Let her eat cake

The cake fell moments before it reached her mouth. So what would have been very messy ended quite clean.

Party on our street

Addi and Brie are 2 years and 2 days apart. Being so far away from home I wasn't sure what to do about the "BIG 1" party. I have always thrown my a babies a big 1 year party but in the past we have always had an abundance of family to attend. Being in Virginia we didn't have many people to invite that would care about a 1 year party. I tried to reason myself out of it but I just couldn't she is my baby, she was turning 1 and by golly she was going to have a party. 

Addi is currently obsessed with 2 things, Dora and Elmo. After toying with a few different ideas ( some day I will plan a party with cotton candy, ponies, and an old fashion ice cream parlor.) I decided Sesame street would have to do. 

I had Chris leave with Addi while I turned the downstairs into our own little Sesame Street. 

She was pretty excited

We had some good friends come and party with us. I think in total we had 15 kids ranging from 1 mo. to 7 yrs. It was a busy fun day.

Making these pom poms took a ridiculous amount of time. But they were pretty cute when they were done. 

I didn't get any picture of the girls during the party. I was way too busy chasing around little people. But I did snap this blurry photo on my phone before it started. 

Addison crashed before the party was even over. Poor girl was totally partied out. 

We opened presents later that evening. Addison received a host of sesame street characters that she still sleeps with every night. Brielle got some maracas and a play phone that she was thrilled about. 

 She took turns giving each of their heads a kiss. 

We left the gang up for a day, they would have stayed there forever if Addi had her way. 

A Pleasure

To the baby,

  

  Oh my little one. It is hard to accept that you won't always be the happy chubby baby sitting on my hip. Your first year of life was one of the fastest for me. I took this picture when you were only 5 days old. I folded your long skinny chicken legs into that basket and took pictures while you slept so peacefully. 

I took this picture when you turned 1. I sat you by Mr. Bear about 30 times and ran to catch the shot before you scooted your little body off to find something much more interesting to do. This was the one AND ONLY shot I managed to capture with your body sitting in one place. 

You are busy and full of life, and though I fall into bed exhausted each night I wouldn't have it any other way. You have us all in the palms of your chubby little hands, but you love me best. And the feeling is mutual babe. We have recently tried the separation thing, I drop you off at the gym for about an hour each morning. You SCREAM the second you see the kid zone door. The first time it happened I packed you right back up and we walked out of there. Daddy seems to think a little separation is good for you so we tried again a while later. I stayed with you for 15 minutes before I got brave enough to leave. I know there will come a day when your legs are happy to run and you won't squeeze my hip and cling to my shirt. But I am not anxious for that day to come. (for now, perhaps ask me again when you gain a few more pounds)

You are shy, and duck away whenever someone comes too close. But not before giving them a tiny little smile. When you get really excited you scrunch up your nose and duck your head. Usually you shake your arms up and down at the same time.

If you spot me anywhere you break into a million watt grin and then book it as fast as your little army crawl will take you, towards me. (which is actually pretty darn fast.)

You are not crawling or walking. Which is fine by me, other than every outfit you wear ends the day with a dirty circle on the front from your scooting methods. The doctors think the muscles in your hip flexor are extra tight so extending your legs straight is hard.  You are getting more brave though and just recently started standing for brief periods.

12 things at 12 months

1. You love food, of any kind. But you really don't put much else in your mouth. I've only had to dig out 2 or 3 non edible things from your mouth.

2.You are finally getting hair! But it is blond, unless you are up close you can't really see it

3. You have a large vocabulary for a 1 year old. Currently you say, "that" "this" "thanks" "mama" "dada" "num num" "uh oh" and if you see a remote of any kids you say in an excited voice "SHOW!" and then get quite upset when I won't turn one on. (Seriously, how do you even know that?!)

4. You have a smart phone figured out. You know how to turn dad's on and unlock it with a finger swipe.

5. You went from breast milk to whole milk without a hitch. 

6. You drink out of a straw at dinner time and daddy wants to completely forego bottles. With all of your sibling we were bottle free by 1 but with you I am in no hurry so I still slip you a bottle every now and then. 

7. You are so tall, but you have tiny feet. Some of your shoes are still size 2. 

8. You love water. Pools, bathtubs, the dogs water bowl... you love it all.

9. You sleep like a champ still you go to bed about 8 and wake up at 7:30 then take 2 2 hour naps during the day. 

10. You're favorite daily activity is emptying my tupperware cupboard. For now I let you because it is harmless and I can get a few things accompanied while you do it. 

11. You love balls. You chase them around the house and usually are scooting with one in your hand. You received three new balls for your birthday and were beside yourself with excitement.

12. You give the best snuggles. Especially to your blanket and your momma. You have latched on to your purple fuzzy blanket and all but refuse to sleep without it snuggled right up against your cheek. Also, when I pick you up first thing in the morning you snuggle right up against my shoulder and just love me for a minute. It's heaven.

You've been here for 12 months and baby girl, it's been a pleasure.

xoxo-

momma

36

To the Boost,

   You turned 3. Somehow you went from this

 To This

And though my head knows that to be true, my heart just can't wrap itself around the idea. Somewhere in my heart you will always be the tiny 5 lb baby that needed me so desperately.

 Every time I look at the pictures from your first weeks of life I am reminded of what a fighter you are. We have a saying that hangs on our fridge, "I can do hard things". I have a feeling that will be a sentiment that will always resonate deep within you for you have been doing hard things from the moment you were born.

From breathing, to crawling to walking and now talking everything has come a little slower with an extra amount of effort. But eventually you conquer each hurdle.

The 2 year old version of yourself was so calm and most of the time obedient. Then we yanked you out of your home, moved you into grandmas for a couple of months without your daddy and then took you across the country to all things unfamiliar, including a brand new room and bunk bed with Taycee. I think it was just more than your little 2 year old self could handle and we're still trying to help you adjust.  You cry most nights until someone comes to snuggle you and have taken up residence on the couch in our bedroom. You love mommy but you adore daddy.

 Talking has been a hard thing for you to master. I was recently talking to a speech therapist who explained that it probably has to do with your low muscle tone. You rolled, sat, crawled and walked later than most babies because you just didn't have the muscle tone to support your body. And now you just don't have the muscle tone in your tongue/mouth/jaw to form letters and sounds in the correct way. Which makes talking a very frustrating thing for you.

You follow your older siblings around and want to be doing anything they are doing. They are usually happy to oblige and you spend much of your day at their heels. I can't however leave you alone in a room with Brielle. As I was cooking dinner a few nights ago I heard Brie crying and turned around to find you sitting on her back playing the drums on her head. If she survives you she will survive anything.

We have tried potty training you twice and both attempts failed miserably. I have since gotten over my "has to be potty trained by 3" mentality and am just waiting til you are ready. I have accepted that you have your own time line for things and that eventually you will decide diapers aren't all that great.

You are a very determined child. Some days you have me ready to crawl in to bed the moment daddy walks in the door. You and the "naughty spot" are frequent friends, but you are always quick with an "all done, sorry mama" You are trying to navigate life, freedom, communication, and boundaries and I am doing my best to help, but sometimes baby girl we just sit and cry together.

Your 10 favorite things in life are

1. Dora

2. Elmo

3. The Puppy

4. Jooooos (Juice)

5. Daddy

6. "Ow-Shide" (Outside)

7. Books

8. Pools

9. Granola Bars

10. Blankie

Your LEAST favorite things are

1. "No"

2. Bedtime

3. The naughty spot (second stair)

4. Performing anything on command

5. Coming inside from "ow-shide"

You are ever full of energy and spunk, and I am so grateful you are mine. Happy 36th month little Boost.

xoxo-

Mom

We didn't do much on your actual birthday because your party was two days later. But we did let you open a new Dora outfit and take you out for ice cream.