It's weird. Hayden is four. He's been around for four whole years. Four years of diapers, then pull ups, then potty training and now big boy underwear. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding and solids and messes and now real silverware and taking his plate to the kitchen. Laying and rolling and crawling and walking and running and now dancing and skipping.
But it still strikes me just how much I can love him. Just when you think you've reached the limit of how much you can love someone, he does or says something else and my heart grows a little more. He is so intelligent and curious and oh-so-talkative. Question after question after question. And we try to feed that curiosity by answering all of them and teaching him as much as we can. I just love him to pieces, even after the 100th question, after reprimanding him for the same thing times ten, even with his stubborn streak.
It's hopelessly optimistic, but I hope he always loves his sister like he does now. He loves her without fail. Every day, when we go get her out of the crib he is SO excited to see her and talk to her and start her day. I love the way he runs into my room, tells me "I love you more than the moon mom" and runs back out. And how he stalls me at daycare every. single. day. for 'one more hug', 'one giant hug'. I love the way he begs for one more story at bedtime, and always wants some of my coffee.
It's hard to remember him as a baby, it seems like he's always been able to walk and talk and use a fork. But I love to remember his baby stories, and tell them to him so he can see we were just as excited about his baby milestones as we are about Lila's. I hope he always wants to hug and kiss his mom.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas bits and pieces...
Lila's first ornament, for our "hungry lil' elephant", as Hayden calls her.
Hayden's ornament, the 4th in the series. They discontinued them last year, so I had to get 3, 4, and 5. Except, there was no 5 in the greater triad area. Dandy to the rescue, who found one in Texas, and has approximately 11 months to mail it to me :-)
Christmas Eve-Eve, in the jamas Miss Haile sent her! These are nearly identical to the ones Hayden wore for his first Christmas, when he was almost six weeks old.
Lila's new stocking! We loved the embroidered Pottery Barn one we got for Hayden so Lila got one too, the doll.
I was a total grinch this year and just not in the mood for Christmas. But I have a husband that loves his children and dammit, he wanted a tree on December 1st. So we went after work to the Christmas tree "shop" and looked around until we found the perfect one. And by "perfect", I mean 9+ feet tall and untagged, sold to us by a kid who just wanted trees off the lot, so we got it for a steal.
And is there Christmas without Home Moravian and Church Street and Salem? I think not.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Hayden and Lila picked Christmas day to sleep in! But we didn't mind :-)
Hayden got right to work on the presents and helped Lila with hers. He was very excited for all the toys under the tree, the presents from Santa and even for Lila! I love my little Elf and Santa's little helper!
Hayden got games and toys and he asked Santa for "a ninja costume, a ninja toy, a scary castle and candy corn"...and he delivered! He also got some games for his new Leap Pad that Nana & Papaw got him.
Lila was very excited for her Little People Princesses (that went straight to her mouth), her play table and lots of fun new clothes!
After we opened presents, Hayden showed Lila how to do her stocking. He's a professional!
We made breakfast, opened toys, played games and spent the whole day together as a family of four. It was nice, not having anywhere to be or anything to do except be together the whole day. I think we'll try to keep it that way from now on!
I've also learned that there's no such thing as a perfect picture with two kids at these respective ages. So we take what we can get, the real ones, that show an excited and distracted big brother and a little sister content as long as she has something in each hand and something in her mouth.
Merry First Christmas little girl!
Lila was very excited for her Little People Princesses (that went straight to her mouth), her play table and lots of fun new clothes!
After we opened presents, Hayden showed Lila how to do her stocking. He's a professional!
We made breakfast, opened toys, played games and spent the whole day together as a family of four. It was nice, not having anywhere to be or anything to do except be together the whole day. I think we'll try to keep it that way from now on!
I've also learned that there's no such thing as a perfect picture with two kids at these respective ages. So we take what we can get, the real ones, that show an excited and distracted big brother and a little sister content as long as she has something in each hand and something in her mouth.
Merry First Christmas little girl!
Christmas thoughts
As we woke up (remarkably late for my kids, 830) to the joys of Christmas and Santa and stockings and gifts, I had a whole jumble of thoughts running around my head.
I thought of the families in Newtown, CT. I can't imagine what today is like for them. Then again, I guess every day for them is now a Groundhog Day-ish nightmare of wondering "What would she look like today?" or "What would he ask Santa for next year?" But I can't imagine even getting out of bed or acknowledging Christmas if I were one of them today. And many of them have to put on that brave face for the children that are still here.
I thought of the Christmases past that I spent without Jay. Does there ever come a day when you stop remembering those holidays they missed? I was so grateful to wake up and have him in the same house, to share the memories with. To have someone to put batteries in one toy while I put together another. To have him here for Christmas eve, and Christmas pajamas and "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I thought of my friends, who are missing their deployed spouses today. And the men and women who are making good on the blank check they wrote to the US Armed Forces, and are protecting our freedom to worship and celebrate as we please.
Then I thought about my friends that have adopted children this year. Can there be a greater gift than to give a child a forever family, and a first Christmas? And the joy on the faces of the parents of Ben, Blake, Jade, Turner, Tabor, Natalie, Ella Kate, Lincoln, Mary Connelly, Kizzy, William, Everett, Peter and Liam as they watched their babies experience their first Christmas. I thought about the anticipation Sam and Watts must be feeling as they look to next year, with new babies to celebrate.
We have been back from Germany for over two years. We've moved, bought a house, started jobs, started schools, welcomed a new baby and a new dog. We've had many beautiful memories. But today, stirring sausage gravy and checking on biscuits in the oven, listening to the kids play with Lila's new table...I felt truly at home for the first time. There's a peace that comes from knowing you're exactly where you're supposed to be, and that everything is complete.
Geez. That's a lot to take in before your first cup of coffee.
I thought of the families in Newtown, CT. I can't imagine what today is like for them. Then again, I guess every day for them is now a Groundhog Day-ish nightmare of wondering "What would she look like today?" or "What would he ask Santa for next year?" But I can't imagine even getting out of bed or acknowledging Christmas if I were one of them today. And many of them have to put on that brave face for the children that are still here.
I thought of the Christmases past that I spent without Jay. Does there ever come a day when you stop remembering those holidays they missed? I was so grateful to wake up and have him in the same house, to share the memories with. To have someone to put batteries in one toy while I put together another. To have him here for Christmas eve, and Christmas pajamas and "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I thought of my friends, who are missing their deployed spouses today. And the men and women who are making good on the blank check they wrote to the US Armed Forces, and are protecting our freedom to worship and celebrate as we please.
Then I thought about my friends that have adopted children this year. Can there be a greater gift than to give a child a forever family, and a first Christmas? And the joy on the faces of the parents of Ben, Blake, Jade, Turner, Tabor, Natalie, Ella Kate, Lincoln, Mary Connelly, Kizzy, William, Everett, Peter and Liam as they watched their babies experience their first Christmas. I thought about the anticipation Sam and Watts must be feeling as they look to next year, with new babies to celebrate.
We have been back from Germany for over two years. We've moved, bought a house, started jobs, started schools, welcomed a new baby and a new dog. We've had many beautiful memories. But today, stirring sausage gravy and checking on biscuits in the oven, listening to the kids play with Lila's new table...I felt truly at home for the first time. There's a peace that comes from knowing you're exactly where you're supposed to be, and that everything is complete.
Geez. That's a lot to take in before your first cup of coffee.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve
We had two families to celebrate with on Christmas Eve, but they were both later in the day so we woke up and spent the day getting ready for the events that were to come!
We headed to Eric's house for dinner, presents and family time. Hayden earned a few boo-boos after an unfortunate scuffle with one of Eric's dogs, but he was super tough about it.
What a good lookin' bunch! Lila was content to sit in the laundry basket most of the night, as long as someone was pulling her around the house in it. The kids opened presents and played until it was time for us to head out.
There was a lot of chaos, and a lot of mess, but everyone had a good time. Lila loved her vanity set and Elaine showed her how to use all the pieces to it!
After we packed it all up, we headed to Gloria's for snacks and cider, and more gifts! Hayden was SO excited to get his "scary Batman castle" and couldn't wait to get it home to play with it!
Always my eater, Lila was most excited about the gingerbread cookies! April snatched one from her, but we quickly got her another one...and she quickly made a mess!
After that, we took two tired kids and got them home and in their Christmas jammies. Lila went right to bed, but Hayden helped me put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." He went to bed (and stayed there!) so Santa's elves could get to work!
We headed to Eric's house for dinner, presents and family time. Hayden earned a few boo-boos after an unfortunate scuffle with one of Eric's dogs, but he was super tough about it.
What a good lookin' bunch! Lila was content to sit in the laundry basket most of the night, as long as someone was pulling her around the house in it. The kids opened presents and played until it was time for us to head out.
There was a lot of chaos, and a lot of mess, but everyone had a good time. Lila loved her vanity set and Elaine showed her how to use all the pieces to it!
After we packed it all up, we headed to Gloria's for snacks and cider, and more gifts! Hayden was SO excited to get his "scary Batman castle" and couldn't wait to get it home to play with it!
Always my eater, Lila was most excited about the gingerbread cookies! April snatched one from her, but we quickly got her another one...and she quickly made a mess!
After that, we took two tired kids and got them home and in their Christmas jammies. Lila went right to bed, but Hayden helped me put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." He went to bed (and stayed there!) so Santa's elves could get to work!
Friday, December 21, 2012
11 months old
Getting closer and closer to the big 12 month mark, and boy she isn't slowing down! Five teeth, walking like a pro and drinking out of the cup. #secondchildsyndrome
But look at that gorgeous girl!
But look at that gorgeous girl!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Visit to see Santa!
This year we went to see Santa early, and couldn't believe that Hayden was willing to sit on his lap! We waited patiently in line (except for Lila, there is nothing patient about her) for about a half hour to see the man in the red suit. He did not disappoint! He listed to Hayden's whole list, and even Lila was intrigued by him!
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