What a Lucky Girl

Knowing this man and how much love he is capable of…  I should have know he was in deep, the moment Annabelle was born.  What a lucky, lucky, girl!!!

A girl her knows the way to her Daddy's heart…  The box she is holding??  A gift of sugary candy for daddy!  She wanted to make the night just perfect!  

Proud of our AB!

It's amazing sometimes the way that Nick and I 'jive' when it comes to being parents.  We are certainly a 'yen/yang' situation, like so many couples are…  Yet, when it comes to our kids and what we feel is important we are both on the exact same page.  Nick likes to surprise me.  A lot of parents are too busy to both attend parent teacher conferences- usually you are lucky to get one parent to come- as a teacher I found this to be true in most cases.  Nick feels very strongly about being at all requested parent/teacher conferences.  This part wasn't the surprising part…  Here it is-  He was the more active parent participant at the conference!  You all know me and with that you know at least two things.  I like to talk!!!  I am a talker- I can chit-chat the day away!  AND! I am a 'retired' elementary school teacher.  I have done these assessments on my students, I have that perspective of being on the other side of the table, yet there is Nick leading the conversation and I LOVE IT!  

He's is an expert when it comes to this conference because he knows our girl and he is there to learn what the teacher knows about our girl and be an advocate for her- 

The things he has always wanted to know more than anything else involves Annabelle's behavior.  Her manners with adults and peers.  The way she treats others.  If she is considerate to the teacher.  If she's excited to learn and is attentive.  These are the things he asks, and as Annabelle's Mommy and as a teacher I am impressed, because I feel very strongly about these things.  More so than her school work because let's be honest, in life being socially appropriate, aware of others and their needs and confident in your self will help you solve problems that your brains alone could never solve...  

Yesterday, Annabelle came home with her progress report and Nick and I were very happy, reading the comments from Mrs. Walther.  I am going to be that very annoying parent (as a constant poster of my kiddos pictures and statements I am sure you well know that I am already there!) and post both her general comments about AB and Mrs. Walther's comments about AB's reading.  

Hard worker, serious learner, arrives to school with a smile and ready to learn, wonderful friend, good choices!!  These are our focus and we're so glad to see that this is what she is doing when she is away from her Mommy and Daddy's watchful eye.

Can you believe what these peanuts are expected to learn during a half day of class in KINDERGARTEN!!!  I know we had the letter of the week guy and learned to tie our shoes but reading fluency, comprehension, reading engagement, 40 sight words, writing informative, narrative and simple research to gather information to answer questions?!  Seriously amazing to see a 6 year old doing these things!  Mrs. Walther-(and all the other teachers out there these days) = Super Teacher!  How in the world do you get all of this done with 24 students?!  Amazing.

Beautiful Words...

Below is an add someone shared on Facebook.  I could not contain my tears…  Such a beautiful way of wording the immediate bond mothers have with their child(ren) and also the bond that grows over time…  

My favorite is:

"We're growing together. We are seeing the world like it's new. I will open my heart and love will rain down all over you. You'll giggle, and I'll do it all over again. And we will walk hand in hand. Until you let go."

I really hate the idea of letting go.  I was crying just the other night, thinking about the fact that Annabelle will be in first grade next year.  That means, school everyday…all day long…  So not ready.

I felt you. You were a pea. Then a lemon. Then an eggplant. I followed advice. I read twelve books. I quit coffee.

Could you tell I was scared?

I talked to you, sang to you... I wasn't ready.

But then you were here. Ten toes. Eight pounds. Love. Big fat love.

I held you. I fed you. I realized that I would spend my life doing things to make you happy -- and that that would make me happy.

And then there are the times I want to give up. You've made me rethink my sanity. You've made me want to fall on my mother's feet and tell her that I get it.

But then you smile and you say my name -- and you grab my hand with those little fingers.

We're growing together. We are seeing the world like it's new. I will open my heart and love will rain down all over you. You'll giggle, and I'll do it all over again. And we will walk hand in hand. Until you let go.

I made you, but you made me a mother.

Our Baby Girl is SIX!!!

I turned around twice and Annabelle's SIX!  There are a few things I find shocking about this.  The first, is that I can remember (and always will)-vividly, the moment she came into this world.  I vividly remember hearing her cry that first beautiful cry and laying my eyes on her perfectly designed little body.  Made by a greater being, designed to be exactly who she is today…  In that moment, seeing your baby for the first time, you realize, not only that you've changed completely but that you also have an overwhelming feeling that anything is possible.

The second, shocking thought that I have is- WE HAVE BEEN PARENTS FOR SIX YEARS!!!!  Why is that shocking?!  It's shocking because I don't feel like I have a handle on the job any better than that day we brought Annabelle home from the hospital!!  HA!  Yes, yes…  I was a better baby's mommy to Aiden because I'd learned a thing or two through my prior experience.  I am talking about how I parent Annabelle.  Every day she changes and grows.  She's faced with new experiences.  Some are wonderful and some are not…  In some of those moments I can predict her reactions and feelings and in some I am very much surprised at the way she handles the situation.

We are truly growing together…  Me as a mommy and Annabelle now as a young girl…

For your birthday this year, we had two parties!!  On your 'real life' birthday we celebrated with our family.  

 How lucky you are to have such a wonderful, supportive family.  You were so very excited.  You played the game Zingo with Mimzey, Great Grandma Newman, Nana and Ms. Cathy.  

You were very anxious for your cousins to arrive and were so graciously sharing in the blowing of your candles, and the opening of your presents.  

You told me thank you for a wonderful birthday party…with out being prompted.  You thanked your guests for coming and walked some of them out to their cars.  

       

                            

You blew out a special candle at exactly 6:21pm- which was the moment you came into the world.  It was a fun day, celebrating a wonderful little girl!

Annabelle,

Happy Birthday!  As you grow and learn new things I too have been growing and learning about how to be a mommy to a growing young lady.  We have been so very blessed from the very moment we knew that you were growing in my belly.  God has created you and I can't help but think that you have to be one of his favorite works of art.  Thank you for putting up with me and all of my 'not so good' mommy moments and always forgiving me and allowing me to try, try again.  You've taught, both your daddy and I so many things it's scary.  We love you beyond measure and are even more proud of the little girl you've become.  Continue to think.  Continue to love.  Most importantly, continue to be proud of who YOU are because my dear AB…  YOU are simply amazing.

As you would say,  I love you to the moon and back, all the way around the world one million times, to the stars and back to your arms.  I love you.

Yesterday, we celebrated your birthday at one of you favorite places!  Ms. Anna's 'real life' Art Studio. As your daddy told me last night, you were truly in your element.  

The guest were: Hadley, Macey, Kayleigh, Ava, Hannah, Daphne, Simone, Chloe, Mia, Evie, Ola and Camille.  You girls made the most amazing Cheetah Painting!  It was really cool and you all had lots of fun!

A Magical Christmas

This Christmas was magic.  Nick and I had so much fun with Annabelle and Aiden.  We loved watching the magic in Annabelle's eyes and the wonder in Aiden's.  This year, we were lucky enough to get a spot for Christmas in the Park.

Before we went to visit with Santa, Annabelle mentioned to Nick and I that she knew that not every Santa was the real Santa.  We asked her why she thought that, and she explained that last year when we went to see the Santa, "you know… the Santa with the black tennis shoes with fake buckles on them.  He wasn't a real Santa because his shoes were not boots."  Nick and I agreed and explained that Santa has many helpers who report to him about their visits with children, but to always remember that the real Santa can come and visit with any children at any time so to always be on the look out for him.  Nick asked Annabelle if she thought she'd be able to tell if she did, in fact, have the chance to spend time with the real Santa.  She said, "Of course!  Santa will know my name!!  He will say, "Hi, Annabelle!" not "What's your name little girl?"  

When we left Christmas in the Park we all knew two things.  1.  We'd had a very magical night.  AND 2.  We most certainly did talk with THE REAL SANTA!  

He knew AB and Aiden's name!  He knew AB's friends, family, teacher and our traditions.  It was magic!  We even got to take a horse draw carriage to and from the North Pole!

 

 

 Annabelle, with The Santa!!

 Aiden was less than thrilled…Santa handled it like a pro.

 Christmas morning was just as fun as could be!  These two had a very forgiving elf "Buddy"because Santa clearly had them both at the top of the the nice list!  they made out like bandits!

Mommy and Daddy tried their hardest to stay up to catch Santa in the act, but we both fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows!  We were up before both Annabelle or Aiden and were amazed at the sight.  There is nothing more beautiful than a family Christmas tree lit, pre-dawn on Christmas Morning…  We each mad a cup of coffee and sat staring in wonder at all the loot that Santa brought!  We couldn't wait for you two sleepy heads to wake up!

 More evidence that Santa had come and gone...

 Let the fun begin!

 A bike, Thomas the train and an iPad for our family!  

Thank you, Santa!!

Whoops!

I swore this wouldn't happen to poor little Aiden, but Mommy has officially dropped the blog "ball"!  Nick and I were trying to remember something that involved Annabelle and we pulled up the blog and there it was!  So nice and handy for us…  I began to feel guilty because I started strong and then got caught up in "busy" and have failed for a few months.  Never fear, Aiden, Mommy is back on track!  Speaking of on track, your growing like a weed!  

Here he is at 12 months!  

And… As I look at these pictures you are already WAY bigger!  Why does this have to happen so quickly.  

Aiden,  The first year of your life was such a gift.  Holding you in the moments after you were born are moments I will never forget.  Looking into you tiny eyes, holding your little 7 pound body all wrapped and swaddled tightly.  That head of hair, those tiny toes, little hands…  and in a flash you are 15 months old.  I love you, little buddy!

11 Months!

Someone please stop all of this growing up!  

"And this is how life changes in a moment..." Nick- As we walked out of Windermere-leaving AB in her classroom