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

Pre-Dawn Thoughts On Annabelle's Big Day

I am not crazy, but I am up at 5:30am because of the most adorable little alarm clock anyone has ever seen.  Aiden has been giving me these morning gifts three to four times a week.  I am not saying this with any sarcasm, I really do feel like they are a gift of precious moments.  Do I groan and sometimes grumble as I come out of a deep sleep in the pre-dawn hours to go downstairs to warm a bottle?  Of course, but by the time I get that little guy in my arms I'm over it.

Aiden,
While you drink your bottle in your dark quiet room, Mommy likes to listen to you breath.  I shut my eyes and hold you tight and I just listen.  When you finish your milk on these sweet mornings you begin talking to me.   I believe your telling me your grand plans for the day.  Your voice has a sing-song tone and rhythm to it, and it is a very calm, sweet, sound.  I snuggle you closer and sometimes answer your thoughts.  You lay in my arms like a sack of potatoes, which for right now, is a gift all on it's own.  You look up at me and stare...  Right into my eyes.  I can see you blinking, slowly and you can probably see me doing the same.  I feel likes we stare at one another for ages, but it's probably no more than a few stolen minutes of time.  You sometimes reach up and touch my nose, cheek or eye.  All the while I a swinging you back and forth in your nursery chair.  Watching and waiting for your long blink to turn into sleep.  When it does, I continue to stare at your innocent face and think of all of the things you'll grow and do...  Today, I felt weepy as those thoughts were running through my brain, because growing is real and unstoppable.  No matter what you do or how fast you grow, I know, these are the moments I will remember forever.  This is why parents say, "When I look at you, I still see my tiny little baby."  These moments are engraved into your heart and mind and last a life time.  Thank you, sweet, little, baby boy, for this morning's wake up call.  There is simply no better way to wake.

As I was staring at Aiden and thinking about how fast he's growing I couldn't stop a few tears from running down my cheek.  I now have a perspective of just how fast this time does go by.  Annabelle is off to Kindergarten today.  Her first real day of school is upon us.  How did this happen? I feel like it was yesterday, that I was typing a very similar letter to her about holding and snuggling her tiny little baby body...  And now she barely fits on my lap.  Amazing how some days, as a parent, seem to take a life time to complete, yet you snap your fingers and they are five years old and headed into a HUGE school all by themselves.

Annabelle,
It's your first day of Kindergarten!  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you.  We can't tell you this, but we are feeling bitter-sweet emotions about this day.  You may not notice the tears in Mommy and Daddy's eyes as we watch you becoming such a big girl...  We are trying our best to hide them from you.  We will smile bigger to disguise them better.  You, on the other hand, seem un-effected by this milestone in your life.  You are ready!  You are confident!  You are very excited!  "I LOVE my school.  Well, I know I haven't really gone there yet, but I went a few times and I know how to get to the playground and where the door is.  AND I know my teacher is very nice to me.  AND I know Mia who is in my class.  AND I even know where the potty is because I had to go potty that day I went to read books with Mrs. Walffer (Mrs. Walther)."  How funny, that you are in no way showing a single nerve about this day, yet, Mommy and Daddy are full of them!  This is one of the million things we love about you, AB.  Your confidence and strong will make us giggle at times but it is something you've had from the moment you were born...  It is a part of you.  If you ever start to doubt it or even feel like you've lost it, come talk to Mommy and Daddy.  You may think, at times, it's lost but the truth is, it can never be lost, because it is something God gave you the second he created you and placed you in my belly.  We will always help you find it if you ever feel it's lost.  Know that you can always come to us and ask for our help...  There is nothing you could ever tell us that would make us love you less...  We are your biggest fans and love you so hard it hurts.

Today, we will hold your hand...  Take lots of pictures and even more deep, deeeeeep breaths as you start your journey in elementary school.  We are proud of you and love the person God made you to be, and the person you are making of yourself.  Sweet memories and LOTS of fun, this year, AB!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

My finial thought, before I go start making pancakes and bacon is HELP!!!!!!

Deep Breath...

This kindergarten stuff is tricky.  There are so many times throughout a day's time when I discuss it with anyone who asks with no problem at all.  Then, I type, 'First Day of School' into my iphone calendar and I start bawling my eyes out.  Annabelle is READY for kindergarten.  She is excited.  Don't get me wrong, I'm excited too, but I guess I just think it's not time yet.  I can't wrap my brain around the fact that she's big enough.  So whether I'm ready or not; in exactly one week, Nick and I will be posing Annabelle outside our front door for her first day of school picture, loading her into the car and taking her to her very first day of kindergarten.  The first day leading to so many more firsts...  My job-  Smile, build her excitement, give hugs and kisses, reassure her that she's ready and that it's going to be great AND not cry!!!!  Until I get out of the building that is...  

Annabelle: “I am going to have a farm.  A horse only farm.  Everyday I am going to ride my favorite horse Windy to my art studio (which is right next to my farm) and I’m going to teach people how to do all kinds of art projects.”  
Mommy: “A horse only farm and an art studio!  You are going to be very busy!  May I come and learn art from you too?
Annabelle: ”Yes, of course!  I am going to teach art to children and grandma and grandpa old people like you will be.  You can come for free, Mommy.”

Her First Attempt at a Sleepover

Ok.... I am waiting for the call to come and get Annabelle from our neighbor's house...  She has been asking all summer to do a sleepover with Ava and Kayleigh, and though she's younger than the other two I feel like it was the summer to try it, but didn't know when it would work out for all three- Well, tonight is the night.   She took a shower (yep, she's doing that all by herself now too), got in her 3rd favorite set of PJs, packed her toothbrush and horsy and stood by the front window just looking out...I heard her say very quietly under her  breath, "I can do this."  Melted my heart on the spot!  I walked up and asked her what she was thinking about.  Her response was: "I guess I am feeling scared inside about staying somewhere else.  Is this my first sleepover, ever?"  I told her that she's spent the night at Nana and Paps without mommy and daddy and at Mimzey and Dano's and with Silly Grandpa and Yaya at the cottage.  She told me very seriously, "That is different, Mommy."  I knew it was when I said it but thought maybe it would make her feel better.  We walked over and met the other two very excited girls at the door.  I stayed there for a bit before leaving her for the night.  When I left she was sitting at Ava's art table drawing and looking tired, but not ready to admit it.  I kissed her on the cheek and asked her if she was ok?  She shook her head yes.  I asked if she was sure she wanted to stay?  She said "Yes." without hesitation.  I kissed her three more times on the temple and said, "Mommy and Daddy are only a call away.  We are right next door if you need us."  I told her I loved her and that was that...  It's 10:30...  Not sure how much sleep I am going to get tonight.  

Can You Tell...

we've been having a little too much fun this summer?  I haven't updated once!  I promise I will... but not right now.  I am popping in to make sure I get these pictures up!  I didn't even get Aiden's 9 month post up! (Thanks, Frisch- for checking in and reminding me!)  Here is Nine and Ten!  Holy Moly!  Where is the time flying off to?!

8 Months Old

Blessed...

What makes Mother's Day special?  We put so much pressure on one day. Seems almost too much-or is it? Surprising my mom this week, in honor of Mother's Day, was so very fun. Cooking up the plan and scheming with Annabelle and Ted to make our surprise 'just right' was so much fun. I knew she would love it. What I didn't anticipate was the feeling I had in my heart when I watched her with my two babies. I was overwhelmed with love. The best gifts I've ever been given and could ever give were right there- sitting on her lap.

Tonight, I came in to my room to find surprises from Annabelle under my sheets and pillow. There were two folded pieces of paper and were both entitled, Annabelle's Book of Love For Mommy. Inside there were pictures of beautiful hearts. There was also a piece of art work that clearly took her quite a long time to make. It was so beautiful, it brought me to tears. I am so very blessed. I hugged Nick and thanked him for these precious gifts. They truly are the greatest gift in life. I am complete because of them. They move me in such inexplicable ways. I never would have understood the feelings that Motherhood has given to me. I am forever grateful to have been given this gift. 

7 Months Old

This Is Really Happening...

"Being a mother is learning about the strengths you didn't know you had, and the fears you didn't know existed."

~Linda Wooten

On April 11th, I took little miss to her kindergarten screening.  Walking in I could see that Annabelle was a nervous nelly.  Her eyes were big, and she was chewing on the edge of her sweater.  Perfectly natural, walking up to the front door of a big elementary school- the school she'll be attending in just a few short months, but as a mommy I wanted to comfort her and take those anxious feelings away.  

We walked in and nearly ran into the Principal, who was very sweet- He invited Annabelle into his office to take a look.  He had a lot of Buckeye mementos in his office and when AB saw them she said, "Daddy would really like to live in this room!"  We moved on to the screening in the library.  After a quick picture with me she was taken off to do a few different stations.  She was hesitant, but I knew that as soon as I was out of eye shot she would be great.  Crazy how much you want to just hold their hands through anything new and scary...  Yet, inside you know you have to force them to let go and teach them to be brave-  

Annabelle is a smart girl, with a lot of personality.  It didn't take much waiting before I knew she was letting her personality shine!  The nurse came out to me first saying she'd done a sight and hearing screening.  She told me Annabelle said she needed the volume turned up on the left side during the hearing exam.  The nurse said she noticed that Annabelle sounded congested and asked her if she had a little cold.   Annabelle's response was, "No, I have allergies to tree pollex (pollen) and the trees are growing leaves so it's making me sneeze and cough and this and that..."  Yep, that's my girl!  

The next person to come out was Mrs. Walther to tell me that Annabelle was such a sweet, smart little girl.  She said there was a lot of wiggling going on during their screening.  I told her that focus was a concern for both Nick and me.  We just have it on our radar- she may mature and be fine, or she may need some extra help in that area.  We will just have to wait and see.  Mrs. Walther also said that she's a natural leader (which is teacher positive talk for bossy-lol) The example she gave was when she asked Annabelle to build a tower with five blocks on the bottom and Annabelle's response was, "Actually, when I build towers I really like to do it like this..." - and when it was time to move to the next station, Annabelle said, "I will come when I'm all finished building with these blocks."  

The last person I talked to was the guidance councilor.  She was doing a color activity with the kiddos and explained that she'd asked Annabelle to name the colors and then team them up together however she thought would look nice.  This is when AB explained to her that she was putting pink and orange together and red and yellow together because they are 'hot colors' and she'd put the purple and blue together because they were 'cold colors'.  "If I mix a hot color with a cold color they will make a brown color and that would not be very pretty."  The GC said- "I think you have an artist or maybe a fashion designer on you hands.  She just gave me a lesson in color."  

Finally we had a guided tour around the school by two 2nd grade girls.  As we walked down the hall Annabelle said, "Mommy you stay back here behind me and the girls."  

The only glitch in the entire morning was the parking ticket!!!  Dang-it!  When we pulled up to the school it was raining sheets of rain.  I could see that I was not parked on a yellow curb but couldn't read any of the signs.  When I came out we found a ticket on the window and a sign right in front of the car that said, "No Parking on school days from 8am to 4pm.  WHOOPS!!

Aiden is SIX Months Old!!

Artsy, Fartsy-Annabelle

Annabelle just loves doing art projects.  I think she really has a good eye.  I love when she gets really into a project- - I get to scratch my "teacher itch" while I encourage her to use different mediums and try new techniques...

A few days ago she was snipping some paper with her scissors.  She held up a shape she'd cut and I said, "Wow that shape really looks like a bird."  I pointed out the different parts and she agreed saying it looks like, "that kind of bird with the beautiful tail."  I pulled up a picture on my computer of a peacock and printed it off-that is when AB went to town.  

She started with her colored pencils and was so detailed, drawing each part she could see on the print out.  I suggested using some markers to make her work really stand out- She then thought glitter paint would be "even fancier!!"  How can you argue that one?  

After she was satisfied with her peacock, I suggested she make the peacock a habitat!  (can you hear me scratching my itch!)  It was morphing into a learning experience about peacocks.  We looked up online where peacocks live.  After reading a bit we looked at  some images.  She chose a picture that showed a peacock standing in a garden with flowers.  

We used water color, markers and crayons to create the background- where AB glued the her peacock.  

While we waited for everything to dry we discussed 'warm' -'cool' and 'neutral' colors.  We even played a game with it-  

Finished piece!

I really like watching her enjoy art.  I always enjoyed an 'art project' (still do!) and it's fun sharing that with her.  We have been going to our friend's art studio for her to do some art work with Ms. Anna too!  Some art camp days with Ms. Anna are in our summer time future! 

Do you recognize the sun in our peacock picture?  Yep, it's the new "Ms. Anna sun" she'd learned at art camp the day before.