Tula is Three Years Old

Once again, Tula's third birthday was a whirlwind of celebrations and parties and excitement. But the best part about this year's festivities was that it was Tula who was the most excited for all of it, and of course her anticipation for all the festivities made it all that much more exciting for me. June was actually a tough month, we had a couple other birthday parties to attend and it literally got to the point where at one party Tula spent most of the time sitting at the gift/cake table just staring at the cupcakes and presents, asking if she could open them. Because we had talked about the fact that her third birthday was coming up, that month leading up to it, every day at her quiet time she would ask if it would be her birthday party when she came out. It was adorable of course. So when the big day came, it was a BIG day.

Tula's first party celebration was actually a couple days before her actual birthday while we were in Canada at the lake. The day of June 29th we ended up travelling back to Calgary from the lake so we did it a few days before then. My mom had had a girls weekend out there and there was lots of relatives, aunties and cousins and even Great Grandma Matson. Tula got a surprise party after lunch one day with a Toy Story Cake and a couple gifts to open from GG and Papa. Of course she loved all the attention and was so excited about her new Jessie doll. But her big celebration was after she got home and got to have her real party with her friends. This was what she was really excited about, to be the party girl and surrounded by all the kids in her life that have truly become such important little friends to her. We had her party about a week after her actual birthday, on Friday July 9th. It was John and my turn to host our neighborhood "date night" and I decided that with 8 of her little friends already here, why not just invite a few more and make that her party. At this point, entertaining a bunch of toddlers has to be be easier that hosting all the parents as well. So Tula had her first big girl drop off party, from 6 to 9. John and I hired a babysitter to be there with us for extra hands, but it actually ended up being a pretty easy and uneventful night, we probably could have managed on our own. The kids had all eaten dinner already, so we turned on some music when they got here and let them have a "dance party" in the living room for awhile. There was also a bunch of them playing in the toy room. Then someone decided they wanted to play outside, so as HOT as it was out there, we let all the kiddos run around for a few minutes, and brought cupcakes out and sang Happy Birthday to our girl. Then inside to open a few gifts, and upstairs to watch a movie together while the kids waited for their moms and dads to come and pick them up. Tula loved it. She loved being the center of attention for the day. She loved making her own cupcakes that morning, decorating them with icing and sprinkles that afternoon, and eating them that night. She grinned ear to ear when we sang her Happy Birthday. This year, Tula loved everything about having a birthday party, and that made it that much more fun for us to celebrate her!

Two weeks later, while in CT with Daddy, Tula got one more cake and birthday celebration with her family there. This time, her and Maverick each had their own cake and some gifts to open, but I think even though she had to share the party with her brother, she enjoyed a little more attention over the fact that it was her birthday and she was being celebrated once again. So, three birthday parties for our three year old girl. Tula, you are a very lucky little lady. And loved by many, many people.

My Tula Belle. At three years old you have turned into a little person. You are able to communicate so clearly with me now that it sometimes scares me. You remind me daily that you are now my little sponge, soaking up everything I say and do and reflecting it back to me in the way you play with your toys, your brother, your friends. So of the things you come up with you are angry with Mav crack me up, because I know you heard them from me. You will tell him "you have had enough" or use one of my phrases that I would use with you if I was stressed out or overwhelmed. But you also have picked up on the good too, I will hear you playing with him and speaking words of encouragement to him, or playing with your Barbies and talking so sweetly with them back and forth with each other, and I love that you have picked up on that stuff too. Hearing you talk like that reminds me of what I am doing right with you, and how loving you truly are. It is amazing to see you able to express your thoughts so clearly. It is wonderful getting to know who YOU are, your own little person, more and more every day.

It's very belated, but Happy Third Birthday Tula Belle. Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

23 months...too close to two!

Let me start by saying, and I am sure I have said this before, but I am SO GLAD that I am pregnant right now. Because if my baby was turning two and I didn't have the consolation prize of knowing that there was going to be another babe right around the corner who will give me lots of loving and snuggles, I think I would be beside myself right now. My baby boy (Maver, you will ALWAYS be my baby boy) is less than a month away from his second birthday and I cannot hardly fathom it. Time slips.

Having two big kids is becoming more and more of my reality every day. I remember this time with Tula, right before the second birthday where it seems the child is developing at lightning speeds. Changing right before my eyes. Maverick has streched and thinned out this summer, and no longer has the baby toddling way about his walk, he looks like a little man running and jumping and stomping around the house or yard or whatever. He loves to come up and give a kiss or a hug or a quick sign of affection, but is now MR. Independent and no longer wants to cuddle on the couch when watching a show or reading a book. This is probably mostly due to the fact that right now he does not like to sit still for one minute, but it still cuts into cuddle time either way. The other night I went to sit in the rocking chair in Mav's room like I have done so many times and had one child on each lap while we read and I literally COULD NOT do it. It was mostly my big belly that made the whole situation unbearably uncomfortable for me, but we just didn't all fit anymore. And the idea that my whole world doesn't fit in a little chair, a little box, a little space was so sad to me. I know the kids are probably too young to remember, but I will forever cherish the days of holding them both and feeling like I literally had "it all" right there on my lap.

Mav, you are a mover and a shaker. An action man. You love to get up on the couch and "jump". Holding on to the back and jumping high, or jumping from the sofa to the ottoman, or right into someone's lap, even if they aren't looking. You love, even in this heat to go out to the trampoline and run and run and jump and splash forever while I have the sprinkler on underneath it. You love to go for a walk, and right now you like to make your own decisions about where we walk, the direction, when to stop, etc. You can't get up on my bed by yourself yet but you always ask to come up if I am on there or folding laundry on it or even just doing anything in my bedroom. You love to play ball, throw a ball at me and have me toss it back, rolling a ball. If you see a ball on the ground you love to kick it. The other day at a friends you found a catcher's mitt and came and found me wearing it asking for a ball. You love to roll around on our blankets and smoosh your face into our pillows and hide from any passer-bys. You love to wrestle and play rough, push me and try and have me push you over. I often have to tell you right now not to hit, you almost always swing at me at least once while we play fight and usually you close your fist and aim right for my face. Dude, I hope you figure that one out fast. Not cool. You love to put your arms out and pretend you are an airplane, you run around the house saying "fly, fly, plane, fly". You love to pretend and dress up with your sister. Not gonna lie, at this point your favorite costume is the ballerina one and you have asked me to put it on a couple times, usually when Tula is wearing the other one I think cuase you want to be like your sis, but you have been know to put your finger on your head and twirl and say "Reena, reena". Don't worry Son, I promise I will keep *most* of those videos and pictures for your eyes only...maybe one or two for your wedding slideshow? They are hilarious. You dressing up like a girl doesn't even phase me or your dad really. You are all boy. Rough and tumble, cars and trucks, balls and bats, sticks and stones.

You are still a fantastic sleeper, you go to bed easy after your bath and a show and a book. You usually want a toy or two in your crib with you and then we don't hear a peep from you till almost 12 hours later. You still at 23 months love your afternoon nap and sleep almost 3 hours every afternoon. You do love food still, and you eat so good for me. You love shrimp and veggies and of course any pasta noodles...peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, yogurt, raisins. You love breakfast and will come down the stairs and first thing in the morning be asking for Cheerios, but it's a big treat if I make scrambled eggs you will devour them! With being a good eater means you also LOVE junk food. You love candy and jellybeans and chocolate and anything like that. I busted you the other day at the mall sticking your fingers up the 25 cent candy machines and eating any extra skittles or m and m's that got left in there. You love chips and popcorn and pizza and all the salty stuff too. So feeding you is never, ever an issue. You make the routine stuff of our day to day very easy on your Mama. Thank you, Son.

We are not even attempting potty training at this point. I am honestly just to huge (and hot and lazy) to bend over and clean up any sort of accident so I am not even letting you give it a shot till after the baby is born. You actually get really upset right now when I put diapers on you during the day, you say "Nooo, I potty" but I just don't have the patience for potty training right now.

Oh Maverick, I really could go on and on. This is a very fun age and stage that you are at, and you are a VERY easy tempered kid still so that makes it all even more fun. You are a good listener and pretty obedient, you don't like to dissapoint so if I seem upset with you never something or you get told no sternly you will often just put your head and shoulders down and act sort of shy or sad for a minute and not look at anyone , till you start peeking out the side of your eyes:) You also put your pointer finger on your chin and tap it when you are "thinking". But you are just a loveable, bright and happy guy. Always with a great big smile or laugh. Your joy is infectious, thank you for sharing it with me so often. I adore being your Mama. Love you buddy, can't to celebrate your big day with you at the end of this month!

Needed this day...

~Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.~

This blog weighs so heavily on my mind sometimes. Not because of the following, the friends who read (although you know I love each and every one of you) but because when I don't keep up on it I somehow allow myself to believe that it is some sort of representation of what kind of person I am...or worse, what kind of mother I am. I beat myself up about my lack of time management, which, let's face it, I am seriously lacking skills in this area, and I start to check and recheck my priorities and make sure that that is all squared away, and then I further punish myself by doing some weird inventory of the things I have or have not accomplished this particular day/week/year and how I could have blogged instead of doing this or that or the other thing.

Let's face it. I have been uninspired. To say the least. It's 120 degrees and I am mega huge pregnant and honestly, the idea to sitting down at the computer and committing 30 minutes of my time to doing ANYTHING at this point kills me. There are many blog posts to post, I have a mental (and of course paper) list of all that I need to do to get caught up. But today I blog about something different, something regular. But something oh so inspiring. Our day.

These are the days that every family has every so often that are just perfect. The days where you find yourself getting lost in moments and love and laughter and after everyone has gone to bed for the night, the mame bear in me gets to stay awake and just relive it...and be grateful...and find ways to remember forever. Sometimes I think a change in weather is a fun way to bring about one of these wonderful family days. I have many fond memories as a child that occurred when Mother Nature was doing something radical outside the confines of our sturdy and safe shelter. It just felt so exciting...thrilling...different. And still so safe and cozy and warm.

Today was one of those days for John and I, and for our kids. It started with an early nap for Mav, after a long morning out and about braving the heat and humidity. So he woke from nap around 2:30, and that is early, normally he doesn't get up till around 5, right before we eat dinner. So I sat and wondered what I was going to do with these kids ALL AFTERNOON (like it was such a drag). Daddy was just waking up too, he is working nights right now so early afternoon is his morning, and we were all sitting on our chairs downstairs making a plan, and a big beautiful storm started brewing outside. At first, you could just see the wind, and the kids were intrigued, so we took them outside to check it out. And they ran around the yard excited to pick up and hide away all their toys so the wind wouldn't take them away. And then the raindrops started, and they wanted to jump on their trampoline, so we let them for a bit. And then a huge downpour came, so we all ran together to our little covered patio outside our back door and sat on the sofa there together and let the wind and rain and thunder put on a show for us. And then Tula had a brilliant idea to go and run around IN the pouring rain, and that she did. Mav of course was not far behind. And they screamed and laughed and splashed and jumped and smiled and hugged and twirled and just entertained us with their joy. And we sat there holding hands just watching and quiet and I could help but think about how I just live for these moments...how I love what I do...how grateful I am...how much I'll miss these days...how I hope they remember today...how I could never live without them (how did I ever?)...and just how lucky I really am. John and I hardly even spoke, I know he was soaking up as much as I was, and that was our afternoon. Our beautiful, perfect, rainy afternoon.

We came inside and John took the kids up and bathed them before dinner and then we ate veggie burgers and french fries and Tula even asked for soup (I think she thought it was cold outside), and we had a fund dinner where we talked about how we ate french fries on fun days and simple things like that. It was SUCH a perfect day that after John and I cleaned up dinner I was even inspired to do a craft with the kids, and I am by no means a crafty person, and CERTAINLY not at 6 o'clock at night, but my day couldn't get any better and I was so in love with my family that I just wanted to hang with them some more. So we made a simple food necklace, of course Mav just ate most of his fruit loops but Tula just loved the exercise of stringing the ribbon through the noodle, then the cheerio, then the fruit loop, and she even created her own little pattern that was something along those lines. Seriously she was so into it I realized tonight that I either need to hop on the wagon and start homeschooling the child (or at least incorporate some serious craft and intentional creative play time) or the girl needs preschool...which I am pretty sure I am not ready for, though she is begging to go now that she knows most of her friends get to. Needless to say, I have been creeping all over Mommy Blogs tonight, specifically homeschooling and preschool ones, and have lots of fun ideas for me and my babes over the next little while...let's hope the creativity and inspiration from today don't wear off by tomorrow!

All in all, it was a truly perfect day, and it reminded me why I need to write, to journal, to remember. So I will.

Tonight, so thankful to be inspired. Just so thankful.

Baby Boy is 21 months old!

Maverick John you are a bundle of love and laughter right now. You are a complete joy and you melt your Mommy's heart a million times a day with your infectious smile and giggle. I know this post is a LONG time overdue, baby boy, but I want to fill you in on all the full things you have been up to the last few months. You see, the first big news is that we had found out since the last time I posted a monthly update about you that you are going to be a big brother, and while that is old news at this point (I am 22 weeks along) it is still a valid excuse for not taking the time to update this blog much recently. Momma is one tired lady lately, chasing two rambunctious toddlers around this house and town and growing another in my belly. The last couple months I have tried to slow down but you two keep barreling through life full speed ahead and basically dragging me along with you. Yes, at this point there are more times in the day than not that I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep, but I am thankful that your zest for life and adventure keeps my at least entertained while I am up there on my toes.

As I look at the jotted, scribbled list that I have been keeping the last few weeks of things that come to mind that I want to write about, the largest one that stands out the most is "Daddy's Guy". Your father is the apple of YOUR eye right now. You adore him. Every morning you wake you calling for him. When I come in and get you you ask "Daddy?" as if to say where or "Work?" as if you know what the answer will be. You love weekends when Daddy is home and he goes and gets you and brings you into our bed for your morning milk. You love to do anything your dad does, love to watch him mow the lawn or fix something or eat or pretty much anything. You love to get on the floor and rough house and wrestle with Daddy, and he loves to do the same with you. Watching the bond between the two of you develop (yes, it's new, you were MY GUY for the longest time) and deepen and grow has been one of the most beautiful transformations I have ever seen. There is a bond and friendship there that has no limits and has made me fall in love with the both of you all over again. Your daddy can wrestle and tickle and play rough with you, and in the next moment swoop you in his arms and give you a big smootch and tell you he loves you, he shows you affection and love in a way I wondered how he ever could. I guess being from a family of all girls the father/son relationship is so foreign to me, I worried that is may lack affection or depth. But not at all. You two are the snuggliest, love to sit together and watch tv, and often when daddy picks you up I see you rest your head on his shoulder for a quick hug or pat his back. Mav John, your Daddy loves you so much and so well, and for that you are one lucky little boy.

A close second to being Daddy's Guy in the list of important/random facts about you is the term "Monster Trucks". You are OBSESSED! Your collection now consists of 5 monster trucks. You basically always have one in your hand. At any given time you drop down to your knees and start driving it on the floor, over furniture, you set up train tracks and attempt to drive your trucks on that. One always comes in the shower and one (or two or three) always come to bed with you. You even make all the "vroom vroom" noises and sound effects. We found a Monster Truck cartoon that we DVR'ed on the TV and you loved that too. That was until we let you watch the Toy Story movie, and after that, all bets were off. ALL you want to watch now is "Buzz". Oh yes, Buzz Lightyear, your favorite new "guy" or character. The only one you know, I guess, but your favorite. You ask to watch that movie every "TV time" we have right now. You also walked up to me out of the blue the other day and pointed at your chest saying "I Buzz, I Buzz." I taught you how to hold out one arm straight and use the other hand to push your buttons on your shoulder like Buzz's lazer and you run around the house lasering everything, including me. Still saying, "I Buzz." It is adorable to watch you pretend, and so fascinating to me how different you little imagination and pretend play differs from that of your sister, even at the same age. You love to pretend, and play and it is all boy games and styles.

I was looking back on your sister's posts at this age and I think she was 18 or 20 months before she was feeding herself her morning breakfast with her own spoon. That is NOT the case with you, my boy. I think you have been using your own spoon since you were 12 months old. You did not, and still do not need any help in the food department. You love to eat and you are a fantastic eater. You will try anything, you like most everything, and you eat plenty. I have no problem getting you to eat veggies (unlike your sister) you will pretty much eat anything green, even salad. About 3 months ago, I made the decision to become a vegetarian and cook accordingly for our family, and not that you were eating a lot of meat before, but you have adjusted so well, eating lots of whole grains with fiber and lots of beans and fruit. You LOVE cheese (like your Mommy) and could eat it by the blocks, you are just starting to like your milk or water at dinner in a big boy cup, no more sippy cups at the table. You are still in your highchair and love to tell me you are finished eating by standing up in there and almost giving me a heart attack. Don't ask me why I don't just do up the buckle, sometimes I remember to now. You love your Cheerio's mixed with "Papa's Cereal" in the mornings and maybe a peanut butter sandwich for lunch with cheese and some fruit and noodles or rice and veggies for dinner. Speaking of eating, and I guess this is just a side note, but since we are on the topic, YOU SUCK in restaurants right now. You will not sit at all in there, and it is doubly frustrating because Tula is finally at the age where she is sooo good in those situations. So it makes you, poor guy, look that much worse and me THAT much more annoyed. When we are home, you are a FANTASTIC eater. At a restaurant is another story completely.

Bedtime is still a breeze with you. Naptime too. I imagine you are the kid (and I guess like your mother again) that LOVES your sleep and I never foresee it being an issue. I have been trying to start introducing bedsharing to you and your sister, since when Baby #3 comes that will most likely be the scenario. You are totally into it, you love to go lay in Tula's bed and pull the covers over your legs and sit there waiting for us all to pile in, but at this point she doesn't like sharing it with you. You are a little too playful before bed, I guess just distracted, and Sissy don't like that much, so for now we are going to keep you two separate, as it is, until a change must be made.

You are talking lots and lots, can communicate what you want/need pretty clearly and get VERY FRUSTRATED if you can't or I am not understanding you. I wouldn't say you are in incredibly patient boy, Mav John. When you do get angry or upset with me, it can be very dramatic, with great big tears and a wide open mouth with a big loud wail. Usually needs a long hug or cuddle to get over. Anyways, that doesn't happen often, most times if you can't tell me, you want to show me, and lots of times still throughout the day you come up to me and just take me by the hand and pull me where you need me and say "A mon, a mon", and then "that" or "help" or whatever you need when we get there.

This is sort of random, we haven't really started potty training yet, but I have managed to catch you twice right before you were about to poop and run with you to the potty, set you on there, and you have pooped on the potty. I am hoping that this could be the beginning of something good, but I am big and pregnant and can't really bend over so I just can't see myself pushing it until AFTER the baby is here unless you seem really ready. Which, at this point you don't. You don't seem to acknowledge peeing in your diaper at all and I am flat out to lazy to take it off and see what happens.

I saw in your last post, 4 months ago, that you had had your first haircut. Well, you have had two more since then, and I think all your beautiful curls are gone. Although it seems to grow back very thick and maybe even wavy, I think those big beautiful round curls are gone. After you get it cut, when it is super short it makes you look like such a big boy. And so handsome too.

You sure do love your big sister, and playing all sorts of games with her. Right dow, I hear her telling you lots of "come here, lion" or "c,mon, eat this, dog" of whatever and you are on your knees and Tula is pretending (and you are too I guess) that you are an animal and she is OBVIOUSLY the master or whatever. As far as toys go, you both have a really hard time sharing anything and bicker lots and lots, too much, over toys, to the point that sometimes I threaten to throw them away on you guys. It drives me nuts, you have a million things and will fight over the same one, and the SECOND I go buy another so each of you can plan with one, you both lose interest. Hopefully the sharing thing corrects itself soon for both of you guys. Otherwise, you play so well together and it is obvious that you both totally adore each other. Today in the shower you were playing with the shampoo again and I told you a few times to stop and you wouldn't so I opened the shower door and took the back of your hand and slapped it (which I never do but you are RELENTLESS with this soap. Tula looked at me and said "Hey...that's MY BABY BROTHER. DON'T HIT HIM!!!!" Yelling. And as annoyed as I was with being told off by my three year old, I sort of liked her message, and her motivation of just protectiveness and love for you. She is always looking out for you little buddy, and you are a good little bro to her too.

Maverick John, I know we are so blessed to have a happy and healthy boy like you in our life, and I am loving being a Mommy to boy more than I ever imagined I would. Thank you for your special presence in our life, our family, and my heart. You thrill me every single day. Love you Son, cannot believe you are 21 months old and we are 3 months away from your second birthday. My big, big baby boy. Love you. ~Mom

Monster Trucks

Yesterday Mav had his first day out with his Daddy and they took off to the racetracks to check out the Monster Truck Show in town. I made sure to pack John with a camera and although he did not come home with 1000 pictures like I would of, he got a couple of the important stuff and I love that he took the time to document the day a bit for me because he knew how much I wanted to see it. I loved watching all the videos and seeing the pics, it looks like my boys had a fun day together, John said Maverick got to ride in a Monster Truck and LOVED watched them zip down the track.

Here's a few pics from before they left the house and while they were there, along with a video. I will post more on the gallery.

A few new videos....

I know, I know I have been SERIOUSLY slacking in the blogging department but I promise things will pick up again soon. In the meantime, a few videos from recently to tide you all over...thanks for your patience!

Dancing to Party In The USA....



Mav being silly at the table...



Painting (for Grandma)...

Someday By: Alison McGhee

One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one...
One day the first snowflakes fell, and I held you up and watch them melt on your baby skin.
One day we crossed the street, and I held your hand tight.
Then you were my baby,
and now you are my child.
Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream,
and I dream too.....
That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake.
Someday you will walk into a deep wood.
Someday your eyes will be filled so deep with joy that they shine.
Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire.
Someday you will swing high-so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.
Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.
Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.
Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving at me until I no longer see you.
Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small.
Someday you will feel a small weight against your strong back.
Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair.
Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun.
And when that day comes, love, you will remember me.