I Am

Yes, it's been a few months since I've posted. So why not start out with a traditional "I Am" post to catch everyone up.

-I am up early this morning. Macy has periodically decided to get up at 6:30. She's tired, cranky, but apparently just wants some quiet time with me. All my kids did this but Macy has been my one to sleep in everyday till 7:30 or later. I hope it doesn't become regular for her to get up this early.

-I am nervous and excited to be leaving in a week for CA. We have not been back in 15 months. We are spending many days in Malibu which is unusual and will be a lot of fun. I hope I can get some alone time to walk/jog along the track like I do any time I'm there. Macy will have her first introduction to the beach. Correction: the real beach. She has spent many a day here at Lake Monroe on a manmade beach. But the ocean beach will be quite different.

-I am a work in progress. The last 6 months or so have been a struggle. I trust God knew this was going to happen before he put me on this earth and he will see me through till I am exactly as He wants me to be. Until then, I look forward to peace, freedom, and lasting joy.

-I am loving my kids home for the summer. No camps. No trips yet. Just us. They have swim lessons for one hour a day but other than that, we've been able to play it low key and just enjoy our yard and eachother.

-I am always finding myself dreaming about being on vacation with just Brian. Or reliving our newlywed apartment days. You figure out the obvious meaning of that. ;)

-I am excited to see the rest of my garden develop. I pulled my first cucumber yesterday. The tomatoes will probably be ready while we are in CA....bummer. a zucchini have the same likely fate. My lettuce is done. Must plant earlier next year! And my bells and jalapenos will be ready later on. Brian spotted a good place for a pumpkin patch this year and so I can't wait to see if everything takes off like we hope.

-I am currently teaching the 2 year olds at church. I've been doing it since January and it has been the biggest surprise blessing. I felt God moving me to volunteer but had no idea what age. So I kind of left it up to the staff needs. I got to pick between the K/1 spot or 2's. I thought the 2's would be a little mellower and awaited what I got myself into. It has been awesome!! My class has anywhere from 10 to 14 kids in it each Sunday at the 9:30 service. There is second class next door and we get together for story and song time. God has given me such a great surprise. These kiddos are incredibly precious. They shower me with love every Sunday and getting to know them and their parents has been so much fun. I've seen some of them go from super timid and shy to walking in confidently with a smile. Seeing the relief on their parents faces is priceless.

-I am needed for typical chocolate milk and breakfast duties at the moment. :) Must go!

Today

Today was one of those days that makes you feel kinda like a supermom but totally wiped out and incapable of repeating such a day again. Nothing crazy happened but there were just enough events to make me feel like a whirling dervish and that is not a feeling I recommend. Some observations about today:

-an unexpected cozy nap with birds chirping and the windows open is awesome. awesome. I prefer the dark quiet naps, but today was lovely.

-Noah had a friend come home from school with him. Kids think riding a different bus is HUGE.

-boys may be as much drama as girls. "He was like, and then I was like, and then he went like this, and then I went like this, and like OH, awesome". This is about what every conversation sounds like with Noah. And he's ALWAYS. referring. to. sports. He gives me the play by play of every game of soccer, basketball and football at recess every single day.

-It's a stage, but Wesley is much nicer to Noah than Noah is to Wesley. I find this super annoying and frustrating although obviously a big brother is more interesting than a little brother. Noah's tone, attitude, and facial expressions can be very rude and it hurts my heart knowing how in love with Wesley Noah was as a baby.

-Cleaning out clothes that are too small, packaging them up, and dropping them on a friends porch is gratifying on multiple levels. 

-Noah is really lucky to have such a great teacher and such a great school.

-Wesley is a swell kid. Easy going, loves to have fun, gets along with anyone, and loves his sister fiercely.

-Macy loves the sun, the grass, her swing, bubbles, the trampoline, dirt, and pretzels.

-Our trampoline was the best purchase Brian and I have made in our married life.

-As a parent who worked, I get it. But I still really wish that all parents would keep their feverish kids away from school for the 24 hours that policy states.

-I successfully grilled juicy chicken tonight! Brian does all the grilling but he's been coaching me, so it paid off tonight! :)

Brian did a fantastic job on these helmets

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

Yummy treats will soon fill this counter!

As much as we would love to share the Super Bowl with friends, we are determined to still have fun as a fam!

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

Football cutouts the boys decorated

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

The cookie field and trophy Bri made...

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

We might be stuck inside due to illness, but Dad always makes sure it's a good time!

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

Macy

I have been searching my blog archives lately hunting for posts when I wrote about Wesley at approx 13 months of age. In an attempt to understand Macy, compare her, be encouraged, I do this. But in the "doing" I realize I rarely write about her! Sadly, I didn't post a single picture of her 1st birthday, her 1st real Christmas....I mean, what kind of mom am I? Well, obviously one that doesn't find these things at the top of her to do list. Not sure that will change, but I definitely will make a good effort.

So here is Macy on her birthday, December 23rd, 2011. It's amazing that a mere 5 weeks later, her hair has grown a lot and she just looks older. I will post pictures soon that were taken this week. Anyway, where do I begin? I will just bullet some of her qualities and developments.

-She started taking steps on about Monday, December 19th. Ken and Lindy had just been here but of course she waited till they left to show off. The full blown walking didn't start till Monday and Tuesday of this last week. Now she pretty much walks everywhere with an occasional crawl.

-We gave her a small individual Elmo cake on her actual birthday but her big party with family, a big cake, lots of excitement (wink wink) was in TX the day after Christmas. I'm trying to find those pictures and hope to post them soon.

-About the time we got back from TX which was the first week of January, we started to see some major modifications to Macy's behavior. I blogged about it then. It has only grown in intensity. :) She is FULL of personality. This is no poker faced mild child. She has extreme highs and lows and leaves her dad and I shaking our head most of the day. All my friends in TX will be happy to know I think we finally have our child that makes messes, gets into everything, throws and knocks over anything she can get her hands on. Phew. I'm wiped. Who knew it would be our GIRL that would be such a disaster??? :)

-BUT, she's absolutely irresistable. God sure plays the irony here because no matter how much of a royal stinker she is, we seem to hug her tighter, laugh harder, and relish her more. She adores her brothers, they adore her, but her favorite (sigh) is Mama. Brian says she is pleased as punch when I'm not around but as soon as I walk in the door, it's crying and whining and pulling on me. I know you other mamas out there understand how it goes.

-Macy's eating: hmf! Total stumper. The girl has no pattern. Every day is different. It's a control thing more than anything. She eats more for her daddy than me. Yes, she's picky. Yes, she throws food on the floor everyday going on 3 months. But because every day is different, it gives me hope. She will eat something new and give up an old favorite. It requires more thinking and more preparing but I'm not sure what else to do. I long for the day where suddenly, she realizes we're all eating the food on our plate, not throwing it, and she decides to follow suit. Aww, that will be a great day. Last night we had a glimpse, actually. We had chicken tacos and I made her a plate with black beans, chicken, cheese, yogurt and a tortilla. She tried everything and ate lots of chicken, a few beans, and a lot of cheese (which is her favorite). She was well behaved and we actually had dinner without putting on a show for her and trying to get her to quit screaming and nagging. It was lovely. Her consistent likes: cheese, graham crackers, chicken, gold fish. Her consistent dislikes: any kind of diced fruit, any kind of diced veggie. She's sooo healthy. :/

-Macy loves songs and loves to sing. She's the first that I can recall of our children to sing a lot.....in her crib, as she crawls, in the car. She just starts singing when there is no music on. It is very sweet and I hope that means she might end up with a voice. If she is crying while I change her, I just start singing Itsy Bitsy, If You are Happy and You know it, Deep and Wide, or honestly any song and she will stop crying and just listen. Praise the Lord!

-Oh I did mean to touch on the fact that Macy DID have an ear infection 4 days after I wrote that post regarding her less than desirable behavior. Nice.

-She went to the Dr today and she weighs 21lb 12oz now at 13 months. She looks so itty bitty to me though. 

Okay, off to nap while the other kids nap. The past two nights my lil angel has awoke at least 4 times. Oy! So mama must sleep. More later!

Macy's first trip to the library.....atleast especially for her!

Sent from my Palm Pixi on AT&T

Awwwww, yes.

So today was the beginning of a phase I had forgotten about. Oh wait, maybe I've never seen it before....or I conveniently forgot? Well, whatever it is, today was a hellish day to be Macy's mother. I want to document it just in case I later forget, she changes, or someone calls me a liar because Macy Noel is an angel and could never be capable of such demonic behavior (which is exacly what my mom is thinking right now). The following routine filled up an entire day and was exhausting at worst and comical at best.

scenario #1:
pick up food, throw it on floor.
say "no" loudly.
pick up food, throw it on floor.
swat her hand.
pick up food, throw it on floor.
yell louder and swat hand.
shake head, scream angrily, pick up food, throw it on floor, hit tray, hit the air, hit anything in sight.

scenario #2:
push new walking train till it tips over.
scream and cry and yell till mom puts it upright.
push new walking train till it tips over.
scream, throw fists and yell till mom puts it upright.
push new walking train till it inevitably tips over.
shove train, hit train, cry and scream bloody murder, act like a beast and yell till someone comes over and removes child from train.

scenario #3:
mom stands up for any multitude of reasons.
crying ensues, tugging at leg, falling over, crying louder, death grip on leg, excessive snot and tears.

Brian was able to witness Macy's new found "personality" front and center tonight and he was not pleased or amused. he he he he, I had to chuckle. There is NO telling how he would have dealt with our daughter's temper if he was subject to it all.day.long today.
Now, knowing my luck, I will find out in a few short days that Macy has an ear infection. This will make all of this magically seem like a pitiful cry for help from my newly 1 yr old daughter. Well, poop. I'm callin' it. I say this is Macy. She's adorable as all get out. She is screaming for kisses. However, she is one pushy broad and is getting meaner and more opinionated by the day. I hope I'm wrong. Boy do I hope I'm wrong.