Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Sesame Street Live Giveaway Announcement

Where has the time gone? It feels as though this year passed in a single breath. And yet, when I slow down and focus on the minutes and the hours and the adventures, I remember many breaths. Some were spent anticipating. Living. Others, worrying, and waiting. Getting through. Some of my breaths were held and some were taken away.

In marveling at how quickly the year seemed to pass, I think about individual days. Our celebrations. The breathing and the breakthroughs. The things that I want to hang onto for the rest of time.

Tucker, transitioning from Preschool Autism Class (PAC) to the non-categorical special needs preschool. Breathing tears of joy at preschool graduation and my not-so-little little boy turning five and thanking the fireworks. Somehow, we found grace in kindergarten, and managed to remember to not grieve the magical even as it happened.

Like Tucker “getting” Christmas. Singing:

I’m thankful for all of the moments. For all of the breaths. For the hard ones that made us stronger and for the beautiful ones that made us better. As I reflect on the last year and look forward to the next, I know that it, too, will pass quickly even though some days and hours will feel as if they last an eternity.

Here are a few things I’d like to hold myself accountable for in 2015. I’m not going to call them resolutions because they’re really more of a reminder on how I try to live and how I’d like to live. I don’t always succeed, and that’s okay. One of the things that I want to remember is that it’s okay to not win on all of the days. That resolutions like losing weight and being more healthy are good and important but also not what I’m going to be lying on my death bed thinking about. Hopefully, anyway.

I hope to remember that everything ends. That the hard and messy days will pass. That the beautiful ones will too. I will breathe through them.  I hope to remember that missing who my family has been does not take away from the people we are and those that we will become. I resolve to try and know with all of me that at the end of each day, I was enough. Some days will end with feelings of inadequacy and others will end with triumphant mental high-fives. They’re both okay.

Remember the moments

That’s it. That’s what I want from 2015. Sure, I could name the milestones that I hope my son achieves. But really, they’re within the everyday and knowing that the everyday is enough is harder, so that’s what I choose. That’s my hope for this year.

Happy 2015, friends. Whether you celebrated your religion, life, or the everyday moments and meals this holiday season, I hope that it’s brought you unexpected joy, contentedness, and laughter that’s left your bellies aching. I hope that this season has brought you peace and excitement for the next unknowns. And most of all, I hope that the coming year brings you joy within the minutes without grieving for them while they happen.


XO – Kristi

Aaaaand!!  Did you enter to win the Sesame Street Live tickets? I am giving away four of them to an upcoming show – valid for either Let’s Make a Friend or Let’s Dance.

Here’s Tucker choosing the winner:

(congratulations, winner!!!  Email me and I’ll send you the ticket vouchers!)

This has been a Thankful post. And yes, there were totally 10 things. I started counting, and think it’s really more like 1,001 of thankfuls.

Ten Things of Thankful

Your hosts: A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I Want Backsies, The Meaning of Me, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group


  • zoe - Did my other comment work?! Argh! Phone!!!January 4, 2015 – 7:19 amReplyCancel

  • Cynthia - So awesome! It’s been so neat watching Tucker grow. I hope you had a great New Year! I hope that you and yours have a fabulous 2015! xoJanuary 4, 2015 – 10:32 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Same to you Cyndi!!! Here’s to 2015. I can’t wait to read your books!January 4, 2015 – 9:32 pmReplyCancel

  • Michele - Haha, we have a phone/iPad kisser here, too! Though he was blowing kisses to Tucker as you were instructing. 🙂 Great videos! Happy New Year!January 4, 2015 – 11:53 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Teddy was blowing kisses to Tucker? I can’t even put into words how much I love that! Happy 2015, Michele!!!January 4, 2015 – 9:32 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - ***For all of the breaths. For the hard ones that made us stronger and for the beautiful ones that made us better***

    l o v e l y

    Fabulous videos. Fabulous kid!

    Wish he were in our class at MacArthur Elementary. xxJanuary 4, 2015 – 12:30 pmReplyCancel

  • Echo - This is beautiful and Tucker is adorable. Yes, this year passed by in a seemingly quick breath, but I am damn happy that it did! I learned so much and made so many connections! I am beyond excited about what is to come! Carpe Diem, Baby!January 4, 2015 – 4:09 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Carpe Diem, Baby!!! Here’s to what’s to come and to riding (and writing) the lightning, Sweets.January 4, 2015 – 9:36 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Lol! Love the video! If you don’t know their names you should at least know what they look like. Too cute! I saw the first one on FB. Also nice family pic!January 4, 2015 – 4:27 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Right? I love that he wants to know what they look like. I figured some people would have seen the video on FB but well, you know FB… also I was feeling lazy and just wanted to publish something after not doing anything for 2 weeks!January 4, 2015 – 9:41 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - “It feels as though this year passed in a single breath. And yet, when I slow down and focus on the minutes and the hours and the adventures, I remember many breaths. … Some of my breaths were held and some were taken away.”
    Good God, woman, that is beautiful. So true, right? One of these days, I am going to figure out how to make words like that come out of me.
    You have had quite a ride this year and I think it’s been beautiful to tag along! (And by tag along I mean run like an idiot behind the bus because I missed it at the stop…I’m always so behind!)
    I know some adults who can’t sing the Twelve Days of Christmas that well, so that’s pretty impressive! And YES to kids “getting” Christmas. It’s so magical, isn’t it?
    Huge hugs to all of you! I wish you a happy, healthy, and deep breath-filled new year!January 4, 2015 – 4:43 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Happy new year, Lisa!!!! And sweets – you already make words like that come out of you. Perfectly perfect. HAHA to the running behind the bus. I’m so that person too – always behind and never really sure what exactly is going on!!!
      Kids “getting” Christmas is so so magical. I loved it this year. Hugs to you and I hope that your 2015 is full of deep breaths and tons of laughter.January 4, 2015 – 9:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I never get tired of Tucker videos, especially when they include your laughter.

    Joy within the minutes without grieving them while they happen. Yes – that is what my goal is for this year too.January 4, 2015 – 5:14 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Here’s to not grieving the moments while they happen and to a billion (too many???) more Tucker videos. He loves them too. I blame Evan Tube (your kids are probably too old for that and you should just thank the universe now for that). 🙂January 4, 2015 – 9:44 pmReplyCancel

  • Chronicallysickmanicmother - And that’s it isn’t it. remembering to appreciate each moment for whatever it brings. Each moment for what it is.January 4, 2015 – 5:33 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think so. I hope so anyway. Happy 2015. I hope this is a wonderful year for you!January 4, 2015 – 10:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Kim - I love your “resolution” for the year! I’m working on letting go of unattainable standards this year so basically the same thing – you are enough, I am enough, we are definitely enough every single day!!!January 4, 2015 – 6:01 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Here’s to letting go of impossible standards and just living and being, Kim. I can get behind that. That, and being enough as we are and as we do – even when it’s less than what our idea of perfect is!!! Happy 2015!January 4, 2015 – 10:27 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Cutest video ever! And I love love love that he asked what Eliana’s kids looked like…I KNOW what a huge deal that is, that he’s inquiring, that he’s making conversation…awesomely awesome. Happy New Year and thank you for making me smile after a very LONG (and kinda boring) winter break with the dudes…back to school tomorrow – yippee!January 4, 2015 – 7:35 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Emily,
      I love love love that he asked what her kids look like too! It’s like he’s becoming more and more aware of the world around him and I’m in awe and SO thankful for it!!! I’m so glad you get it – thank you for that 🙂
      I’m kinda excited that tomorrow is Monday too even though I have a company meeting at 8am and have been taking naps almost daily recently (at least when hubs is at home too which has been quite a lot). Happy 2015!!January 4, 2015 – 10:29 pmReplyCancel

  • Angel the Alien - Tucker is so cute! And so funny when he tried to kiss the phone! He looks like he’s grown a lot since I first started reading your blog. 🙂January 4, 2015 – 8:40 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - He’s grown so much I can’t even believe it!!! And he’s talking so much more too which is wonderful. Happy New Year, Angel!!January 4, 2015 – 10:34 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - Ahh, he has the sweetest talking and singing voice!! I love it.
    2014 was a weird year. I haven’t been so big into calling them resolutions this year. Maybe just a lot of thoughts joined together. Into one word.January 4, 2015 – 8:45 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I can relate to a lot of thoughts joined together in one word for sure. And yeah, he really does have the cutest voice. I want to remember it when he’s a teenager and giving me the attitude. Happy 2015 Tamara!!January 4, 2015 – 10:52 pmReplyCancel

  • Sarah - I may borrow your things to remember. The video of Tucker–OMG!!! Sweetness personified.January 4, 2015 – 9:14 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Please feel free to borrow my things to remember. I might need to borrow it back when I forget. And yeah, I love watching videos of him!!! Happy 2015 Sarah!!January 4, 2015 – 10:53 pmReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth - Happy 2015! I am thankful I found you this year and look forward to continued learning from you. 😀January 5, 2015 – 12:26 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Looking forward to learning from me??? I love learning from you and The Nav. Happy 2015 my friend.January 5, 2015 – 10:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Chris Carter - OH that precious BOY!!!! I want to EAT HIM!!!!

    I love all your breathtaking and breakthrough moments you have embraced with such passion and truth, my dear friend. What an inspiration you are to me, and to all of those you reach.

    Here’s to another year of more living. ON PURPOSE. MWUAH!January 6, 2015 – 12:11 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I want to eat him up too Chris!! Isn’t he sweet (not always by the way but mostly he is). Here’s to living on purpose and to you my sweet friend!!January 6, 2015 – 5:28 pmReplyCancel

  • Sarah @ Thank You Honey - Happy New Year! I love that video and all the kisses! (((Big Hugs)))!January 6, 2015 – 8:33 pmReplyCancel

  • Dyanne @ I Want Backsies - I love that video of Tucker singing! How stinkin’ adorable can he be?! I have had several kids from our local autism center in my pre-k class. They like to transition them into kindergarten by having them attend preschool with typical kids three mornings a week with an ABA therapist (they attend the autism center 5 days a week, all day, otherwise). I had one boy two years in a row. He was sharp as a whip, had been reading since he was 3, but was such a turd sometimes! He wouldn’t sing when we practiced our songs for the Christmas program, but one day, during center time, he had to sit at the table for some reason for a few minutes before he could go play (can’t remember why now), and he sat there and sang EVERY WORD OF EVERY SONG, knowing full well we were listening. My assistant recorded him and we listen to it every now and then and remember how much we loved that kid!January 6, 2015 – 9:36 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - How awesome that program seems!!! And you ROCK for being involved in it. I also agree that it’s pretty unknown what these little dudes pick up – so so so much more than we think!!! I had no clue he even knew this song!!!January 6, 2015 – 11:06 pmReplyCancel

  • Brittnei - Oh my! Tucker is so cute! I always enjoy reading the truths that you state about life in your posts. It’s true. Many of the resolutions like those will most likely not be in our thoughts when we are about to go. I think this is part of the reason that my outlook on everyday is pretty much like yours. I can resolve to make plans for the months to come or I can just try to be the best person I can each day, cutting myself some slack because I know I won’t get it right all the time. And going with the flow has been less stressful for me, too!January 7, 2015 – 10:20 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Here’s to just going with the flow and cutting ourselves some slack, Brittnei. The plans never work, at least for me…January 7, 2015 – 10:50 pmReplyCancel

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