28 October 2006

so sick today

nathan, grant and I are sick...this illness does not want to leave our home. it has been vacationing here for some time and is quite comfortable in our nest. grant and I were in bed, asleep, by 7pm last night and nathan was in bed by 8pm. we miss madeline, as she will be returning home from nana and poppy's house. but I really miss being well together again...hopefully we will turn a corner soon.

and it didn't help that grant threw up in my mouth this morning...not fun or cute, even though he is.

26 October 2006

another sick day

we have had so many sick days during the last few weeks, it's unbelievable. grant woke up with green boogies again and madeline can't kick this cough and runny nose. i usually welcome the sick days because it forces me to stay home and just be. but after three weeks of this off and on, we all have cabin fever and are extra sensitive. please Lord, let this be the end...i need to be a fun mom again.

25 October 2006

just one of those days

i woke up and was already doomed. my children were both calling for me and I could barely get my eyes to open by themselves. i was exhausted and crabby, and being tag teamed by my two little monkeys made it even more exhausting. i felt doomed to fail all day long, like i couldn't get it together and kept making mistakes. it seemed like as the day progressed, i only got more emotional and frustrated. why? why are some days such a breeze and being a mom is exhilirating while other days i think i'm starting to walk sideways with a twitch.

twitch...twitch...twitch

teachable moment

this morning I woke up extremely grouchy, since I'm completely absorbed in a fascinating novel and my only real time to read is at night after everyone goes to bed. and sometimes you and grant still wake up during the night, even if only for a few minutes, but it still gives me interrupted sleep. I woke up to the sound of you yelling from the bathroom, "mommy, daddy, the sun is out and I'm awake now!" and the other sound that rung in my ears was grant talking and grunting in his bed. because of the book I'm reading, all night I dreamt that the Taliban were living in our home and were going to practically eat us alive. not a good night's rest, to say the least. to say I woke up grouchy is being generous.

as the morning progressed, grant was crying from hunger and you wanted to play with toys and needed my help assembling them. I snapped at you about having to make food and promising to help you later, but my tone of voice was anything but promising. very softly you spoke, "mommy, I'm going to my room now because you're not being very kind to me." whoa...I think a slap in the face would have been much easier to take. I had to verbally admit that you were right and although I apologized and hugged you, the reality is that I still hurt you and left a negative impression.

thank you for speaking ever so gently, yet striking my very heart. it spoke volumes above any yelling, crying or tantrum. your insight is amazing, and yet I have to constantly ask myself, "is she really only 3?"

24 October 2006

fall, fall, beautiful fall

although this intrusive heat wave completely throws off my autumn ideals of having crisp, clean air, I still feel excited about all the events and emotions that come with this fall season and the christmas season to come. tonight we celebrated Grant's 1/2 birthday...nathan grew up celebrating 1/2 birthdays and so our son is officially 1/2 today. in honor of his wonderful presence, we took the kids to a local pumpkin patch. maddie fed the goats and played in a jumper for the longest time. we got a few pics of them together surrounded by pumpkins and hay...so cute. one thing I keep trying to remind myself is to enjoy the moment. there are always so many things that I want to experience with my little family, but I don't want to miss the moments of silence and quiet when nathan and I smile at each other while grant waves his arms and legs and maddie yells, "watch me jump like this, mom and dad!" I especially loved the moment when after getting the kids strapped back into the car, nathan and I crossed paths in front of the car and he stopped me and gave me a little kiss and said he loved me. nothing dramatic about it, just plain and simple and absolutely wonderful. these are the moments that I dream about and want to relish in until the next time. it was a good night. i adore my family.

bedtime bliss and blues

every night you want me to rock and sing to you. when I ask you to pick a quiet, night time song you always start singing these silly tunes that I've never even heard of and then you giggle with delight at your little trick on me. however, after we sing and you lie down, you ask me to rub your back. all is fine until I kiss you goodnight and then the fussies begin. I know that you just don't want me to leave you alone and that going to bed isn't the most exciting thing in the world to do. but I also know that you and I are much more enjoyable to be around when we've had our full night's rest. I'm sure one day you'll understand this dilemma when you are a mother...wanting to be silly and play with your sweet little one, but also having to end the fun time knowing it will make them sad and possibly bring on tears. deep down in your little 3 year old heart, I think you really think I'm just not being fair because that's what 3 year olds think sometimes. but from the depths of my heart I share with you that I'm not trying to be mean...it's just time to go to bed...simple as that. you'll understand one day, but hopefully you won't get too "fustrated" with mommy for having to set limits.

22 October 2006

table talk

daddy and I are trying to teach you good table manners, such as what topics we DO NOT discuss at the table. with your teachable little mind, you took the information and applied it accordingly. while at disneyland with oma, you were playing a word game. oma teased you and said, "pee-pee, poo-poo." to this you replied very sternly, "we don't say pee-pee and poo-poo at the table." as soon as daddy and I came back from getting your lunch you told us, "oma said 'pee-pee and poo-poo' at the table, mom!"

so you really are listening when we try to explain and teach things to you.

21 October 2006

fall masterpiece

yesterday we took a fall walk. we took our paper bag outside into the backyard, and began crunching leaves under our feet. you chose different leaves you liked and threw them in the bag. you found a peach colored rose that you insisted I cut with your scrapbooking scissors and put it into your bag. you also pulled some flowers from the bougainvillea bush and added those. we walked on the side of the house and you chose a few rocks and berries...those went into the bag as well, along with a couple of sticks.

then we went inside the house and agreed that it was the right time to make our "fall masterpiece." you first took out the rose and took off each petal and carefully glued them to your paper canvas. you then picked out a few other items to add to your masterpiece. but then the glue stick became much more fascinating than anything else and you glued a rose petal to your cheek! quite a different creation than I had imagined, but fun and cute all the same.

thank you for the sweet memory.

mister grant


i can't even believe how quickly the time has passed since you entered into this world and left an impression on my life that will go with me wherever I go. you are almost six months old and very eager to take part in everything that goes on around you. although you have barely learned how to sit up on your own, you wave your arms and legs around in anticipation of the day that you will run along behind your big sister. she is the one who excites you the most. in fact, we heard you laugh right from your gut the other night as you watched her jumped around on pillows. your baby laughter was so contagious!

some very interesting things about you...you grunt all the time! it's your language and you actually have different grunts for different emotions. sometimes you grunt when you've spotted something outside and are fascinated by it. we also hear you grunt while tossing in your sleep. when you interact with us, you grunt and squeal with excitement. and you're so cute because you don't like to be left out of anything. you squeal if we're eating in front of you and don't share it...even though you don't have any teeth! it's almost like you are a two-year-old stuck in a five-month-old's body--you have so many things to do and places to explore but not quite the means to do so! in time, my sweet little boy...

some things that we've learned about you in these last few months is that you have a very sweet and loving disposition. I love picking you up and having you nuzzle your head and body into mine, just wanting to feel the love. you've also just begun to recognize people that you enjoy spending time with...you wave your arms, smile and talk when you see them approaching!

we've also learned that you are an outdoorsman...yes, just a couple of weekends ago we took you to Lake Mohave on Auntie and Uncle Steve's boat. we took you out several times and you were only content when the boat was moving. you even looked like a sailor, watching the water move around the boat and you didn't even cry when you got sprayed in the face! the outdoors also tend to have a calming effect on you...your daddy takes you outside whenever you start to fuss and just being in his arms, watching him water the lawn calms you immediately.

we are so overwhelmed by the sweet aroma your little life has brought into our lives in such a short amount of time...you have also made Madeline a proud big sister (even when you pull her hair!)...she loves you so much (but not more than she loves the color pink).

so much to live for



being your mom brings me some wonderful moments, feelings I could never put into words. and there are always the other days, which are more challenging. but you continue to teach me through your innocence and your grace toward me when I make mistakes. just the other day, Maddie, you said to me, "It's okay to be grouchy, Mom." Words that really translated to me, "I know you're having a rough day and even being a little impatient with me, but I still love you and think the world of you." very humbling...thank you, lovie.

thank you for your sweet smiles every morning and throughout the day. i love the anticipation on your faces, expecting wonderful things from me even when i'm not perfect.

being your mom is what i've always wanted to be when i grew up...i just didn't know it would be this satisfying, even on the harder days.


ballerina girl, 22june2006


what a physique! august 2006


day at the park, september 2006

poopie girl

"Mommy, Daddy! I went poo-poo and pee-pee in the potty!"

music to my ears tonight...even though you called me in and asked me if I wanted to look at it. but at least you're always so thoughtful! (heh-heh)

and what was even funnier was after we got you all cleaned up, you kissed me goodnight and called out, "don't go poo-poo in your bed!" I was so glad you reminded me.

I was also reminded that about a month ago we created a "poopie chart" to help you cross that bridge into pull-up-free-living at night. all you had to do was do your business in the potty for six straight days and for which you received a princess sticker to put in your chart and when the chart was entirely filled up, you would receive: an exciting trip to Disneyland to meet all the princesses!!!

needless to say, we spent a very memorable day at Disneyland...your first time ever and your eyes were wide with wonder and awe all day long. more on that later.

pinano lessons


yes, since I have begun teaching piano lessons again, you have been very eager to have your own "pinano lessons" as you call them. as a bright and spunky three-year-old musician, you have mastered the art of showing mommy your musical fingers and their corresponding numbers! you impress me not only with your desire, but your ability to retain some of the complexities that come with learning about music. BRAVO, Madeline!

playing catch up

so many things have happened during the last few months, but it seems that we're always too busy to stop and breathe. here are a few pictures to show just what events have taken place in your sweet life.



here you are on your first day of preschool...you actually attended the summer program, but this is your first day of preschool in September 2006. you were somewhat excited, yet still uncertain about what this all meant. when i picked you up from preschool you said, "I like preschool. I don't want to go back." hmmmm...what to make of that one. only time will tell.



here you are in your classroom...you were so proud of your cute "piggies" hairstyle. i can't believe how much you've grown up! can you please slow down?


the next big thing we began planning was your third birthday party, and we decided on a princess theme since all you want to do is talk about Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, Snow White, Aurora and Belle. we decided to invite all your little friends and have them dress up in their princess outfits as well, but first I needed to take you to pick out your princess dress. you informed me before we even got there that you wanted the "Sleeping Beauty" dress...so we brought it home and you were dying to try it on!!



then all you could do was just stare at yourself...so adorable! we hung it up on your armoire with still about 3 weeks left until your party. the next morning after we bought the dress, I walked in and saw it on the floor and asked, "Madeline, did you touch your dress?" you looked like you were contemplating telling me a lie, but then you blurted out, "but mom, it's just so beautiful!"

the next few weeks were so hard because you wanted to wear that dress every single day, but you were so cute and patient until the big party!