Madi's 10th Birthday!

It was a big birthday for Madi this year! This whole past year seemed like a big one! I thought 4th grade would be a snap since I used to teach 4th grade and felt like I was a pro with encouraging and motivating that age of kid. Ya, it's WAY different when it's your own kid!! The counting, or time limits, or the "I'm going to leave without you" threats no longer seemed to work. Instead, Madi would respond very matter of factly, "You're not gonna leave mom when it's ME you're taking to school." Ouch! Ya, this year was a big learning curve for me as well. This was the first year I started reading all sorts of parenting books - "How to Talk so your kids will listen and Listen so your kids will talk" . . . . . "Peaceful Parent, Happy Child"  . . . to name a couple. I learned I need to be real with Madi and more grown-up with my parenting approaches. It's been hard but it seemed to get better as the year went on.

This past year Madi started the violin - which was also an emotional rollercoaster as we figured out what worked for Madi. I was SO happy to find Ms. Dena in May who has been a phenomenal violin teacher for Madi. 

Madi learned how to knit in December and became a total knitting machine. She set a goal to knit at least one scarf a month and stuck with it (some months she did 2 scarves) until this past month when got burnt out!

Madi blossomed in so many areas this past year - in composing her own piano music, in learning acrylic painting, and even with making lifelong friends. 

Madi decided to start her own Harry Potter club this year (which really needs a post of its own), but I was so proud of her for developing and implementing her idea all on her own! She branched out and met new friends (all older and going off to Junior High unfortunately), but all wonderful friends for Madi. Which brings us to Madi's birthday. She was originally only planning on having a couple friends over for dinner, games and movie, but then she met Paige, Paris, and Mia through her Harry Potter Club and she really wanted to invite them to her birthday as well. 

Once the party started getting bigger then planned, we felt like we needed a larger backyard venue. So Madi asked Grandpa Al and Boppi if she could use their backyard for her party. It ended up being perfect! We went over the day before her birthday to help clean up the backyard and get it party ready. 

Madi had her first lawn mowing experience. 

Her birthday morning we got going early with a waffle breakfast and presents with Grandpa Al and Boppi. 

(Thanks Boppi was snapping a picture so I could be with my birthday girl!)

Then we headed off for 9:15 swim lessons at the PV pool. 

We really packed it in and went straight from the pool to a magic show at the library. Madi is obsessed with Magic and was thrilled to be called up as the first volunteer of the show.

We were able to have a little down time for naps and then headed over to set up for the party which started at 6pm.

The girls played get-to-know-you games on the trampoline while they waited for everyone to arrive. Then we had pizza, fruit, chips, and soda for dinner (sadly I didn't get a picture from dinner). Then games, presents, ice cream sundaes around the bonfire, and a movie in the gazebo.

Madi wanted to thank Boppi and Grandpa Al for hosting her birthday party, so she painted them each a picture. Anacapa Island for Grandpa Al and a beach scene for Boppi. 

I am sure proud of the sweet, amazing, talented, young lady that Madi is becoming!!

16 months!

This was a big month for our sweet baby James as he grew up a TON! He no longer feels like a baby but is now a rough and rough, running, babbling toddler! It's crazy how fast it happens!

Her went from crawling last month to completely walking and climbing chairs and tables now! He sure does keep me on my toes! 

James had his first sucker this month - didn't finish it, just a couple sucks and was done. 

He's now very vocal about letting us know when he wants something. If his siblings are having a treat he definitely does NOT want to miss out 

James loves nursery and goes every Sunday for the full 2 hours! Our marriage class ended at the beginning of the month but he has been doing so good in there that Heidi just tells me to go to RS. Such a blessing to let James start young and love it early! He loves circle time and loves clapping and singing along with his friends!

His favorite song is "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys. He loves dancing and has the cutest moves!!

Oh the DRAMA!!

A journal entry I found from back when we were packing up our Maryland townhouse back in 2011...

Madi (after Elle knocked over her tower): "It's RUINED!!!! It's not even cool anymore! All I see is mess now!!"

Madi's happily helping me pack up in my bedroom. She playing with the dresser drawers and accidently gets her finger smashed. Instead of just an "OUCH!" or AH, I hate it when I do that!" she goes completely balistic!!! Screaming like it's my fault and like her finger's gonna fall off. I'm totally calm- mostly out of shock with how ridiculous she's being. I go to kiss it and she screams some more- "That's NOT gonna help!!!!" So then I tell her to go put it under cold water. Again, "That's NOT GONNA HELP EITHER!!!!" So finally I ask her what would help and she tells me a band aid! HA! I could have died laughing right there!

I just want my girls to know, that even though I loose my patience much more often than I should, even though I'm exhausted from being a single parent (going on 4 weeks now), and even though I'm sure I say things I shouldn't, I love them oh, so very much. I just want to freeze their cutest and never let them grow into teenagers. The last few months Madi's given me a glimpse of what I have to look forward to in 10-12 years and I just pray I'm strong enough to deal with it. I want them to always remember all their sweet and innocent years and know how much I love being their mom.

15 months

James at 15 months continues to be such a love. Knowing it's my last baby experience has helped me enjoy everything about it that much more. I have more patience, more empathy, and am a lot more sentimental about everything.

James is walking a ton now (which we all think is the cutest thing ever - I love how everyone still cheers when he walks across the room).

On a typical day he sleeps from 7pm - 7am and naps from 12-2:30.

He eats with his hands but is becoming quite successful with using a fork.

He says lots of words now and likes to mimic, his favorites that he says all the times are: "Cacker", "Cado" (for avocados which he loves), "wawa" for water, and "gog" for dog.

He'll spy a dog from far across the park and start waving like crazy and yelling, "Gog, gog, got!"

He's got down the arm folding thing for prayers which we all think is pretty dang cute.

His bottom left side molar finally grew in by the end of the month. It looked so painful and he had lots of tylenol this month.

May 17th marked my last night ever to nurse James. I was really sad about it too. Several nights after (when my milk was still there and hadn't gone down yet), I really just wanted to nurse him one more time. I resisted though and he never looked back. The doctor was right - it was totally for me.

James is very social and is always smiling, waving, blowing kisses, and giggling. 

James knows the animal sounds for the elephant, monkey, dog, cat, snake, and lion. He loves to push around cars and trucks. I love watching him go into query play mode.

James really does have such a sweet disposition and we're all head over heels in love with him!

14 months

My sweet boy is 14 months old! 

He grew up so much this past month! I'm always amazed at how much a baby can change in just one month!  He pulls up on everything and walks along the furniture. And is so close to walking. 

We pulled out the shopping cart today and it was like a light went on in James' head that he could walk! He didn't want to stop!

He pushed that shopping cart all around the house - up and down the halls, needing just a little bit of help around the corners. 

We all stood around and cheered him on and he ate it all up - knowing how cute we all think he is! 

James really has such a great laugh - one of those hold your head back, let it out laugh!

I love how happy and smiley he always is. 

He lights up the room and can make anyone smile. 

James loves his books and loves that he can now get up into his rocker all by himself to read now!

He's just been doing it for about a week now - he gets up into his chair and then laughs and laughs  - so pleased with himself! He's able to get up onto the couch by himself now too and thinks it's the greatest thing ever! I love watching him try to get off. Still a little tricky. 

I love James' excitement about all the little things. I love how he points and says, "Ohh . . . ooo. . ." with his O shaped mouth. He's always learning and taking it all in - I love trying to slow down and see things from his eyes - something I need to do more often.

At 14 months James says little - mostly just points and says, "Oooo"

His small vocabulary is, "Wa wa" for water, "cacker" for cracker. "Bob" when taking about our bird. "Hi dad" - only has said hi to Spencer. 

He'll also copy or mimic us, like the other day when he made the g sound over and over again when I was saying. "Go go go."

He knows animal sounds for the lion and elephant.

Other things this month: James fell out of his crib this week. Poor guy - we need to lower it but he definitely learned his lesson. He now will just be on his knees when I come in. He's much more careful when standing looking over his crib edge now.

James grew 2 more teeth this month - his top back molars - putting him up to 10 teeth now. Totally explains his super high fevers at the beginning of the month. My guess is it might have had something to do with it.

James is still nursing but just once a day - right before bed. It's just been hard for me to give it up completely. When he was sick at the beginning of the month he didn't want to eat, but wanted to nurse all the time. I was glad I was able to do that and have some way to soothe him. I've never had a kid pull at my shirt - excited to nurse but James did that the other day and I was thinking, "ok, probably time to end this."

Oh how I love our sweet boy and his excitement and enthusiasm for life! He gives the best squeezes and gives them upon request. This really is such a fun and exciting stage.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

It was a great birthday!!! Full of awesome surprises, great friends, a wonderful husband, and lots of kind messages, phone calls, and drop-byes!

The surprises started early when I opened the door to head out on my run and found balloons and a huge bouquet of flowers from the Putmans! I felt so very loved.

My friend Jessica Dalhquist threw a little birthday brunch for me at her house at 10am. it was such a treat to spend the morning with some of my very closest friends. I felt beyond spoiled!

My sweet visiting teachers stopped by on my way out the door in the morning with tulips (I LOVE tulips). SO so thoughtful!!

Cal went to school at noon and it was nice to have a break while James napped from 12:15 - 2:15pm. I was able to lay down and respond to many messages and text thank yous to all my friends who helped me celebrate my day!

I picked up the girls from school at 2:30 and Cal from school at 3pm, then home to regroup before piano lessons at 5:45. Karalee is so sweet and brought me a huge bouquet of flowers with a potted herb garden from Trader Joes. Love her!

After piano lessons we headed out to Cheesecake Factory for dinner as a family!

It was a great day celebrating turning 37!!