Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Swim lessons are a coming

Dear Emmett,
We went to a pool today and you did so well swimming! But next time you might want to dial it back a bit on the number of floatation devises you employ. You really don't need water wings, a tube and flippers. For one thing, as you discovered today, it makes it very hard to actually get onto the pool. I'll sign you up for swim lessons this summer, I promise.
Love, mom

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Moving

Dear Logan
Today you told me that you had a dream while we were still in our first house. You said that in the dream we didn't have to move. You said that you missed our old house. I miss it too, sweet boy.
Love momma

Friday, February 24, 2012

note to self - make more videos of the kiddies

I guess this week we are just going to have to settle for every other day.

-Eric and Logan made it to "Stars Wars." In preparation for their evening out, Logan took a nap. So I got an afternoon all to myself! That is twice in the last week -- definitely a new record.

- Madeline was so talkative today. She just babbled every waking minute and I loved it. And she is wearing shorts to bed because I couldn't find her pants. She has the cutest little chubby knees!

- I am growing Emmett's hair out a little longer rather than the buzz cut both boys have been sporting forever. Logan has a very stubborn cowlick in the front so his really looks best very short, but Emmett's is starting to look nice. He looks like such a proper young man (As my father would say.)

- I was looking around at some files on our computer and I found a video of Logan when he was 2 or so. We were visiting my parents' house in Arizona and he was swimming in the pool. He was getting ready to jump in the pool but just couldn't quite do it when he got to the end of "Ready, Set, GO!" So he just kept saying it over and over for about 2 minutes. He just looked so little and had the cutest little voice. Man, they grow fast.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

time for the big girl panties

I have a few extra today since I missed yesterday

~Logan asked me yesterday why I was so grumpy. He asked in a very kind and gentle voice, like he was really concerned. This kind of thinking outside himself behavior is new for Logan.

~While Logan was at preschool, and I was taking a shower, Emmett decided that he was too scared to play out in the front room by himself so he sat in front of the shower door, reading his favorite book "Go Dog Go" for the rest of my shower. He had the shower curtain draped around his shoulders so he could see me. super sweet.

~Madeline has learned to pull herself up to a sitting position by herself. Logan and Emmett saw her do it and immediately exclaimed encouraging remarks like "Great job Madeline! You did it!" and "I am so proud of you!" I sure hope this kind of family support continues through the years.

~Logan didn't go to time out at school today! He has been having some issues with that lately and Eric made a deal with him that if he could go this whole week without going to time out then they could go see "Star Wars" in the theater on Friday. I think he might just make it.

~ I am starting to pack up our house. We are supposed to move in two weeks and I am getting a little emotional about the whole "We are leaving our first house and we brought two of our children home from the hospital here and this is where Logan took his first steps" thing. I am more than excited to move into a nicer and bigger house but he have sure had some wonderful times here over the last 4 1/2 years. I guess I am just having a hard time letting go. yesh! I am getting a little teary just thinking about it! As Momma always says, it's time to put on your big girl panties and get it done. So while I pack it all up maybe I will find those big girl panties somewhere.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Monday notes

- Logan saying a real prayer without any help

- Emmett going potty and saying "come on buns! You can do it!" Then when they apparently did it, "Super Buns!"

-Madeline trying to say "bye bye"

-ice cream cones for family home evening

Friday, February 17, 2012

today's notes

-Logan talking excitedly NON STOP through the first half of Return of the Jedi. He and Eric are planning on going to see episode one in the theater next friday

-all kids napping. Yes it really happened.

-Emmett usually gets really angry when he has to go to the bathroom. Today he didn't. Hurray!

-Emmett is trying really hard to say the "th" sound. So whenever it comes up in a word, he holds it out about twice as long as normal. "mommy, I'm tttthhhirsty" adorable.

-Madeline fell off of the changing table while I was turned to put the diaper in the garbage. No damage done, but she was very cuddly for half an hour afterward.

-Madeline learned to trill her tongue today and finally is pulling her legs under her to crawl. Now if we could just get the girl some teeth...

-Eric was sad today. Being too hard on himself. But he got happier after being home for a while. I guess he likes us better than taxes after all.

Reasons

Do you ever find yourself looking back at former stages in your life and trying to remember what that was like?

I try to remember what it was like in college or what I used to do everyday in high school. I was a pretty good journal keeper back then so that sheds a glimmer of light on the story. But mostly I can't remember. I don't remember, in a specific sense, what my life was like then. And that makes me very sad.

I refuse to forget this time in my life. My children are young (5, 3, and 10 months) and I see them doing so many things that make me happy, drive me crazy, and force me to smile. Everyday is literally a new adventure. But I tend to get caught in the busyness of it all.

As anyone in a similar situation can attest to, my life as a stay-at-home mom is full to the brim of tiny tasks. I spend my days getting milk, wiping noses, picking up toys, getting snacks, fixing games, buttoning pants, changing diapers, finding stuffed giraffes, getting the right movie, turning down the volume, reading stories, playing with cars, soothing hurts, breaking up fights, and then starting it all over again. I try to fit in a few of the home management tasks, getting everybody where they need to be at the right time, and if I'm lucky a teaching moment or two.

These tiny tasks are so numerous and frequent that it is hard not to get smothered by them. But every day, amid the sea of tiny tasks, I always find a moment or two that take me out of the busyness and remind my why I love what I do. Examples-
  • A clean kitchen (finally)
  • Mr. Farmer being forced to put away his smart phone because the bozos are climbing all over his lap and trying to tickle him
  • Getting Madeline to giggle--a true out and out giggle
  • Overhearing Emmett singing "Momma called the Dr. and the Dr. said, 'No More Zombies Jumping on the Bed!'"
  • Hearing Logan read to Emmett at night when they are supposed to be asleep
  • Logan making Madeline smile
  • Emmett telling Logan that he is his best friend
  • Mr. Farmer texting me one of the many reasons that he loves me.

These things happen all the time and they are the moments that make all the other stuff worth it. And I refuse to forget them.

So this is my solution. I will post everyday and I will record some of these little moments. My posts will be short and they may not make total sense. The format will probably change until I know exactly how to do this thing, but I want to record something that each child did that day. But I will not limit it to my kids. I want to remember how it feels to be a young mother of young children. So I will record those feelings too.

Well, that is my plan. It is loose and adaptable and will most likely evolve, but that is OK. I hope that I (and maybe my kids) will read this all someday and smile at the memory of all that we did together. All the good, the crazy and the lovely things that make up my life.