Mia Turns TWO

It's been TWO years of kissing this sweet, sweet face! -

...TWO years of cuddling her,

holding her,

rocking her,

playing with her,

talking with her,

staring at her...

I stare at her all the time.

I stare at her in awe and amazement. 

All.of.the.time.

How did we get so lucky to have her as ours?

It's been TWO wonderful, beautiful, and blessed years.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mia Grace!!

..and how did we celebrate Mia's 2nd birthday?

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Come One, Come All -

We celebrated the Big Top way!

We had a day at the circus!

The kids had an amazing time!
In fact, that's all Makayla could say all day long -

"mom! that's amazing!"
"dad, that's AMAZING!"

The kids got their faces painted, rode on animals, ate lots of circus treats, and sat in the stands with their eyes wide, watching the show in amazement!

Mia -

whose favorite food is popcorn,

whose favorite color is pink OR purple,

whose favorite book is "5 Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed",

whose favorite thing to play with is her baby dolls,

whose favorite thing to do when she's bored is to sit on the potty,

whose favorite hobby is mimicking her brother and sister,

whose favorite animal is a kitty cat,

 and who loves sleeping in, kissing and being kissed, and chewing gum -

Happy Birthday!

We had the best time ever celebrating YOU and making memories at the circus!!

I love you, baby girl!

Miss Mia Grace, I Love

Oh, Miss Mia Grace

I love you.

There's so much I want to write about you, 

but all I keep going back to is - I Love You.

Every Wednesday morning, I get to be all alone with you.  

Your brother and sister are off at school and it's just you and me.

Every Wednesday night, daddy and I get to be all alone with you.  

Your brother and sister are off at church and it's just you, me, and daddy.

I cherish our time together and soak in every single second of us being alone (because it doesn't come often), but I can't help but giggle when you constantly spend our alone time asking where Sissy and Bubby are.  You throw your hands up, shrug your shoulder, furrow your brows and ask "Sissy?".  I tell you she's at school or at church and you go through the same motions for Mason - you ask "Bubby?".  I tell you he's at school or at church and then you say "Pick up".  We have this conversation over and over again throughout our Wednesdays together.  

I love it. 

I love our conversation.

I love that you growing bigger and bigger.

You're getting smarter and funnier and ornerier and

...and you're just growing up.

My baby is growing up.

You are at an age where you are very influential.

You are picking up on words and actions so very quickly.

You are smart.  So smart.

Last week, Mason taught you to say "shush up".  While you don't know what that means, you know it's not something nice to say and you like to say it a lot to get a rise out of mommy and to spread laughter to your brother and sister.

...and that laughter - that laughter between you , Mason, and Makayla.
I love it.
I love it so much.

I thank God countless times a day for what the three of you have with each other.

I love you, Mia.

I love your laughter.

I love how your eyes sparkle with JOY...and I love how you smile with your eyes!
I love how you touch my hair when it's wet and ask "shower?" and then gently roughly comb through it with your comb.

I love how you always want me to check for boogas (boogers) in your nose.

I love how you think all of your shoes are so pretty and that you want me to put pretty (blush) on your cheeks so you can look pretty.  You love to be pretty.

I love how you are such a good mommy.  You love to bounce your baby.  You love to feed your baby.  You love to put your baby night-night.  You love to be a mother to your baby, to your pretty baby.

I love how you hug me and cuddle into me.  I love your tiny arms around my neck and I love how you are always leaning in for a kiss.
I love that you've learned that "purple" is a color, so everything is always purple. 

I love how you are so quick to bring Mason his blankie when he's hurt or upset.

I love that you always ask for jelly on your toast.

I love that you still want me (or let me...i'm not sure) to rock you to sleep at night.

I love how you are so genuinely concerned when you hear a baby or child crying.  Your eyes get sad and you repeat over and over again "cry".

I love to watch you dance.  You are the star of our dance parties.
I love that you're talking more and making sentences.  

It's so fun to watch you grow into a little girl.

I'm so thankful for you.
I'm thankful for the love you give me and for all that you've taught me.

I'm thankful for the love, laughter, and joy you bring to our family.
I'm thankful to live this life with you, Mia.

I love you.

Mia's Poop

THIS is Mia's 'OMG I just pooped in the potty' face. While she insists on sitting on the potty ALL of the time, she's never gone on it until tonight. And tonight she pooped. And once she began her duty, she looked down between her legs and began to cry. The more she pooped and the more she looked down between her legs, the harder she cried. Mason and Makayla were cheering her on, I was crying from laughing so freaking hard, and Mia was crying from...fear (i think). I kissed her, wiped her tears, made her clap for herself, and let her save it to show daddy...and now I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that she's not scarred from the process of pooping.

20 Facts, Mia

I did '20 question interviews' with Mason and Makayla and because it's Mia's turn and she can't play along by answering questions, I'm just going to share 20 fun facts about Mia -

my 16 month old baby girl.

My daughter who brings me the extra joy that I never thought possible.

My daughter who has taught me to embrace (and love) the chaos that our family carries.

My daughter who has proven to me that I'm exactly where I need to be and should be in life.

My daughter who.has.my.heart...

She has the cutest head of curls and there's nothing I love more than to watch her beautiful bouncing curls as she toddles around the house.

She loves her paci and if I ever take it out of her mouth when she doesn't want me to, she stares at me with such intensity that she comes close to burning a hole through my skin.

She doesn't say many words (thanks to that paci, i'm sure...or thanks to her brother and sister who do all the talking for her...or thanks to me who knows what she wants when she wants it and just goes through the actions), but her favorite words are kitty and apple.

She loves to kiss.  She loves to pucker up those precious lips, make a fishy face, and kiss away.

She loves to high-five.

The girl could live off of cottage cheese and blueberries.  Those are her favorite foods.  She's not a very good eater, but the bigger the bite she's given, the more likely she is to eat it.  She doesn't seem to be very satisfied with little "safe" bites.

Mia is a very lucky girl to have an older brother and an older sister to take care of her, to watch over her, and to entertain her!

She enjoys setting the table.  Setting the table with 20+ pieces of silverware is her favorite "chore".

She enjoys playing basketball with her brother.  She's pretty accurate in making a basket every time she shoots.

She loves baby dolls.  She's quite the mommy - holding her baby, patting her baby, and kissing her baby.

She loves to applaud people.  She loves to clap for people...whether she's clapping along with a crowd or if she alone thinks someone deserves to be clapped for.

She gets away with a lot more than her older siblings.  If she wants something, she gets it.  If she doesn't want something, she doesn't have to have/take it.  She's my baby.

She loves to play "boo".  She'll peek around the corner and say "boo!" followed by a cute little giggle.

She's quite dramatic.  So much so, that there are times she'll go to the wall, put her arm upon the wall, lean her head against her forearm, and cry...while every few seconds, looking up at me with her big eyes and pouty bottom lip.

She can carry on an entire conversation with someone without using any words.  It's amazing.  She talks with such emotion in her voice and eyes and there's so much conviction in what she's saying. She even talks with her hands!...her petite little hands.

She is so good at going with the flow.  We can go anywhere and do anything and Mia tags along, loving every minute of life.

She get's prettier every day.
I know!  How is that possible?!

Whenever Mason or Mia are upset or crying, Mia immediately finds their blankies and walks over to them with their blankies in tow.  It's precious.  She loves them and she knows what comforts them.

She's learned to ignore us...but can't ignore us without smiling.

She loves her mommy!  She loves her mommy!  She loves her mommy!  There's no one else she wants or needs when I'm in the room and I kinda like that!

A Glimpse

Last night, I had a little glimpse of the future with my girls.  

Of course, it was on a much more scaled down version of what the future will hold for them, but none the less, it was a little glimpse...a little taste.

During bath time tonight, Makayla and Mia had a tub full of toys floating in purple water.

Mia threw a toy out.

She smirked at me.

I looked at her straight in the eyes and with a stern voice, told her "no".  Then, I explained why we cannot throw toys out of the tub.  

She just stared at me.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  Her mouth was left hanging open, in shock that she was just scolded.

THEN...

Then Makayla whispered to Mia, handed her a toy, and looked at her with an evil little grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  

Makayla laughed and told Mia that this was fun.

Makayla then whispered to Mia again, handed her a toy (and when I say a toy, I mean legos.  big legos.  legos that are filled with water), and looked at her with an evil grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared and shook my head, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.

Makayla laughed, rubbed Mia's back, and told her how fun this was.  Makayla told Mia that she was a good girl.  

This happened a couple more times before I put a stop to it.  I had Mia crying (broke my heart) when I emptied the toys out of the tub, held her hands, told her "no", and wouldn't crack from my "mean" face.  She turned her back on me and sobbed.  Makayla immediately started patting her back and telling her that she was a good girl and that it was okay.  Suddenly, I had Makayla crying.  I told her that she wasn't being a very good big sister because she KNEW she was making Mia do something that was against the rules.  Through her tears, she kept telling me that she was just trying to have fun.  

That's all, mom.

Trying to have fun...

*sigh*

As parents, we work very hard to set a good example for our kids....

but...

I'm pretty sure that my children are going to learn just as much from each other as they are from Kevin and I.

I think siblings are very influential in each others' lives.  

Right now, Mia watches every.single.move that her big brother and big sister make.  She's listening, watching, and mimicking.   She's paying attention to everything - the good and the bad.  And this "paying attention to big sister" thing is going to follow her throughout the years.

Last night, Mia (knowing it was wrong) threw water filled legos out of the tub because Makayla told her to. Then Makayla would praise her - laughing, rubbing her back, and telling her she was a good girl.  

I know it's only bath toys now, but if we don't work hard to raise our kids with having morals, showing respect,  and all the other characteristics I find to be extremely important, life will be a little bit more challenging...when I'm living in a house with THREE teenagers!

Happy First Birthday, Mia Grace

Miss Mia Grace,

From birth...

 to ONE -

and all the weeks and months in between...

My, how you have grown over the past year!

Happy First Birthday, Mia Grace!!

We had so much fun yesterday celebrating you.

The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, and we got to sing "Happy Birthday" to you with some of our favorite people!

This has been the quickest year of my life, because it feels like this

just happened yesterday.

With you turning a year old, I have been quite sentimental.
Knowing that you are my last of everything, I've been clinging on to these days with you that seem so fleeting.
Yesterday, was my last 1st Birthday Party...and while that makes me want to cry sad tears, I choose to cry happy tears - to rejoice that you are ONE!!  

Turning ONE comes with so many accomplishments -

Waving bye-bye,

Blowing kisses,

Giving high fives,

Devouring baked beans like you haven't eaten in weeks,

Getting so.very.close. to walking,

Climbing on mommy and daddy like we're your mountain,

Wrestling with your brother and sister like you're a big kid,

Doing puzzles,

Coloring,

Clapping when appropriate,

Standing on your tip-toes to play the piano with your sissy,

giving real hugs and open mouthed kisses,

and growing more teeth.

You've done nothing but amaze me every single day and I just can't get enough of you!
Watching you flirt with anybody who makes eye contact with you,

Seeing you concentrate so hard on picking up the tiniest pieces of fuzz or lint from the floor and giving it to me,

Reaching out your tiny arm to share a piece of your snack with the person sitting next to you,

Filling up and emptying out (over and over again) any container near you - your toy basket, bowl of cheerios, bucket of crayons...,

Beaming with pride as you finish climbing the stairs to your bedroom,

hearing your fake coughs to get our attention,

and most of all, making my heart thump as I witness the way you nurture that special bond between you, your brother, and your sister.

I am mesmerized by you, baby girl.

Your tiny little hands, your long toes, your sweet soft cheeks, your baby blonde hair that sweeps across your forehead, your big blue eyes and long eye lashes, your giggles...

You truly are fearfully and wonderfully made.

(your little newborn foot)

You are a precious gift to us and I am so blessed to be your mommy.

Thank you for this amazing and beautiful year.

Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives.

Thank you for making me a better person.

Love,

Mommy

A Piece For Each

Makayla - 

Her newest accomplishments are learning to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (starting at Middle C, of course) and discovering the love for spelling.  She loves to spell and is always asking me to teach her new words to spell.  I find papers all around the house with words written everywhere - makayla,curry, mason, mia, mom, dad, papa, police, emma, adalyn, cat, dog, love... 

Buuuuuut...a little frustration for mommy has come along with this new found love of spelling. 

Daily, we have conversations that go like this:

Makayla:  Mommy, do you want to go to V-V-A-L-M?

Me:  Where?

Makayla: V-V-A-L-M.

or

Makayla:  I really want a E-B-A.

Me:  A what??

Makayla:  An E-B-A.

Daily, we have conversations where Makayla spells "words" and I have nooooo idea what she's wanting to communicate with me.  She gets upset that I can't decipher her words and refuses to speak the word, but continues to spell it.  I'm hoping that she'll quickly improve with her letter/sound/spelling skills because, oh my gosh, it's hard...for me and for her!

Mason -

Mason and I were alone having one on one time, all cuddled up, watching Caillou, and eating popcorn.  I topped off the perfect moment by handing him a fruit snack.  THEN (i don't like asking questions like this, but sometimes i get curious to see where their mind is at), I asked him who he loved more - mommy or daddy.  Thinking he would definitely say "mommy" (i mean, after all, i was rubbing his legs, letting him watch his favorite show, snuggling with him, AND i snuck him a fruit snack), I was blown away when he said "Mia".

So...then I asked him who he loved more - Mia or Makayla.

And, he answered "Grandpa".  

He's a smart, smart boy and his heart is oh, so good!

He knew just exactly how to answer those questions...

Mia  -

She's amazing and I think has a sixth sense.  Almost every.single.night no matter what time we turn our lights out to go to bed, she wakes up.  It truly is amazing.  I don't know how she does it or how she knows, but the second the lights go out, little miss wakes up.  She fusses around and fusses around until one of us go up there to tell her goodnight.  All we have to do is give her a kiss, lay her back down in bed, whisper goodnight, and she falls back asleep immediately...before we can turn around to walk out the door.  It's pretty cool and to be honest, I kind of look forward to it every night.  It's not something I'm tired with, yet...

Mia at 11 Months

Well, Miss Mia...

Today,

on this beautiful, warm, sunny, fall day,

you turned 11 months old.

11 months.

That means that I only have one month left with you until you are 1 year old.

This is one of those moments -

one of those moments that force me to draw my hand up to my chest and say 

'oh, my heart'.

Thankfully, because of this blog, I will never forget these days with you.

Your wispy blonde baby hair,

those cute bottom toofers (teeth),

that sweet, sweet, super contagious smile,

and the things you like to do and places you like to go.

This past month, you've been a busy little bee...

You went to St. Louis where you got to see the Arch and visit Grant's Farm...

...and then you went to Chicago, where you got to hang out at the beach and see the city for the first time!

You took your first ever trip to the pumpkin patch!  Mommy's favorite season is autumn and it has been so fun introducing you to some of my favorite things of the season.

You went to your first parade - the Homecoming parade where we watched for sissy to ride by on her Jake and Never Land Pirates float with her classmates.

You made an enjoyable discovery in the bathtub.  

You love to get up on your knees and have the water from the faucet beat down on your bottom lip.  You could sit like this for minutes...which is a long time for a baby like you to hang out under the water faucet.

You are such a pretty baby girl!!

You have reached the age where your feelings get hurt when I tell you "no" and you begin crying immediately with that bottom lip sticking out...and then you crawl to me as fast as you possibly can to get some lovin' from me.

Buuuut, if anybody else tells you "no" (including daddy), you get a little temper.  You pound the floor with your hands or throw anything that is in arms reach.

It is so much fun to watch you grow and see 'who' you are.

For example - you do not like green beans.  At all.  I still try to feed them to you, though, in hopes that maybe your taste buds will change their mind.  

Tonight, grandpa handed you a green bean.  After much spitting at and blowing the green bean away, you finally took it.  You sucked on it and began gagging.  Just the taste of green beans make you gag...and these were good green beans with onions and bacon!  

After gagging, you put it right back in your mouth to suck on again...just to gag again.  

We repeated this a few times until I finally got rid of the green bean. 

...maybe one day, you'll be able to eat a green bean.

 

It is so much fun to not only watch you grow, but to watch the relationship between you, Mason, and Makayla grow.

The three of you together make my heart skip a few beats.
I love the three of you.

I love what you three have together.

I love you, baby girl! 

Happy 11 months!!...and believe me when I say that I am going to enjoy every single second and savor every single moment with you during this next month...month 12...the last month of your first year.

Love,

Mommy