’t have children yet and so I am working to treasure these times we have together now and make the most of them.
Joy is morning snuggles in bed during breakfast bottle. Hubby on one side, Laura in the middle, and sometimes the dog at the foot of the bed. It’s so warm and happy! And of course, this all involves cozy jammies.
I find joy in snuggling with my little guy under warm blankies watching Cars or Toy Story for the zillionth time!
I find my joy in playing with my daughter and cuddling with her (on the rare occassion she will actually sit still).
I find joy in naptime!!
Joy is the small things. The innocent smile when I walk in the door and greet my little man. The wave good bye as my husband carries him up to sleep and the way he nuzzles up each morning like a newborn when we first get him out of his crib.
Joy is different now…but so much better.
I find joy in early morning cuddles in bed with my hubs and sweet one year old boy with the Today show in the background and light beginning to come through our window.
I also find joy in pjs {I call them pj pants!}. And snickerdoodle Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. And holiday baking! And dinner out with friends.
Joy is when my toddler rests his head on my shoulder.
My hubby and I are total homebodies. We al so like to cuddle on the couch in our “comfys” and watch TV football, or movies. I find such joy in just spending time together – and with the dog – it really doesn’t matter what we are doing.
I find joy in the sweet smile my little boy gives me every morning when I get him up for the day.
I find joy in sleeping at night time. Which sounds ridiculous, but as a night shift worker, I love my nights off
My joy is curling up on the couch with my son and reading a book or watching movie. I love our cuddle time more than anything!
Joy…it’s watching my 6 year old “read” to her little sister; it’s my 10 month old’s “kisses and hugs” which consist of pressing his open mouth to my face as hard as he can while grabbing my hair, like he can’t get enough of me; it’s snuggling with my hubby and an eggnog milkshake and watching top chef with the tree lit up beside us; it’s the whole of US…but most of all, it’s being able to find joy after PPD stole it from me not once, but twice. I am thankful every time my eyes well up with tears of happiness, not despair.
Lately I find my joy in a cup of tea after a long hard day. I sit and drink that tea and stare mindlessly at the wall (err, TV.) and breathe a sigh of relief because it’s another day I’ve survived!
Mine is the same…curling up on the couch in pj’s with my hubby at the end of a long day.
I find joy in a crowded room filled with my family – parents, siblings, hubby, nieces and nephews. I can’t get enough family time these days, no matter the volume!
I find joy in little mermaids. ;0)
That’s exactly what I always wear for jammies.
I find joy in staying in on a Friday night to cuddle, watch ridiculous amounts of Netflix and make 11pm runs to whataburger because Hubby loves their breakfast. And no I never would have guessed at 20 yrs old I’d be past my wild nights out and opting to stay in but I wouldn’t change a thing
My joy is propping my feet up on my husband’s lap on the couch covered under blankets and watching “The Office” reruns together.
A poopy diaper that doesn’t leak is pure joy! Two babes in 16 months = a lot of poopy diapers. And without cloth diapers it would equal a lot of poopy clothes too!
“Jammies” is also a word in frequent use at my house!
Like you, priorities and perspectives have changed. What brings me the most joy these days is the bit of time after R has had his dinner, but before the bad/bed routine begins. We chase him around the coffee table (he’s still a crawler…no walking yet) and he laughs and laughs. He’ll pause every now and then to turn and see if we’re still following him, he’ll let out a big belly laugh, and they he’ll turn to chase us. It’s joy like I’ve never known before.
I love to sunggle with my 2 year old at night and he starts saying crazy things that totally crack me up!
joy right now comes in 2 forms for me, one is watching Modern Family on the couch with my hubby while I knit and he works on coding a google app to make us rich, while we hear the soft snores of Z over the monitor. The other form is going for girls night out with my mommy friends, nothing better than unwinding and just being a girl.
Culred up the fire in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, hot cup of cocoa, christmas tree on. perfection!
i love pajamas! i would love another pair. can’t beat ‘em!
Spooning my little Harrison when he comes into our bed at night. I love to hold his tiny hands and listen to him breathe as I drift back to sleep- aaahhh, makes me sleepy just thinking about it.
I find joy in many things now that I am a parent… I love watching my husband and son play while I make dinner. They are so wonderful and make me smile constantly. I am only 21 (will be 22) but I always wanted to be a young parent (we planned for Mr. Harper).. I was surprised it happened so soon for us, but thrilled at the same time. I wouldn’t have it any other way..
My son is a little over a year old – and I find comfort in cuddle time with him. Whether we’re watching tv (yes, gasp, I let my son watch nick jr. sometimes) or we are reading books, I love when he just sits with me and gives up on being an active toddler for a few minutes to rest his head on me and let me hold him
I love it & I cherish it.
I find joy in rocking my little Jack to sleep. I enjoy it all year round but esp. this time of year with just the light of the Christmas tree and soft Christmas music playing in the background.
I find joy in the softness of that baby hair at the base of my son’s neck, in the way that Abbey laughs and says “I’m playing with Dil-win!”, in the way that Ryan plays with them when he gets home, and in the quiet moments when both kids are in bed and we are alone for a few precious minutes!
I find joy in the wee hours of the night (ok, early morning) when the hubs has finally made it home from work and comes in to kiss me goodnight. It’s these little moments that make me realize it’s all worth it.
My son, Max, just turned 2 on Saturday. My very favorite part of every day is just before I go to bed, I tiptoe into his room and watch him sleep for about a minute. I tuck in his blankets, pull out the maternity picture of me that sits on his nightstand that he grabs every night before falling asleep, and I run my hands over his hair. At that moment, he looks a little more like my baby, and not the big kid he is becoming. FAVORITE part of the day hands down.
My joy is sipping a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning while my daughter insists I “make a ring” for her out of playdough.
Currently it’s the same every night, I find joy in laying down next to my munchkin. I on my net book and her passed out next to me. The hubs is usually watching a show or movie and we just sit here quietly and talk back and forth sometimes. It’s a nice quiet happy feeling.
Seeing my daughter in her crib with her little butt up in the air. Waking her up in the morning and picking her up – she puts her little head on my shoulder – I love it because I know soon enough she won’t want to cuddle any more!
I find joy when my husband and I cook dinner together and catch up on our days. Enjoying a glass of wine at the same time makes it even more enjoyable
I also call them jammies. And I love them.
I feel the most joy on weekend mornings…and, yes, it’s partly because I get to sleep in a little. But really the best part is when all five of us (in our jammies) pile into our little queen-sized bed just to laugh and snuggle and spend the morning together. There will be cartoons and iPads. Coffee will be spilled–no worries, it will have gotten cold first, as hot coffee is just incapable of happening around here. There will be sticky kisses and someone will get kicked and cry. But for that moment, we’re all together. We’re warm, we’re happy, and it’s perfect.
My joy is in Saturday mornings with my family. Our weeks can be hard and stressful but Saturday mornings involve bacon & pancakes, laughs, and pjs til late morning. I love them.
Joy is my daughter. Joy is relaxing on the weekend with my hub and my kid and just vegging out. It’s the baby growing in my belly and a great run by myself.
I’m not sure where I thought I’d be 10 years ago, but I like where I am now.
My joy is spending time with my husband. Even when we’re both entertained by our own computers.
joy? snuggling with my sexy husband, or Ho, as I like to call him.
And? Talking with my amazing friend, Blair.
Joy?
Joy is watching my 15 month old toddler give his new baby brother a hug and kiss.
Joy is waking up in the morning, but getting an extra hour of sleep by having both of my sweet boys in bed.
Joy is cuddling up next to my husband and watching a movie together.
Joy is my mom coming for a visit no matter how brief.
My joy is going home to see friends and family. We live in Colorado and our families and friends live in Iowa and Ohio. I miss laughing hysterically with my girls and being a part of big family functions- watching the babies/kids grow up. We miss out on so much only seeing our support groups once or twice a year….especially when you are so busy, you only get to spend a few precious hours with the people you love the most in the world. I am overcome with joy when we return home…..and when I wear flannel jammie pants
Watching my three kids laugh and play together and then snuggling on the couch with my husband after they are in bed.
I find joy in laughing at the little, inside jokes between my husband and I. I find joy in wondering if anyone else is laughing about the same thing as us and then thinking, hell no no one is as weird as us, LOL.
my joy is found spending time with family and friends.. getting a divorce at 21, after less than a year of marriage, really rocked me to the core. now i take life one day at a time, with loved ones very close by my side.
My joy? Several places:
When I pick my daughter up from the sitters and she runs at me with a huge grin and throws her arms around me.
Finding the RIGHT pair of jeans.
Watching the kiddo hug the dog, and watching the dog lay there and take it.
When the hubs gets an extra day off.
And, of course, when I win free stuff!!!
I entered the Spread the Joy contest, but I’m terribly behind. At this point, votes are pretty much pitty-votes.
I’m not into Christmas much- not religious, never really cared much about the tree or the lights. Just not my thing I guess. But this year when my son saw our tree for the first time, his eyes lit up, and he rushed around the tree giggling and “helping” daddy with the lights at just one year old. My heart melted and I found the joy in Christmas all over again. Through the eyes of a child…. <3
Joy is getting down on the floor and chasing after my toodler. Joy is also that glass of wine with my husband at the end of a long day:-)
Snuggling on the couch with my little blonde boy while he drinks his night time bottle. I know these moments won’t last forever!
Joy is (potentially) finishing my Christmas shopping early this year, without putting anything on credit cards,
Joy is the babe in his flannel pj’s running around the Christmas tree,
and
Joy is all the wine I’ll have to drink to get thru the holidays (sanely)
Watching my girls play together, there is no greater joy.
Joy is discovering the world again through my daughter’s eyes! And this time around I realize just how amazing of a world it is!
Joy is snuggling on the couch with my husband. Our pup is laying across our lap. Our cat is purring at our shoulders. Husband is quietly practicing his lullabye for the baby we are growing.
It’s not where I thought we’d be. It’s a million times BETTER than where I thought we’d be.
My joy is watching my two boys sleeping and then sitting on the couch with my husband watching something that has nothing to do with Barney or Scooby Doo!
Pure joy is hearing my 20 month old laugh a really good belly laugh. The way her eyes scrunch up, and her mouth opens wide and a huge giggle comes pouring out–that is the ultimate joy.
I find joy in my little girls face as she’s fast asleep in my arms… she makes it almost impossible to put her down at night.
I thought at 24 I’d find joy in going out with my girlfriends and still being a little bit in my crazy stage. Instead, I find joy being curled up on the couch with my husband watching a movie on the weekends with two precious dogs warming out feet below us.
My joy is when those little chubby hands reach for me above anybody else! Then I hold him and he puts his head on my shoulder and I feel those same chubby hands patting me on the back. Best feeling in the world!
Nate sounds like my husband, he loves How I Met Your Mother. We are totally Marshall and Lily lol.
My joy is being able to stay at home with my son.
My joy is Saturday mornings when I hang out in jammies with Lo Lo while my hubby makes French toast (eggs from our own chickens!). We drink coffee and loll about, enjoying just being together.
Joy: Curling up in my king sized bed with all 3 kids and my hubs after dinner to watch a movie together and talk about our days. Or go through all the great art work they bring home from school. We sit there all together for a couple of hours, and each kids falls asleep and we move them. Except for the baby, she will only go to sleep in her crib. Hot chocolate is usually included in our snuggle sessions especially this time of year.
I find joy first thing in the morning. My baby sleeps on my chest at night time (co-sleeping, i love it) and when he is ready to wake up he will pop his little head up and stare at me with those bright eyes. then when i say good morning to him he will give me a little morning smile. melts my heart everytime.
I find joy in snuggles from my almost-todder. The moments he slows down to snuggle with me are so few and very precious!
those pants look waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarm. joy is not being in the wild west anymore and being closer to family.
Joy is when the little dude presses his warm, smooth face up against mine.
My Joy is found snuggling with my sweet baby girl for as long as she’ll let me. And also when I’m surrounded by friends who are so close to us that they are family.
P.S. Merry Christmas to you and your family. May God bless your family in amazing ways in the year to come!
I find joy in a fire place burning on a cold night watching home videos of my kids when they were babies and thinking how adorable they were…. making me want more!
Also I find joy in a great night of trash tv… yup, I said it.
This time of the year, I find joy in getting in my favorite yoga pants and a big sweat shirt with my Uggs. Then loading up my 13 month old. Grabbing some hot chocolate and driving around with my husband to look at Christmas lights. And listening to Christmas music of course!
My joy is found in snuggling a sleeping babe right before I lay her down. Or curled up in front of the fire with a good book and homemade peppermint hot cocoa. Or a hot shower on a cold evening. I find joy a lot of ways!!
My joy is that moment in the car when the tween girls are excitedly talking over each other, and it is loud and chaotic. In that moment of chaos, MB and I looked at each other and smiled that goofy grin that says, “We are thinking the exact same thing. This is our moment of joy. This is what we miss. This is our perfection.”
As these precious tween girls are (hopefully in the next year) going to be my stepdaughters, I find myself joyful and falling more and more in love with them every day. As they are in New England, each moment is a treasure with them.
I find joy in hot chocolate with as many marshmallows as will fit in the mug, the lights on the Christmas tree and my son’s face every time he gets a glimpse of those twinkling lights. Pure heaven.