Eight is Great!

Our very first anniversary (of dating) you completely forgot. I did my best not to be sad until you accidentally ran over a curb and announced that you wished you had never even gotten out of bed that morning.

Yesterday we both had our "ah ha!" moments of remembering that today was our wedding anniversary. We laughed about that first disastrous day, high-fived, and finished making dinner.

This morning you fixed us all pancakes and printed a giant sign for me at work. I think it's been my favorite anniversary so far. :)

We've come a long way! And we have so far to go. I love you!

Love, Amanda

Happy Father's Day!

To all the wonderful men in our lives...we love you!

Happy Father's Day!!!

"Small boy's definition of Father's Day: It's just like Mother's Day only you don't spend so much."

~Unknown

Baby Ballet

The thought of Lauren being old enough to enroll her in dance makes me ridiculously happy and completely weepy. Where is my tiny baby? Where did my serious little girl go? Apparently she's been replaced by a moody, screaming, opinionated teenager that is trapped inside my 2 year old's body.

I knew that the morning of dance class would be exciting for many reasons and Lauren did not disappoint. She was okay with the tights but as soon as I pulled on her leotard (with the sparkly tutu...what little girl as girly as mine hates a sparkly tutu???) she was in full on drama queen mode. She flung her self down, flailed, kicked, screamed, and yanked at her outfit. "No! Don't want it! TOO SMALL! NOOOO!"

I was already prepared for this reaction so I grabbed my camera, snapped a few shots of her tantrum, and loaded her in the car. Ignoring her outbursts is usually the best idea for everyone involved.

Sigh...

 By the time we drove into the parking lot at the dance studio she was just fine. She recognized the building and started saying, "Dance, dance. I want to dance." over and over. Of course she pulled the "shy" card when we first walked in, but that lasted all of 3 seconds. From then on, she was a happy, dancing princess.

Complete with a crown.

She paid attention, danced to every song, and had an all around fantastic time. I'm so excited that she loves it and actually participates. I hope we can keep this up for a long long time.

Happy Mother's Day!

For the wonderful mothers that I am blessed to know and have in my life...thank you! You are amazing, beautiful, fantastic women and the world is better because of you.

 

Through His Eyes

"Brenden, who is my mommy?" I ask.

"Grandma Ginger!" he says excitedly.

"And who is daddy's mommy?"

He lights up and exclaims, "Grandma Connie!"

"And whose belly did I grow in?"

He scrunches his eyebrows and concentrates before answering happily, "Grandma Karen!"

"And why did grandma Karen give me to grandma Ginger?"

He smiles, hugs my neck and says, "Because grandma Ginger is your mommy. And now, I get to have three grandmas. I'm a lucky boy!"

Yes, kiddo. And I'm a lucky girl.

For my Valentine's

Not nothing

without you

but not the same.

Not nothing

without you

but perhaps less.

 

Not nothing

but less

and less.

Perhaps not nothing

without you

but not much more.

~ Erich Fried

I would not be complete with you. I LOVE YOU Tim, Brenden and Lauren!

VII

"Mommy, whose is this?" he asked, plucking the anniversary card off of the counter.

"That's a card wishing mommy and daddy Happy Anniversary. An anniversary is when we celebrate the day something special happened. Mommy and daddy are celebrating getting married 7 years ago."

"Oh!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "When I get bigger, I can get married."

"Oh yes," I replied. "You can definitely get married if you want."

"Mommy, I wanna get married with you." The look on his face was both completely serious and totally excited.

"Oh honey, I'm already married. You'll find someone super special to marry when you're older."

The happy lines of his smile fell. "No! I wanna be married with you!"

"Okay buddy. But you'll have to check with daddy."

**********

Seven years ago, we signed papers that legally bound us together. Today, we're tied by much more important things than lines of ink. A home, two little faces that we can't imagine our life without, and a love that's stronger than ever.

I Love You, Tim! Happy Anniversary!

Cloud Watching

A few days ago Brenden begged to go outside, which usually happens roughly every 5 minutes. The weather was warm and Lauren was napping so we grabbed our shoes and headed out.

He happily bounced around on the trampoline, throwing the big bouncy ball to me and laughing at Romeo playing fetch. Eventually he decided to lay on his back and be still for a bit, which is completely uncharacteristic.

"Mommy, come look at the clouds with me. I see Mickey Mouse's shoe!"

There is no way to say no to that.

We found a turtle, a chair, a "mad" face, and even a toilet.

Then, as randomly as he started, Brenden was done. "Let's go inside. I'm hungry." I know someday he'll be too busy to spend a lot of time with me. He's much too outgoing and friendly to want to sit around with his mom once he has more freedom. That's why I'm going to lock that afternoon, along with the other morning, up in my memory. I feel blessed that I have that picture, that feeling, that I shared with my son.

I can't wait for the next one.

Routine

From the beginning, we had a schedule with Brenden. (A bit strict...okay a lot strict, but we're better now!) There was a method to our madness and a goal: a happy baby. He was a good eater, a happy napper and slept through the night at 8 weeks.

Note: I don't think what we did is the end all, be all to raising a child. It won't help any kid sleep better or make a colicky baby happy. It just worked for Brenden and I'm grateful we figured him out.

I thought we would continue that with Lauren since we had such great results the first time around. Of course we didn't take into account the fact that there would be another child in the mix, which can throw even the easiest task into a tailspin.

What I've come to realize is that both of my children respond really well to routine. Brenden's bedtime routine, from the time he was little bitty, always included a book. It has evolved into something he really enjoys and the slightest variation gets a stern look and "Mommmmyyyy...." It consists of, in this order:

Potty.
Brush his teeth.
Change his clothes.
Read a book in our bed.
Tim picks him up, he grabs at me and pretends to be upset.
He hides under his comforter and then I pretend to not know where he is.
Prayers.
Stories.
He asks me to sleep with him for "just one minute".
He begs for Tim to come tell him a Power Rangers story. (Tim makes up a different one every night. I am impressed!)

Annnnnd we're done!

It took over a year for us to really establish a good routine that would help Lauren realize that it was time to sleep. It was long after the pacifier went away, well after her 1st birthday, and I'm realizing now that we are super lucky that she ever slept at all! Her's is much shorter than Brenden's - for now - but it makes her happy. It consists of:

Change diaper/clothes.
Put her down on the floor, hand her a cup of milk, and wait for her to sit on her rug.
Read 2 books (must be 2, and at least 1 must be Dora).
Grab her baby and push the hand on her lion that sings.
Dance and sing "Sunflower" by Glen Campbell.
Say goodnight, I love you, and lay her down.

She loves to sing with me and has recently started hugging me tightly, giving me her biggest smile and and planting huge kisses on my cheeks when there is a break in the song. This is my most favorite thing she has ever done...ever. :)

I know that in a few months they could both completely change their minds, hate all of these stories and songs, and spend the entire night kicking the wall. Still, I will always have these moments saved in my mind. Brenden saying, "Snuggle, mommy!" Lauren laughing and then laying her head on my shoulder while she pats my back.

This - these moments of complete happiness - is why having these kids is, and will always be, the most amazing thing I have done with my life.

<3 I love them. <3

My Better Half

Happy Anniversary! I love you!

 I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, 

I love you simply, without problems or pride: 

I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving

but this, in which there is no I or you, 

so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, 

so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.

~Pablo Neruda

Lauren-ism

Today I put Lauren in her car seat to head to swimming just like I always do. No special magic tricks, no funny song, nothing to make this one time special.

She puckered her lips into her fishiest, "give me a smooch" face. Of course I gave her a kiss. I dare you to turn that down!

I turned to get into the front seat when I heard her little voice say, "Lub ewe!"

*heart melt!*

Guess who got another kiss.

Today...

...I was sent this beautiful poem from Karen. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it. Love you, Karen! Thank you for my birth day!

30 years ago today,

you touched my life in a very special way.

Years of thoughts and wondering,

of what the future was to bring.

This day used to be feelings so bitter sweet,

wondering if we would ever meet.

Today it’s happy thoughts and smiles,

knowing now, its just miles.

It’s amazing to think that soon it will be

the years we’ve known will be more than eighteen.

You’ve become a wonderful woman, mom, and wife,

with all of us lucky to have you in our life.

I cherish each message, each picture, each call,

the laughter, the tears, the memories, it all.

I hope that you know the love that you bring,

is not taken for granted as just some small thing.

I thank God for you each and every day,

but today, more than ever, as Happy Birth Day!

Love you Pretty Lady,

Karen

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Valentines! Oh, how I love them!

My husband, the poet. I love you, Tim!

Happy Valentine's Day!

6 Years...So Lucky!

There really are not adequate words to describe just how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful husband and father. I'm not sure I could have dreamed him up any better.

I'm lucky that he walked into my bar on that Friday night and that the stars aligned for us.

I'm lucky that he was the man that I had my very first baby with, and that our son is just as amazing as he is.

I'm lucky that we were then blessed with a beautiful little girl who has made our family complete.

I'm lucky that he has such a great family that welcomed me with open arms.

Connie, the coolest mother-in-law ever.

I'm lucky that he accepts me for me, flaws and all.

I'm lucky that he spoils me more than I could ever deserve. The life that we have is better than I could have ever imagined.

My anniversary present. I love it!

Tim, I love you more than any thing in this entire world. Thank you for making me complete.