A Year In the Life of Maverick...

Here is a link to the slideshow if you want to watch it again, but I didn't want the music to keep popping up. Hope you like it!

Happy FIRST Birthday Son!

Today was your big day and you celebrated in true Maverick form by being the life of the party all day long. It was like you knew today was different, you were happy from the moment you woke up and a true joy to be around all day long. We had a pretty low key day, which helped. We didn't have too much planned for the day and yesterday I actually panicked that we didn't have anything planned and started looking into going away for a night or weekend or something. But when I really thought about it, I decided it would be best to stay here. You are still baby enough that you love your routine and anything familiar. And you are always a happy little guy, but especially in your own element. So, we planned on having absolutely no plans and just focusing on you. And it was a very special day for all of us.

Last night Mommy and Daddy were out with friends for awhile and we didn't get home till late so we were up till 2 am decorating your cakes and wrapping presents (and taking them out of their boxes for you so they were ready to be played with). We wrapped a couple gifts and set them out in a little pile for you to see when we came down the stairs in the morning. I will confess I was exhausted when you woke extra early on your big day, around 6:30. Daddy went down and got you a bottle and we all laid in bed, Sister too, and snuggled while you drank it. Tula knew it was your birthday, and kept telling you "happy Birthday Maverick" or "Happy Birthday Baby" and trying to sing the song to you. She even was snuggling you nicely and kissing you and saying it while you had your bottle and you didn't seem to mind at all. It was so precious to watch.

We hauled out of bed and downstairs around 7:30 and let you open your presents right away. There were a couple little Monster Truck toys we had picked up and not wrapped and those were cool enough to distract you from the rest of the process. Which was a good thing, since we were having a hard time getting your sister to stop opening you gifts for you. You got a Tonka truck, a train track, a few cars, and a big bobcat that makes lots of cool sounds. It was very fun for you to have some cool car toys. Really, up till now you have been playing with your sister's toys and she doesn't have many of those things. There are a couple, in all of our bins we have, trucks and you seems to find them all the time and like to drive them on the tile. So you were happy to see some of the steel and yellow and wheels and all that fun boy stuff that we have just never really had in the house before. It was fun to watch, of course Tula was just as excited about all the new stuff but you guys played so nice together and you were just loving it. You guys played with your toys for a LONG time, probably an hour or so. Daddy LOVED getting to show you the dump truck and how it worked and the bobcat and what it did. You guys had fun playing together with all your construction stuff. Your one truck came with a little hardhat and Daddy was so excited to go out to the garage and get stickers from his truck and decorate yours hat just like his. Then we had breakfast and headed upstairs. Last night when we were taking the toys out of their boxes there was a DVD in the Monster Truck cars and Daddy wanted to keep it when I said to throw it out. Well, turns out he was right. He brought it upstairs after playtime and wanted to pop it in, it was just a video with music and a bunch of Monster Trucks and you watched...stared intently...through the whole 29 minute DVD. I have never seen a kid so into a TV show. So, that may have been your favorite birthday present after all. I guess we will keep it after all.

You guys watched your movie for a while then we went down and did a "cake smash photo shoot" outside. I let you have your cake outside and took a bunch of pictures. I think you liked that I was letting you play in your food more than the actual taste of the cake, but either way, you ate it up. And we got some awesome pictures of it. Tula came in and helped out as well so it was twice the mess. But we just hosed you guys off and were on with the day, no messy clean up, it was all outside and thrown away with the paper you were sitting on. As you can tell, the day was kind of out of order, maybe not how a normal birthday would go, but perfect for you and your routine. Your cake was your snack, as opposed to dessert after dinner, to avoid a disastrous bedtime and induce a sugar rush that would result in a great, big, afternoon nap!

We cleaned up and went for lunch at the food court for some Opa. My poor baby, you fell asleep on the 10 min car ride there and we had to wake you. You are in the middle of transitioning from one nap to two naps per day right now and it is an adjustment time for us all. You can't last till 2 like Tula, and certainly not if we get in the car at all anytime after 10 am. So we woke you up, but you were no fuss, ate some lunch, went for a car wash and headed home and put both kids down for a great big nap. Mommy and Daddy relaxed, we were both exhausted from staying up late, and got ready for our big dinner out on the town with you two.

We decided to take you to Benihana for your birthday dinner. It's a Japanese hibatchi restaurant where the cooks cook your dinner right in front of you on a grill on the table. It is so fun! We had went once with Tula when she was around one and she liked it and hadn't been back. We like the food and wanted to see your reaction. You were so interested in every bit of it, and only cried once when the cook did a big loud production that involved a bunch of banging and then everyone clapped. Other than that, your little fingers were white you were holding on to the table so hard and watching everything the guy did so closely. You are your sister couldn't get enough of the chicken fried rice and both sat so well and behaved perfectly in the restaurant. When we drove home, we talked about how easy the day and night were. How different the restaurant experience is without a baby. And not just because it is your birthday and you aren't anymore, but you really have turned into a big boy whole can feed himself and sit in his highchair and watch and just hang. You did so great all day, but dinner was a treat.

We got home a bit late and you had a shower and Daddy snuggled you to sleep. For the most part, the day was not emotional for me, or as emotional as I thought it would be. I know birthdays are bittersweet for most Mommies, of course we love to celebrate the day and what it stands for, but the fact that it marks a year...the first...then another...then another...is sad to me. And I know from having another baby only one year older than you that those years come and go quickly. I remember when Tula turned one, I was about 7 months pregnant with you, so every time I felt sad that my "baby" (at the time) was no longer a baby, I was able to remind myself that there was a new baby on the way. And somehow, that made me feel better. That is not the case this year. I am not pregnant, and although one day soon I want you to be a big brother, that is not the case yet. So you are my baby, and you are no longer a baby, and there are no other babies on the horizon, and I got a little sad about it today.

Maverick, your baby year went by too fast. There could never be enough minutes in enough days filled with your smiles and laughter to make me not wanting more. But I have learned that there never will be enough of these moments, and that time will never stop going by quickly with babies. We have had a wonderful year. My precious son, you have brought a love into my life that I don't know how I ever lived without. You are so full of joy. You love me so much it melts me. You have brought a sense of completion and comfort to my world, I feel like you really made us a family in many ways, and I have said it before but I rest easier at night knowing that you and Tula have each other, forever, no matter what. You are special to me in many ways. I love that you resemble me, that you act like me, that you remind people of me...or my Dad..who I look like. When I see you I see all the good in me too. You are so perfect.

When I left for Brazil one of my biggest concerns was leaving you, especially because you had not been weaned. I was afraid I would come home to a changed boy. Maybe detached, maybe insecure, or maybe just not as generally happy. That has not been the case at all! Your have calmed my heart about all those worries by staying true to who you were before I left, and finding new ways to bond and have quiet time with me now that nursing is not in the picture. You love to come over and just rest your head on me. Sometimes if I am sitting on the floor playing with you guys you will just crawl over and lay your head on my lap. You like to give kisses...though you think they are hilarious. And you love to snuggle still in the mornings in bed while you have your bottle. You still love to be rocked to sleep. And you could ride around on my hip ALL DAY LONG. You love to have any sort of physical contact with me, and sometimes you don't even like me to walk away from you. You love me, in your own special way that is totally different than your sister's. And you are a totally different baby than she was. I have learned so much this year about the similarities in kids, and the differences as well. You have showed me that it is so true what they say... "You love them all the same, but differently."

Maverick, I look forward to getting to know your sweet spirit even better as the years pass. My prayer for you is that you will never, ever lose your smiling, joyful, happy disposition in life. That you will continue to be filled with happiness and giggles. Thank you so much for a wonderful, memorable, incredible first year. I love you, my son.

~Mommy

Tula-isms

Basically just a little list of adorable things you have said in the last month that I actually thought were cute enough to go grab a pen and paper and write them down. You are now putting 4 and five words together, and it makes for some pretty cute sentences. But more importantly, you can now easily communicate with me how you are feeling, if something is bothering you, your basic needs, etc.

"I want to eat"
"Tula bite" (bug bite itching you)
"belly hurt"
"more popcorn please"

...you are so expressive

"oh goodness"

...so independant

"leave me alone" (you mostly say this to Mav when you are playing with a toy he wants or something)
"shut a door. I poop a self" (you now like to go potty by yourself and actually want me to leave and shut the door before you will go)
"Daddy push" or "NO push me" when you are being punished for something...for the record, no, we do not push you. I have no idea where this came from but it's cute

...so kind

"soly baby" (you are so ggod at apologizing to your brother if you step on him or bump into him or whatever. I hear you say this to him lots when you guys are playing together)

...so honest

"I push" (when I come in the room and Mav is crying)

...so dramatic

"gecko" You love to watch geckos from the window in the backyard, but if you are out there without me and see one you come running to the door screaming gecko and want inside immediately.

...such a good big sister.

Yesterday you and Maverick were plying out back and I was watching you while doing the dishes. He was playing on the red car and putting rocks in the gas part of it when he put one in his mouth. I heard you say "No, no, no" (You do say this to him often as well) and then you tried to stick you finger in and scoop it out, I think he had already spit it out but you didnt know so you sort of shook your head and came running to get me.

"Mama, Maverick, rock, choke"

I thought it was so cute that you were worried enough to come and tell me, and it was a pretty legitimate concern too. I assured you he had spit it out and you went back to play time with him and that was it. But I loved that you were looking out for your baby brother like that. You are such a good big sister. Mama loves you!

Summer Vacation 2009

We are home and beginning to feel settled back into our routine after a long and wonderful family vacation to my parents cabin in BC. It has actually taken me a few weeks to recoup and take the time to sit down and write, life with two toddlers is just busy, busy during the day and nighttimes are no longer for blogging. Some things were getting fuzzy in my head so I wanted to write it all down. Our little family of four had such an incredible trip. It really was our first family “vacation” where we got to go away and relax, hide out and hang out at the cabin. There isn’t anyone I know in BC, so there is no agenda or people to go and visit. Whoever is there, staying in the house or in the cabin, is the company you will keep for the week and that’s it. It was very relaxing for me to be out of my house and away from my list of things to do. When I am home, there is always something for me to do. And if there is nothing, I can easily find something. So, that was a big change for me, to be in someone else’s house and find different ways to occupy my free time, when I had it. It was a great break to just have nothing to do. The first week of vacation John was with us, and he could spend every minute out on the water and on the boat or sea-doos. I tried to do as much of that with him as possible. Between naptimes and just general kid stuff, I usually ended up having to cut my boat trip short or not go, and stay on land to listen for a waking baby. But I had fun when I did join him, seeing John have a good time would make anyone smile, his laugh is infectious and when he is having fun the people around him cannot help but do the same. When I wasn’t along for the boat ride, I could hang out on the patio and read my book or lay and catch some sun…or even! It was wonderful to be home, or I guess living with family and feeling like I am home, and to have the relief and support that just having them there provides. Of course, to have a break from all the “mom” duties of cooking and cleaning, etc. was a treat! And to be able to enjoy beautiful scenery and fresh, clean air about 30 degrees cooler than what we were getting AZ was all just icing on the cake. The cabin and lake and the whole area was just beautiful, it gave me a whole new appreciation for the country that I proudly call home.

We flew out from Phoenix to Calgary on July 14th and landed in Calgary around 1 pm. Tula was so excited to finally get to to on the plane and to “Ca-nana” like we had been talking about and telling her for weeks. She had her own little ladybug suitcase that she had got from GG for her birthday that she had packed the night before we left and put in her own special place, right by the upstairs window. The morning we left, she was sure to go and get her suitcase and I heard he huffing and puffing on the stairs and found her there, trying to carry it down all by herself. Too cute. She wouldn’t even let us touch it at the airport. She rolled it from the car when Steve, our neighbor, dropped us off right to her seat on the airplane. This was Tula’s first time flying over 2 years old, so she got her own seat, and was WONDERFUL on the flight. It was 2.5 hours, so John and I sat separately, he sat with Mav as a lapchild and the two of them pretty much slept the entire flight, and Tula and I sat together a few rows back. She had a bunch of toys and books and coloring books in her backpack and it was enough to keep her entertained the whole time. It was really, really easy and it still feels strange that it’s getting like that with two kids. It has taken awhile to really adjust, and having a baby always makes traveling a little more stressful, but this was the first time in 2 years that it went perfectly! No fussy baby, no major airplane complaints! Yay!

We spent one night in Calgary at my mom and dads and woke up early the next morning to do the drive out to BC. It’s about a 5.5 hour trip from the place in Calgary to the cabin in Sorrento, and I wasn’t interested in doing it with Mav. So They all left bright and early, around 6:30 am, and Aunt Cheryl came and picked me and Mav up at the house around 11 and drove us to the airport for the quick 50 min flight into Kamloops. It was, again, a piece of cake traveling with only one baby. Dad picked us up at the airport, and we drove to the cabin, another 45 minute drive. It felt so good to finally get there and unpack bags and know that we were settled an officially on vacation. I guess Tula did great on the drive, because she had had such a let night and early morning she slept 4 of the 5.5 hours of the drive and was entertained by Barney on GG’s portable DVD player for the time she was awake. One quick pee stop and they drove straight through. So they both surprised me and were wonderful travelers, and I am no longer afraid to take a road trip with my kids!

I can’t begin to tell you what a wonderful time we had at the lake. Summer vacation is such a special time for kids, I have so many fond memories of mine growing up and it was fun for me to think that this year, at the age of two, Tula would begin to make memories that will last her whole entire life. Wow. That is just so huge. Such a huge responsibility, as a parent. But also fun to think of too…when it’s regarding a vacation. Late nights sitting by the campfire, or running around playing with friends while the adults sat by the fire. I remember loving that feeling of being one of the kids, playing right around your mom and dad but having the freedom to go and explore a little in the dark. Running around in the dark, always being able to hear the sound of their voices and laughter. Tula loved campfire, popcorn by the fire, snuggling and falling asleep on GG at the fire, sitting on Connor’s lap at the fire, “checking” everyone’s chair for them before they sat down, and sitting in her own chair like a big girl while we all chatted and laughed. Anything to do with the campfire she loved. Mav was always in bed by this time, so I think she felt special that it got to be her big girl time with the adults too. Connor and Carter were there with us the second week and they are 9 years old now, she LOVED playing with the big kids. The first day, they were all about Tula and playing with her all the time, but it only took them a full day to get sick of her and want to go off and do their big boy stuff, and my heart broke every time I had to tell Tula she couldn’t go with them or to leave the boys alone. They were great with her, but I understood that they needed their big kid time too so sometimes we had to keep her away and she just didn’t understand. As a mom, watching her little feelings get hurt and her be so sad about it was devastating. There was no way to make her feel better about the fact that she couldn’t play with the boys, that they were leaving. It was just a matter of trying to distract her everytime they did. There was lots of space to run and explain on the property, but the boys got to go ride bikes or play at the neighbors without supervision, and Tula just couldn’t do it yet. Speaking of the neighbors…they had grandkids visiting as well the week we were there and I have a feeling that Coby, they neighbor boy, two years older than Tula, with killer eyes and a little bit of a bad boy attitude will be trouble in a few years. It’s funny how you think of these things as a parent, but when I heard that they had just bought the place and plan on being there for many years just like Mom and Dad I thought about the fact that this is the kid that Tula gets to look forward to spending a couple weeks with every summer. Tula, if it is 15 years later and you are reading this with a big smile on your face, you better not be crushing on Coby! See…Mommy isn’t THAT old and crazy after all, my dear…

Oh, so many more memories. Ice Cream at Putt’s Parlour. Bathtime in the Rubbermaid container. I remember telling John that I thought it was so amazing our whole entire WORLD could fit inside that little blue tub. I will forever cherish those days. Late nights movies, “The Bee Movie” and popcorn on the couch with the boys. Tula getting a cut of the boys bottle depot money and getting to go shopping at the dollar store with GG and pick out her own things (stickers, ball, coloring book). Playing with cousin Olivia for the first couple days we were there. GG and Papa had the kitchen that Mommy and Aunties played with growing up set up outside and the girls and Mav loved to hang out down there and play. We had a beach day with Auntie Tiff and the kids loved the sand, though it was easier to just let them play at GG and Papa’s beach than load two babies up. Plus, our beach had the dock and that was always a fun place to hang out as well. Maverick LOVED the sand and playing outside all day long. The break from the AZ heat was so nice for all of us, but especially the kids. They were outside all day, everyday. AZ is a wonderful place to live, but it’s especially great when you have people to go and visit in the summers as relief from the exhausting heat. Luckily, we have two beautiful places to visit and chose from, our kids will never not have a place to escape the summer’s heat.

Tula spent lots of time on the boat. She is just like her Daddy, an absolute water baby. She loved to drive the boat with Papa, or watch whoever was tubing or wakeboarding. She was an excelled spotter, always very concerned when whoever was being pulled wiped out. When we turned the boat to go back, she always had to be the first to ask “You okay?” and wouldn’t stop asking until she got a firm, “Yes, Tula, I am okay.” She is such a little Mommy, always taking care of everybody. Maverick John loved being on the boat. He loved to stand on the back and lean over and watch whoever we were pulling. Loved to look over the side and reach his arm out and feel the water splashing. Sometimes you didn’t like the wind and so you would snuggle in nice and close. Possibly my fave part of being on the boat with you. I love being your safe and cozy place.

Oh yeah, Mav and the boat. Both kids had their first tubing experience, but when Jenelle and I were out there with Mav and Dad stopped the boat the pull us in, our tube flipped over and we were all dunked under the water. It scared the crap out of me because I didn’t have a hold of Mav (Jen did) so when I went under the water and came up I didn’t know where you were. It was a split second that felt like and eternity, but as soon as I saw you I had to laugh. You looked shocked, I think you were mad cause the water was cold, but you hardly cried at all, a little whine to tlet us know you wanted in the boat and you were fine. In fact, when I went to go on with Tula, you screamed until we put you back on, you weren’t letting us on that tube without you. You loved it, you seem to like a little danger and walking on the wild side. God help me. But you survived your first tubing wipe out, at the ripe old age of 11 months old.

Probably Tula’s favorite part of the trip was the fact that she got to sleep with GG and Ppa everynight. It started as her just being in their room in a pack-n-play, but I think by night three she had weaseled her way into their bed and was going nowhere fast. Mom says she loved to snuggle while she slept and I love hearing those stories of special bonds and memories was making with the people she loves and me not even being there. Now Maverick, on the other hand, was sleeping in the crib in our room and figured out on about night two that we were in there with him and if he cried I had no choice but to come and rescue him. So pretty much every night, around 1 am, he woke and needed a bottle and a little more time and energy than I was willing to give. I guess, on a happy note, it made for lots of snuggles with Mav, but it it was annoying and if there was any reason I was looking forward to coming home it was to get one whole and full nights sleep. Within two nights of being in his own crib at home Mav was back to being a wonderful sleeper, but he sure gave me a rough time a few nights this trip.

There were times I would catch myself thinking about how much easier this trip will be next year. When they are both walking…sleeping through the night...only napping once a day, etc,etc,etc. But then I remember that I thought the same thing LAST summer. Couldn’t wait to just have this baby, and have Tula be a little older, walking on her own and more independent. I am thankful that as quickly as the feelings come they go, and I am reminded to enjoy the now…to bask in the wonders and joy of my children at this precious age...and just be grateful. With that said, can’t wait till next summer and to watch them really be able to run around after eachother, walk together on the beach, and for them to have eachother as playmates and best friends.

Tula and Maverick it was so special to watch you on your first family vacation. You both seemed to grow and mature at an alarming rate while we were away. I think all of the adult interaction, new places to explore, and constantly having someone to play with just caused to grow up extra quick. Tula, your vocabulary grew exponentially while we were away. You always had someone who was willing to listen to a story, or were constantly surrounded by conversation, and you just picked up oon it. I think the playtime you had with the boys where Mommy wasn’t always there to speak for you helped too. It showed you the importance of being able to communicate for yourself and you totally figured it out. Maverick, you started walking while we were on our vacation. At just 11 months old, you were ready to take your first steps. I think exploring all the new places gave you all the confidence you needed, and you, my son, are in a nig hurry to catch up to your sister in almost every way so I guess this is just another. Looking at you toddle behind her now you would never know you two are 14 months apart. My big boy, slow down. You are growing so quickly! You both are so smart and bright, it was fun to watch you interact with everyone but mostly eachother. You LOVE each other. So much. And although there were lots of people to see while we were away, you loved most to be together and Momm and Daddy love watching you two together. The love you have for each other is such a gift and it melts my heart every time.

Thank you, Tula and Maverick, for a wonderful first vacation as a family of four! I am honored to be your Mommy and have the privilege of being a part of all these wonderful childhood memories you made. Can’t wait to flip through these pictures and journals and reminisce on these days with you two. These are the special times.

Today we played.

There is so much to catch up on. There is so much to write about. I want to keep it all in the right order and not go forward till I am caught up. But I can't catch up tonight and today was so special not to write about. Today we played.

There were no pictures, no evidence that it ever happened except some cookie crumbs under the table. No way of knowing it ever occured unless you were there. But if you were there, you'd never forget it.

There is a smile about a girl when you teach her that her "babies" can be her friends that will warm your heart. When she learns how to really, actually play WITH her toys. I wondered when my dear daughter would begin to actually "play" with her toys and interact with them, or help them interact with eachother, as I remember doing for hours on end as a child. Then it dawned on me today, as I watched her awkardly toddle around the tea party we had set up, that it had just never occurred to her that this was an option. And so, Mommy to the rescue. I sat down at the table, after we had set it up. I went and got and extra chair and asked her if she wanted "friends' to come to the tea party.

Big smiles. This is exciting. She is thinking real people here though.

So I go and get Elmo and Kitty. They share the lawn chair. Tula is just staring. Then I roll up Sally, she's chilling in the doll stroller. And then I proceed. "I am eating my salad"...and I pretend to take bites off the plate and then slurp soup from a bowl and spoon. Then I ofer some to Sally. It's too hot. I blow on it. Sally like the soup. Elmo wants his own coffee, please, Tula. Tula is intrigued, to put it mildly. As I go deeper into conversation and lunch with Elmo, Kitty and Sally, the smile on her face widens and brightens perhaps to places I know it has never been. She is beyond happy, and her obvious joy in the moment is encouraging me to just be more ridiculously animated with the dolls, which just is making it all the more fun for her. And it only had to be like that for a few minutes before she just totally got it.

She got off her chair and went over to talk to Elmo. She put her hands on her knees and bent over right down to his eye level to talk to him, nodding her head all the while. "More coffee Elmo?...Soup hot?...Sugar?"

It was a delight for me to watch. It was a pleasure to just sit on the floor and let it just happen around me and be able to take it all in. I love what I do. God, some days it is so, so hard. And busy, and stressful. But it's what you make it, I guess, and if I just took the time every day for tea with my kids I have a feeling I wouldn't regret it. It really just takes one of those big little moments to realize that these are the precious, simple times I don't want to miss. The reason I am home with my babies. All day, every day. The other day I read a quote, "Success is the feeling I get when I live out my values" and it put into words something that I had felt for a long time that was so true. In that moment of play, and laughter and happiness and absolutely nothing else, I felt success.

Tula, Maverick, you are my "values". You are what is important to me, and your happiness is my happiness. When I see you learning or growing or smiling. When I get to be a part of helping the wheels in your head turn. Being a part of your playtime, I feel like my day, or that moment, has been the most success I have ever, ever known. Tula, thank you for allowing me to sit at your tea table today and take it all in. It was truly, my pleasure. I hope I never forget that smile.

Today we were home all day. No big plans. But today we played tea party, and drank success from tiny plastic tea cups. Oh, to be a kid again. What a joy.

Thank you, God, for the reminder of why I do what I do. Every day you give me something. But today's was extra special and fun for me. Thank you.

Weight Update

Tula= 24 lbs 8 oz
Mav= 23 lbs 7 oz

Maverick is walking!

The best video I have so far. He started taking steps last week but he is getting up and doing it on his own now quite often. Yay Maver!

Mav having a laugh with the boys

The boys had made this craft and when they showed it to Mav he thought it was totally hilarious. Provided lots of entertainment for him and then us, of course, watching him laugh.