29 July 2006

stitches

you keep me laughing all the time. i wonder about what i used to laugh about before you came into my life, because now i find myself often doubled over or biting my lip so i won't laugh at an inappropriate time. take for instance at the dinner table a few nights ago...you were rocking in your booster seat and i told you to stop so you wouldn't get hurt. i continued talking with daddy and you began rocking the booster again, and interrupted me saying, "mommy, i'm rocking the booster again...do i have to stand in the corner now?" i was completely caught off guard because not only were you tattling on yourself, but you were practically begging me to stand in the corner. i didn't want to punish you because of how much i anticipated your enjoyment of standing in the corner, but on the other hand i wanted to follow through with what i told you the consequences would be. i was trying desperately to keep a straight face, but couldn't help but burst out into laughter. you smiled and laughed, too, not really knowing exactly why. but after regaining my composure, i sent you to the corner and you almost seemed to prance away.

then later that same evening, we all sat together to pray before bedtime. you began your prayer, including blessing every person in our family and beyond, and then half way through the prayer you looked over at baby Grant and said, "Shhhh, Grant. No talking. I'm praying." Grant just continued to stare at you and bobble his three-month-old little head around and i just couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud. i looked over at your daddy, who was doing everything possible to keep his composure as well.

we love that you keep us in stitches, even when we want to teach you life lessons.

28 July 2006

jewel princess

today we ventured out to the amazing "legoland" and explored this new and exciting place together. you weren't thrilled about your first ride, which was a storybook boat ride, and later kept asking me, "what madeline say about the grumpy old troll?" he was actually quite ugly and extremely large and i probably would have asked to get off the ride if i were in your shoes.

your absolute favorite ride was the choo-choo train. it was made just for you and you went on it again and again. after lunch we decided to join the other children and play in the water fountains that sprung from the ground. you amazed me as you walked up to the founatins and let the water fall from your head to your toes. you laughed and jumped and danced around...we weren't sure if we'd actually see the rest of the park.

we finally talked you into getting an ice cream, which led us to the helicopter ride. then after seeing a young girl with her face painted like a kitty cat, you asked if you could get yours painted as well. we searched around until finally...there it was - the face painting station. and you had so many different designs to choose from. you originally wanted to have the star princess mask, until you saw the "jewel princess." you sat on my lap and carefully kept your face still as kevin-the-face-painter covered your face with pink, purple, blue, white, black and sparkly glitter, topped off with three jewels on your face. very politely you asked to see yourself in the mirror and once you caught a glimpse of the new you, you couldn't keep your eyes off yourself. we had to practically drag you away from the mirror, only to hear that you wanted to see yourself in another mirror. your oma found a jewel princess wand and mirror and for the rest of our visit in legoland, you sat in the stroller, reveling in your new look and making faces both happy and silly, practicing your new life as a jewel princess.

you gave us such a laugh as we'd keep walking and talking, and look over at you to find you watching your every move in the jewel princess mirror.

thank you for a wonderful day - you continue to amaze me with your wonderful desire to discover the things that you enjoy - all in your own perfect time.

27 July 2006

beach babies

going to the beach is work enough, but add 2 toddlers and an infant to the mix and voila! you end up with two tired moms who keep checking their watches for naptime. although we had a fun time, heather and i agreed that this first weekend away with the kids (so that our husbands could have a relaxing weekend up in mammoth)was anything but relaxing.

we looked like the beverly hillbillies in my blue minivan stuffed to the max with everything including the baby's bassinet, the portacrib for Zeke, our suitcases, groceries, jogging stroller and anything else that would fit in the car, heading down to newport, with our toddlers sitting next to each other fighting almost the entire way (maddie kept saying, "no touching, Zeke!" and to this Zeke would reply with a hearty laugh and continue touching her). once we arrived, we unloaded the entire car and lathered up with sunblock and headed down to the ocean. the kids loved the water play time and we stayed out just long enough to poop them out. then we fed them and watched Zeke touch everything in sight, and listened to Madeline correct him saying, "Zeke - stop touching!" and "Auntie HeaVer - tell Zeke to sit down!"

we finally laid them down for a nap and heather and i just plopped down on the couches and tried to rest ourselves. and when they awoke we headed back down to the beach to repeat everything again, only this time we left grant with gigi and papa so our toddlers could have our full attention.

we took nice walks together and bonded only as mothers of young children do. another highlight was being treated for a boat ride from gigi, looking at all the beautiful balboa homes and delighting in the site of fat, sleeping sea lions.

we packed up the car in 83 degree weather (and what felt like 99 percent humidity) without any consoling breezes and headed back home - where it was 99 degrees at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

will we ever do it again? of course we will, because it's the chaos and unpredictability that give us these most hilarious memories.

just beachy

yesterday we spent the day with nana and your uncles. you are just beginning to really enjoy the ocean and demonstrate this by running confidently in and out of the waves. you kept us all in stitches as you sang "hit the road, plaque!" - a song that we sing everyday while brushing your teeth. it's the only way i can get you to stay still long enough to get all of your teeth clean. you also ventured into the wet sand carefully choosing the sand crabs you wanted to add to your collection. i loved watching you play - every day you amaze me with your growing knowledge of the world around you.

today i dropped you off for your last day of summer preschool. you told me you were "just a little scared" but your eyes lit up once we entered the room. you proudly took your name tag and placed it on the board as miss roberta instructed you to do.

i hope as the years go by that you will understand just how much i love you and i especially pray that God will continue to bless our intimate relationship as mother and daughter.