I was just getting ready to close all the lds.org windows on my computer and neatly stack my lesson materials for tomorrow's young women's lesson when I looked at the time...11:00. And the reality of this day washed over me. Today we have celebrated a little boy's birthday and what a day it has been, swimming, wii, playing outside, going out to dinner, opening gifts, skyping with grandma, yogurtland, phone calls and cards.
A post to adequately sum up Morgan at age 7 and all of the birthday goodness is on my list, but tonight April, 21 at 11:00 pm, my thoughts go back to that moment 7 years ago when I looked into the face of a tiny, perfect little dark haired boy as I took on the role of mother. Since that moment have been 7 years of hard work. Sleepless nights, potty training, emotions and pregnancies and post-partum depression, difficult stages, time outs, fast-food, stinky diapers, stinky play places, sicknesses, hospital stays, ear infections, thousands of dollars on diapers and wipes and clothes and burp cloths and strollers, hurt feelings, exhaustion, enduring the Backyardigans song for the gazillionth time, coloring on the walls...and the carpet...and their arms, so many mischievous scissor mishaps I'm not sure I can count them, wondering if I will ever be able to have a conversation about something not involving kids...and so so much more. It has been 7 years of discovery and learning and fun and adventure. Play-doh, tea parties, building trains, reading books, making car noises, playing in sand, going on adventures, saying prayers, making messes, making noise, school adventures, trips to the zoo, lunches with Grandma, Sunday dinners, celebrations, holidays, memories, parties, pizza nights, dancing in the living room, walks around the neighborhood, conference drives, first steps, first words, silliness, laughter, snuggles, scripture reading, and so so so much love.
And as I look back on it all, I can't help but think of what an amazing 7 years it has been! From that very first moment I looked at my baby boy, I have loved him with every single ounce of my soul! I still have moments often, when I look into his sweet face and just overflow with love for him and his sisters that have come since.
This morning we looked through pictures of that sweet April day, and I couldn't help but picture Chloe and Brynn and Ellie up in heaven huddled together as they watched their big brother start his life on earth. I know they cheered and said, "we'll be there with you soon!"
I love my sweet family. I know I don't show them enough in the day to day stuff. I know I need to be more patient, more present, more flexible, more calm, more intentional. I get overwhelmed and bored and frustrated with the ins and outs of being mommy every day 24/7, but I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I think they know that. I feel so lucky to have had this job for the last 7 years and to get to keep at it for the rest of eternity...I know the challenges will continue to get harder, but I also know that the rewards will continue to get sweeter and sweeter.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Chloe is 5!
I feel like we have been celebrating this occasion for almost a month already since we had a party while Grandma Becky was here in early March and that I still have plenty of time to post about her birthday since her party isn't for another 2 weeks. If there ever was a little girl who appreciated this very elongated birthday celebration, it is Chloe at age 5. She has had so much fun with this whole birthday thing. She has LOVED the attention, of course, and has been so excited about every little gift she has received. Even the birthday card from her cousin with a drawing of the 2 of them together made her day!
I have been procrastinating this post because I am just not sure what to say about my little Chloe-o at age 5. She can be a challenge for sure. She digs in her heels and throws tantrums like life is coming to an end. She has complete meltdowns screaming, "I hate you!" because she isn't allowed to wear a church dress to school when it is cold and raining outside or because we are walking to pick Morgan up from school and she wants to drive.
She has gotten rather sneaky too: stealing sips of my Dr. Pepper when I am not in the room and then pretending she was just picking it up to hand it to me when I catch her with it and cutting Brynn's hair in the morning while they are supposed to be eating breakfast. She is constantly picking Ellie up and nearly injuring her, despite the rule that she isn't allowed to touch Ellie without permission. And since this occupies so much of my day, I often wonder if I will survive her childhood.
But on the flip side, she is such a little sweetheart.
If I ever need a self esteem boost, I just have to put on a cute outfit or some fun jewelry and then hang out with Chloe: I know I will hear her say, "You look so beautiful, Mom!" She is caring and compassionate, always thinking about how she can brighten someones day and make them feel happy. She loves people. We cannot go anywhere without her making a new friend and striking up a conversation. She has no regard to age, race, gender, status: she will talk to anyone and tell them all about her life and ask them all about theirs...it is usually adorable, but can also be a little scary.
Chloe loves school. She is an amazing little artist with serious attention to detail. Her favorite thing to do is draw pictures and write letters to people. I amazed at the words she can sound out and read and all of the things she has learned! Her preschool class only has 10 kids in it and she loves all of her preschool friends so much! Last week was our spring break and when she got in my car today after her first day off she said, "I had soooo much fun today Mom!"
She has recently started writing books for fun. She comes up with such creative stories, draws all the pictures, sounds out the words, and writes them. Her stories are very detailed so when she has written a few sentences and starts to get tired, she finds a willing grown up and dictates the rest of the story to them. Then she thinks about who might enjoy her story and sends them off in the mail.
Chloe also loves church. She gets so excited about family home evening, reading scriptures and says the most thoughtful prayers. She loves to have the missionaries over and recite articles of faith and always wants to sing primary songs together. She adores our home teachers and snuggles right up to them when they come.
She is definitely a stylista...she ALWAYS has an opinion about what she wants to wear and it is almost always a dress or a skirt. She loves accessories and combining fun colors and patterns and of course, anything ruffled or sparkly is her favorite. She is really loving her dance class and all of her dance buddies too.
I love to see the way Chloe embraces her role as a sister. Despite being banned from touching Ellie without permission, she loves her baby sister and is always looking out for her. She is the first to recommend a snack or a toy or a game for Ellie and always wants to sit by Ellie at lunch.
Brynn and Chloe are very best buddies. Those two can be entertained for hours and hours with just their imaginations and each other. They have so much fun together and get such enjoyment out of each others' accomplishments. They compliment each other and encourage each other and just love love love each other so much that it makes my heart happy. And then there is the way that Chloe adores her big brother. She loves to play with him and looks up to him so much. Every morning when they hop out of my car and head in to school, they flash me "I love you" in sign language, and then I watch Morgan wrap his arm around his little sister and lead her to the door as they giggle together. She looks at him like he is a superhero and loves that she is big enough to be included in "big kid things" with him.
So to my sweet baby girl on your 5th birthday...you are wonderful! Your passion for life is contagious. You keep us laughing all the time with the things you say, the stories you tell and the wonderful creativity of your imagination. I am still giggling about what you told me today, "They call it Dr. Pepper because if you drink too much of it you have to go to the doctor." ha ha ha ha!
Thank you for loving everyone around you, for leaving people better than you find them and for loving your momma despite her many imperfections. Thank you for still snuggling into my lap to read books and squishing my cheeks to turn my face into a fish face while you give me eskimo kisses. I love how you use big words correctly in your everyday speech and how I had to download the dictionary.com app on my phone so that I could keep up your ever expanding vocabulary. Your sweet and simple faith is inspiring and makes me want to do better and be better as your mommy and stay focused on what matters most. I love to see how quickly you embrace people and turn strangers into friends. You definitely push me to be a better mom and you help me learn to direct your personality and passion into traits that will serve you well in this life so you can become the wonderful woman I know you are going to be. It is a challenge, but I know that it will be worth it! I am so blessed to be your mom. Hugs and kisses baby girl!
Love,
Mom
I have been procrastinating this post because I am just not sure what to say about my little Chloe-o at age 5. She can be a challenge for sure. She digs in her heels and throws tantrums like life is coming to an end. She has complete meltdowns screaming, "I hate you!" because she isn't allowed to wear a church dress to school when it is cold and raining outside or because we are walking to pick Morgan up from school and she wants to drive.
She has gotten rather sneaky too: stealing sips of my Dr. Pepper when I am not in the room and then pretending she was just picking it up to hand it to me when I catch her with it and cutting Brynn's hair in the morning while they are supposed to be eating breakfast. She is constantly picking Ellie up and nearly injuring her, despite the rule that she isn't allowed to touch Ellie without permission. And since this occupies so much of my day, I often wonder if I will survive her childhood.
But on the flip side, she is such a little sweetheart.
If I ever need a self esteem boost, I just have to put on a cute outfit or some fun jewelry and then hang out with Chloe: I know I will hear her say, "You look so beautiful, Mom!" She is caring and compassionate, always thinking about how she can brighten someones day and make them feel happy. She loves people. We cannot go anywhere without her making a new friend and striking up a conversation. She has no regard to age, race, gender, status: she will talk to anyone and tell them all about her life and ask them all about theirs...it is usually adorable, but can also be a little scary.
Chloe loves school. She is an amazing little artist with serious attention to detail. Her favorite thing to do is draw pictures and write letters to people. I amazed at the words she can sound out and read and all of the things she has learned! Her preschool class only has 10 kids in it and she loves all of her preschool friends so much! Last week was our spring break and when she got in my car today after her first day off she said, "I had soooo much fun today Mom!"
She has recently started writing books for fun. She comes up with such creative stories, draws all the pictures, sounds out the words, and writes them. Her stories are very detailed so when she has written a few sentences and starts to get tired, she finds a willing grown up and dictates the rest of the story to them. Then she thinks about who might enjoy her story and sends them off in the mail.
Chloe also loves church. She gets so excited about family home evening, reading scriptures and says the most thoughtful prayers. She loves to have the missionaries over and recite articles of faith and always wants to sing primary songs together. She adores our home teachers and snuggles right up to them when they come.
She is definitely a stylista...she ALWAYS has an opinion about what she wants to wear and it is almost always a dress or a skirt. She loves accessories and combining fun colors and patterns and of course, anything ruffled or sparkly is her favorite. She is really loving her dance class and all of her dance buddies too.
Brynn and Chloe are very best buddies. Those two can be entertained for hours and hours with just their imaginations and each other. They have so much fun together and get such enjoyment out of each others' accomplishments. They compliment each other and encourage each other and just love love love each other so much that it makes my heart happy. And then there is the way that Chloe adores her big brother. She loves to play with him and looks up to him so much. Every morning when they hop out of my car and head in to school, they flash me "I love you" in sign language, and then I watch Morgan wrap his arm around his little sister and lead her to the door as they giggle together. She looks at him like he is a superhero and loves that she is big enough to be included in "big kid things" with him.
So to my sweet baby girl on your 5th birthday...you are wonderful! Your passion for life is contagious. You keep us laughing all the time with the things you say, the stories you tell and the wonderful creativity of your imagination. I am still giggling about what you told me today, "They call it Dr. Pepper because if you drink too much of it you have to go to the doctor." ha ha ha ha!
Thank you for loving everyone around you, for leaving people better than you find them and for loving your momma despite her many imperfections. Thank you for still snuggling into my lap to read books and squishing my cheeks to turn my face into a fish face while you give me eskimo kisses. I love how you use big words correctly in your everyday speech and how I had to download the dictionary.com app on my phone so that I could keep up your ever expanding vocabulary. Your sweet and simple faith is inspiring and makes me want to do better and be better as your mommy and stay focused on what matters most. I love to see how quickly you embrace people and turn strangers into friends. You definitely push me to be a better mom and you help me learn to direct your personality and passion into traits that will serve you well in this life so you can become the wonderful woman I know you are going to be. It is a challenge, but I know that it will be worth it! I am so blessed to be your mom. Hugs and kisses baby girl!
Love,
Mom
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