Showing posts with label growing up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growing up. Show all posts

Monday, October 22, 2012

4, four, fourth......

Yesterday (Sunday) my "baby" turned 4.


 I swear it feels just like yesterday when I was rocking Smiley's tiny newborn body in the middle of the night savoring her every expression, cry, coo and beautiful baby scent, reminding myself that although the days and nights can seem long (especially when you are tired mommy with a new baby) the years are so very short.  And tonight, now that we have finally eaten her birthday cake and opened presents from us (we were out of town over the weekend, spending it with family ~ hunting actually ~ a few presents were opened, but no birthday cake consumed) I am sitting here thinking about my girl.  Let me tell you what she is like today ~ a day after her 4th birthday.

She is a planner.  She decided after her 3rd birthday that she wanted a classic "Barbie" cake.  She first saw it at Super Target and told me EVERY subsequent shopping trip that that was the cake she wanted.


She can be a bit obsessive. For example, she has planned that tomorrow, she will be playing with her new Play-Doh as soon as she gets home from school.  You better believe that will be a MAJOR topic of conversation until she is actually playing with it (I'm happy we are playing with it tomorrow, and not in a week.  I wouldn't hear the end of it!).

She enjoys watching TV.  She watches very little but looks forward to the treat of it.  She likes to watch  Dora and Doc. McStuffins.

She LOVES to help me cook in the kitchen, even if it is simple "cooking" such as pouring her cereal into a bowl :)

She likes to play house.  Being "Mommy"  is one of her favorite roles.

She likes to play store.  She will set up a table filled with random items, grab a toy cash register and some grocery sacks and invite me to come and shop.  Most times my shopping total adds up to either "20 bucks"  or "40 bucks"

She likes to play with dolls and princesses.



She is taller than most of her 5 year old friends. 

She is starting to color and draw for longer periods of time.  This is a new past time for her.  For now, she is more content to draw her own pictures, and she is getting pretty good at drawing trees, flowers, snowmen and people.

She is constantly making noise.  She LOVES to sing.  For example, while she is coloring, she will sing and sing and sing.....  She sings made up songs, church songs ("Glory to God" is her favorite), and current songs she has heard on the radio.

She is stubborn.

She likes to make funny faces.


But, she has a BEAUTIFUL smile.



She cries when I leave her home with Daddy.  But not when she is left home with her siblings.  I don't get it!

She moved from her toddler bed to a twin bed 2 weeks ago.  Neither of us have ever slept better (I may be exaggerating a little bit, she's always been a pretty good sleeper, but she had been getting up about once a night a few times a week.  I think she was squished.)!

She likes to give shoulder rubs to both her Daddy and I.  They feel great, all 5 seconds :)

She LOVES to dress up.  Her flower girl dress (from Sept. 2011) and last year's halloween costume are two of her favorites, but i think her new mermaid dress (from Grandpa and Grandma) will maybe push one of those into 3rd place!


She loves to dance.

She is very social and enjoys being around other people.  She is shy for about the first 5 minutes, but after that.... watch out!

She wants to be a "pom-pom" girl, and likes to practice.  Yes, hubby and I usually oblige!


She enjoys school and has become very good at writing her name.  She has a funny way of saying her letters when she is writing.  For example, she has an "A" in her name.  She knows it is called an "A", but when she is writing it down, she calls it a "down, down, over".

She is sweet, caring and we love her unconditionally!




Happy 4th Birthday beautiful girl!


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Sassy

Sassy.
She seems to be growing up right before my very eyes.  She can be sweet, she can be sassy, she can be down right grouchy.  But isn't that true for just about anyone?

Last night, I was helping her do her homework (at our new kitchen island I might add).  Spelling words to be exact.  She was studying for her test that is scheduled for tomorrow.

She wasn't happy about me breaking out my camera to snap a few pictures of her ~ but conceded when I jumped in the shot with her.


Then I went outside to check on the other two.  They were very busy playing "store" in a nasty watery sand concoction.  


But were having fun and enjoying each other's company!






Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Saying Goodbye

This little stinker has been crawling out of her crib for a long time.

She is so tall ~ greater than 97th percentile for height.  She just turned three and often gets mistaken for a 4 year old.  I mean, this little girl has been able to just swing her leg over the top of the crib and slide on down to get out for-ever.

I took these pictures last March ~ she was moving fast, and my little point and shoot couldn't keep up, but you get the point:






Not too long after that, we decided to put a toddler bed in her room.  I admit, I was sad.  I sat in her room, holding her, rocking her, taking in her sounds, her scents and her size.

You see, to some people it may just be a crib.  But to me, to me it's the end of a chapter.  Kind of like a chapter in a book that is so good, interesting and comforting that you just don't want it to end.  One that you will remember, but can not relive.  Sure there are more chapters to write, but this is one I will always cherish.  The memories of my babies all snuggled up with their "blankies", "snuggles", and toys.

We put the toddler bed in her room, but left her crib in as well.  We wanted her to be able to transition to the toddler bed (even though it is the same size as a crib) on her own terms.  In the beginning she thought the toddler bed was fun, but wanted nothing to do with sleeping in it.  Then she moved on to going back and forth between the two.  And in the end, she was still going back and forth, but sleeping more often in her toddler bed.

Finally, Smiley and I decided the other day that it was time to say goodbye.  Goodbye to the crib that held all three of my babies.  Goodbye to the security of 4 sides.  And goodbye to being a baby.

She was excited and quite the little helper when it came time to take it down.  We embraced the moment together.



But when it was down. She asked me to put it back together "downstairs".




 We didn't.  And I am happy to report that she has adjusted very well, and so have I.  :)

Now go
embrace the camera and savor the memories you are making
even if they aren't your favorite ones ('cause they're all important)  ☺





Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Talk

Last week, I drove into the parking lot and began to pull into one of the few empty spots left.

As I was pulling in a young boy between the ages of 13-14 ran into my parking space and motioned for me to roll down my window.  It was obvious to me that he was in a hurry.  I quickly rolled down my window.  He mentioned the name of the person he wanted to see and wondered if he was in the right place.

I told him he was.

He took off in jog.  Then turned around to me and yelled, "Where is the entrance?"

I told him the entrance to the church was just down the sidewalk and would be on his left.

He was only 20 yards from entering the church that was holding the funeral service for a young girl his age.  Was he her friend, a classmate or family?  I will never know.  I do know he was alone, upset, and the middle school the young girl had attended was only blocks away from the church.

The night before, her death was talked about on the local news, a friend of mine (who would be singing at the funeral) had posted a link to the news story on Facebook.  It seems this young, bright girl had died "playing the choking game"

Which is basically when a person strangles themselves with either their bare hands, scarf, belt or other object for a period of time.  "When they release the pressure, blood that was blocked up floods the brain all at once. This sets off a warm and fuzzy feeling, which is just the brain dying, thousands of cells at a time." ~ www.gaspinfo.com

I just happened to have to go to church that morning to pick something up in the office.  I didn't know this young girl.  I knew her name and when the funeral was because of the news story and Facebook message.  But I couldn't help but cry for her.  A life cut so short, because of what?  Trying to get high, without using drugs or alcohol?  And I couldn't help but cry for that young boy who lost his friend.  And I did, I sat in my car and cried.

These past few weeks, Sassy and I have been reading this book (I also pulled out my old college anatomy and physiology text books).  We've been discussing the changes her body will be making as she keeps growing up, and a bit of the birds and the bees.  We've been talking about "not trashing your temple." You know, no drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and taking care of your body with diet and exercise. But NOTHING about suffocating yourself to get high.

I'll be honest here; I wasn't excited to go into this with her.  And the only reason I did when I did, was because they were going to discuss the female and male bodies at school.  Not just parts, but periods and all that jazz.  I wanted her to hear it all from me first.  What she needs to know and what we believe.

I am not perfect and I'm sure I missed some important things.

I didn't talk to her about the "choking game" but I will be.   And these conversations will be ongoing, because new things come about everyday, new questions and new experiences. There will always be stories to learn from, questions that will arise and feelings that she has yet to feel.  But the door has been opened and the conversations have begun and as a mother I can only pray that I have taught her enough.


For more information regarding "the choking game" check out this website.





Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Next week at this time:

Their favorite breakfast will have been consumed.

Hair will have been done just right.

The "perfect" outfit will be on.

Their tummies might be a bit nervous.

They will be meeting new friends and welcoming back the old.

They will learn a new schedule.

Sit in a different room at a different desk with a new teacher.

1st grade

4th grade

ONLY
1 more week of summer.

I will be savoring  EVERY MOMENT (even these)!



Wednesday, March 3, 2010

15 months... at 16 months

Smiley went in for her 15 month appointment last Wednesday. And yes, like always, we were a month behind and she was 16 months when we went in ☺.

And now, for all of you finding it hard to sleep at night because you don't know her "stats" your wait is over.

Smiley:
Height: 32 1/2 " ~ placing her at 90%
Weight: 21 lbs 8oz ~ 25%
and
her head: 48 cm ~ throwing her into the 90th percentile.

She is:
Happy
Smiley
Busy
Stubborn
Loud
Loving♥


She likes:
Dancing
Singing
Playing outside
Reading books
Playing with her babies
Eating cookies


She:

Can say many words ~ MaMa, Dada, ball, baby, book, bus, no no, Zo Zo (for Zoie our dog) go, one, two, three, bye bye, more, snack and many more.

Sits down on the floor and quietly smiles at us when we say family prayers.

Did her first summersault last night then proceeded to do 3 more.

She loves sneaking in to the cabinets or Action's room and helping herself to whatever she can find.

Loves listening to her sister sing her favorite song ~Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.

Hopefully you can all sleep well tonight now that you have all the details! If you want more of Smiley, you can see more by visiting these past posts :

6 months

9 months

12 months

Monday, December 21, 2009

Oh my Sassy

Yes there are times when she drives me CRAZY.

But there are times I want to bottle her up and keep her right here and right now, just like this, forever.



In school they keep a journal. The teacher gives them a topic/question and that is what they write about for the day (they get only a short time to write).

Here are 2 of my favorites so far (I have not changed wording or spellings):


9/30/09
If I picked a nickname it would be named priness.
Because my Dad calls me that. It is my favorite nickname.
I have alot of nicknames.
But priness fits me the best.



11/4/09
I would not like to live by the sea,
because I do not like the smell of saltwater.


Oh, and one more thing. This is what I found under my pillow the other night when I went to bed:


Yes, I went to bed with an extra big smile on my face and a heart that was melting.

Man oh man I love this little girl!


Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hot Stuff

Someone at our house thinks they are hot stuff!

Just look at this big girl sitting up to the table with her sister and brother!




And if you are wondering, this is the recipe I posted last week
(find it again here),
and actually all 3 kids like it.


But all I can really say is ~ she is growing up WAY TOO FAST!


Sunday, October 25, 2009

Something to think about Sunday

My baby's 1st birthday got me thinking, actually remembering.

I remember when I was little (although old enough to read), I would crawl into my parents bed.

Across from the bed, my mom had a plaque hanging on the wall.

This plaque had a picture of a mother rocking a baby and I can still remember what it said,






"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow...
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow...
So quiet down cobwebs...
dust go to sleep...
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."






I don't know who wrote this, but now, after 3 kids I understand how true it is.

So today, I ask you to stop, don't clean, don't do laundry for those dirty clothes and dusty shelves will still be there tomorrow. Instead, really focus on and enjoy the ones you love. Today they are here and today they want you ~ all of you.



Monday, September 14, 2009

What Privacy?

For those of you with children in your house.....

Are you like me and long for the day when you can take a shower or use the bathroom without someone knocking or just walking in?

This morning for example, I was showering while Smiley crawled around the bathroom floor, playing on the scale, mad that I put the garbage can out of reach, and trying to climb into the shower with me; Action waltzed in to tell me his shorts didn't feel quite right (a little quirk of his). Upon my explaining that I could not, at that moment help him out he decided to stay and entertain his sister. VERY HELPFUL! Of course, Sassy soon appeared needing my brush for her hair. I tell you it was one big party!

The days of quiet showers are gone for now. And as much as I miss them, I suspect when they are back I will long for them to go away.

Enjoy your family today ~ even the moments that drive you crazy!

Happy Monday everyone!


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Just Like Daddy

I asked Action what he wanted to be when he grew up.


He said, "I want to do what daddy does."


I said, "I thought you wanted to be a mechanic like grandpa?"


He replied, "Nope, I want to work with daddy, 'cause he's my best buddy!"